2013-14 MLB Off Season Thread

[claphamsa]

brad, when did you move to VA?

[heybrad]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

brad, when did you move to VA?

August, 2012. I'm working in McLean now.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by heybrad

August, 2012. I'm working in McLean now.

welcome to the neighborhood!

[Logan]

I laughed very hard...

A Look Into The Future: Robinson Cano, 2022 pic.twitter.com/1U68VmhXuG

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) December 6, 2013

[sterlingice]

I guess all that "boo"ing at the All Star Game kept him from coming to Kansas City. That and about $120M.

(I forget which national writer said that the whole "boo Cano" thing would keep the Royals from signing free agents in the future... like the great track record they have of signing them in the past. And how players pretty much go for, well, the most bucks)

SI

[miked]

I don't understand why the M's would splurge so much for one player when they are like 10 players away from competing. And why would Cano turn down (reportedly) an 8 year deal from the Yanks, a team that will be competing for the playoffs every season for an extra 2 years from a team lucky to make the playoffs once or twice in that span. It's just such a bad match.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by heybrad

Have any giant contracts in baseball ever really worked out?

Honestly Manny's probably turned out the best, and he went unclaimed on irrevocable waivers in the middle of it, and was traded before the end of it. (You can also argue about how much steroids helped him perform/hold up.) A-Rod and Sabathias 1st contracts looked good, but the opt-outs killed the Yankees both times. Matt Holliday's holding up very well over halfway through a 7 year deal. Not sure if you count the Carlos Gonzalez, Evan Longoria, or initial Albert Pujols deals, but all were 7+ years and around 100 million and turned out very well, and we could probably find a couple more in that vein (young, arb/pre-arb player locked up by his own team). Have any FA's signed to 7+ year deals after the age of 30 worked out? No.

[Arles]

Yeah, Holliday signed a 7-year, $120 mil deal starting in 2010. Since that contract, he has hit .306/.389/.520 (.910 OPS) and a combined WAR of 16.6 through the first 4 seasons. $17 mil for a 4 WAR guy seems pretty reasonable in today's market (although it is on the high side).

However, I will say that one advantage of the Holliday contract was not deciding to sign Pujols. By letting Pujols walk, the Cards didn't pay him $20+ for 10 years, got a pick that turned into Wacha, signed Beltran for 2 very good years and will now get a pick when Beltran signs. Had the team not have extended Holliday, there would have been a ton of pressure to sign Pujols.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Cards offered Pujols 10 years 210 million, so let's not act like they weren't fortunate there was a greater fool out there.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Cards offered Pujols 10 years 210 million, so let's not act like they weren't fortunate there was a greater fool out there.

They probably would have given Pujols the $230 mil he wanted to stay if Holliday had left.

[BillJasper]

I think the Yankees dodged a huge bullet.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I think the Yankees dodged a huge bullet.

Its possible but now what are they going to do? Cano did his best to hold them together on the offensive end last year now he is gone.

Cano's stats will nosedive in Seattle. Wouldnt be my first choice if I was a power hitting 2nd baseman and wanted to keep building my legacy. Of course the 240 million is nice compensation for the loss of a few dozen home runs he will likely lose out on from the park differential.

[ISiddiqui]

Well, they are going to McCann and Ellsbery it .

And maybe use some Cano money for pitching.

[claphamsa]

Nate McLouth, Washington Nationals agree on two years, $10.75M - ESPN

I do not see how this helps...

[cuervo72]

That's a lot for a bench player. Though I guess they may be banking on Werth and/or Harper getting injured again (probably a safe bet).

[claphamsa]

would rather see Tyler Moore get a real chance!

[Jas_lov]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Well, they are going to McCann and Ellsbery it .

And maybe use some Cano money for pitching.

And now Carlos Beltran, 3 years/$45 million. They've got a crowded outfield now with Elsbury, Beltran, Soriano and Gardner.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

And now Carlos Beltran, 3 years/$45 million. They've got a crowded outfield now with Elsbury, Beltran, Soriano and Gardner.

Reds will get Gardner when they trade the Yankees Phillips. Pieces have all fallen into place.

[cartman]

Maybe they are going to pull off this crazy shift:

Soriano in left, Ellsbury in left center, Gardner in center left, Beltran in center right, Ichiro in right center, and Vernon Wells in right

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by cartman

Maybe they are going to pull off this crazy shift:

Soriano in left, Ellsbury in left center, Gardner in center left, Beltran in center right, Ichiro in right center, and Vernon Wells in right

And Jeter manning the entire infield

SI

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

And Jeter manning the entire infield

SI

Unfortunately for him the new gold glove voting uses advanced stats. Otherwise he'd win 4 gold gloves.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Unfortunately for him the new gold glove voting uses advanced stats. Otherwise he'd win 4 gold gloves.

Yeah, so the stats will cause them to only give him 3 and give one to Texeira at DH?

SI

[Logan]

Wonder if Beltran used the Royals to get that third year out of the Yankees. He's always wanted to play there, going back to when he reluctantly signed with the Mets when they wouldn't give him a deal.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Are they thinking of moving Soriano back to 2B? That would be amazing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Joe Torre, Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox elected to Hall of Fame - ESPN

[cartman]

Roy Halladay signed a one-day deal with Toronto to retire as a Blue Jay.

Roy Halladay retiring Monday as Toronto Blue Jay - ESPN

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by cartman

Roy Halladay signed a one-day deal with Toronto to retire as a Blue Jay.

Roy Halladay retiring Monday as Toronto Blue Jay - ESPN

Damn. He might be my favorite baseball player who never played for my team. As many here could corroborate, I traded for him in every OOTP league I was ever in.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Are they thinking of moving Soriano back to 2B? That would be amazing.

Going to trade Gardner for a 2nd baseman. Phillips maybe.

Soriano at 2nd would be pure entertainment. It was actually quite funny in the years he could still move.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Damn. That would have been downright comical.

[cartman]

Scott Feldman to the Astros for 3yr/$30 million.

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by cartman

Roy Halladay signed a one-day deal with Toronto to retire as a Blue Jay.

Roy Halladay retiring Monday as Toronto Blue Jay - ESPN

Sad how it ended, he deserved better than for his body to fail him so quickly.

[oykib]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Going to trade Gardner for a 2nd baseman. Phillips maybe.

Soriano at 2nd would be pure entertainment. It was actually quite funny in the years he could still move.

As a Yankee fan, I want no part of Phillips. I'd be happier with Kelly Johnson all year.

[Subby]

http://www.mlb.com/pa/releases/relea...content=120913

Statement from MLBPA executive director Tony Clark on Hall of Fame Expansion Era Committee election results

MLBPA/MLB News Release

NEW YORK -- The following statement was issued today by Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark regarding the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's Expansion Era Committee election results:

"Words cannot adequately describe the level of disappointment and disbelief I felt when learning that once again the Hall of Fame has chosen to ignore Marvin Miller and his unparalleled contributions to the growth and prosperity of Major League Baseball. Over the past 50 years, no individual has come close to matching Marvin's impact on the sport. He proved to all involved in Major League Baseball, and to outside observers, that a healthy collective bargaining environment would benefit all the game's stakeholders. Today, players, owners, front office personnel, fans and the media owe Marvin a debt of gratitude. Despite the election results, Marvin's legacy remains intact, and will only grow stronger, while the credibility of the Hall of Fame continues to suffer."

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Subby

http://www.mlb.com/pa/releases/relea...content=120913

Statement from MLBPA executive director Tony Clark on Hall of Fame Expansion Era Committee election results

MLBPA/MLB News Release

NEW YORK -- The following statement was issued today by Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark regarding the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's Expansion Era Committee election results:

"Words cannot adequately describe the level of disappointment and disbelief I felt when learning that once again the Hall of Fame has chosen to ignore Marvin Miller and his unparalleled contributions to the growth and prosperity of Major League Baseball. Over the past 50 years, no individual has come close to matching Marvin's impact on the sport. He proved to all involved in Major League Baseball, and to outside observers, that a healthy collective bargaining environment would benefit all the game's stakeholders. Today, players, owners, front office personnel, fans and the media owe Marvin a debt of gratitude. Despite the election results, Marvin's legacy remains intact, and will only grow stronger, while the credibility of the Hall of Fame continues to suffer."

Miller is so obviously blackballed by the old guard owners.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

Nate McLouth, Washington Nationals agree on two years, $10.75M - ESPN

I do not see how this helps...

AdamKilgoreWP 4:39pm via Twitter for iPhone
Mike Rizzo's motivation to sign McLouth: Nats' fourth OF averaged 80 games the past three years. Wants to preserve Werth, too.

[Young Drachma]

Kudos to Doc Halladay. Too bad Jays could never get into the post-season with him, but glad he got some post-season experience and was able to shine in a US market before he retired.

[tucker rocky]

Reports of a 3-team trade involving Angels, Chi WS, an Arz.

Trumbo going to Arz, other players involved.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by cartman

Roy Halladay signed a one-day deal with Toronto to retire as a Blue Jay.

Roy Halladay retiring Monday as Toronto Blue Jay - ESPN

I heard he wanted to sign a one-day deal with the Phillies, but Ruben Amaro insisted the contract be at least 3 years.

Angels just fleeced Kevin Towers (depending on the PTBNL). Skaggs for Trumbo, with other parts floating around. I guess it could have been worse - the initial rumor was Skaggs and Cahill for Trumbo. Red Sox really should have traded Will Middlebrooks after 2012...

[tucker rocky]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

I heard he wanted to sign a one-day deal with the Phillies, but Ruben Amaro insisted the contract be at least 3 years.

Angels just fleeced Kevin Towers (depending on the PTBNL). Skaggs for Trumbo, with other parts floating around. I guess it could have been worse - the initial rumor was Skaggs and Cahill for Trumbo. Red Sox really should have traded Will Middlebrooks after 2012...

Adam Eaton is going from Arz, to ChiWS.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10...angeles-angels

[Vince, Pt. II]

Eaton and Skaggs for Trumbo and PTBNLs? Do the Diamondbacks know something about Eaton and Skaggs that the rest of the world doesn't?

[claphamsa]

apparently Mark Prior has retired... who knew he was still playing!

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

apparently Mark Prior has retired... who knew he was still playing!

I heard he signed a one-day deal with the Cubs and was then placed on the DL.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Eaton and Skaggs for Trumbo and PTBNLs? Do the Diamondbacks know something about Eaton and Skaggs that the rest of the world doesn't?

I hope not. I don't know Santiago's contract but if he's about to hit arb (he might be a year away), the Angels freed up about $4 M in this deal, based on arb projections for Trumbo. That means they will have around $10 M or even more under the luxury tax to pursue either a DH replacement of Trumbo or to go after more starting pitching.

While I think that would be putting a lot of faith in a young pitcher in Skaggs and a control-deficient starter in Santiago, the Angels could at least concerivably have a solid rotation if these two pitch well enough.

Of course, no depth and three pitchers (counting Richards) under 25 and with little experience in your rotation is not exactly the recipe for success. But at least it's a forward looking move.

Now if only they stopped with this fascination to acquire flyball pitchers.

[Vince, Pt. II]

A's trade Brett Anderson to the Rockies for Drew Pomeranz.

First blush is what are the A's thinking?

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

First blush is what are the A's thinking?

Probably happy that they were able to get something for a guy that hasn't made more than 20 starts in a season since his rookie year. He's a free agent after next year so they needed to move him now before he ends up on the DL again early next year.

They weren't in a position to maximize his value so it's best to get a usable piece when you can.

[Atocep]

I guess I never noticed how high Trumbo's grit tool is.

[sterlingice]

I definitely don't get the trade for the DBacks but Towers had made some headscratchers in the last couple of years

SI

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Eaton and Skaggs for Trumbo and PTBNLs? Do the Diamondbacks know something about Eaton and Skaggs that the rest of the world doesn't?

I'm not sure any of these guys are any good. Eaton has been hurt all the time and had marginal success and Skaggs was OK in both the majors and minors last year. At least Trumbo has shown he can play (albeit they bought high on him).

If Arizona can sign a decent FA OF, they make out pretty well here. The bloom is off the rose on Skaggs (unless you just play him in AAA).

[cartman]

Mark Mulder is going to attempt a comeback. And with the amount of money getting thrown around to marginal pitching, can't say I'd blame him. It almost makes me want to go and get shoulder surgery and see what's left in my 41 year old arm.

Mark Mulder attempting a return to the mound - ESPN

[cartman]

Dola,

So the MLB and NPB have agreed to a new posting system. The max bid is $20 million, and if more than 1 team ties with the highest bid, the player can negotiate with any of the tied teams.

After Yu's old team got $50 million, not sure why the Japanese league agreed to a max of $20 million.

MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball agree to new posting system - ESPN