Melvin on with Homer

[jwill535]

-Met with 3 teams today but didnt get into details

 

-looking for a left handed bat, more in the outfield then at 3rd.

 

-if they do move Braun to left field then they need a 3rd basemen, keeping Counsell on the bench.

 

-Confirmed the Cordero/Weeks rumor, said he is not going anywhere

 

-noted that there really arent alot of available closers, said that he introduced himself to Joe Nathan who is walking around the meetings.

 

-Said the Fuentes deal aint going to happen.

 

-When asked about Rolen, he paused, laughed alittle and said yeah "that is a guy, but i dont want to get into names and the teams that we have talked to." Judging by the way he sounded, it would seem there are serious discussions there.

 

-Said the Sheets to Bos is complete B.S. They have never been contacted by Bos regarding Sheets. Said it was probably put out there to poke other teams into making deals.

 

-Gave the reasons why he liked Kendall, mainly OBP, his attitude and his working with pitchers.

[TooLiveBrew]

Thanks for the update, j. To anyone: is it normal for players to attend the winter meetings? That stuck out a bit for me.

 

[Hey, Joe, my name's Doug. We've been thinking about how your presence might help our late-inning bullpen scenarios, and that.]

 

Said the Fuentes deal aint going to happen.

Dang. Ok then, please don't overpay for Cordero's name when his teammate Rauch can likely be had cheaper, and is at least as good!

[jwill535]

let me clarify, when Fuentes's name was brought up Melvin almost jumped the question and said "aint going to happen" When Rolen's name was brought up he paused and you could tell he was watching his words and almost seemed like he said it with a smile on his face.

[dadofandrew]

Nathan might well be there making "inroads" for next year.

 

Many of us have thought Doug would prefer a LH OF, but the fact Rolen is neither makes him seem like a guy they just like.

[JJHardy7]

From what I've heard down here, there are quite a few players at the hotel. It's not only the baseball winter meetings, but it's a really nice hotel for a quick vacation for the players.

[madtowndrunkard]

Could it be because Ned doesn't want to be accused of tampering, considering the fact that Rolen is a Cardinal? Just a thought.

 

I have a hunch Ned is using the Rolen trade rumor as leverage in a deal involving an OF. That's a useful took in negotiations, to tell other teams looking to make a trade " yea that's too much, I think we'll pull the trigger on the Rolen deal instead, thanks anyway." If teams feel you are in a desperate situation they will not soften their stance. Given Rolen's injury history and high price I just have a hard time believing Melvin would trade for him and move his prize player from 3rd to left. What if Braun is worse in the OF then he is at 3rd? Seems like a big gamble ($13million/year) with out knowing Braun can play LF.

[jon12272]

FA players tend to show up to meet with GM's of intrested teams. Also they to pitch a lot of baseball related products at the winter meetings. XM's MLB channel is there broadcasting updates and doing shows from the hotel also.

[gfwisco]

I was listening to the interview myself and I agree with how Melvin sounded when pressed about Rolen. It sure sounds like there was something there. He did admit to talking to the Cardinals. I liked the small parting shot at Estrada about having a catcher with a +.300 OBP instead of the .270 to .280 they have been getting.

[patrickgpe]

i love it how he confirmed the sheets thing was not happening, but wouldn't do the same for Rolen. I think its going to happen this week.

[aracko]

Players that might fit the bill of a Left handed OF who MIGHT be available or have been discussed on the hot stove are

Chone Figgins

Geoff Jenkins

Brad Hawpe

Nick Swisher

Juan Pierre

Raul Ibanez

Gary Matthews

Shawn Green

Kenny Lofton

David Dejesus

Garrett Anderson

 

 

Id Love to see it be Jeremy Hermedia but I find it unlikely he is available but maybe for the right mix of starting pitching? DeJesus would be prettty exciting. Shawn Green could be decent but he doesnt interest me much. Figgins would be decent but I think would cost far more than he is worth.

[decktard]

For those interested in listening...

 

http://goodkarma.wmod.llnwd.net/a459/o2/WAUK/Doug_Melvin.mp3

[MNBrew]

i love it how he confirmed the sheets thing was not happening, but wouldn't do the same for Rolen. I think its going to happen this week.

Patrick, I'm with you on your hunch. But Melvin can easily deny something about his own player ("I'm not trading Ben Sheets to Boston."). Since Rolen's not a FA, Melvin cannot talk about him in the context of anything that might hint at tampering -- which isn't just talking with the guy, it's even just talking about a guy in the media.

 

On that note, I'd totally love to see the Twins get MLB to nail George Junior for tampering with Santana.

[brewcrew00]

--Said the Sheets to Bos is complete B.S. They have never been contacted by Bos regarding Sheets. Said it was probably put out there to poke other teams into making deals.

In classic Melvin fashion, he should be gone by Thursday!

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

 

[TooLiveBrew]

Could it be because Ned doesn't want to be accused of tampering...

I'm assuming you meant "Doug" in your post, as opposed to "Ned."

[patrickgpe]

Since Rolen's not a FA, Melvin cannot talk about him in the context of anything that might hint at tampering

well in the past he has addressed trade rumors by saying i have not talked to (insert GM here) in a while or something like that. I was getting at that if he wasn't talking to the cards he could say there are no talks between us, he didn't do that.

[brettac1]

I think when there really haven't been any discussions, he usually issues a flat-out denial. When there have been discussions, you get this kind of wishy-washy non-commital stuff.

[Fatter than Joey]

From what I've heard down here, there are quite a few players at the hotel. It's not only the baseball winter meetings, but it's a really nice hotel for a quick vacation for the players.

 

It's a fabulous hotel -- we have conventions that go to Nashville once in awhile -- You can literally vacation and never leave the hotel.

[JJHardy7]

It's a fabulous hotel -- we have conventions that go to Nashville once in awhile -- You can literally vacation and never leave the hotel.

 

That is is. I don't know what coverage you have had, but there were already reports today of GMs missing meetings with each other because they got lost in the hotel. From what I've heard down here, the GMs/teams love this hotel...when they're not lost. The media hates it. It can be hard tracking down GMs, front office, players, etc. in this place unless you get lucky or schedule a meeting.

[Baldkin]

Players that might fit the bill of a Left handed OF who MIGHT be available or have been discussed on the hot stove are

Chone Figgins

Geoff Jenkins

Brad Hawpe

Nick Swisher

Juan Pierre

Raul Ibanez

Gary Matthews

Shawn Green

Kenny Lofton

David Dejesus

Garrett Anderson

 

 

Id Love to see it be Jeremy Hermedia but I find it unlikely he is available but maybe for the right mix of starting pitching? DeJesus would be prettty exciting. Shawn Green could be decent but he doesnt interest me much. Figgins would be decent but I think would cost far more than he is worth.

 

Going off the list... Luke Scott. Please. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

[KRM17]

Would you say Turnbow will be on the roster next year?

 

DM: I would think so...

 

So you're telling me there's a chance he's not on the roster next year. Best news I heard all off-season!

[TooLiveBrew]

From what I've heard down here, the GMs/teams love this hotel...when they're not lost. The media hates it. It can be hard tracking down GMs, front office, players, etc. in this place unless you get lucky or schedule a meeting.

JJ7, this made me chuckle, as last night I read the following from Pete Abraham's Yankees blog:

 

"Meanwhile, the Gaylord Opryland is a nightmare of a hotel. They actually print out a map to get to your room when you check in. Here was my route:

Walk 100 yards to an escalator, go up a flight. Go to another escalator and up another flight. Take a specific elevator up two floors, take a right and your room is down that hallway.

It was there - once I walked past 110 rooms. In the time it took me to check in and get to my room here, I could have checked in and played half a shoe of blackjack at The Palms in Vegas.

There is good news, however. When you place your wakeup call, you can have a "popular country music artist" deliver the message. The choices are Trace Adkins, George Jones, Vince Gill, Pam Tillis, Kellie Pickler, Montgomery Gentry or Wynonna.

I have 4,072 songs in my iPod. None by any of those people. Is Montgomery Gentry a person or a department store?"

Also noteworthy from one of his recent entries...

 

There is a redeeming quality to his hotel after all: they stock Diet Coke. But this will become a Red Bull function soon enough.

[MoneyballMan]

It's a fabulous hotel -- we have conventions that go to Nashville once in awhile -- You can literally vacation and never leave the hotel.

 

That is is. I don't know what coverage you have had, but there were already reports today of GMs missing meetings with each other because they got lost in the hotel. From what I've heard down here, the GMs/teams love this hotel...when they're not lost. The media hates it. It can be hard tracking down GMs, front office, players, etc. in this place unless you get lucky or schedule a meeting.

Absolutely - it's a great hotel, but it's HUGE. Almost an entire city under one roof. I could definitely see where GM's could meet without media noticing.

[JJHardy7]

They have all the Christmas stuff set up in the hotel now, which really draws crowds. I went to it this year with family and I'm not huge into light by any means, but I was impressed...by the lights and the fact that families drive hours away to just see the lights. I think it's ideal for GMs though...if they know where they're going. The weather also isn't too bad here right now, but I'm hoping DM is hidden somewhere in the hotel making a deal work...something we haven't even heard as a rumor. My guess is that DM makes a move for a player low on the radar rumor mill. Just remember that.

[TheCouga23]

Players that might fit the bill of a Left handed OF who MIGHT be available or have been discussed on the hot stove are

Chone Figgins

Geoff Jenkins

Brad Hawpe

Nick Swisher

Juan Pierre

Raul Ibanez

Gary Matthews

Shawn Green

Kenny Lofton

David Dejesus

Garrett Anderson

 

 

Id Love to see it be Jeremy Hermedia but I find it unlikely he is available but maybe for the right mix of starting pitching? DeJesus would be prettty exciting. Shawn Green could be decent but he doesnt interest me much. Figgins would be decent but I think would cost far more than he is worth.

Luis Gonzalez deserves to be on that list as well.

 

[MoneyballMan]

They have all the Christmas stuff set up in the hotel now, which really draws crowds. I went to it this year with family and I'm not huge into light by any means, but I was impressed...by the lights and the fact that families drive hours away to just see the lights. I think it's ideal for GMs though...if they know where they're going. The weather also isn't too bad here right now, but I'm hoping DM is hidden somewhere in the hotel making a deal work...something we haven't even heard as a rumor. My guess is that DM makes a move for a player low on the radar rumor mill. Just remember that.

I agree with you on both fronts. That hotel is unbelieveable this time of year with their holiday lights/decorations (and I'm also not usually into that stuff). And also that DM may come up with a deal that no one is expecting. Even with the increased media/blogs/coverage, I also sense that he may come up with something completely out of left field (pun maybe or maybe not intended).