MLB Thread

[Frank Drebin]

No way is Jason Hayward worth 200 mil......

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>So far around 50 writers have made their HOF ballots public and Ken Griffey Jr. is on every single one of them (rightly so).

Wonder who will be the one dickhead who submits a blank ballot just to avoid having a unanimous HOFer.</font>

[Frank Drebin]

Anyone who does that is risking getting their voting privileges revoked.

[Damian Rey]

No way is Jason Hayward worth 200 mil......

How many RIBBIES does he have?

[Frank Drebin]

Bwahhhhh!!! *snort* He only hit, like, 15 homerz too. They paid him like he was Delmon Young. Lollllll

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Anyone who does that is risking getting their voting privileges revoked.

And risking Swatter attack.

[Evil Vito]

Anyone who does that is risking getting their voting privileges revoked.

<font color=goldenrod>I wish. The BBWAA have removed a ton of people who haven't actively covered the game for over a decade and banned people like Dan LeBetard who have let other people pick their ballots. But as far as I know, they don't restrict otherwise.

There are still some writers who won't vote for any 90's-era player. And then there's the "if Babe Ruth wasn't a unanimous HOFer, nobody is!" camp.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mike Leake to the Cardinals. 5 years, $80 million with a mutual option for a 6th year. Full no-trade clause.</font>

[Frank Drebin]

Used to wish I was left handed and could throw 100. Now I just wish I could throw 88.

[road doggy dogg]

I wish I could throw 40

\_0__/

[Damian Rey]

I threw mid 80s a few years ago. Then something happened in my forearm not Tommy John related, and now I have to finesse my way through lineups at about 55mph.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets sign Alejandro de Aza to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal.

As a bench guy he's an improvement over what they have...but I think the Mets are intending on platooning him as a left-handed complement to Lagares in CF. Problem is, de Aza can't play CF.

Would have rather just gone for Span or Parra.</font>

[Evil Vito]

https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=F2E5D8FC5199DFAF!7156&ithint=file%2cxlsx&app=Excel&authkey=!AC7uZHAmcVGWgwE

<font color=goldenrod>Here was the HOF tracker I was talking about. Griffey still batting 1.000 with 90 ballots public.

Looking very promising for Piazza. Bagwell and Raines in good position too but still a ways to go. Hoffman needs a late surge.</font>

[ClockShot]

John Smoltz will be in the booth with Joe Buck calling MLB games for FOX.

I guess it's a semi-upgrade over McCarver and whoever else they had after he left.

[Frank Drebin]

I threw mid 80s a few years ago. Then something happened in my forearm not Tommy John related, and now I have to finesse my way through lineups at about 55mph.

What up, Tony Saunders

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Damn, De Aza's deal is actually for $5.75 million guaranteed with incentives that could take him up to over $7 million.

Forget him being primarily a bench guy...that's clearly starter money. Their offseason spending on hitters is over.

RF Granderson
2B Walker
3B Wright
1B Duda
C d'Arnaud
SS Cabrera/Flores
LF Conforto
CF De Aza/Lagares

I still think they can compete with that lineup especially with the pitching. One or two injuries though and they're right back to where they were last year pre-Cespedes trade. Problem is I don't know what other choice they have. They can break the bank to bring in Cespedes, Upton, or Gordon but none of them can play CF on a regular basis.</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

What team wouldn't fall apart with major injuries?

[ClockShot]

Cubs release Brendan Ryan.

If that's the case then why not the Castro/Warren trade be a straight up 1-for-1?

[Frank Drebin]

Guessing they just viewed him as the last man on the 40. Might have been the best use of that spot at the time but they wanted to give someone else a look. This is the point in the year when that spot gets DFA'd, then reacquired, then DFA'd again for what seems like no reason.

[Nicky Fives]

Cubs release Brendan Ryan.

If that's the case then why not the Castro/Warren trade be a straight up 1-for-1?

Maybe Yanks wanted to get rid of him?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Daniel Murphy to the Nats on a 3 year deal. Writing was pretty much on the wall with that one.

Oh well. Here's hoping he Murphs things up defensively like he always does.</font>

[ClockShot]

Chatter going around is that the Yankees are close to getting Aroldis Chapman from the Reds.

This I did not see coming. Although it's probably gonna cost a lot.

[Innovator]

CMON CASHMAN MAKE IT HAPPEN

[ClockShot]

Done deal, according to Ken "The Bowtie" Rosenthal.

Details coming soon.

[ClockShot]

Yanks sending over 4 from the farm. But none of our top guys. Phew.

[ClockShot]

And RAB has crashed.

[Innovator]

THATS MY KIND OF HOT STOVE

[ClockShot]

Yankees sending over Rookie Davis, Tony Renda, Caleb Cotham, and Eric Jagielo.

Losing Jagielo hurts because he was gonna be our 3B replacement for A-Rod down the road.

[Simple Fan]

I thought the Reds had already traded him to the Dodgers, was that just talk. I know they got rid of Fraizer.

[Emperor Smeat]

I thought the Reds had already traded him to the Dodgers, was that just talk. I know they got rid of Fraizer.

Got put on hold and later voided because of the recent domestic charges accusations.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Welp, Yanks should win every single game that they have a lead after 6.</font>

[ClockShot]

Sports guys are saying that the Yankees plan to keep Andrew Miller. Which would be awesome. But I just don't see that happening. We'll see how this goes when March rolls around.

Although, 4 guys for a season's worth of service from Chapman seems a little steep. Unless we're gonna offer him a fair extension. And we still gotta wait and see if MLB Investigations hand down some sort of penalty from this domestic violence thing.

[Simple Fan]

I'll take it. I hate that the Reds are selling off all their top players but I'd rather them sell them to the Yankees if they are. Just hope Chapman stays healthy in New York and out of trouble. Friend of mines going to be pissed about it, he uses the Reds in 2k and Chapman's hard as hell to hit and I use the Yankees.

[ClockShot]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Out of all the relievers in MLB last season, only 3 struck out more than 100 batters.

They all wear pinstripes now. <a href="https://t.co/7pOkI3jPBH">pic.twitter.com/7pOkI3jPBH</a></p>&mdash; YES Network (@YESNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/681607657552134144">December 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Aroldis Chapman suspended for the entire 2016 season for his domestic violence case.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Just kidding. But wouldn't that be quite the swerve?</font>

[weather vane]

Wow. I died reading that. Haha. Got me.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Congrats Jon Heyman on the dumbest HOF ballot of all time.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CXbCN2JU0AAU5Mb.png

You can argue all you want about letting in steroid guys (namely Bonds and Clemens) vs. not letting them in all you want. But you can't vote for one and not the other. That's just stupid.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Seems like his reasoning for Bonds vs Clemens is almost the same everyone has with both guys. Bonds arguably was already Hall worthy before the roids and handled the accusations better than others. Clemens hurt his reputation and image a lot with the lawsuit and Congressional stuff like a lot of other famous roided guys who tried to fight back and failed badly.

Only real big surprise is him caving to the unwritten "No Roided Guys Ever" a lot of voters have regardless if those players non-roided period is good enough for legit considerations.

[Damian Rey]

On the Chapman deal....feel like the Reds were desperate to move him. The package they got is more quantity than anything. Reading maybe one major league reliever and average every day guy, maybe. Perhaps the pending domestic violence issue forced them into a corner and they had to make due.

On the Yankees end, they give up very little bit inherent a ton of risk. With the domestic violence issues looming, a possible if not probable suspension hanging over Chapman, this could blow up on them. If he's suspended 50 games, that's a third of the year they have to go without. And in case it hasn't been mentioned, this is a one and deal for New York. Sure they could resign him, but the obvious plan is to try and maximize his value now beforehaving to pay market value.

Also doesn't look good from a public relations standpoint. You know the guy is recently accused of domestic violence, you know he's a possible suspension candidaten which hurts his overall value to the club, and you bring him in anyway without knowing exactly how that's all going to turn out.

Even though they didn't give up anything it's a lot risk given Chapman is only going to give them less than 70 innings over 162 games to begin with. Now there's a chance that total is cut by almost a third and there's no way of knowing before it actually happens.

We shall see. At least it's interesting.

[ClockShot]

We're already dealing with the bullshit from the A-Rod roids scandal. Public relations doesn't even faze us.


As far as workload goes, sure he probably won't be racking up the saves because he's splitting time with Betances & (possibly) Miller. But with a rotation that had EVERYBODY go on the DL last season, 6 inning outings is looking like the norm. These days, a 7-8-9 bullpen bridge should be on every team's wishlist.

[Damian Rey]

The issue and risk isn't with the workload. It's with the idea that he could be serving a suspension and God knows when and what part of the season that'll be handed down and how long. A 50 game suspension is going to hurt, especially if it's mid year.

[ClockShot]

Nats sign Stephen Drew. 1-year, $3 mil.

[Damian Rey]

Drew hasn't been any good in like 2 years. Can't see why he keeps getting a chance. Oh well.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>One thing that could possibly work in the Yankees' favor...Chapman's service time is 5.034. 138 more days on a big league roster will push him over 6 years of service needed for free agency.

If MLB comes down hard on Chapman and issues him a suspension that takes up around 40-45 games or so, it could possibly allow the Yankees to keep Chapman for an entire extra year of service.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Does a suspension not count for service time? Pretty sure it's still considered even if he's not on the active roster.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Used to be the case under the old CBA. Was changed for the most recent CBA as the feeling that it was punishing the team. Now you only gain service time on the active roster, Major League DL, or bereavement lists.

Depending on what happens with Chapman this season it could be something that the union lobbies to get back when the CBA expires after next season.</font>

[Frank Drebin]

Sorry Droford, Kris Bryant got engaged.

[Emperor Smeat]

Dodgers signed Scott Kazmir to a 3 year, $48 million deal.

[ClockShot]

Yikes.

Where'd those years and that dollar figure come from?

[Droford]

Sorry Droford, Kris Bryant got engaged.

My favorite Cub player actually Rizzo

[Damian Rey]

One good year is where it came from. Even after his "comeback" Kazmir has never been more than just average. So he's a bit overpaid but it's not ridiculously so. Besides, Dodgers needed another starter after they had Greinke pulled out from under them and backed away from Iwakuma.

Their rotation is still pretty solid. Kershaw is, well, Kershaw, and Kazmir, Ryu (if healthy) Anderson and Wood fills out a good if unspectacular rotation.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Kazmir has an opt-out clause after year one of the contract. That's fucking ridiculous.</font>

[Damian Rey]

It's brilliant. Strasburg is the only worthwhile arm on the market. Kazmir could clean up in his next contract and the Dodgers would likely get a draft pick. Win win my man.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Everybody is going to get a year one opt-out before long.

Harper will make over $500 million or something over the course of his career.</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Peggy Bundy: Thank Arod kids!

Thanks Arod!!

[Damian Rey]

Considering the discrepancy between what the owners are raking in as compared to the talent generating the revenue, I don't see the big deal.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Does every team operate in the black every year?

[Frank Drebin]

Yes. Even the supposed "poor" teams get revenue sharing money (remember when the Marlins got a stern talkin' to when they didnt spend on players and just pocketed that revenue sharing cash) and have probably gotten various government entities to take out large loans or bonds to pay for a new stadium they don't owe any debt on.

Paul Beeston, former Jays President has said in the past "I can take a 4 million dollar profit, make it look like a 2 million dollar loss and get every national accounting firm to agree with me." So even when they cry poor.....they aint.

[Damian Rey]

Baseball is the richest its been. The owners are making massive sums of money. That's why you're seeing these huge dealsfor $30million a year and why it's the new market value for the elite. That cash isn't spent if the profits don't justify it.

[Frank Drebin]

How about those billion.....I'll say it again.....billion dollar deals for tv rights? The bloody dbacks have a 1.5 billion dollar deal.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I don't care so much about the players making more money as much as the fact that opt-out deals could lead to everybody becoming a free agent every year.

Like imagine if every player in that loaded 2018 free agent class (Harper, McCutchen, Donaldson, Machado, Kershaw, Harvey, Fernandez, Keuchel, etc.) got a year one opt-out and they all hit the market again in 2019 and every year after that. It would just be bad for baseball if there was that much roster turnover league wide every year.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I expect the owners will try to lobby for opt-out regulations in the next CBA, but I can't see the union budging on the issue. Could lead to a stalemate once the epic free agent market comes up.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Baseball is the richest its been. The owners are making massive sums of money. That's why you're seeing these huge dealsfor $30million a year and why it's the new market value for the elite. That cash isn't spent if the profits don't justify it.



How about those billion.....I'll say it again.....billion dollar deals for tv rights? The bloody dbacks have a 1.5 billion dollar deal.

Yup.

TV deals alone give teams enough money where they could be as fiscally irresponsible as the Yankees/Dodgers in their worst years and still manage to come out ahead. The benefits of being the only show in town during the summer. Cable companies are dying to keep the teams on their feed to fill otherwise dead air

[Frank Drebin]

Cubs are going to sign a trillion dollar deal when their current one with Comcast expires. Then they'll pay Jason Hayward 300 million just cuz.

[Damian Rey]

Opt out clauses are better for teams. They potentially keep them off the hook for money the player likely won't be worth down the line and recoup draft picks in some cases. They serve to get the player a longer guarantee down the line, ala b Arod, Sabathia, Greinke, etc.

[Frank Drebin]

People are acting like player/team/mutual options are a new thing. I realize it's typically been for the last year of a deal, but it's existed in these various forms for a while. The guys who sign those early team friendly deals often have a clause where the player can opt out of the contract and into arbitration.

It's not going to cause any kind of major shift in the market since the general concept has been in practice for a while already.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>If you were offered a 10 year, $300 million standard contract or a 10 year, $275 million contract with an opt out after year one, which would you pick?

Because I'm pretty sure a lot of players would take the latter one. If they put up the type of season that got them that contract in the first place...they can opt out and make even more. If they regress, get hurt, or have a shit year, they still have the protection of the rest of the contract and still make a shitpile of money.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm fine with the players getting paid. They definitely should.

I just don't want it to reach the point where the offseason becomes a glorified fantasy baseball auction draft. And that's what will end up happening if the year one opt-out becomes the new norm.</font>

[Damian Rey]

I'd definitely take the latter. The goal is to gain as long a long-term commitment as possible. Opt outs like Greinke, Arod or Sabathia had are more likely the norm.

Speaking on one year extravaganzas...I read a suggestion to offset teams holding down minor league talent for an extra year of service time. Instead, those who would otherwise qualify that end up being held down, like Kris Bryant, would use the extra year gained as a restricted free agent year. Other teams are given a chance on a one year bid to sign the player, and the original club has the right to match the offer or let the player go.

Not sure how compensation would work for the losing team but it's definitely far more interesting than "let's not increase our chances of winning to try and gain an extra year".

[DaveWadding]

Yes. Even the supposed "poor" teams get revenue sharing money (remember when the Marlins got a stern talkin' to when they didnt spend on players and just pocketed that revenue sharing cash) and have probably gotten various government entities to take out large loans or bonds to pay for a new stadium they don't owe any debt on.

How about those billion.....I'll say it again.....billion dollar deals for tv rights? The bloody dbacks have a 1.5 billion dollar deal.

and Dodgers fans bitched that the revenue sharing money they sent is paying for Greinke. Which is kinda the point.

[Emperor Smeat]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm fine with the players getting paid. They definitely should.

I just don't want it to reach the point where the offseason becomes a glorified fantasy baseball auction draft. And that's what will end up happening if the year one opt-out becomes the new norm.</font>

Could see that becoming a big issue with new CBA talks if it gets abused too much or too many teams get burned by that point.

Either that or a team pulls a Marlins by winning a title with a bunch of quick opt-out players and then just lets those guys leave since their risk paid off. Other teams would then be on the hook for new massive contracts or the market for those players bust because of the price tags.

[ClockShot]

Dodgers agree to terms with Kenta Maeda from the Hiroshima Carp. Dollar figures haven't been released but the Dodgers did pony up the $20 mil. max fee to talk with him.

[Frank Drebin]

Was hoping this would be the last big move for the Cubs. Sounds like a solid #3 with possible #2 upside/ceiling.

[DaveWadding]

Maeda deal is 8 years, 24 million guaranteed with 10-12 million per season in incentives. Sheeeeeeeeeit.

[Damian Rey]

Good fucking Christ. I'm sure he'll be solid but 8years for a mid rotation starter? Yikes.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Paidea.

[ClockShot]

That's a rather unique deal if I ever heard one before. Although, I'm interested in that those yearly incentives are. Must be easy to hit if they're giving out that much.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Another HOF update. 138 ballots now public which is roughly a third of the ballot, a good sample size.

Griffey still batting 1.000 as he should be. Doubtless some idiot won't vote for him but his induction was never in question.

Piazza (88.4%), Bagwell (82.6%), and Raines (80.4%) are still above the 75% threshold but their numbers have gone down in the last week and a half. Generally a safe bet that the numbers will go down at the end because many of the old school writers won't release their ballots. Probably will come down to a photo finish for Bagwell and Raines may end up being close enough to benefit from the "last chance" support that he'll get next year.

Hoffman's only at 62.3%, he may actually pick up votes at the end with the older voters favoring saves. He'll miss out but should be relatively safe to stay on the ballots the next few years.

Wagner, on the other hand, not only will miss out on induction but right now he's projected to be dropped from the ballot entirely. I think he'll grab enough votes to hang on but I would have thought he'd poll similarly to Hoffman. Either way I think both guys could be in trouble come 2019 when Rivera jumps on the ballot.</font>

[ClockShot]

Ryan(s) Howard and Zimmerman have filed defamation lawsuits against Al Jazeera.

[Nicky Fives]

Seems like suing Al Jazeera isn't going to work out.....

[road doggy dogg]

fuck

Royals resigned Gordon

4y/$72m

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Fuck Alex Gordon. That 9th inning HR in Game 1 of the WS will haunt me even more than Murph or Duda's fuck ups in Games 4 or 5.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>MIKE PIAZZA!!!!!!!!</font> :love:

https://mlblogsopeningday.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/31-piazza-2001-od-hr.jpg

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Griffey sets the new percentage vote, being left off of only 3 ballots.

Bagwell missed out by 15 votes, should be a good bet for next year. Raines also came in around 69% so that could bode well for next year.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

fuck those 3 stupid retard assholes

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Tim Raines should have gotten in, fuck the voters

[Emperor Smeat]

:y: Griffey Jr going in the Hall.

Going to assume those 3 voters used the Babe Ruth excuse as why it wasn't unanimous.

[ClockShot]

2 players going in. Gonna be a short day at Cooperstown.

Junior was obvious, so was Pizza. Congrats to them. 3 guys who left Griffey off should have their memberships revoked.

[Evil Vito]

Tim Raines should have gotten in, fuck the voters

<font color=goldenrod>With next year being his final year on the ballot that usually leads to a natural upswing in votes. Also, 16 of 17 players who have gotten a vote % that Raines had have gone in the next year, so that's why he and Bagwell should be virtual locks for next year. Hoffman got closer than I thought he would so it's possible all 3 are in next year.

Vlad is probably the best bet for a first ballot guy next year. Pudge probably won't make it straight away just based on suspicion. I could see Posada sticking around on the ballot for 10 years but not sure he'll make it. Manny won't make it since his steroid usage is confirmed, the only question with him is whether or not he gets bounced on the first ballot.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Also Bonds and Clemens...not sure. They each gained around a 20% bump in the voting, but still will need 130 or so new votes each to make it. They each have 6 years of eligibility yet but getting 130 voters to change their mind of a group of 450 might be tough.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The frenzy to ID those who didn't vote for Griffey, Jr. may weirdly increase likelihood that Rivera, Jeter or some other player gets 100%.</p>&mdash; Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/684890422997594112">January 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That might be worse just for the public backlash alone. Not that Jeter or Rivera or someone else isn't worthy but the reason them getting a possible unanimous induction was due to voters being tired of the ridicule.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Piazza will announce the cap he'll wear on his plaque, which almost has to be a Mets one unless he decides to turn heel.

Pumped. Realistically this will be the last chance I'll see a guy enshrined as a Met for a couple of decades. I don't know if Beltran will make it to the HOF and if he did I think he'd sooner go in as a Royal or with no logo like Maddux. There was a time I thought Wright was gonna have a HOF career but sadly I think his only chance now is to stay healthy and produce like 2006-08 David Wright for the rest of his career. I think he's missed too much time, unfortunately.</font>

[Damian Rey]

I thought they did away with the player choosing the team?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The committee officially decides, but they ask for the players' input and generally do what the player wants unless it's something egregious.

Maddux went in with no logo at his own request, since he didn't want to slight the Braves or Cubs and identified with both franchises. Big Unit thought about going the blank cap route but ultimately asked for a D-Backs cap since that's where he won his ring and threw his perfect game, and the committee honored it.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

I would be okay with Rivera getting 100% votes... hate closers but he da man

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol remember when Wade Boggs tried to go into the HOF as a Devil Ray

[Damian Rey]

Lmao didn't he go in as a Ray? Thought it was written into his contract.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Lmao didn't he go in as a Ray? Thought it was written into his contract.

There are no more Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Also the contract didn't involve an agreement with the Hall of Fame Board, invalidating it.

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congrats to Junior the 3rd teammate off my Springfield Nuclear Power Plant team to make the Baseball Hall of Fame! hug for Mike Piazza too</p>&mdash; Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoseCanseco/status/684922667133042688">January 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<font color=goldenrod Jose Canseco just won the internet</font>

[Damian Rey]

Piazza confirmed he'll be going in as a Met.

In other news, the (Va)Giants signed Denard Span to a 3 year, $31 million deal.

[Frank Drebin]

Yeah, I thought the whole reason the committee decided they get final say was because Boggs more or less tried to sell his choice to the highest bidder.

[Damian Rey]

Looking into it, appears Boggs was the reason for the Hall now "offering" which teams they can choose. In Boggs' case, I can see why, but I'm certain Dawson didn't wanna go in as an Expo and they pretty much forced him to keep memory of Montreal baseball alive, which is stupid.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Similar thing happened with Carter. He wanted to go in either as a Met since that's where he won his ring and he was a co-captain, or he wanted to go in with a split cap. The Hall made him an Expo.

In the case of both Dawson and Carter, they played way longer as Expos but still kinda unfortunate for both guys that the committee didn't budge like they do nowadays. If Unit had been eligible a few years ago they probably would have forced him in as a Mariner since it's where he played the longest (his HOF page on their website even has Mariners listed as his primary team despite the D-Backs cap).</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Former scouting director for the Cardinals pleaded guilty to hacking the Astros players database. Nobody else from the organization seems to have been involved with the hacking nor data collecting.

Chris Correa, who was fired by the St. Louis Cardinals last season after he admitted to hacking the Houston Astros, pleaded guilty to five of 12 related charges on Friday, reports the Houston Chronicle’s David Barron.

The Cardinals were investigated last summer for breaking into the Astros’ team databases to gain access to statistics, scouting reports, information on trades and more.

Buzzfeed’s Lindsey Adler reports that federal agents assessed that Correa accessed the Astros’ scouting list of each player eligible for the draft that season, as well as extensive scouting information about the available prospects.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Nationals get: OF Ben Revere
Blue Jays get: RHP Drew Storen</font>

[Damian Rey]

Pretty even trade. Toronto gets a decent if unspectacular bullpen arm and Washington gets a decent if unspectacular outfielder.

Looks like Papelbon is staying put for now m

[Nicky Fives]

Jays must be holding a lot of stock in Travis/Pompey at leadoff, as they just traded away the best potential leadoff guy (a lefty at that) they have had in years....

They needed the help in the bullpen, but I'm not sure dealing Revere was the best solution...

[ClockShot]

Hope Storen gave the Nats organization the finger on his way out the door. Them bringing in Papelblown and with him still hanging around pretty much destroyed his confidence in being a closer.

If he get its back in Toronto, Washington is gonna look stupid.

[Damian Rey]

They shafted Storen big time. And now they're stuck with a volatile clubhouse cancer that tried to choke out their best player.

Not sure Revere is a great leadoff hitter. He's average at best at getting on base.

[Locke]

Piazza confirmed he'll be going in as a Met.

In other news, the (Va)Giants signed Denard Span to a 3 year, $31 million deal.
Is there a San Francisco Giants affiliate in Virginia that I am unaware of or something

[Damian Rey]

Swing and miss?

[Nicky Fives]

They shafted Storen big time. And now they're stuck with a volatile clubhouse cancer that tried to choke out their best player.

Not sure Revere is a great leadoff hitter. He's average at best at getting on base.

He's not, but name a Jays leadoff guy that has been better?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mariners announce plans to retire #24 this year, worn by former second baseman and current broadcasting great Harold Reynolds from 1984-86.

Congrats Harold.</font> :y:

[DaveWadding]

You don't need sabermetrics to see how great Harold Reynolds was.

[Droford]

The Orioles picked up some dude from the Braves named Jerry Terdoslavich

[Nicky Fives]

The Orioles picked up some dude from the Braves named Jerry Terdoslavich

AAA depth never hurts anyone....

[Droford]

His name conjures up images of a huge european dude who should be in the NBA

[road doggy dogg]

The Orioles picked up some dude from the Braves named Jerry Terdoslavich

KC signed a guy named Chien-Ming Wang

dog dong

[Frank Drebin]

Yung Bong

[ClockShot]

Cardinals sign Korean free agent Seung-hwan Oh to a 1-year deal with an option for 2017.

Supposedly, he's the best closer in South Korea. And earned him the nicknames "Stone Buddha" and "Final Boss".

[Damian Rey]

Final boss is an excellent nickname.

I'm just waiting for the Padres to trade Tyson Ross already. They'd be foolish to hold onto him with the pitching market now lacking top end rotation talent and really not needing him.

[poopfromweiner dude]

Trade me Tyson Ross pls,,,,,

[ClockShot]

Well, Joe Girardi has come out and said that Chapman is gonna be the closer when Spring Training starts.

I wonder how Betances and Miller feel about that?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Marlins sign LHP Wei-Yin Chen to a 5-year deal with a vesting option for a 6th

Alright then</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>OF Gerardo Parra to the Rockies on a 3-year deal</font>

[Damian Rey]

Well, Joe Girardi has come out and said that Chapman is gonna be the closer when Spring Training starts.

I wonder how Betances and Miller feel about that?

They shouldn't care and probably saw it coming.

[Damian Rey]

Doesn't that give the Rockies 4 outfielders who could all start?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>They're evidently shopping the other three. Orioles supposedly inquiring about CarGo.</font>

[ClockShot]

Marlins extend Dee Gordon. 5-years, $50 mil.


Not bad for the reigning NL batting champ, and base stealer extraordinaire.

[Damian Rey]

Good deal for both ends. Think Gordon had a career year so getting guaranteed cash now was a smart move. The Marlins also get cost certainty on a deal they should have no problem inevitably flipping once they feel the need to trade Gordon down the line.

[Nicky Fives]

That seems like a very good deal for one of the best lead-off hitters in the game....Surprising to see Miami make a good decision....

[Damian Rey]

They make plenty. They just revert course on them after a few years. It's a cycle with them.

[road doggy dogg]

Dee Gordon is the best. Good signing. Fuckers.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Padres sign SS Alexei Ramirez to a one-year deal</font>

[Droford]

<font color=goldenrod>They're evidently shopping the other three. Orioles supposedly inquiring about CarGo.</font>

Or Blackmon and Dickerson..

If they could swing a trade for one of them and the 5 year 90 million offer to cespedes works id like the Os OF of them two and Jones. Just need to find a starting pitcher..

[Damian Rey]

Whoever signs Cespedes is going to regret it. A career high on base of 319 is not encouraging in his 30s.

I like the Ramirez signing. Average on balls in play took a big dip despite his contact related rates staying morning to his career line. He'll be a solid contributor if he can regress to the mean.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The Mets fanbase had finally moved on from the idea of re-signing Cespedes only for it to come out last night that they were actually having productive conversations on bringing him back for a 1 or 2 year deal, which would have allowed Cespedes to re-test the market when it is far weaker but before the mammoth 2018 one AND eliminate the risk for the Mets who had no interest in a long-term commitment with him.

And then today the O's jump back in, leading me to believe that Cespedes' agents leaked out news of the supposed Mets negotiations to try to get another team to jump and pony up the dough.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Probably happens all the time. The Mets fans shouldn't care. Conforto was a beast, maybe even unsung hero last year. He has power, he draws walks, he's young, he's cheap. He played stellar defense and was worth 2 WAR in a third of a season. In other words, he was every bit as good as Cespedes last year in about the same sample, and, unlike Cespedes, he's still young enough to hope that his numbers will hold over the next 5 plus years instead of declining.

If Lagares returns to health, the Mets won't miss Cespedes at all. They're projected to be the 6th best team in the national league as it stands, which possibly gets them right back in the playoffs.

[Droford]

The Os like Cespedes over Upton because they dont lose their 14th pick for Cespedes like they woukd for upton. If theres no market for Cespedes (like Davis..) i could see him taking the deal, but it was rumored he was going to get way more.

[Nicky Fives]

I wouldn't spend the money on someone like Cespedes who has switched teams so many times in such few years....

[Droford]

Upton has bounced around too, and the Os need an outfielder

[Sepholio]

Damn Final Boss is an excellent nickname. Hope he has some kick ass video game theme song play when he comes out the bullpen.

[Nicky Fives]

The Os like Cespedes over Upton because they dont lose their 14th pick for Cespedes like they woukd for upton. If theres no market for Cespedes (like Davis..) i could see him taking the deal, but it was rumored he was going to get way more.

Solid logic from the O's, Cespedes (or Upton for that matter) would fill the power void some if Davis walks....

[ClockShot]

Cespedes is looking for 6-years, $22 mil. Somebody might be stupid and give him that much, but I think his price is gonna come way down once spring training comes around.


Fernando Rodney and the Padres are reportedly close to a deal. At 39 years old, I don't think he got much left in the tank.

[Droford]

Solid logic from the O's, Cespedes (or Upton for that matter) would fill the power void some if Davis walks....

Except Davis is signed now (7/161), so i guess Cespedes is off. Although itd be something if they spent the cash to get Cespedes too..but then they still need a a starting pitcher..ugh

[Nicky Fives]

Except Davis is signed now (7/161), so i guess Cespedes is off. Although itd be something if they spent the cash to get Cespedes too..but then they still need a a starting pitcher..ugh

When did Davis sign?

[Droford]

It was breaking news few minutes ago
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Chris Davis and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Orioles?src=hash">#Orioles</a> have agreed to a seven-year, $161 million contract! <a href="https://t.co/7ocDVanYUo">https://t.co/7ocDVanYUo</a> <a href="https://t.co/80UyEKRYo8">pic.twitter.com/80UyEKRYo8</a></p>&mdash; Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) <a href="https://twitter.com/masnOrioles/status/688359825273556993">January 16, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Damian Rey]

Great deal for Crush Davis. Probably not do much for Baltimore. At least not after a couple of years. Once that power declines he's gonna be a real expensive dh. Also makes the Trumbo deal look like a waste of money as he's now not needed.

The real loser is Cespedes. He finally found a team willing to pony up the dough but they're assuredly gonna walk from the table now that they got their guy.

In other news, Kansas City signs Ian Kennedy to 5 years, $70mil.

Also, not a fan of the Fernando Rodney experience but they need bullpen arms so getting him on a cheap deal is fine.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets brass have to be livid right now lol. They so badly wanted Cespedes to get a big multi-year deal somewhere else so they could reiterate that he'd be a bad fit long-term (which I agree with).

But now it's hard to imagine a 1-year, $20 million deal wouldn't look enticing to Cespedes. Unless he just totally bombs in 2016 he should be in line for a bigger payday in a weak free agent class next offseason. And if he takes a 1-year deal and it DOESN'T come from the Mets? Look the fuck out. WFAN will be a fun listen the next day.

Even the Mets beat reporters, who have done a good job of staying level headed, have started to call the Mets out. They're on track for a $106 million payroll next year, one of the lowest in baseball. And this is after winning a pennant and getting a shitload of playoff revenue. It's fine to not sign Cespedes for multiple years, but if he's sitting right there and will actually agree to a 1 year pact, if the Mets don't do it it's completely fair to question their finances.</font>

[Damian Rey]

No it's not. Where do they play him? He's awful in centerfield, and you're not gonna bench Conforto, who's going to be just as good or probably better. Just because they have money does not mean they should spend it for the fuck of it. Especially on a player that doesn't fit on their roster.

[Evil Vito]

Just because they have money does not mean they should spend it for the fuck of it.

<font color=goldenrod>That's the thing though. There isn't any evidence to suggest there even is still money available. Alderson right out of the gate said he hoped payroll would be slightly above what it was at Opening Day last year. And it is. At $106 million. After years of telling fans payroll will increase when attendance goes up, they still will churn out one of the lowest payrolls in all of baseball.

I didn't understand the complaints about the payroll through much of the offseason because most of the free agents weren't a fit or went for way longer deals than I thought they were worth. Cespedes, Gordon, Upton. All corner outfielders asking for a shitload. Span wanting a multi-year deal despite missing almost all of last year with a balky hip. Relievers reigning in 3-4 year deals. Too much. It was clear that the Mets were mostly looking to guys for 1-year deals, and I was fine with that approach given who was available.

But now Cespedes might be available for a year and they'll STILL balk? Christ. Yes he'd be putting a square peg into a round hole defensively, but it's not a long-term commitment AND he'd still play corner OF against lefties (Grandy sucks against LHP and Conforto will at least need the occasional breather). Cespedes makes the lineup considerably better for one season and then you can let him cash in and turn to a Lagares/Nimmo platoon for 2017.

Sandy came out and said they couldn't see them bringing back Yo for more than one year. Well now they have their chance. If he goes to another team for multiple years, good for him. But if he signs for 1 year for any team other than the Mets, the Wilpons should be fucking embarrassed.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Jake Arrieta asked for $13 million in arbitration. The Cubs only offered $7.5 million. Yikes.</font>

[DaveWadding]

Keuchel just got 7.25 in arb, so that seems fair. :shifty:

[Damian Rey]

Cespedes' offense is going to offset by defense if he's playing centerfield primarily. It's not a fit. For my Padres? On a one year deal? Oh yes. Great fit. But putting him in center is asking for disaster.

I would personally take Cespedes over Davis though. At least Cespedes provides defense and base running. WAR has them as similar players over the last three years. Cespedes is a better athlete that'll age better than a one skill slugger who's already at the end of the defensive spectrum.

[road doggy dogg]

Cespedes defs better in LF but I wouldn't call him a disaster, seems a bit extreme

[Damian Rey]

He's played about 2/3 of a season worth of games in cf over his years. He's -17 runs below average. To put that into context, that mark would put him as the second to worst qualified defensive centerfielder in the league this year. When prorated for a full season, he's -22, which would be the worst. Disaster written all over it. There's a reason Oakland moved him to a corner shortly after his arrival.

[ClockShot]

I bet when the O's offered Cespedes that deal, that rushed Chris Davis to make his deal. If Yoenis said yes, Davis would be out of Baltimore right now.

[Damian Rey]

Maybe. But the Scott Boras' credit, he got the Orioles to outbid themselves. He also got the Royals to overpay for a mediocre starter. Been a great weekend for the Boras camp.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>That's why you don't go more than one year for him if you need to play him in center. His bat should be able to offset the negative defensive value over the short-term, which is why the 1 year deal is appealing. No long-term risk.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're fucked without Cespedes. If they don't get him they'll probably try to sign a Pearce or Raburn type of player to be the backup righty outfielder. If they sign Cespedes, they'll have Lagares and De Aza on the bench. Actual legit bench options. Unlike when they were in the wasteland and had John Mayberry Jr getting regular at-bats.</font>

[Damian Rey]

I don't know about that. Defense in centerfield is weighted heavily in value. If his career numbers are any indication, he might just grade out as just average at best.

Not to mention, if the goal is to win, putting a terrible defensive player in the second hardest defensive position to play is not seeing yourself up to win.

Shin-soo Choo was pretty bad defensively in cf with Cincinnati, but his overall offense was better than Cespedes, and accumulated 5 WAR. If that's what you could get out of Cespedes, than sure. But Choo also had better secondary skills on offense and Cespedes is literally just boom or bust. If last year was a career year, which it probably was, and he regresses all the while playing a position where his glove is overmatched, he's probably not going to be much more than average and not much in the way of an upgrade over a healthy Lagares.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>But again, he's not going to exclusively play CF. He'd play in the corners against LHP most likely with Lagares starting in CF those days.

Besides, defense in CF was more of a concern for me going into last season when they had 3 flyball pitchers: Colon, Jon Niese, and Dillon Gee in the rotation. Now Colon is the only one left. The other 4 are all predominantly strikeout pitchers and by midseason you should have Wheeler joining them to complete the quintet of hard-throwers.

I still wouldn't want to commit to Yo long-term as a CF (not to mention the potential for decline as he gets older) but based on the current personnel a 1-year deal makes perfect sense AND he'd net them a draft pick after the year to boot, possibly giving them 2 extra picks since Walker is also a free agent. All it would cost is money for this year.</font>

[ClockShot]

Chris Davis is apparently getting the Bobby Bonilla treatment with his new contract.

He'll get $17,000,000 a season from 2016-2022. The rest comes in payments going all the way until 2037. He'll be 51 then.

Not bad.

[Damian Rey]

The force is strong with Scott Boras. Clearly used the Jedi mind trick to fool Peter Angelos into paying Davis well beyond the point of reason. A brilliant win for the best agent in the world.

[Emperor Smeat]

Chris Davis is apparently getting the Bobby Bonilla treatment with his new contract.

He'll get $17,000,000 a season from 2016-2022. The rest comes in payments going all the way until 2037. He'll be 51 then.

Not bad.
That would explain the huge splurging the Os did just for his contract. Something like the 4th richest ever for his position and around $90 million more than the previous Os record for a deal.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to reports, former Cardinals scouting director who got busted for hacking the Astros databases is claiming the Astros did the same against the Cardinals. Would be almost impossible to prove due to the nature of the case.

He said he found information the Astros had stolen from the Cardinals - an allegation the Astros have denied and that would be difficult to prove because of intellectual property law and the nature of what he was looking at. He also said he told Cardinals colleagues of that discovery.

Astros rumored to be waiting till after the court case is done to file an official grievance against the Cardinals. MLB is waiting till after investigators make some of their evidence publicly available before doing their own investigation.

Cardinals expected to get hit with two punishments by the MLB although might be able to avoid getting punished by loss of draft picks.

At any point, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred can punish the Cardinals, which is a separate act from awarding the Astros damages. He can fine the Cardinals, and taking away draft picks is at least a possibility.

Then the Astros, through the commissioner, can go after what they believe is owed to them - beyond the $279,038.65 in restitution Correa agreed to pay the team in the plea deal. That money represents team expenditures, for legal fees and beyond.

Likely, the Astros will wait until Correa has been sentenced on April 11 to formally file a grievance against the Cardinals, which is done by submitting a letter. Manfred would then serve as an arbitrator.

The Astros could be awarded draft picks, but that would be a tricky process because the draft is collectively bargained. The simplest remedy would be dollars.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Guilty-plea-just-the-beginning-in-Astros-hacking-6764629.php?t=0786c74eb6438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yoenis Cespedes process is intensifying and something could get done in the next few days.....hearing as many as... <a href="https://t.co/7BotMT70uM">https://t.co/7BotMT70uM</a></p>&mdash; Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/688758117841027072">January 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
10 teams currently in the running to sign him with the Astros rumored as the possible front runner.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thrice today I had execs say &quot;watch the Astros on Cespedes.&quot; 5th best HR park in MLB in '15. Good lineup. OK, I'm watching</p>&mdash; Peter Gammons (@pgammo) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/688850738022354944">January 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Droford]

Great deal for Crush Davis. Probably not do much for Baltimore. At least not after a couple of years. Once that power declines he's gonna be a real expensive dh. Also makes the Trumbo deal look like a waste of money as he's now not needed.


Trumbo will be the DH and spell Davis at 1st if Davis DHs or plays OF. Last year Jimmy Paredes was the DH for the majority of the season because hecwas awful defensively

Maybe. But the Scott Boras' credit, he got the Orioles to outbid themselves. He also got the Royals to overpay for a mediocre starter. Been a great weekend for the Boras camp.

The Os only went 7 million over their supposed final offer of 154 and he was supposed to be in the 200 million range.

The force is strong with Scott Boras. Clearly used the Jedi mind trick to fool Peter Angelos into paying Davis well beyond the point of reason. A brilliant win for the best agent in the world.
I think this was one of his failures considering he couldn't drum up any other teams interest and wasnt anywhere near the 200 million he was looking for.
His better deal was getting Wieters to take the $20 million qualifying offer because that is way more than he would have gotten anywhere

[Frank Drebin]

It's a win for Boras because there was one team left interested in Davis and he still got them to overpay. Also easy on throwing around the 200 mil mark. Not even Jayson Heyward is worth that......

[Frank Drebin]

In all seriousness, they'll get 2-3 good years out of him with the last 4 potential disasters. If they really think they can win right now, I guess. Gonna pay the troll toll sooner or later on this though.

[Damian Rey]

Don't be a daft homer Droford. There was literally no market for Davis outside of Baltimore. None. They tried to play hard ball and instead ended up paying more money. Nobody was in the running except them. And they still, after giving their "final offer", spent more than they supposedly set a hard line. It's a complete pie in the face on the organization. Boras walked all over them like door mats. They don't look good at all in any of this. Especially when Davis turns into Ryan Howard 2.0.

Mark Trumbo-108 ops+, 0.8 WAR, -4 runs defensively

Jimmy Paredes-96 ops+, 0 2 WAR, - 5 runs defensively

Huge upgrade there. Great take, Droford.

[Droford]

Trumbo will be closer to his years for the Angels than last year..

[Damian Rey]

Based on what exactly?

[Droford]

Well he missed half of 2014 with a fractured foot..

Plus he hits pretty well in AL East ballparks (ironically not Camden Yards though )
Camden Yards (10 games): 7-for-35, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, .200 avg., .256 OBP, .343 slugging
Fenway Park (10 games): 12-for-40, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .300 avg., .375 OBP, .550 slugging
Yankee Stadium (15 games): 13-for-53, 4 HR, 7 RBI, .245 avg., .322 OBP, .491 slugging
Tropicana Field (9 games): 10-for-33, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .303 avg., .303 OBP, .545 slugging
Rogers Centre (14 games): 16-for-55, 6 HR, 15 RBI, .291 avg., .298 OBP, .727 slugging

Theres no reason his Camden numbers continue to be that bad over a full season.

Davis / Jones / Machado / Trumbo should all hit above 30 HR.

[Nicky Fives]

Theres no reason his Camden numbers continue to be that bad over a full season.

Davis / Jones / Machado / Trumbo should all hit above 30 HR.

I would be amazed if Trumbo hit over 30.....

[poopfromweiner dude]

OH SHIT THEMS FIGHTIN WORDS

Nicky Fives V. Droford in a steel cage

TRUMBO o/u 29.5 home runs in 2016

Stipulation: Loser is fired/has to sport an aviatar of the other's choice until Superbowl 51



It;s on baby it's on...believe the hype #once in a liftetime

[Nicky Fives]

I said Trumbo, not Davis.... I'd put money on Trumbo and the under, but no interest in betting Davis either way....

[poopfromweiner dude]

my bad...I meant Trumbo too but I was heated in the moment of passion

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Lazaro Armenteros is approved to sign with a Major League team as soon as February 10th. He's meant to be the latest Cuban sensation. A center fielder who shows early signs of having all 5 tools. He's also only 16 years old, which makes me feel old as fuck.

He's already received a $15 million offer to play for Japan, but it's expected that multiple Major League teams will be in on him. Probably going to be the usual teams that get linked to him. Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Wait wait wait ...you think he's gonna do well based on 58 games worth of at bats? Really?

I'll ask a better question. What had Trumbo done since his first full season that would lead one to believe he's going to get better instead of being the same boom or bust out machine or declining?

[Damian Rey]

<font color=goldenrod>Lazaro Armenteros is approved to sign with a Major League team as soon as February 10th. He's meant to be the latest Cuban sensation. A center fielder who shows early signs of having all 5 tools. He's also only 16 years old, which makes me feel old as fuck.

He's already received a $15 million offer to play for Japan, but it's expected that multiple Major League teams will be in on him. Probably going to be the usual teams that get linked to him. Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox.</font>

Read a follow up to his showcase from Keith Law that he was rather unimpressive at his open workout. Not that he was terrible, just not the upside play many expected.

We'll see what he signs for. He's definitely no Moncada.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Justin Upton to the Tigers on a 6-year deal at around $125 million.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

I CAN ONLY GET SO ERECT

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Had to know Ilitch was going to open up the wallet again. He's 86 years old and his goal is to win a title before he passes away. I'd probably do the same thing.

Team could be a disaster in a few years as their core guys age but if they win a title nobody should care.</font>

[Shisen Kopf]

I would care. A lot. No more 2003 seasons please.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Oh...Upton's deal includes an opt-out after 2 years at age 30. So it's really only a 2 year commitment for Detroit. Even better for them.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Cardinals will emerge as a mystery team to sign Cespedes. Calling it now. Would be such a Cardinals move.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

Heh. Apparently Illitch was going to try and sign Chris Davis but Al Avila talked him out of it to go for Upton. Fucking love everything Avila has done this offseason so far.

[DaveWadding]

Love Justin Upton.

[Damian Rey]

Great deal for both sides.

[road doggy dogg]

The more I think about the signing the more I like it I think.

I'm cautiously super optimistic about the deal. As it is now, we get to field JD and Upton. JD isn't a free agent for another two years IIRC, and around that time Sanchez and VMart will be coming off the books. If Upton exercises his opt-out after two years, it's not like we'll be handicapped financially and should have plenty to pay JD. Moya and/or Collins should be "major league-ready" by that point so we should have an average/above-average LF to take over there too.

That, and after this year the luxury tax threshold is either being eliminated or expanded greatly, so it's not a huge deal to go over this year.

[ClockShot]

MLB Investigations Squad gonna take a look at Yu Darvish after his brother was arrested for being involved in an illegal gambling ring.

He'll probably be fine. But since there was a couple instances last season involing Jeff Locke and Jared Cosart, MLB's involved.

[Damian Rey]

Padres kicking the tires on Cespedes. Not sure why, as he's not going to dramatically change their fate.

My thinking is he's free of draft pick compensation, is likely as good as Upton for at least a few more years, and because they're holding the all-star game and probably wanna save face by acquiring a big name and hoping he makes the club.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets sign LHP Antonio Bastardo. 2 years, $12 million.

Love the move. I know Sandy is against signing multi-year deals for relievers, but they badly needed one more arm to shore up the back end of the bullpen and it's not like he's making anything close to what Darren O'Day got. Bastardo was good against hitters from both sides of the plate, so I imagine he's going to be penciled in as the 8th inning guy with Addison Reed going to the 7th, Blevins as a LOOGY, and Hansel Robles filling in wherever.

Now just sign Cespedes (or at least a Pearce or Raburn type RH OF bat for the bench) and I think they'll be ready to roll.</font>

[ClockShot]

Aroldis Chapman won't be facing charges from his domestic dispute back in October.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>FUCKKKKKKK sounds like Cespedes is going to be a National. They've put a 5 year offer out there worth over $100 million with a ton of deferred money like they did with Scherzer. Really don't see him getting a better offer than that this late in the offseason.

That's way more money and years than I would have been comfortable giving to him, so in that respect I'm fine with the Mets not getting him. But fucking christ why did it have to be the Nats?</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>In a single offseason they'd have poached the #3 and #4 hitters from their top rival. That's surely never happened before.

Pretty sure the Cespedes deal will backfire on them long term. But for right now it probably pushes them past the Mets in terms of being the favorites in the East for 2016. Very tough lineup to navigate and still a strong pitching staff without Zimmermann.

Here's hoping the wheels fall off for them like they did in 2015.</font>

[Damian Rey]

I'd have favored the Nats just based on them being healthy. Adding Cespedes is probably a 3 to 4 game swing in the win column over the all glove, no bat Michael Taylor.

Think Harper moves to cf if they do sign him.

[Droford]

National League close to adopting DH in 2017, will be keypoint in new CBA voted on this year

[Evil Vito]

I'd have favored the Nats just based on them being healthy. Adding Cespedes is probably a 3 to 4 game swing in the win column over the all glove, no bat Michael Taylor.

Think Harper moves to cf if they do sign him.

<font color=goldenrod>Yep. I don't think the Mets should overpay Cespedes. $100+ million for him is just too much given that he'd have to play CF and his skillset would deteriorate. But this really hurts the Mets' chances for this upcoming year. FanGraphs had them penciled in for 84 wins which felt low to me...but even if you give them a few more wins the Cespedes move for the Nats offsets that.

Just reading the reactions on Mets Twitter...holy shit I've never seen a fanbase THIS angry.

And to Droford's point, if the NL does get a DH in 2017, the failure to bring back Cespedes will hurt a lot more since him playing CF is the main reason the Mets don't want him.</font>

[Droford]

To me, if they go with the DH in the NL, the next logical step for the next CBA down the road would be radical realignment/doing away with the NL and AL. They were talking about it already recently..

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Bob Costas will have a stroke from this news.

[weather vane]

Being a Mets fan would drive me to honest to God kill ownership.

[weather vane]

Bad structure thurrrrrrr

[Evil Vito]

Being a Mets fan would drive me to honest to God kill ownership.

<font color=goldenrod>They're terrible. They talked ad nauseum about raising payroll once they got good and they're still decidedly on the low end of dollars spent per dollars earned.

I have no faith whatsoever that the team will spend the necessary cash to keep any of their starting pitchers once the hit the market. There's a chance that each and every one of those guys will land $200+ million deals once they're free agents.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Rosenthal saying the Nats' offer to Cespedes is clearly the best one he's gotten but he's still torn and wants to go back to the Mets, even if it's for a shorter term deal. Mets don't want to go more than 3, but based on what I've been reading a 4th year might get it done.

Regardless of my feelings on Cespedes...if they REALLY think he can help over 3 years, would it kill them to just guarantee the 4th? They were prepared to give 4 years to Zobrist. Cespedes can move to a corner OF spot in 2 years once Granderson leaves. And in 2019 all of the pitchers will still be here (minus Harvey, who everybody knows is a goner). So it's not like a 4 year deal for Yo will prevent them from re-signing one of the other starters if that's what they're worried about.</font>

[Nicky Fives]

With the rumours of a DH hitting the NL soon, and with injuries virtually a guarantee to happen over the course of a 162-game season, having a 4th OF like Cespedes would not be a terrible idea for the Mets at all....for a team with all the pitching in the world, another bat like his would be well worth the gamble in my eyes....

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Now the infamous "mystery team" has jumped into the mix.

I hope he makes up his mind this offseason. Even if it's a mystery team I'll be slightly annoyed but please just not the Nats. Cespedes to the Nats completely swings the division.</font>

[Evil Vito]

:eek: <font color=goldenrod>HOLY FUCK Sandy did it :eek: Cespedes back to the Mets. 3 years, $70 million with an opt out after year 1.

Forget what I said earlier in the off-season. Opt-outs rule!!!

My nipples are hard.</font>

[Evil Vito]

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/1/5/0/154235150/101215_nym_cespedes_hr_med_2_tdijimp7.gif

[ClockShot]

Son of a bitch, Mets ponied up the dough.

Good for you Vito.

[Droford]

Few blizzard related baseball things

Why not add baseball to the winter Olympics/ (http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303636404579392840235214038)

Well..

Baseball was once played on ice
(http://thebaseballbloggess.com/2015/01/28/ice-baseball-on-skates/)
http://awfulgames.com/fun/comic_strips/cs_images/snow_baseball.gif

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ac/a5/00/aca500dc490f8e5fdc5e749590b2a46a.jpg

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I can't decide what I like the most about the Cespedes re-signing.

-He adds another layer of depth to the lineup
-He took less money and years from the Nats to come back to the Mets
-The Mets got him back on their terms, since it essentially is a 1-year contract
-Reportedly the complete and utter outrage from fans on Twitter when he was said to be close to going to the Nats put extra pressure on the Mets to try to get him (The Ces Movement!)
-Perhaps most of all, the Wilpons finally opened up their damn wallets and the payroll went from like $106 million to $140 million in the span of three days

Great deal all around. Cespedes gets a huge $27.5 million salary this year with a 2-year, $47.5 million insurance policy in case he sucks this year. Mets get a highly motivated star player, aren't tied into him for a really long time even if he surprises everyone and opts in, and if he leaves they'll get a first round comp pick.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Was revealed recently that MLB and the USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) are teaming up together in regards to an investigation into the roids allegation report by Al Jazeera. NFL not asking for USADA's help but are holding a seperate investigation into the same claims.

At the moment, MLB believes in some truth to the allegations due to at least one player admitting to taking roids.

Sly released a statement after the documentary saying he had fabricated the information, and two MLB players he had named, the Phillies' Ryan Howard and the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman, filed lawsuits against Al Jazeera America, which has since declared it will shut down. But the documentary also recorded an exchange with Sly and minor league catcher Taylor Teagarden, who spent eight games with the Cubs last season, in which Teagarden talks about receiving banned substances from Sly. Perhaps Sly exaggerated or fabricated some claims, investigators believe, but clearly not all.

Also being implied the NFL might not be as aggressive as the MLB if actual evidence if found due to their poor reputation with roids fighting.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14652385/mlb-asks-us-anti-doping-agency-help-investigate-al-jazeera-claims

[road doggy dogg]

lolnfl

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Astros set to do some fisting this year. Doug Fister heads to Houston on a 1 year, $7 million deal.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Want to see lots of Fister vs. Pujols matchups in the AL West.</font>

[road doggy dogg]

love Fister... wish he'd come back to Detroit

[Nicky Fives]

Fister? I hardly even knew her....

[DaveWadding]

TPWW Fantasy Baseball is open. Managers from last year got an email. We have 4 hypothetically open spots if you'd like to play.

[ClockShot]

Dodgers retain Howie Kendrick. 2-years, $20 mil.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Brewers get:
2B Aaron Hill
RHP Chase Anderson
SS Isan Diaz
and cash considerations

Dimondbacks get:
SS Jean Segura
RHP Tyler Wagner</font>

[DaveWadding]

Seems like a decent enough way to clear a little payroll space and get a workable major leaguer in return. The Dbacks didn't want to pay Hill $12 mil. Chase Anderson was going to be the odd guy out of the rotation, and Collmenter is better in long relief rather than starting.

Segura gives them mix and match options at the middle infield positions with Owings, Segura, and Ahmed. I think they go with Owings at short and Segura at 2B though. Segura will probably leadoff also (whether that's the right move or not, given a 301 career OBP) and the DBacks needed a leadoff guy after including Inciarte in the Shelby Miller trade.

Milwaukee picks up a guy that can do baseball things in Aaron Hill and a good mid-rotation starter in Anderson.

[Nicky Fives]

Hill is aging, but if he gets hot he can provide a lot of power from second, seems like a a great veteran mentor for the young guns there as well....

[ClockShot]

Segura was rumored to be getting bounced eventually. Heard his name being floated around Mets Nation during the trade deadline.

Not a bad get for the Snakes.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yankees top 1B prospect Greg Bird to get shoulder surgery and miss the 2016 season.</font>

[ClockShot]

Yankees top 1B prospect Greg Bird to get shoulder surgery and miss the 2016 season.


This should cover it.


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WWaLxFIVX1s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

[Nicky Fives]

<font color=goldenrod>Yankees top 1B prospect Greg Bird to get shoulder surgery and miss the 2016 season.</font>

That's gonna hurt when Teixeira goes down for his yearly injury.... A-Rod could fill the void short-term, or they'll have to deal one of many OF they have on their 40-man....

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm guessing that they'll go with McCann at 1B with Sanchez catching if Teix goes down.

Could also see an Ike Davis or Pedro Alvarez signing.</font>

[Nicky Fives]

they might even go cheaper with Garrett Jones, who they are already familiar with from last season, or maybe other fresh blood in Chris Parmelee or Brock Peterson....

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>AL seems like it's way more "wide open" in terms of realistic playoff contenders. I don't feel good about every AL team but there really aren't any that I can look at at say with 100% certainty that they're going to suck.

In the NL however I feel like you can already cross out the bottom 2 teams in each division: Braves, Phillies, Reds, Brewers, Rockies, and Padres. Don't really see a scenario in which any of those teams are good.</font>

[Nicky Fives]

As far as the AL East goes, I think the Rays/Jays will decline slightly from 2015, Orioles will decline a decent amount and BoSox/Yanks will be on the upswing.... My guess is that there will be less than 7 games in between all 4 teams by seasons end.....

[road doggy dogg]

AND THEY WILL ALL LOSE TO THE DERTROIT BEISBOLCATS SIMULTANEOUSLY

[Droford]

As far as the AL East goes, I think the Rays/Jays will decline slightly from 2015, Orioles will decline a decent amount and BoSox/Yanks will be on the upswing.... My guess is that there will be less than 7 games in between all 4 teams by seasons end.....

Orioles are going to be better than last year, just watch.

[poopfromweiner dude]

You willing to wager on that

How many wins the Orioles have last year...

[Nicky Fives]

Orioles are going to be better than last year, just watch.

I don't see it happening, sorry dude.... Machado will get hurt again and Jones is due to miss some time as well....

[Droford]

You willing to wager on that

How many wins the Orioles have last year...

81-81

Right now the biggest question is the Os rotation. Specifically who is the 5th starter.

The offense and bullpen should be good enough to support an average rotation.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I'm back! My phone reset and I forgot my password, and the email I used is an old college account. So, from the ashes rises Damian Rey 2.0.

First off, congrats Vito on signing Cespedes to a stellar deal. We've discussed defense in center but you don't pass up that kind of contract.

As for Baltimore, I think Droford is forgetting the Orioles are worse roster wise than last year, have zero pitching and still need outfield help while the rest of the division either improved or only slightly declined.

The Orioles will be likely last place this year barring a catastrophe.

[Droford]

I'm back! My phone reset and I forgot my password, and the email I used is an old college account. So, from the ashes rises Damian Rey 2.0.

First off, congrats Vito on signing Cespedes to a stellar deal. We've discussed defense in center but you don't pass up that kind of contract.

As for Baltimore, I think Droford is forgetting the Orioles are worse roster wise than last year, have zero pitching and still need outfield help while the rest of the division either improved or only slightly declined.

The Orioles will be likely last place this year barring a catastrophe.

The only place theyre worse is Starting Pitching and thats only because they lost Chen and haven replaced him.

They brought back their two most important free Agents (oday and davis) and signed Trumbo and Kim. Trumbo will be a huge imprivement at DH and if Kim can come somewhat close to his career .420 OBP over in korea hell be a great leadoff hitter and upgrade at LF. A full year of healthy Wieters catching (hasnt played full year since 2013) is a plus.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Trumbo is barely a league average player. He's not going to make much if any difference what so ever. He's not a very good player.

You can't just graph international players' numbers and say "oh if he comes close" because the league he was posting those numbers in isc the equivalent of AA or AAA at best. He's not going to be facing the same inferior talent.

Can you name even 10 guys in the least 20 years who came over from Japan or other country who came over here and hit like gangbusters? Can you name even 5?

[screech]

But....the TRUMBOMBS

[Damian Rey 2.0]

More like TrumBum AMIRITE?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Jesus Christ I missed posting in here.

[Droford]

Trumbo and Kim almost have to be better than what they trotted out at dh and lf last year.

At dh they used Paredes the most with Clevenger (3rd catcher) Junior Lake (gone) and Christian Walker (back up 1b that can't hit)

In Lf they used like 7 guys the best of which was Steve Pearce who hit .218. Henry Urrutia who got time in LF will probably play RF..

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I've already pointed out how much of an upgrade Trumbo isn't. He's an at best average player, who, even if he's an upgrade, isn't going to move the needle more than maybe a game or 2 at the most.

Kim is a wildcard. God only knows if he's going to be any good and even if he did workout out ok how much of an impact is that really going to make.

The rotation is in shambles. It's not as good or better than any other team in the division. They are in dire need of pitching and instead of blowing their load on Chris Davis they could've gone out and refilled the staff and possibly an outfielder.

It's not looking good. I get you're going to try to be optimistic but the players they're adding are marginal at best. They have done nothing to add to last year's roster.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Padres get: RHP Jean Cosme
Orioles get: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne</font>

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Thank God

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Despaigne is going to get fucking shelled in the AL east. He has mediocre at best offerings and trouble hitting spots. May at best be replacement level but that's his ceiling.

#LOLOrioles

[Droford]

Supposedly has/had a great changeup

[Damian Rey 2.0]

He stinks. At best he's mediocre, but that's it. He's gonna get shelled in that division though.