Winter Meetings around the corner

Well we are a few days from the official start to the winter meetings and it looks like a lot of buzz going around the league. The normal active guys are trying to make moves. I am not sure how many have made moves but I believe most are in a holding pattern until they can offically make moves. I myself still have a few deals on the table with discussions. I will try and break down teams outlooks and needs for the Winter Meetings and their chances of making a run. I will do this by the list on eMLB so its not a rankings.. You will see who is active in the league and who isn't.

Carolina Yankees

If you look at this teams history you see a team that doesn't make many moves to improve themselves each offseason. How do you know? Well the pattern of Lottery to consolidatio to championship playoffs is a pattern based on drafting lower. I bet you can guess where they will finish this year?? Yet they do have a nice list of keepers minus Zambrano and Maybin. Team has an open 5 year slot and might use it this year. Not sure Zimmerman or Votto is 5 year worthy. Yet looks like 3B is the targeted position and will get a fine one for at least a 3 year. Given the teams number of expiring contracts and only 2 players set to return 2011 He will need to make some moves this year and move a few expiring contracts for picks if he wants to be competitive..

Dallas Redbirds

Here is another team like Carolina. They allow the system to move their team. History says this will be a playoff team this year but just as Carolina has done they are left with 2 contracts in 2011 and without any moves they are not going to have much returning.. Right now 7 open slots which is 2 extensions. They have a decent amount of keepers and should be able to make a run this year and once again fall apart next year due to the lack of depth. This offseason I would move Cano and Webb and Price. Get the picks even if its later there are good 2 year keepers usually through round 6.. Look at Sandavol last year??


Encinitas Beach Bums

Darren has typically been less then active in the years and once again it shows in results. The team has bounced from lottery to playoffs for the last 6 years. Well given last years standings they are in for a lottery pick next year.. With only 4 under contract and 3 returning they are kind of stuck moving players. I might be willing to move Nolasco to acquire another pick for the 2012 season to break the cycle. Maybe acquire another contract that is through 2011. He won't need to use all 3 3year contract spots in the draft as there won't be that many worthy. Given their draft spot it might beneift them to move back and get anothe rlower pick to help fill those contract spots.


ES Blacksox

ES Finally put a team to win it all last year and they are in decent shape to make a run again but given lack of 2011 contracts and a bad draft spot being last their future looks bleak. If they don't make a move in the meetings I think they could make a run but that would end this year. Their 3 year pattern is just like the previous teams. This should be a consolation playoffs this year. Maure and Padroia return in 2011 but thats it. Given this teams draft spot and lack of kept positions I would move 1 if not 2 OF positions for either a player in another position or draft picks. I would also consider moving Hamels for a pick/player. If they want a pick Upton might not fetch a really low pick due to expiring but something is better then nothing.


Gaylord Dingers

Wagner made some moves in the offseason to make another run and it cost him future. Minus Martin he has decent keepers and a well rounded team going into meetings. He has a lot of open spots and 3 coming back for sure. I would consider adding a contracted SP for a mid pick to help give this team another shot. I would also consider moving out of the first to get more picks to fill some of thise 2 year slots cause after the 6th round it's rare to keep a player. No team should be set with what they have and should be always trying to improve if an opportunity arrives. If Wagner makes the right moves they can make another run but it will cost them at least next year.. Which way they choose??

Julian Javelina

Hoyle is a talker in the league he likes to try and make moves I guess he makes the wrong ones cause other then one year it working out they have sat in the lottery every year. They have a lot of contracts going into this year and only 3 retunring for 2011. With 1 3year slot open they have little chance to change their future unless moves are made. Talking with Hoyle he will make those moves. I don't think they currently are in good shape to make a run though they have a lot of contracts the quality of them are not great. With that being said I would move Adrian Gonzalez/Eric Byrnes (Give a Pick)/Gallardo/Slowey/ At least for picks. If he moves enough it might give this team a solid future for at least the next 2 years... If not I see another bad season on the horizon..

Michigan Miracles

Michigan now retired can focus 100% on his team and he needs too. Since taking over he has finished in lottery 2 years and made consolation playoffs once. He has a lot of keepers and one would think a run is possible. Yet I see a lot of improvement for this team to make. 3 contracts back in 2011. Carpenter is stuck with extension.. I would try to move all of his 2 year guys if possible. Getting a decent draft pick for Vazquez. A good trading partner would be Gaylord in the need of a solid SP. Keep his 3 year guys are 3 open spots enough. He might get 2 players from it.. I would also look into moving back a half a round if he can get another lower pick. If not he will be taking the best 3B left..

Mid Michigan Tigers

Keith has't been a very active owner in trades but has done enough every year in the draft to keep his team in mediocre land. Last year I saw them as the top team in the league going into the season.. What happened?? A few disappointments but they make a lot of trades until deadline and it wasn't enough to save them.. Team looks pretty solid going into this year with only 2 returning contracts in 2011. 7 open spots and 2 extensions will give them 4 and most likely Lee and ??? I would give Hardy away and Burrell if I could to open a few slots. Even if I take basically nothing. I would also consider moving one of their 3 pitchers. To get another draft pick or acquiring a 3 year that expires in 2011. They also might consider moving back to get more talent early on. If not i see another mediocre year in store..

New Jersey Mets

Don't need to show my plans but you all know what I do every year to keep my team up there. Sometimes its moving players for picks. Sometimes its moving players for players.. Sometimes its movin picks for players. It all depends on what my current and future needs are..

North Texas

Adrian made an all or nothing run last year and it didn't work out. if pattern holds true and they stand pat a lottery is possible for this team in 2011. Now left with 1 contract after this year.. With this team currently having virtually nothing for next year I would consider moving a pick for a player that is kept until 2011. That would mean adding another 3 year. At the very least also add another 2 year contract if they want to be competitive. History tells us that you can get better talent acquiring player who have contracts due to them not being worth as much.. They have all contracts available even if they sign 6 they can extend 3. That means they could get 2 players currently under contract and extended for next year.


Olivet Killer Eagles

Larry hasn't been as active as he was in the past. Life gets in the way and I bet he has hands full with 2 kids. I know what that is like. He has 9 open spots going into meetings and they are not bad. Has 2 open 3 year slots but might have a problem filling them. I might consider possibly trying to move his 2nd round pick to a late 1st or early 2nd to secure 2 keepers at 3 years. I would also consider moving Edwin for a late pick or looking to acquire another 2 year contract either an INF or OF position. If the team stays put this looks like a Mediocre year for them.

Rochester Red Sox

First year team here so pattern doesnt work for them. They took over another team in medoicre land. They were not very active but like Keith could draft decent enough to keep them in playoff hunt every year but falling short. Team has been linked to deals already and more talked about but unloading dead contracts in Carrasco/Aviles is a must if this team wants to make 2011 a playoff run. Right now they have 6 decent contracts going into year. Given where this team sits I would look to acquire another 3 year contract expiring in 2011. Will cost them a early pick but they will get slightly better player then in draft. Other then that they are pretty set. Lets see how he drafts...

San Antonio Fire Ants

Here is another new owner. This team has had 4 owners. Most of any team. The last one did a decent job cause he was active. Yet left a team in need of contract relief. They have 5 slots open and must remove a few to give them any shot at 2011. Currently only Santana coming back and with only 1 extension available this isnt looking good. I would move whoever I could. At least 3 contracts. The better the players teh better the picks. With that said some main guys I would move would be Lopez/Damon/Tulowitzki. Currently they will need some help to make it in the playoffs this year and next is looking very bleak..

South Texas Heat

berg is very active in trade talks and it shows with his constant playoff pushes. He make moves to free up space and add when wants to make a run. They have 7 open spots and that will net them 2 extensions. 4 keepers for 2011 plus 2 extensions which isn't bad. Still with that I would move a 3 year and a 2 year for picks. Maybe Davis and I would dump Swisher if I could.. Konerko has been rumored but he won't net much. I see them making a solid run for 2010 and if they play cards right will make another run in 2011.


Flying Squirrels of the Republic

Another new owner here taking over a team that stayed in mediocre land. Team has 8 open slots and needs to open one more to have 3 extensions. They have 2 retunring next year. I man not sure they have the horses in their current spot to make a run this year but I would move 203 expiring contracts for a 3 year that expires in 2011 and picks. Some of the guys I would move Matsuzaka/Young/Fuentes. Doubt people take Francoeur might have to give a pick to get somebody to take him. Being a new owner we wil have to see how active he is.. If he can move enough to make his team competitive.

Wisconsin Brewers

Poor Justin. Made some bad decisions and it keeps biting him in his ass. They have 8 open slots and 4 of them are 3 year ones which isn't good. They need to add a 3 year that is extended through 2011. They have 3 SP and should move one of them for a pick. Possibly getting another OF in the 3 year spot. Moving a SP to fill the pick they are losing to get the 3 year guy would give this team more balance for this year and next. If the holding pattern stays I see another low finish for them. Having only Reyes returning won't be enough.



Well thats my take on the upcoming winter meetings. I hope owners take my advise and make moves to improve. Some need picks. Some need players.. Some need to move back.. All ned to be active...