Winter Baseball Meetings 2009 Team by Team Review

Here’s a quick review of what tangible accomplishments each team made during the Winter Baseball Meetings 2009.  We can spend all day and re-hash all the rumors, but in the big picture rumors don’t win World Series Titles.  I’ll focus on the more important transactions.  I’ll stay away from the minor players and smaller transactions.  I’ve also added a grade in parenthesis as to how MLBSecrets.com believes each team did.  I gave a team more favor if they attempted to do something and executed such as signing a player, trading a player, etc., and gave less to those teams that fed the rumor mill with fodder.  I graded on a curve for no other reason than it getting me through college.

Arizona Diamondback: (Grade:  A) The story of the Winter Meetings!  Completed the 3 team trade with the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.  They acquired 2 starting pitchers in RHP Edwin Jackson (from DET) and RHP Ian Kennedy (from NYY).

Atlanta Braves: (Grade:  B+)  Designated Ryan Church for assignment because Rafael Soriano accepted arbitration.  They then shipped Soriano to the Rays for RHP Jesse Chavez.  I believe it is a good sign of team management and ownership that you can make a trade within a relatively short period of time.

Baltimore Orioles:  (Grade B)  Acquired starting pitcher Kevin Millwood from the Rangers for RHP Chris Ray and cash.  Ditto above.

Boston Red Sox: (Grade B) Traded 3B Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers for C Max Ramirez.

Chicago Cubs: (Grade D)  Spent most of the time trying to deal Milton Bradley.  It should happen soon.

Chicago White Sox: (Grade B)   Signed third baseman Mark Teahan to a 3 year $14 million contract.

Cincinnati Reds: (Grade F)  Didn’t do much other than show up.  Should have spent time trying to raise money from venture capitalists or hire a PR firm to spread rumors on MLBSecrets.com

Cleveland Indians: (Grade F) They should have just stayed home.

Colorado Rockies: (Grade B+)  Signed Chris Iannetta to a 3 year deal. They made an offer to catcher Yorvit Torrealba believed to be 2 years,  $5 million.

Detroit Tigers: (Grade A) In my opinion any teams that can complete a 3-team trade deserve a lot of credit.  It one thing to complete a 1-on-1 trade, but to get another party involved is amazing.  The Tigers got 4 players in the deal: RHP Max Scherzer (from ARI), OF Austin Jackson (from NYY), LHP Phil Coke (from NYY), LHP Daniel Schlereth (from ARI).

Florida Marlins: (Grade B+)  The Fish left Indianapolis with RHP Robert Bono and INF Luis Bryan from the Astros in exchange for RHP Matt Lindstrom and players to be named later.

Houston Astros: (Grade A) The Astros were pretty busy.  The Astros signed Pedro Feliz to a 1 year contract.  The team also brought in relief pitching with Brandon Lyon who signed a 3 year, $15 million deal.  Acquired RHP Matt Lindstrom and players to be named later from the Marlins.

Kansas City Royals: (Grade B-)  The Royals offered veteran catcher Jason Kendall a 2 year contract.  I give a few bonus points to teams that were trying to get a catcher given the steep competition and tough terms that they were all competing for.

Los Angeles Angels:  (Grade  C+)  The Angels made an official attempt at Roy Halladay with the 3 for 1 trade offer.

Los Angeles Dodgers:  (Grade F)  The pending McCourt divorce is hurting the team.  It seems like they are feeding the rumor to keep their fans artificially excited.

Milwaukee Brewers: (Grade A) Signed Randy Wolf to a 3 year $29.75 million contract.  Signed relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to a 2 year deal pending a physical.  They also had competition in signing both players, so I give the Brewers a lot of credit for pulling this one out.

Minnesota Twins:  (Grade B) Managed to sign Carl Pavano and traded Boof Bonser to the Red Sox before he turned into a pumpkin in 10 days.

New York Mets:  (Grade B)  I’m giving the Mets a temporary B, but I may increase it if they can sign Jason Bay.  I might drop the grade to a C if they don’t sign him.

New York Yankees: (Grade A)  Could we have expected any thing less from the Yankees annual “Look At Me Winter Convention”.  After re-signing Andy Pettitte for 1 year $11.75 million deal and finalizing a 3 way trade they just need to figure out what they want to buy next.

Oakland Athletics (Grade F) ESPN.com put it best by saying, “when the A’s, Pirates or their ilk call your agent, don’t go buy a small island on credit”.  Luckily for the available free agents, the A’s didn’t do much calling this week.

Philadelphia Phillies (Grade B-)  Signed pinch hitter Ross Gload to a 2 year deal.  I think the Phillies will do a lot before Spring Training.

Pittsburgh Pirates (Grade B)  It says something when the Pirates can make a move by signing Bobby Crosby, and big market teams like the Dodgers and Cubs don’tdo anything.

San Diego Padres Rumors (Grade D)  There were a lot of trade rumors, a negotiation with Kevin Correia and the release of Eulogio De La Cruz.  Not much here.

San Francisco Giants Rumors (Grade C)  I’ll upgrade my grade if the Giants can get a veteran catcher for 1 year and can sign a bat such as Nick Johnson or Mark DeRosa.

Seattle Mariners (Grade B+)  They got Chone Figgins for 4 years and got him to agree to a position switch in the event they sign Adrian Beltre.  If there’s no smoke without a fire, then I’ll give them credit for almost getting Rich Harden.

St. Louis Cardinals: (Grade B-)  They are too wrapped up in the Matt Holliday talks that they almost forgot to do anything else.  They did sign Brad Penny.

Tampa Bay Rays: (Grade B)  Like the Cardinals, the Rays were too involved with the big names of Roy Halliday and Milton Bradley.  They Rays did find time to acquire and sign an extension with Rafael Soriano.

Texas Rangers:  (Grade A)  Traded Kevin Millwood to the Orioles for Chris Ray and cash.  Acquired Mike Lowell from the Red Sox.  Signed Rich Harden to a 1 year deal.  That’s a pretty busy week.

Toronto Blue Jays: (Grade F)  Trade HIM already!

Washington Nationals: (Grade B)  Started the game of catcher’s musical chairs by signing Pudge Rodriguez to a 2 year contract.  In doing so, they set the catcher’s market and allowed all subsequent catchers to ask for 2 year contracts.

That’s it!  Winter Baseball Meetings 2009 in the books.