Cliff Lee is killing me!!!!

[BigRed Mosquito]

been reading a lot of Hot Stove information, and the longer Cliff Lee takes to sign the more anxious I am going to be getting. Why? Because Zack Grienke, it sounds like, is going to be the "runner-up" prize. Everything I have been reading says nothing will happen with Zack until after Lee signs, which makes perfect sense. I want the Royals to trade Zack this off-season because I think he is at his highest value right now and would hate to see him lose more value with possibly another unmotivated season with the Royals. I don't think he has any interest in signing an extension with the Royals, so I would like to see the Royals get something (preferably power bats) for him now.

[lynchy34]

I've heard Royals are asking for the moon for Greinke, which they should be. But I don't know if anyone will pony up.

[KCCardinalFan]

been reading a lot of Hot Stove information, and the longer Cliff Lee takes to sign the more anxious I am going to be getting. Why? Because Zack Grienke, it sounds like, is going to be the "runner-up" prize. Everything I have been reading says nothing will happen with Zack until after Lee signs, which makes perfect sense. I want the Royals to trade Zack this off-season because I think he is at his highest value right now and would hate to see him lose more value with possibly another unmotivated season with the Royals. I don't think he has any interest in signing an extension with the Royals, so I would like to see the Royals get something (preferably power bats) for him now.

Reading the rumors sites, it looks like the Royals are slowly lowering their asking price. Also after stating they would not trade in the division, it looks like the Twins may be involved. That isn't a bad thing, those Twin prospects always seem to pan out!

[BigRed Mosquito]

Yeah, Ask for the moon and come down to reality, its all part of the game. I think if the Rangers don't resign Lee, they would be the favorites but I have heard tons of rumors. My favorite was the rumored Ryan Braun for Grienke straight up, though I heard or read somewhere that the Brewers have no interest in dealing Braun.

Though, I envision nothing happening with Grienke, then the Royals signing Jeff Francoeur

[KCCardinalFan]

Yeah, Ask for the moon and come down to reality, its all part of the game. I think if the Rangers don't resign Lee, they would be the favorites but I have heard tons of rumors. My favorite was the rumored Ryan Braun for Grienke straight up, though I heard or read somewhere that the Brewers have no interest in dealing Braun.

Though, I envision nothing happening with Grienke, then the Royals signing Jeff Francoeur

It's too bad the Royals don't hang onto these recent additions. A 3-4-5 of Jeff Francoer/Mike Jacobs/Rick Ankiel could win multiple division titles.

[BigRed Mosquito]

Yeah, Ask for the moon and come down to reality, its all part of the game. I think if the Rangers don't resign Lee, they would be the favorites but I have heard tons of rumors. My favorite was the rumored Ryan Braun for Grienke straight up, though I heard or read somewhere that the Brewers have no interest in dealing Braun.

Though, I envision nothing happening with Grienke, then the Royals signing Jeff Francoeur

How effing great

www.kansascity.com/2010/12/08/2506572/r ... coeur.html

I need to just keep my mouth shut on this board. I hope this doesn't shutdown possibilities with Grienke, but I am afraid they think they got what they are looking for and might not be serious about trades for Grienke.

[ryankcollins]

The Yankees should sign Grienke over Lee. But, they are probably thinking like every other team: "I don't want anyone from the Royals...they suck."

[KCCardinalFan]

The Yankees should sign Grienke over Lee. But, they are probably thinking like every other team: "I don't want anyone from the Royals...they suck."

Oh, snap.

[BigRed Mosquito]

The Yankees should sign Grienke over Lee. But, they are probably thinking like every other team: "I don't want anyone from the Royals...they suck."

Can't argue that one at all and don't have a clever comeback either.

[ryankcollins]

I'm just kidding. I cheer for the Royals on occasion. I want them to be able to bring a playoff series to one of the best baseball parks in the league...

[ryankcollins]

Carl Crawford goes to the Boston Red Sox for 7yr./$142M. If this doesn't change the gameplan for the teams trying to land Cliff Lee, I don't know what does. Lee's price just went up, and if I were Cashman, I'd get out now!

[lynchy34]

Red Sox lineup next season?

CF Ellsbury
LF Crawford
3B Youkilis
1B Gonzalez
2B Pedroia
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
SS Scutaro
C Saltalamacchia

Yes, please.

[BigRed Mosquito]

This is the part of baseball I hate. The Red Sox sign Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, while the Royals sign Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera.

[lynchy34]

This is the part of baseball I hate. The Red Sox sign Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, while the Royals sign Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera.

As a Red Sox fan and someone who enjoys the fruits of the current set-up, I think something needs to be done to really level the playing field. The fact that the second-highest payrolled team in MLB can add Crawford and acquire Gonzalez and then sign him to a similar extension that Crawford received is just crazy.

[lynchy34]

The Yankees are going to give the 32-year-old Lee SEVEN YEARS? Crazy if you ask me. He's had two good seasons and will be 40 at the end of that deal.

[BigRed Mosquito]

The Yankees are going to give the 32-year-old Lee SEVEN YEARS? Crazy if you ask me. He's had two good seasons and will be 40 at the end of that deal.

That's the "New York State of Mind", Yankees and Mets. There needs to be a system set-up, where not only do you get penalized (luxury tax) for overspending, but there needs to be some control set to regulate the underspending teams. It irritates me the Royals get money from the luxury tax, the taxpayers financed renovations to Kauffman, the Glass family put a minimal amount of money into stadium, yet this teams payroll is only going to be in the $60mil range, so that's how they thank you to the taxpayers is by giving them the likes of Rick Ankiel, Jason Kendall, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francouer, oh almost forgot Kyle Farnsworth. That's what irritates me the most is the small-market owners seem to be taking advantage of the system to line their pockets, I tend to feel if MLB is going to regulate the bottom tier teams they shouldn't have the luxury tax either!

Just my little rant, I'm still a little irritated, because I don't think the Royals are going to try as hard now to move Grienke.

[recte44]

Salary Cap and true revenue sharing. What's the most popular sport? NFL. Why? Duh.

Greed has ruined baseball.

[aaronweiner]

Think Billy Beane. It's kind of a win/win with Greinke. If they lose him, they get two draft picks. If they trade him, they get two more developed players in the minors.

Of course, in a perfect world, they'd re-sign him, but then they'd probably lose their AAA status for having too high of a payroll...

[jcrmoon42]

You're all a bunch of commie pinkos!!!!! I'm sure Brade will back me up on this one.

[LambeauLeap]

You're all a bunch of commie pinkos!!!!! I'm sure Brade will back me up on this one.

CHANGE!