According to ESPN, Twins got Luis Castillo from the Marlins. For what I wonder?

The Florida Marlins have traded Luis Castillo to the Minnesota Twins for pitchers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler, ESPN's Peter Gammons reported Friday.The 24-year-old Bowyer, who appeared in eight games in September for Minnesota, could become Florida's closer.

Castillo hit .301 with with 10 stolen bases, 30 RBI and four home runs in 122 with the 2005 Marlins.

He follows Carlos Delgado and Josh Beckett, who have been shipped out in the Marlins' fire sale.

The team has received permission from Major League Baseball to begin looking for another home because it has been unable to reach a deal for a new stadium in South Florida.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5131638

The Yankees sign reliever Kyle Farnsworth, 3 years, $17 M...that's a lot for a set up guy, isn't it?

Twinnies got castillo without giving up Rincon or Romero? I mean, Bowyer's good, but FLA seems intent to take prospects over young, proven players...
Hope it bites them in the ass when Miggy's up for free agency.

Yes but he would close for a lot of teams so he gets lower level closer money. I'd rather pay that to a 29 year old Farnsworth than what the Phils commited to a 38 year old Gordon.

np: Wanda Robinson

Damn... I HATE the yankees...
but I love me some Fightin' Farnnsworth

Now there'll be someone besides Sheff in the clubhouse to give the team some balls. At least he's out of the NL - hated rooting for/against him in ATL.

Dammit. My O's are completely hopeless this offseason (on par for them). Flanny just said the Julio dealings are not official...gotta love going into winter meetings with nothing. Yeah!

The Mets have found their catcher, acquiring the Marlins' Paul Lo Duca for Class A right-hander Gabriel Hernandez and at least one other minor leaguer, FOXSports.com has learned.

Mark Grudzielanek to play second base is next. Zito and Manny still in consideration. Jesus.

Oh yeah, Furcal signed with the Dodgers----3 years, $39 million.

13 million for Furcal? No thanks

Also, memo to the Dogers: Get this dude a driver; he's had 2 DUI's since he's been here. Just sayin.

Yeah that's insane. I think that's more than Tejeda makes. And SS isn't even a long-term need for the Dodgers. Iztaurus (sp?) is a gold glover at short who now has to move to 2nd.

I guess all the DePodesta bashers are gonna have to find someone else to pin the blame on for this.

Maybe KTLA and KCBS are kicking in three mil per year for the ratings boost, and subsequent ad-revenue spike, that will result from the broadcast of the low-speed chases the next time(s) he's drunk and driving the 405.

I believe that he is now the second highest paid SS now after Jeter.

And really, he's not that great a fielder. He's got a cannon for an arm but last year was the first that he didnt make a ton of errors.

He is a pretty good leadoff hitter though.

The Blue Jays overpaid for Ryan because they had to in order to get him...
I think New'stache did the same thing for Furcal...
Raffie was the only leadoff man available as a FA who played a position of need for the Dodgers. Remember, Izturis is out until at least the All-Star break after getting Tommy John Surgery...

Dodgers have some good prospects 2-3 years away from the bigs - this way, they can trade away big Guzman in order to get someone else (Guzman+Bradley+Pitching Prospect = Zito?). Plus, Colletti had to be pretty pissed when he (just barely) missed out on Giles, despite offering more money...

I'd rather have Furcal for the next 3 years than Giles for the next 3, even at $2M more per year than the dodgers were offering Giles...

Maybe so, but paying Ryan that much probably wasn't that smart either. I still think the Dodgers are crazy for doing that. Iztaurus is probably the best defensive shortstop in my lifetime not named Ozzie Smith or Mark Belanger and now they are asking him to change positions. I know he's out til all star break but I would have signed a good utility player and started him until Iztaurus is ready. If they need a leadoff hitter so bad they're are several OFers available via trade (Pierre, Gaithwright, Michaels) that would make more sense.

I also don't think the A's would go for that package unless the pitching prospect is a can't miss top prospect and they think they repackage Guzman for someone. Don't forget that their two best position players play 3B & SS. I know they like Bradley, but I think its mainly because they think he can be had for cheap.

If Furcal can keep his nose out of the bottle he might be ok.

Oh, c'mon....
It'd only be fitting for Furcal to do his damage in the city that has opened it's arms to the big Strawberry & Eric Davis downfalls, as well as hosting Milton Bradley, among others, the past few years...

WESTSIDE!

hmmm...true enough, although how many DUIs would that be for him?

Thank god they don't count as a big deal in L.A. ...
Just ask most celebrities and big-name sports stars...

Nor was paying Farnsworth 5.6 million a year. This is a fucked up offseason.

If he pitches like he did last season, 5.6 is a bargain. If he puts up his career averages then he's way overpaid. Compared to the Yankees' options, its a fair gamble.

In general though, I disagree with the whole idea of buying high priced veterans for the setup role. Its a better idea to get a whole bunch of good young arms and hope that one or two emerge to fill that role and eventually grow into closers than overpaying guys who have pretty much proven that they aren't elite closer material.

Looks like Edgar Renteria might be the new Braves SS

We trade our top 3B prospect Andy Marte to the D-Rays who then send Julio Lugo to Boston and then Renteria to the Braves....

I don't like it. He had a shitty season this year and even though we may save money in the end I don't like giving up Marte.


This off-season may be Schuerholz's biggest challenge he's ever had.

I think paying Furcal that much is LAUGHABLE. Dodgers fans I don't think you're getting as good of a player as you think you are. He is pretty good but he'll go in the tank for a couple of months of the season.


It's sucking to be an Atlanta sports fan these days. Oh well, we've always got the Dawgs.

looks like juan pierre is coming to the cubs
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ ... p&c_id=chc

I agree. I think he's maybe worth like $8MM/year not $13MM. And even at that salary, I don't really understand why the dodgers would be that interested in him. I'd rather have Iztaurus than him at short. It looks like they are trying to trade for Soriano now so where does Iztaurus play when he comes back. It doesn't make much sense to me.

I know they need a leadoff hitter but its seems clear that they are going to trade Milton Bradley so they're going to need a new OF'er. Why not just get one that can lead-off?

Furcal could play the outfield I'm sure....But hes definitely not worth $13 million to play the outfield---I thinks right around what Andruw makes.