Baseball 2014-15: The Hot Stove Top Stuffing Season

[CountDeMoney]

Buh bye, post-season play.  It was enjoyable while it lasted.

Veteran outfielder Nelson Cruz has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Seattle Mariners, pending a physical, a league source confirmed to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

A source told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas the two sides agreed on a four-year, $57 million deal that also includes a $1 million signing bonus.

With the Baltimore Orioles last season, the 34-year-old Cruz led the majors with 40 home runs and finished third in the American League with 108 RBIs.

He signed a one-year, $8 million free-agent deal with the Orioles on Feb. 24. He was suspended for 50 games on Aug. 5, 2013, for his involvement with Biogenesis.

Cruz has previously played with the Milwaukee Brewers (eight games in 2005) and Texas Rangers (2006-2013).

The three-time All-Star holds MLB records for home runs (six) and RBIs (13) in a postseason series (2011 ALCS).

The Orioles made a one-year qualifying offer of $15.3 million to Cruz for 2015, which he rejected, ensuring them draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team.

Cruz brings significant thump to a Seattle offense that finished tied for 11th in the American League with 634 runs scored and ranked last among the 15 AL clubs with a .676 OPS in 2014. The Mariners had reportedly been involved in trade discussions for Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes, among others, in their efforts to acquire a right-handed power bat before settling on Cruz.

Mariners utility infielder Willie Bloomquist expressed his excitement for the move on Twitter.

    I would venture to say that Nelson Cruz helps fill our need for some RH thump in our lineup!
    — Willie Bloomquist (@williebloom) December 1, 2014

The Mariners pursued Cruz in free agency last winter before he signed with Baltimore, according to sources. Robinson Cano, who signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with Seattle a year ago, openly lobbied for the team to sign Cruz during his introductory spring training news conference in Arizona in February.

Cruz marks the Mariners' second major signing of the offseason. Seattle and third baseman Kyle Seager agreed to a seven-year, $100 million deal that includes an option for an eighth year last Monday, a league source confirmed to ESPN.com.

[Sophie Scholl]

I'm hoping the Tribe manages to find one power bat.  Aside from the wishful thinking of offloading Bourn or Swisher, that's really all I want.  The starting rotation is hopefully set for the next few years, as is the bullpen.  Third base is a little troubling, but if Chisenhall can settle down and produce consistently I'm fine with his mediocre defense.

[Valmy]

Told you to enjoy it while it lasted. 

[jimmy olsen]

Red Sox have had a good start, but we need to get another pitcher if we want to be a real contender.

[Syt]

Red Sox have had a good start, but we need to get another pitcher if we want to be a real contender.

[katmai]

What Syt, I know I'm enjoying my third World Series and look forward to adding to my ring collection.

[Syt]

If you're a card carrying member of the club or an employee I don't mind. 

[Valmy]

Even if your job is laundering the jock straps?

[CountDeMoney]

Told you to enjoy it while it lasted.

Wait till they don't resign Nick Markakis this week.  He's going to walk, because the O's need to "stick to their guns" over one fucking year.

I wish that cheap greasy fuck douchebag Asbestos would just get it over with and move the team to Indianapolis already.  So sick of his filthy, greedy fucking lawyer ass.

[Valmy]

You could be fans of Snyder's and Angelos' teams you know 

Anyway I just hope none of the Orioles' players end up with another AL East team.

[CountDeMoney]

You could be fans of Snyder's and Angelos' teams you know 

Commissioner Tagliabue and Jacke Kente Cooke tried that for 12 years.  Didn't work.

Anyway I just hope none of the Orioles' players end up with another AL East team.

Matt Wieters will be gone.  Chris Davis, gone.  Adam Jones will one day be a New York Yankee.  In 2018, so will Manny Machado.

[DontSayBanana]

Even if your job is laundering the jock straps?

If those jock straps are itchy, you better damn well believe you've cost the team the World Series.

[The Minsky Moment]

Buh bye, post-season play.  It was enjoyable while it lasted.

Oh please.
If the orioles were counting on a slow aging slugger with a PED suspension in his recent past to maintain career high power numbers in his mid-30s, they were going to be screwed anyway.  You'd think you might have learned from the Chris Davis experience.  Or more to the point, if you don't believe me Google "Mo Vaughn"

The Orioles still have a priceless advantage.  They are still in the AL East.  And the AL East still sucks, even the teams not fatally tainted by Tim.

Plus Orioles still have a very nice pipeline of pitching prospects, and a slick-fielding Cuban who can slot into RF at some point.

[CountDeMoney]

It's over, Johnny.  OVER.

[The Minsky Moment]

Red Sox have had a good start, but we need to get a kick in the nuts

Fixed.