2012 MLB hot Stove

[MaineDolFan]

The problem with Dickey is this:  He is a knuckleballer.

The Jays got taken for a ride a little bit on this one, I'm afraid. 

Dickey is coming off a good season, yes.  He is a lifetime .500 pitcher (okay, slightly over at 61-56) and his ERA is almost at 4.00.  Prior to these past two seasons, where he posted 200 IP, he never came close to those marks.  The highest IP ever for him was 174.  The highest mark to that?  116! 

This isn't a kid with a ton of potential who finally "figured it out."  This is a 38 year old junk ball pitcher who dazzled for one season with smoke and mirrors and hood winkled himself into a big contract over it. 

The season before he was 8-13 with a 3.28 ERA (not bad at all), but a 1.277 WHIP and 8.7 hits per 9. 

I'm not saying Dickey is a bad pitcher.  Not at all.  A knuckleballer with a lifetime ERA under 4?  That's pretty darm great.  I think he a fantastic piece to the overall puzzle in Toronto.  He's the 4 there, not the 2, and they gave up too much to get him.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Even if Dickey isn't legit and he used smoke and mirrors, MLB is the one sport where it's athletes can't pick up on things through tape, they need to experience it first hand. So, he has at least one year of "I've never seen THAT before, I guess I will strike out now" before they figure him out, if that's not the case.

I don't think that's the case, I think he is legit. He only started throwing the knuckleball in 2008 as a last resort and after two rocky seasons with Seattle and Minnesota, he went to the Mets and did well for 3 consecutive seasons. ERA's of 2.84, 3.28 and 2.73 in 3 straight seasons, with each season better than the last.

I fear he will just keep going and the Blue Jays are winning the division this year, almost by default. Not like the Yankees are trying and the Sox are rebuilding and the Orioles had a fluky season.

[bsfins]

Red Sox Aquired Joel Hanrahan from the Pirates
According to John Heyman tweet,Ken rosenthal,and Gorden edes tweets
#pirates will get 4 players in trade that is being finalized. They include sands and pimental. #hanrahan

Hanrahan trade is 6-player deal as constituted. 4 to pitts, 2 to bos.

Ken Rosenthal..
#RedSox indeed close to acquiring Hanrahan from #Pirates. FIrst reported by @gordonedes.

Cubs signed two more pitchers,Carlos Villanueva,and Edwin Jackson... officially signed Nate Schierholtz yesterday...

[EDGECRUSHER]

Hope Boston didn't give up too much for a 1 year rental. Wait, I'm a Yankee fan. Of course I hope they gave up a lot. Closers are very overrated, unless you don't have one who can go 3 opportunities without blowing a save, so I understand what the Red Sox are doing.

[MaineDolFan]

Great, Boston got a closer.  You know, for those 13 games where they are leading in the 9th.  He'll look great with the other over priced closer they already have (Bailey).  Good thing they aren't stock piling weird positions like closer (2) or catcher (4), or first basemen (3).  Speaking of, why are they going into ST with seven OF?

[EDGECRUSHER]

The Yankees don't have one catcher. I doubt a trade will occur between the two sides.

I didn't see the prospects, did they give up a lot to get him?

[MaineDolFan]

Nope.  Actually it was a good deal for both sides.

"Boston completed the trade Wednesday, also receiving infielder Brock Holt. The Red Sox gave up right-handers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and first baseman-outfielder Jerry Sands."

From:

http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-12-26/joel-hanrahan-trade-red-sox-acquire-pirates-closer-in-six-player-deal

[EDGECRUSHER]

Mark Melancon! Still waiting for him to dominate like he was supposed to. I don't think it's going to happen.