With the regular season over, the Roger Clemens Trading Season has begun.
Not that any of you likely need it, but here is a quick refresher on his 2005 season:
1.87 ERA (0.52 better than anyone else in MLB)
32 Starts, 232.5 adjusted IP
151 hits, 62 walks, 185 strikeouts, 11 HR allowed
.198 batting average against, .261 on-base average against, .284 slugging average against
Will there even be any on-base chances on his card?
And he'll be a relatively cheap A1.
As I've said before, assuming I get any reasonable offers he'll be going to the highest bidder. And if I don't get any reasonable offers, well, I'm fine with keeping him and riding him to get my required 40 wins next season.
So, what do I think is reasonable? I am looking for a true "A" prospect - it doesn't have to be Delmon Young (although that would be fine, Dave), but a legit big-name minor leaguer, to go with draft pick(s) and lower-level prospects. I have absolutely no interest in roster filler, older prospects, or current major leaguers.
Don't miss your chance to acquire this once-every-20-years kind of season! I'm in no rush to move him, but if the right offer comes along I won't wait. Don't let your competition get this ace before you do!
Nice advertisement! So, are you implying that an offer of Steve Finley, Al Leiter, Shingo Takatsu, and Tomas Perez for Clemens might be a little short of the mark?
Gosh, it sure is nice to see Tom focused on breaking up Santa Fe instead of building them into another 120+ win monster. It would be even nicer if LAR had already vanquished them this season, but we haven't reached our destiny quite yet...
Collusion!!!!! If no one makes the RIGHT offer as far as Tom is concerned and he decides to keep Clemens, then he will have even bigger problems than he currently has. He can't even field a respectable team now with the contracts he will be forced to pay. He can't pay his current salaries and field a team while also restocking his minor league roster. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready for the SFE collapse. I am tired of getting my butt kicked by SFE. I call for all managers to unite. Collusion!!!! Do not overpay for Clemens. Force SFE to put him on "C" in order ot get the money he needs just to field a team.
By the way, if we pull this off, your next Eric.
And I don't want to see any rule proposals against collusion. ARBA managers unite.
I assure you that I am absolutely, positively, really and for honest rebuilding next season. With the collapses of Nomar, Schilling, Benitez, Foulke, Bonds, Greinke, and Thomas and the offpar seasons of virtually everyone else other than Clemens, Polanco, Loaiza, Radke, and some relievers, there is zero chance that I'll be competing. Thus endeth the SFE dynasty.
Having said that, I will have PLENTY of money to field a team. Walker and his A92 is coming off the payroll, some other expensive contracts will be moving, and since I won't be competing, the new players will be extremely cheap waiver or C/FA pickups. There is pretty much no scenario where I will be particularly tight on money, and that's assuming I keep Schilling, Nomar, Bonds, and others. I will definitely be able to afford keeping Clemens, and using him to get my 40 wins even means it would make sense money-wise to do so.
Thus, however much people may wish for Clemens on a C, there is just no way that's gonna happen. So if anyone wants to sit around and wait for that, too bad on missing your chance on one hell of a card.
Oh yes - I have also already received several offers. So I think that the inherant self-interest of each team is unlikely to make too much collusion very likely....
And here Roger was hoping to make it to Austin to play, too. Something about being close to his family.
