2008-2009 Offseason thread

[padrefanforever]

Padres signed Prior and Burke to minor league deals with invites

[HollywoodLeo]

You mean no more free million dollar contracts for Mark Prior?

The gravy train is over.

[padrefanforever]

Even with hindsight......I still think locking him up for $ 1m last year was the right move......

[love_that_reefer]

ESPN.com believes the Padres are targeting David Eckstein over Omar Vizquel as they look to fill their hole at shortstop.
They have the ability to add both and play Eckstein at second base, though the report makes no mention of that possibility. If there's one team in baseball that should consider playing Eckstein at shortstop, it is San Diego. The singles that he gives up due to his declining range will result in fewer runs scored playing in Petco.

Damn! I was really hoping the Padres would get Vizquel so he could weaken that lineup like he did ours the past to seasons.

[HollywoodLeo]

Eckstein might accomplish the same goal.

[love_that_reefer]

Eckstein can provide a lot more offense compared to Vizquel. Eckstein did do a decent job at second last year so the Padres would be better off playing him there if they did get hi.

[padrefanforever]

Sign Burke, now have 5 guys that can play 2nd......I doubt if they sign Eck it will be to play anything but SS......ugh

[padrefanforever]

We just signed Eckstein.....

[HollywoodLeo]

I'd be annoyed if I thought we had a chance this year.

[love_that_reefer]

Reports are saying Towers will still sign Vizquel. Annoyed yet?

[HollywoodLeo]

As long as he doesn't sign him to a multi year deal, not really.

I've already considered this year down the toilet. It won't make a bit of difference to me if it goes down the toilet with or without Vizquel.

I would be a bit annoyed if I didn't think Antinelli needs more time in the minors before coming back up, but he does so I'm not worried about the middle infield being taken up by vets.

[padrefanforever]

Depo's blog said that they are going to give Burke a chance to win the starting SS job outright......fyi

I think with the Eck signing we'll see less interest in Vizquel......I think it was one or the other......

[love_that_reefer]

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins will monitor the progress of Kevin Kouzmanoff if they can't find a suitable upgrade at third base.
Kouz is expected to be ready for spring training after undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-November, and he could blossom outside of cavernous Petco Park. Free agent Joe Crede is also an option, but the Twins would have to be assured of his health before getting proactive there.

Haven't the Twins tried this before?

[padrefanforever]

Kouz for Slowey sounds good to me

[DirtyKash]

I'm pumped by the Eckstein acquisition. The kid's a gamer and it's never a bad thing to have a World Series MVP on the roster. He makes things happen with his scrappiness.