**The MLB Thread**

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

Mets Prefer Bedard Over Santana?

Interesting line from Lisa Kennelly of the Newark Star-Ledger today:

The Mets, however, prefer Baltimore's Erik Bedard over Santana, since he wouldn't require the same lucrative extension as part of the deal.

The Mets have an option the Red Sox and Yankees probably don't - they might be able to acquire Erik Bedard for a price similar to what it would take to get Johan Santana. It makes complete sense that Bedard would be more attractive - it's two years of him versus one of Santana. Even if Santana is a slightly better/more durable pitcher, two years easily outweighs that. Jon Heyman said on December 3rd that the Mets had offered Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, and Aaron Heilman for Bedard, which "barely drew a response from Baltimore."

The Mets' interest in Bedard goes back for at least a few months; it's probably just been on the backburner. The Red Sox and Yankees have expressed interest, but it was said that Peter Angelos didn't want to trade Bedard within the division.

WTF??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ughZ!

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1200375307167930.xml&coll=1

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[Verlander]

Sources: Tigers sign Robertson to 3-year deal

By Ken Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.

Updated: January 16, 2008, 12:05 PM EST

The Tigers have signed left-hander Nate Robertson to a three-year, $21.25 million contract, according to major-league sources.

Robertson, 30, will earn $4.25 million next season, $7 million in 2009 and $10 million in '10. The salary in his final year will increase to $11 million if he pitches 400 innings combined in '08 and '09 or 200 innings in '09.

The Tigers plan to announce the signing Wednesday afternoon.

Robertson was eligible for free agency after the 2009 season; the Tigers bought out his remaining years of salary arbitration and one year of free agency.

The Tigers acquired Robertson from the Marlins in a five-player trade that sent lefty Mark Redman to Florida on Jan. 11, 2003.

Robertson averaged just over 200 innings per season from 2004 to '06 before dropping to 177 2/3 last season after missing nearly three weeks in June with a tired arm.

He is 42-55 lifetime with a 4.60 ERA.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7683750#

 

[Verlander]

Not a bad deal. Considering what starting pitching goes for these days, it's a fair deal.

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

true

 

[Verlander]

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Tigers might halt ticket sales

Season packages could be cut off because demand is so high after offseason moves, Dombrowski says.

Tom Gage / The Detroit News

YPSILANTI -- Ticket sales for the upcoming Tigers' season would already be through the roof -- if Comerica Park had one.

As it is, they're going sky high.

They're going so well, in fact, that for the first time ever, the Tigers are considering shutting off season-ticket sales. But even if they don't, so many season-ticket packages will be sold that tickets for individual games, when they go on sale in March, could be gone in record time.

"It's almost hard for me to talk about how much we're selling," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "The excitement is phenomenal."

What spiked the interest, of course, was the blockbuster trade last month with the Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis -- following what had already been a successful offseason that included the acquisition of shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Braves.

"Our TigerFest sold out in a couple of days," said Dombrowski. "Our sponsorship gathering was the largest we've ever had."

And the clamor for season tickets gets louder by the week.

"We've sold (the equivalent of) 4,500 full-season tickets since the day we made the trade," Dombrowski said Monday night on his last stop of the Tigers' annual caravan. "Last year, we had the largest season-ticket base we've ever had, about 19,500, so that 4,500 is on top of that. Now we don't have everyone renewed yet, because they have until Feb. 15, but we anticipate (most of them renewing) -- and I will tell you that we're having conversations about having to cut off our season-ticket sales.

"We're in a position where if you get into the postseason, you have to be able to give a certain number of seats away, so we're approaching that number."

What is that number?

"I don't know," said Dombrowski, "but it has to be much less than (30,000).

And how would that affect individual game tickets?

"When they go on sale in March," said Dombrowski, "I would suggest that you buy your tickets quickly, because they're going to go quickly."

Dombrowski said the spike caused by the Cabrera-Willis trade was "the largest we've had."

Signing Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez sold some tickets. Trading for Gary Sheffield also caused a spike.

"But this has far surpassed anything. It's almost hard for me to grasp."

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

Mets collapse = 20% increase in ticket prices

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[Verlander]

Mets collapse = 20% increase in ticket prices

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

LOL Tigers payroll increases by over 30 million and tickets only go up on average $2 per ticket.

 

[Verlander]

The Tigers payroll projects to be the 3rd highest in baseball, and their ticket prices are middle of the pack in MLB.

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

these fools are waiting for Santana....and we might not even get him

all the other FA starters are signing elsewhere

we need at least a number 4 starter this offseason

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

Minaya doesnt want to let go both Fernando Martinez & Carlos Gomez for Santana

thats holding up the deal

I would do it though.....its not everyday that you can acquire the best pitcher in baseball!

 

[Verlander]

Minaya doesnt want to let go both Fernando Martinez & Carlos Gomez for Santana

thats holding up the deal

I would do it though.....its not everyday that you can acquire the best pitcher in baseball!

That is what I like about Dombrowski. When he wants something he gets it.

 

[Verlander]

TIGERS PAYROLL: Could be $133 million, third highest in MLB

January 13, 2008

The Free Press has projected that the Tigers’ Opening Day payroll could climb as high as $133 million if the team is unable to trade Brandon Inge.

In 2007, only two teams (Yankees: $195 million and Red Sox $143 million) had higher opening day payrolls.

In December, it appeared that the club’s payroll would settle between $125 million and $130 million. That estimate, though, was based on the assumption that the team would trade Inge and outfielder/first baseman Marcus Thames. Both are still with the team.

Inge was displaced as the starting third baseman with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera. If Inge is traded without the team assuming any of his salary, there is a good chance that the payroll would still come in below $130 million.

Rick Porcello and Joel Zumaya are included on the ledger, because they will be paid as 40-man roster players even though they will not be on the active roster.

 

[Slammed 5,000+ posts]

TIGERS PAYROLL: Could be $133 million, third highest in MLB
January 13, 2008

The Free Press has projected that the Tigers’ Opening Day payroll could climb as high as $133 million if the team is unable to trade Brandon Inge.

In 2007, only two teams (Yankees: $195 million and Red Sox $143 million) had higher opening day payrolls.

In December, it appeared that the club’s payroll would settle between $125 million and $130 million. That estimate, though, was based on the assumption that the team would trade Inge and outfielder/first baseman Marcus Thames. Both are still with the team.

Inge was displaced as the starting third baseman with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera. If Inge is traded without the team assuming any of his salary, there is a good chance that the payroll would still come in below $130 million.

Rick Porcello and Joel Zumaya are included on the ledger, because they will be paid as 40-man roster players even though they will not be on the active roster.

higher payroll = more pressure to win

please beat the Yankees!

 

[Verlander]

Hard to tell, but it seems like he has lost weight.