Official 2016 MLB season thread

[lighthousekeeper]

Ralph Branca, former MLB pitcher, who gave up famous HR dies

[Logan]

Cespedes back to the Mets: 4 years, $110 million.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Logan

Cespedes back to the Mets: 4 years, $110 million.

Not bad. The price per year is high, but only 4 years works for me.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Not bad. The price per year is high, but only 4 years works for me.

Yeah, keeping it to 4 years was important and probably cost an extra million or so annually.

He's getting $22.5MM next year and $29MM after that. Guess he was willing to go light in year one after pulling in $27.5MM last season.

[Young Drachma]

MLB lockout avoided: details of new CBA deal | SI.com

[Logan]

Thankfully, the ASG will no longer determine WS home field. It will go to the team with the better record (ingenius!).

[ISiddiqui]

Well with ubiquitous interleague, I guess there was no reason to not go to that (in the past it was because they didn't play each other enough to know if a team with a better record was actually better or did they play in a weaker league).

[ISiddiqui]

A thought... is there is a contingency for when both teams have the same record in the WS?

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

A thought... is there is a contingency for when both teams have the same record in the WS?

Will surely be some kind of tiebreaker to determine it, as they usually do with other ties. But there isn't an official reporting of what will happen yet.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

A thought... is there is a contingency for when both teams have the same record in the WS?

probably will be handled with the other collection of coinflips they do in Early September I'd assume?

[Logan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Well with ubiquitous interleague, I guess there was no reason to not go to that (in the past it was because they didn't play each other enough to know if a team with a better record was actually better or did they play in a weaker league).

I fail to see why what you wrote about the past matters unless your only aim is a perfect solution. If interleague play goes away tomorrow, they should still base it on record. I'll take my chances that over a 162 game season, the team that ends up with the best record will be the optimal solution to awarding home field compared to the ASG crap or simply alternating years.

[Sweed]

I'm glad they got rid of the AS game determining home field. I'm actually surprised they did as IT MAKES SENSE

Having said that as a Cubs fan that idiotic rule helped the Cubs by giving Cleveland home field advantage. It allowed Schwarber to play in 4 games

[molson]

Some other stuff from the agreement:

-the luxury tax threshold goes up, but teams will pay a much higher tax if they go over it.

-Teams that sign a premium free agent will no longer have to give up a first-round draft pick to the team that lost that player. However, teams with payrolls higher than the luxury-tax threshold have to surrender a second-and fifth-round pick. All other teams would be required to forfeit their third-round pick. (Teams that lose a player still get the between-rounds compensatory pick - how high that pick is depends on whether you're in the top or bottom half of markets by size, and whether you're over the luxury tax threshold).

-Smokeless tobacco ban

- Hard salary cap on the total annual dollars that each club can spend to sign foreign-born amateur players.

-4 more off-days during the season for each team

-Increased drug testing including for HGH

-And a bunch of other stuff that isn't known yet involving revenue sharing, pace of game.

[lighthousekeeper]

wow smokeless tobacco ban seems like a big change.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

wow smokeless tobacco ban seems like a big change.

Will this force Markus to implement "Tobacco Withdrawal Syndrome" like we saw in FOF?

[molson]

Oh, and the smokeless tobacco thing will be grandfathered in, it only applies to new players. So in 15 years or so we'll have the random old-guy clinging to the old ways, just like when I was a kid and there was a handful of hockey players who still didn't wear helmets.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by molson

-Teams that sign a premium free agent will no longer have to give up a first-round draft pick to the team that lost that player. However, teams with payrolls higher than the luxury-tax threshold have to surrender a second-and fifth-round pick. All other teams would be required to forfeit their third-round pick. (Teams that lose a player still get the between-rounds compensatory pick - how high that pick is depends on whether you're in the top or bottom half of markets by size, and whether you're over the luxury tax threshold).

That seems like a step in the right direction, but also seems needlessly complicated.

[molson]

Ya, it sounds like a compromise, where they're basically moving numerous sliders back and forth to get to an agreeable spot. But I think that's cool that the union and owners are communicating well these days. Fewer lines that one side or the other just refuse to cross, like the players once did with drug testing and payroll restrictions.

[stevew]

Cutch possibly getting traded to the Nationals. Seems like it would be a good move for the Pirates cause Marte in Center really needs to happen.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Cutch possibly getting traded to the Nationals. Seems like it would be a good move for the Pirates cause Marte in Center really needs to happen.

As a Mets fan, I hope the Nats give up a ton for him and give him a nice expensive long term deal. Maybe last year was just a blip for him but when I see steals going down like that and strikeouts going up, seems like a good indicator of a guy whose best days are on the path of being way behind him.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by Logan

As a Mets fan, I hope the Nats give up a ton for him and give him a nice expensive long term deal. Maybe last year was just a blip for him but when I see steals going down like that and strikeouts going up, seems like a good indicator of a guy whose best days are on the path of being way behind him.

If he can play defense and be better than Ben Revere at the plate, that's all that matters. Lets the Nats put Turner back in the infield where he belongs as well.

[Logan]

Didn't catch that he has a team option for 2018 and won't be a FA like I originally thought so that changes it a bit.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

If he can play defense and be better than Ben Revere at the plate, that's all that matters. Lets the Nats put Turner back in the infield where he belongs as well.

Depending on the price. Defense and below replacement level production doesn't usually cost $14MM plus prospects.

[mckerney]

Whew, they finally got rid of the stupid All Star Game gimmick.

[stevew]

Pretty sure his defense is bad to awful by the advanced metrics. Doesn't seem to be that great at the plate right now either.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by Logan

Depending on the price. Defense and below replacement level production doesn't usually cost $14MM plus prospects.

Players don't usually completely lose it at age 29 after 5 years of being a great player. I'd be willing to bank on him not being the bad player he was last season for a package built around Ross, Fedde, and a position prospect other than Robles.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by stevew

Pretty sure his defense is bad to awful by the advanced metrics. Doesn't seem to be that great at the plate right now either.

He has been pretty bad in the field recently, but still not Ben Revere bad, and his bat was great for 5 years before falling off a cliff last year. I'm okay with buying low with only one year guaranteed remaining on his contract.

The much bigger deal is what they give up to get Chris Sale.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Logan

I fail to see why what you wrote about the past matters unless your only aim is a perfect solution. If interleague play goes away tomorrow, they should still base it on record. I'll take my chances that over a 162 game season, the team that ends up with the best record will be the optimal solution to awarding home field compared to the ASG crap or simply alternating years.

That just doesn't make any sense to me if the teams from the leagues don't play each other. It's like having a series between the MLB champ and Japan's league champ and having it based on which team had the better record.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

That just doesn't make any sense to me if the teams from the leagues don't play each other. It's like having a series between the MLB champ and Japan's league champ and having it based on which team had the better record.

I'll still take something earned on the field, by the teams actually competing in the World Series, and not based on a coin flip or something as dumb as other players not actually participating in the WS driving the outcome.

Again, not looking for perfect. Just optimal.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

Players don't usually completely lose it at age 29 after 5 years of being a great player. I'd be willing to bank on him not being the bad player he was last season for a package built around Ross, Fedde, and a position prospect other than Robles.

FTR, "defense and below replacement level production" was a reference to Revere, not McCutcheon.

I doubt he's as bad as last year either, but like I said, when a guy's SBs steadily fall off a cliff as his strikeout numbers steadily rise, those are ominous signs.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

Players don't usually completely lose it at age 29 after 5 years of being a great player. I'd be willing to bank on him not being the bad player he was last season for a package built around Ross, Fedde, and a position prospect other than Robles.

Usually? No, but it does happen and he hits every red flag with age related decline there is. Walks are down, defense fell off a cliff, and hard contact down. Looks more like the makings of Matt Kemp 2.0 than a 1 year blip.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

That just doesn't make any sense to me if the teams from the leagues don't play each other. It's like having a series between the MLB champ and Japan's league champ and having it based on which team had the better record.

They play 144 games in Japan. We also call it a world series when it isn't quite that inclusive either.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Logan

I'll still take something earned on the field, by the teams actually competing in the World Series, and not based on a coin flip or something as dumb as other players not actually participating in the WS driving the outcome.

Again, not looking for perfect. Just optimal.

And, like I said, if the leagues didn't play each other at all, to me, optimal wouldn't be giving it to the team with the best record because there is no real point of comparison. I'd argue in that case an odd/even or coin flip may be more optimal when lacking knowledge of the relative strength of each league.

[EagleFan]

Best record for WS home field is no different than a coin flip; when the teams don't play anywhere close to the same schedules. Maybe if they eliminate two teams, go back to 28 teams and play each team 6 games (3 home/3 away). There is your 162 games and a level field.

The people wanting it will complain the first time a team playing in a weak division hosts it because they had 1 more win, thanks to bulking up on division wins, than a team that was clearly the better team but was playing in the toughest division.

[claphamsa]

the asking price for mccutcheon is insane, hes not 25 and cheap anymore....I understand the window is small...but this just seems like a bad deal.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by molson

Oh, and the smokeless tobacco thing will be grandfathered in, it only applies to new players. So in 15 years or so we'll have the random old-guy clinging to the old ways, just like when I was a kid and there was a handful of hockey players who still didn't wear helmets.

I doubt it. It's been banned now in the minor leagues for several years. The Tony Gwynn situation scared a lot of players. Also, there's a good chunk of ML cities that already have banned smokeless tobacco sales. If anything, I think baseball is doing it because most of the work has already been done and it's not too tough to implement at this point.

Smokeless tobacco might be far less common among big league newcomers | Fox News

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Best record for WS home field is no different than a coin flip; when the teams don't play anywhere close to the same schedules. Maybe if they eliminate two teams, go back to 28 teams and play each team 6 games (3 home/3 away). There is your 162 games and a level field.

The people wanting it will complain the first time a team playing in a weak division hosts it because they had 1 more win, thanks to bulking up on division wins, than a team that was clearly the better team but was playing in the toughest division.

Yep exactly. It may not have mattered all that much this year (the Cubs played a weaker division, but had far more wins than Cleveland), but can anyone really tell me, when looking at their divisions, that Washington was a better team than Boston even though they won 2 more games?

[MizzouRah]

Bye bye Jamie!

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Bye bye Jamie!

That guy was frustrating. So much potential. Always hurt.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by tarcone

That guy was frustrating. So much potential. Always hurt.

Agreed... to me at times, almost looked like he didn't really care too much out there on the mound, but that's just me probably. I do wish him well in Atlanta but glad he's gone.

[Young Drachma]

Now the World Series team with the better record will host Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, a common-sense solution that ends the charade of tying the outcome of an exhibition to the sport’s signature event. If the teams have identical records, the first tiebreaker would be head-to-head record; the second, divisional record.

Baseball Labor Deal Turns All-Star Game Back Into an Exhibition

[Young Drachma]

Shohei Otani eyeing move to MLB after 2017 season

Otani went 10-4 as a pitcher and batted .322 with a career-high 22 home runs this season for the Fighters, earning Pacific League MVP honors.



Otani became the first player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to secure a spot on the Pacific League's Best Nine team as a pitcher and designated hitter and is credited with throwing the fastest pitch in NPB history at 165 kph (102 mph).

[Neuqua]

Supposedly the Cubs have been monitoring him for a while now.

[Logan]

Sale to Boston for Moncada, Kopech, and two other prospects.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Logan

Sale to Boston for Moncada, Kopech, and two other prospects.

Looks like Basabe & Victor Diaz, so not the Armageddon of including Swihart/Devers/Groome I wouldn't put past Dombrowski.

I think Moncada is overrated due to having a sexy game (like Devers better at 3B & it's not like we should need any OF'ers or a 2B for a few years) and Kopech could still easily flame out or end up in the bullpen, so I like this trade in a vacuum. It's just terrible when you combine it with trading Espinoza for Pomeranz and Margot/Asuaja/Allen for Kimbrel (and not reversing the Pomeranz deal when we had a chance due to Preller's shadiness.)

Team should be fun to watch the next 3-4 years because it'll be carried by the young core, but I really enjoyed using our financial muscle to have the best player development system in baseball and a homegrown core instead of trying to chase super teams. Because those always work out so well

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Looks like Basabe & Victor Diaz, so not the Armageddon of including Swihart/Devers/Groome I wouldn't put past Dombrowski.

I think Moncada is overrated due to having a sexy game (like Devers better at 3B & it's not like we should need any OF'ers or a 2B for a few years) and Kopech could still easily flame out or end up in the bullpen, so I like this trade in a vacuum. It's just terrible when you combine it with trading Espinoza for Pomeranz and Margot/Asuaja/Allen for Kimbrel (and not reversing the Pomeranz deal when we had a chance due to Preller's shadiness.)

Team should be fun to watch the next 3-4 years because it'll be carried by the young core, but I really enjoyed using our financial muscle to have the best player development system in baseball and a homegrown core instead of trying to chase super teams. Because those always work out so well

Getting Sale is big. It's going to come down to whether or not his arm slot leads to significant shoulder/elbow problems sometime soon. I watch him pitch and it just looks like a ticking time bomb ready to blow. Healthy he's a true ace and gives the Red Sox a really nice rotation.

I think Moncada is #1 prospect in baseball good. He has an advanced approach for his age, has developing power, and the upside is off the charts. Kopech was the best pitcher in the AFL this year, but he has to show he has at least some command and the ability to throw more than 100 innings per year.

All in all I think it's a good risk for the Red Sox and a hell of a return by the White Sox for a player they desperately needed to move for prospects like this.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Getting Sale is big. It's going to come down to whether or not his arm slot leads to significant shoulder/elbow problems sometime soon. I watch him pitch and it just looks like a ticking time bomb ready to blow. Healthy he's a true ace and gives the Red Sox a really nice rotation.

Seems like it's less about his arm slot and more his timing and mechanics. He loads up his shoulder and elbow more than average which has the benefit of giving him greater whiplash action of his arm coming through the delivery, but putting greater stress on the joints. The mechanics aren't the same, but he does lift his elbow way up and swing his shoulder far back similar to guys like Mark Prior, Joel Zumaya, Anthony Reyes and others.

[RainMaker]

I think it's a good trade for both teams. White Sox got the best possible haul they could ask for from a team. Red Sox got a true ace under control for a few years.

Assuming now that the Sox move Frazier, Robertson and maybe Quintana. A Quintana/Robertson deal to the Nationals would make a lot of sense.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sounds like the Wade Davis trade rumors are heating up. Looks like the Cubs and Nationals are the main suitors. Would think that the Nationals would be able to provide a better deal for the Royals.

[Drake]

I've wanted Sale for like 3 years, so I'm just going to rubber stamp this one.

This is one of those rare fan moments (personally) when there's a guy you love to watch play the game and he suddenly lands on your team. Probably the only thing that would have made me happier would have been a bizarro-universe deal that brought Kershaw to the Red Sox.