Cleveland Sports Forum

People are still guessing. A million is a big number--give it some time.

Actually, he said only 50:

"I'm pretty sure I could give you 50 guesses," Antonetti said, "and you probably wouldn't get it."

and he didn't say he was going to make that trade either.

Probably better shopping when the meeting breaks. I'd think it's easier for the agents to drive up the cost of poker when all the execs are in one place, and the competitiveness on trades would be greater.

After a quiet trip to Texas, Cleveland Indians still hopeful for deals: Winter Meetings Insider


Published: Friday, December 09, 2011, 4:20 AM Updated: Friday, December 09, 2011, 9:14 AM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer


DALLAS, Texas -- Asked about his reaction to Albert Pujols signing with the Los Angeles Angels, Indians GM Chris Antonetti said, "I would have preferred that he stayed in the National League."
The Angels signed Pujols to a reported 10-year, $254 million deal early Thursday morning. Then they signed left-hander C.J. Wilson to a reported five-year, $77.5 million package. Those signings followed a week in which the Miami Marlins signed Heath Bell, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle for a combined $191 million.
The Indians countered with five days of talk. Their only player move was designating prospect Hector Rondon for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Grady Sizemore. Rondon, recovering from right elbow surgery, cleared waivers Thursday and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus.
Antonetti was not surprised at the amount of money that the Marlins and Angels spent. When asked about being able to compete with teams with that kind of payroll, Antonetti said, "It's our job to find a way to stay competitive, to figure out a way to win.
"It doesn't necessarily make it any easier, but that's part of the business. We have to challenge ourselves to make the best decisions we can and just focus on what we can do to improve our team and win as many games as we can."
Antonetti left the meetings feeling he was just a couple of text messages away from making a deal.


"I think we were able to further some of the discussions we've had on trades and free agents while we were here," he said. "Hopefully, that has led us closer to a deal that will allow us to improve the team.
"It could happen very quickly. There are some things we could be relatively close on. As we've said a bunch of times, the timing may change and it will take weeks for it to happen."
Outfielder Josh Willingham is one player the Indians have discussed. He's a right-handed hitter with power, but the Indians have yet to make an offer. Willingham, who made $6 million last year with Oakland, is seeking a three-year deal.
The Twins are interested in Willingham if they can't re-sign Michael Cuddyer. Jason Kubel and Cuddyer turned down arbitration offers from the Twins on Wednesday. First baseman Derek Lee turned down the Pirates' arbitration offer. The Indians have expressed interest in the right-handed hitting Lee, but so far it hasn't been returned.
Reliever Francisco Rodriguez did accept arbitration and it could cost the Brewers over $11 million on a one-year deal.
The Indians traded for Derek Lowe and signed Sizemore before the start of the meetings.
Minor matters: The Indians lost two players in the Class AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft.
The Twins took right-hander Marty Popham from Class AA Akron. Popham was 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 22 appearances, including 16 starts at Akron. He was 6-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 22 games, including 16 starts at Class A Kinston.
The Marlins took outfielder Donnie Webb off Akron's roster. Webb hit .214 (56-for-256) with 10 doubles, three triples, two homers and 24 RBI in 85 games. He stole 14 bases in 19 attempts.
On Twitter: @hoynsie
Related topics: chris antonetti, cleveland Indians

Not enough guesses made yet, need to reach a million before the deal is announced.

I was wrong: not Pujols.
And I was wrong on the Hafner trade to Phils.

How about: Signing Andruw Jones?

DALLAS, TX (92.3 The Fan) – Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he was just having fun with the media. That’s not the style of Indians GM Chris Antonetti, who Tuesday fired off a quote that has Indians fans and the media guessing what and who it involves.

The quote, teasing a trade that involves the Indians that according to Antonetti, no one would ever consider.

“One would be very surprising if we were able to get it done,” Antonetti said. “I’m pretty sure I could give you 50 guesses, and I don’t think you’d get it.”

So let the guessing game begin.

There’s no doubt that the Indians are on the lookout for a right-handed bat, but the tone of the quote above seemed to stretch further than some of the names that have been thrown around.

Plus most of the names rumored with the Indians have been free agents, such as Josh Willingham, Casey Blake, Mark DeRosa and Casey Kotchman.

This had the tone of it being a deal, and a deal that again, the media and fans alike would never be able to guess.

By now it is obvious they could not get it done.

Anyone else notice that less than a week after giving Pujols $254M, FOX gave the Angels $3B. that's what a good businessman does. Put a quality product on the field and see a huge rise in revenues. Wish Dolan was as forward thinking......

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Two Words Fellas - Arte Moreno

By David Wharton and Mike DiGiovanna December 8, 2011, 6:58 p.m.

.............................The tug-of-war for Southern California baseball fans has heated up considerably since Arte Moreno purchased the Angels in 2003 for $183 million — $148 million less than he spent Thursday — and changed their name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Angels won plenty of supporters when Moreno assumed control almost eight years ago, cutting ticket and beer prices. But the Angels failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and Moreno had been criticized some for not adding needed pieces to the team.

Thursday's announcement, which boosted the Angels' 2012 payroll to about $167 million, was the kind of move for which fans had been clamoring.

"[Pujols] would make everybody significantly better," said Brian Cashman, the New York Yankees general manager. "He's a special player."

Sports business experts say Moreno has a chance to make substantial headway with the Dodgers losing on the field and mired in bankruptcy proceedings and an impending sale........................

here we go

L_wash LeVon Washington
INDIANS ABOUT TO SIGN MANNY RAMIREZ WATCH

Here we go where?

Here we go loopty loo!

National League MVP Ryan Braun, who last season led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first division title in nearly three decades, has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces a 50-game suspension if the initial finding is upheld, two sources familiar with the case told "Outside the Lines."

Major League Baseball has not announced the positive test because Braun is disputing the result through arbitration.

A spokesman for Braun issued a statement Saturday: "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated."

The 28-year-old Braun had to provide a urine sample for testing during the playoffs, and he was notified of the positive test sometime in late October -- about a month before he was named the National League's most valuable player.



http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/ ... ncing-drug

That Braun story makes me feel a bit for the people of Milwaukee. It's now the town of Bob Uecker, and it's hard not to like him.....or beer, brats or cheese.

Milwaukee fans are tough to target for dislike, unless remembering most are Green Bay Packers fans. And it's hard to have any really strong feelings against the Green Bay Packers.

I believe The Milwaukee Brewers let The Indians do the equivalent of sleep over on their couch one early season not long ago, when needed.


I will target Braun though. He's 28 years old, and if paying any attention at all should know the ropes on the HGH testing in his time.

And if he doesn't, I hope someone tells him not to show up for questioning before a Grand Jury.