MLB offseason thread

[MichaelWinicki]

OK the 2016 season is over with...

We're on the cusp of free agency and teams have already started making moves.

Let's talk it out!

 

[dogunwo]

OK the 2016 season is over with...

We're on the cusp of free agency and teams have already started making moves.

Let's talk it out!

You aren't wasting any time Mike, lol

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You aren't wasting any time Mike, lol

Didn't last year either.

Right after KC's parade.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Sanchez will be the
Judge and
Didi will get a
Bird and he will watch
Frazier as he's Starlin
Castro with not Gary but
Justus Sheffield

Just to name a few....

I don't know that we buy any big names...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The Astros picked up OF Nori Aoki off waivers from Seattle and traded P Pat Neseck to the Phils.

Aoki is a low-power, gets on base kind of guy. Strictly a LF type. Probably not a starter but who knows.

Neseck was provided the Astros with 2 good seasons of relief. Due to an overabundance of arms in the bull-pen they weren't going to pick up his option for this season. The Phils got a decent arm. The Astros are getting the infamous "player to be named later".

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Here are the players who have received qualifying offers from their respective clubs, which means if they sign elsewhere their club will get a draft pick:

Bautista, Encarnacion,Trumbo, Desmond, Jansen, Turner, Hellickson, Walker, Cespedes, Fowler get qualifying offers

Only 10 received QO's this year as opposed to the 20 of last season.

Free agency starts tomorrow!

 

[Plankton]

I expect either Chapman or Greg Holland to be signed by the Yankees to be their closer.

Starting pitching is next to non-existent in the FA market. If the Yanks are looking to upgrade their rotation, they'll have to do it via trade, or hope that Luis Severino gets his stuff together and James Kaprelian recovers from his arm issue.

 

[DasTex]

I'm interested to see how the Rangers play this out. There is basically 1 year left of Darvish/Hamels combo. Do they go all out for this year or play it out and end up trading Darvish at deadline.

The only way this year is for trades. FA class for pitching is WEAK. Maybe sign Hill to a short term deal, but that's about it besides a reclaim project like volquez.

Need a 2/3 type in rotation, CF, DH, and 1B.

Hill/Volquez/Cashner
Gomez (risky long term, but Demond too $)
Napoli (love him, but wasn't great at end of year so risky)
EE (won't happen, but would be huge and give that big bat we need)
Holiday - DH some OF

 

[Trouty]

The Astros picked up OF Nori Aoki off waivers from Seattle and traded P Pat Neseck to the Phils.

Aoki is a low-power, gets on base kind of guy. Strictly a LF type. Probably not a starter but who knows.

Neseck was provided the Astros with 2 good seasons of relief. Due to an overabundance of arms in the bull-pen they weren't going to pick up his option for this season. The Phils got a decent arm. The Astros are getting the infamous "player to be named later".

I wanted Aoki two seasons ago, when it was clear we weren't going after Gordon, Cespedes, or Heyward, we have butchered our LF position in Halo land.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I thought this was interesting.

Yankees send McCann packing and get two projects.

Pitcher 1 throws 100mph
Pitcher 2 throws over 100mph

I know it's not all about mph but if one can do a little something something in the 9th inning... CLOSER!

 

[Tabascocat]

Mets re-sign Cespedes......4 years-110 million. Quite a lot of coin but we do need his bat.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

With today's signing of Beltran. Last week's signing of Reddick, the acquisition of McCann and the addition of a good OBP guy in Aoki, the Astros have a lineup that can compete with anyone.

In addition they've greatly cut the number of guys who'll K 25% of the time.

They get a little better pitching than last season and they're going to be a load for any team to handle.

 

[Tabascocat]

With today's signing of Beltran. Last week's signing of Reddick, the acquisition of McCann and the addition of a good OBP guy in Aoki, the Astros have a lineup that can compete with anyone.

In addition they've greatly cut the number of guys who'll K 25% of the time.

They get a little better pitching than last season and they're going to be a load for any team to handle.

Pitching wins in the long run, they don't have it.......

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Pitching wins in the long run, they don't have it.......

Not proven yet... No.

Bullpen they're one of the best in the league. Long relief, they've very good.

It's the starting rotation that's an issue.

But they have several "youngsters" that have some skins on the wall in the minors... They only need one of them to take off this season.

 

[Biggems]

I'm ok with the Beltran signing, but the guy I wanted the most this offseason was Encarnacion. He is younger, has more upside right now, and is more versatile. I doubt we still go after him, but if we do, hell yes.

Still, I am pleased with most of our offseason. Just wish we could find a quality lefty for the starting rotation, but so do so many other teams and their fans.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm ok with the Beltran signing, but the guy I wanted the most this offseason was Encarnacion. He is younger, has more upside right now, and is more versatile. I doubt we still go after him, but if we do, hell yes.

Still, I am pleased with most of our offseason. Just wish we could find a quality lefty for the starting rotation, but so do so many other teams and their fans.

Quality starting pitching from either side is the elephant in the room.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Yankees
One year deal $13 mil

Matt Holiday

20 hr
94 hits
.249

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yankees
One year deal $13 mil

Matt Holiday

20 hr
94 hits
.249

It was a good signing by the Yanks.

 

[Doomsday]

Boston Red Sox have acquired ace lefty Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox. Sale, 27, has finished among the top six in the AL Cy Young Award voting in five consecutive seasons. The 6-foot-6 lefty is as dominant and consistent as it gets, and he comes with one of the most team-friendly contracts in the game.

Nice to see my Red Sox improving their pitching, adding a stud lefty is a great move imo.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Nice to see my Red Sox improving their pitching, adding a stud lefty is a great move imo.

That was a big time move for the Red Sox!

For one reason or another these "dream" rotations do not often pan out due to one reason or another.

It will certainly be interesting to watch.