MLB Offseason Thread

[MichaelWinicki]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/...-free-agents-with-predictions.html#more-58933

1. David Price – Cubs. Seven years, $217MM.

2. Jason Heyward – Yankees. Ten years, $200MM.

3. Zack Greinke – Dodgers. Six years, $156MM

4. Justin Upton – Nationals. Seven years, $147MM.

5. Chris Davis – Cardinals. Six years, $144MM

6. Yoenis Cespedes – Angels. Six years, $140MM

7. Jordan Zimmermann – Blue Jays. Six years, $126MM

8. Johnny Cueto – Red Sox. Five years, $115MM.

9. Alex Gordon – Royals. Five years, $105MM.

10. Ian Desmond – Mets. Five years, $80MM.

Interesting list... I could see several teams ruing those contracts in 3 years... or less!

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Interesting list... I could see several teams ruing those contracts in 3 years... or less!

Right. Very rarely do these mega contracts look good long term but teams keep giving them. Too me thats an indication that there is PLENTY of money for all teams. Maybe not as much for some teams as others but they can spend when they want too.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Right. Very rarely do these mega contracts look good long term but teams keep giving them. Too me thats an indication that there is PLENTY of money for all teams. Maybe not as much for some teams as others but they can spend when they want too.

Oh I agree. I think there is plenty of money in the well.

If the Cubs added Price and the Cards added Davis... that would make that division very interesting.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Oh I agree. I think there is plenty of money in the well.

If the Cubs added Price and the Cards added Davis... that would make that division very interesting.

I wonder if the Pirates would do anything big too?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I wonder if the Pirates would do anything big too?

I don't know.

Maybe.

I have a soft spot for the Pirates... Never really a big fan, but their games were piped into our area in the late 70's.

They then tanked for what like 20 years?

I hope they don't fall off the map in that division.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I don't know.

Maybe.

I have a soft spot for the Pirates... Never really a big fan, but their games were piped into our area in the late 70's.

They then tanked for what like 20 years?

I hope they don't fall off the map in that division.

Me and some friends used to have these Pirates hats in the 70's. They sold MLB team caps at ToysRUs I remember. We would get different team hats with our mowing lawn money. I remember having the Pirates and Yankees, but dont remember what other teams. We thot those Pirates hats were really neat.

 

[Biggems]

Astros need some bats.

they have plenty of bats.....they just need to acquire discipline. Far too often they chase bad pitches, while taking quality strikes. What they need is a great hitting coach, one that will absolutely challenge them to be more consistent hitters.

They also need to find a way to keep a lot of their talent going into next year.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

they have plenty of bats.....they just need to acquire discipline. Far too often they chase bad pitches, while taking quality strikes.

Easier said than done.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Easier said than done.

That's exactly right.

Once these guys have hit their early 20's their approach to hitting isn't going to change (much)... no matter who the hitting coach is.

For decades hitting coaches have been trying to help guys like Chris Davis, Evan Gattis and Chris Carter cut down on their K's and it might work for a week or two, but soon they'll be back to how they were doing it before.

They are what they are.

And to make it even more difficult there isn't the stigma of striking out like there was 30 years ago, and with strikeout totals rocketing there just isn't the pressure to change one's approach to hitting.

The result is the Astros aren't a hitting coach away from a more disciplined club... they're players away from it.

The Astros have a half-dozen guys that strikeout at high to very high rates... I'd like to see at least 2 of them moved for hitters that have more control.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

That's exactly right.

Once these guys have hit their early 20's their approach to hitting isn't going to change (much)... no matter who the hitting coach is.

For decades hitting coaches have been trying to help guys like Chris Davis, Evan Gattis and Chris Carter cut down on their K's and it might work for a week or two, but soon they'll be back to how they were doing it before.

They are what they are.

BINGO!

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

That's a very good point... I had not thought of that.

He could take the offer. That's almost twice what he received this season and I'm just not sure how high anyone is going to go for him. He a typical Astro at this point... some power, but with a low average and doesn't take a lot of walks.

Rasmus accepts the QO. First player to ever accept it.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/157183486/colby-rasmus-accepts-qualifying-offer

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Rasmus accepts the QO. First player to ever accept it.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/157183486/colby-rasmus-accepts-qualifying-offer

Wow!

I was just thinking... Geez, it seems like it's been several days... we should be hearing something.

So... who's next?

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Wow!

I was just thinking... Geez, it seems like it's been several days... we should be hearing something.

So... who's next?

Yankees want Chen


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...ous-run-wei-yin-chen-source-article-1.2431723

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yankees want Chen


http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...ous-run-wei-yin-chen-source-article-1.2431723

Well, wanting him and...


You know.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Now with Rasmus under contract it comes down to what are the Astros going to do with Gattis and Chris Carter.

Gattis shouldn't be a full-time DH, and Carter? Maybe just against lefties... certainly he's not an everyday type of player... at least not in my world.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Well, wanting him and...


You know.

Id like to keep him but only if he doesnt come at a high price. His numbers are good, but I dont think he's as good as his stats would indicate. He's good for 6 innings or less typically.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Id like to keep him but only if he doesnt come at a high price. His numbers are good, but I dont think he's as good as his stats would indicate. He's good for 6 innings or less typically.

Yeah, I view him as a #3... and that's about it. He's not trash, but he's not an upper echelon guy either. The one thing that's in his favor is that he's a lefty... and the Yankees desperately need one of those. I would just like to see a guy who's a #1 or #2.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Yeah, I view him as a #3... and that's about it. He's not trash, but he's not an upper echelon guy either. The one thing that's in his favor is that he's a lefty... and the Yankees desperately need one of those. I would just like to see a guy who's a #1 or #2.

Right, his value is in being a lefty.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Angel-ton! Say halo to LA's slick new SS
Halos send top two prospects, Aybar to Atlanta for premier shortstop



The Angels locked up the game's premier defensive shortstop for the next five years on Thursday, but as Billy Eppler said, "This deal did not come without a level of pain."

In his first major move as the Angels' general manager, Eppler acquired renowned 26-year-old Andrelton Simmons from the Braves and paid a heavy price. In exchange, he parted with starting-pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis, as well as veteran shortstopErick Aybar. Newcomb is No. 19 on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, Ellis was the club's No. 2 prospect and Aybar has been very much the Angels' heart and soul for the better part of the last decade

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Angel-ton! Say halo to LA's slick new SS
Halos send top two prospects, Aybar to Atlanta for premier shortstop



The Angels locked up the game's premier defensive shortstop for the next five years on Thursday, but as Billy Eppler said, "This deal did not come without a level of pain."

In his first major move as the Angels' general manager, Eppler acquired renowned 26-year-old Andrelton Simmons from the Braves and paid a heavy price. In exchange, he parted with starting-pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis, as well as veteran shortstopErick Aybar. Newcomb is No. 19 on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, Ellis was the club's No. 2 prospect and Aybar has been very much the Angels' heart and soul for the better part of the last decade

If I were a Brave's fan, I would like this deal.

The Angels picked up a heck of a glove, but there farm system is now empty. They're going to have to rely on free agency now. Personally I don't see them being able to hang with either Houston or Texas the next few seasons.