I don't see Orioles winning the division easily at all.... I'm thinking its going to be a 5-horse race in the AL East for the majority of the year.....I personally don't think Orioles or Jays did much to get any better from last year, the Rays at least tried to and have tons of young (yet always unpredictable) pitching and you can never count out Boston or the Yanks....

And Chen was still a productive player. Gallardo replaces him. Great. But he just takes Chen's place. Can't upgrade when your losing players guy. They haven't done anything to add on to what they had from last year. Which is why their offseason is underwhelming despite spending loads of money.

I've given up trying to proven Gallardo > Chen

All other things equal Gallardo ground ball pitcher in home run ballpark with a team that shifts a ton and plays good defense is a Huge improvement over Chen who was a fly ball pitcher that gave up twice as many Home runs last year. The fact Gallardo had success in a home run park with thev3rd worst defense in baseball last year indicates to me he will have a good year and one much better than Chen could have had all for 1/2 of what Chen got from Miami.

Heh

Gallardo isn't doing to well on the physical apparently.

Grant Balfour 2.0

Ugh

At least the I'd were right on Balfour

Because what you're trying to prove isn't true. The only thing you can and have cited is homeruns allowed.

From a run prevention standpoint, you know, the primary job asked of a starting pitcher, Chen was better. 3.67 runs allowed per 9 innings to Gallardo's 3.71. Granted it's minuscule, but they peg them as even at best, not Gallardo>Chen. Their career numbers are in line as well. 4 runs per 9 for Chen to 3.98 for Gallardo. So where's the part that Gallardo is an upgrade? Regardless of his groundball rate, he's still giving up runs at a similar clip.

Innings pitched are similar too. WAR likes them all the same. Etc, etc, etc. There's nothing other than groundballs and money that you've cited to lead anyone but into Gallardo as more than a lateral move.

Okay, I think I take back what I said about Bautista. I mean he's definitely underpaid and all that and I understand him taking a hardline approach with his asking price, buttttttttttt..........




....supposedly his asking price is 5 years, $150 million. LMFAO if true. I could easily see someone going crazy and giving him $30 million for a year or something but there is no chance in hell a 36 year old player is getting that much for that long.

Yeah especially when they just re-signed Donaldson for literally half of that for 2 years

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Technically he's been that good since his rebirth in Toronto. But that's a shit ton for a guy who's gonna be 36 in year one of the deal.

It's generally a bad idea to pay players for past performance, no matter how much that player means to the team (see: Verlander, Justin)

Age-wise, the Jays could get around that problem by making Bautista their main DH hitter although would be crazy to do it for $30 million per year.

$20 million per year wouldn't be that bad compared to other DH hitters like Ortiz for some comparison.

I will fucking murder the Jays if they sign Bautista to that contract.

Don't worry, Gerty. I highly doubt they give him that money.

I don't even want him bach after this year to be honest. I'd rather they spend their money on Encarnacion.

Fowler to the os

Interesting news out of Denver. The Rockies put Jose Reyes on paid leave until his hearing on April 4th. After that, Commissioner Manfred will decide his fate.

Flip Trumbo and Schoop and I agree with Buster O

After missing all of last year with an injury, Cliff Lee still isn't officially retired but the writing is pretty much on the wall. His agent said it would take the "perfect situation" for him to return, which most take to mean coming back to Philadelphia on a guaranteed contract for more than the rebuild-focused Phillies want to offer.

Was naturally kinda forced to dislike the guy because he was one of the key cogs of Philly's string of 5 division titles, but he was a great pitcher. That 2009 season when he only walked 18 batters in 212 innings was absurd.

same. A 35+ year old outfielder, eating up tons of valuable funds to be used elsewhere, no thank you.....One year contract or nothing in my eyes....

After a couple red flags, Yovani Gallardo and the O's have agreed to a restructured deal.

2-years, $22 mil. with an option for a 3rd year.

Me Last year at this time
Well the good news is they didnt sit around this year. Msybe they'rethe AL version of the Giants

The Cubs sign Dexter Fowler to a one year deal with a second year option. Fowler wanted an opt out clause but Baltimore said no, so he walked away. Wow!

HOT STOVE

Jays sign Domonic Brown to a minor league deal. Nice little move.

Droford is sad because Fowler left the O's hanging.

I have no idea what the Cubs opening day lineup will look like now. Just looking at the OF, and ignoring the possibility of a Bryant, Zobrist or Baez, who do you sit among Schwarber, Heyward Soler and Fowler? I mean, yeah you could sit Schwarber against a lefty but he has to learn to hit them at some point otherwise he's a platoon player that belongs in the AL which means trade him.

At least the Jays have the option to not put Brown in the field.

I'd guess Fowler, Rizzo, Bryant, Schwarber, Heyward, Zobrist, Montero, pitcher and Russell. God that's a ridiculously stacked lineup.

O's front office looking like real schmucks right now. The retooled Gallardo contract. And now they lose Fowler.

Sb nation just posted an article detailing the numerous nixed deals due to Baltimore's seemingly impossible physicals. Great offseason out there.

What's hilarious is that they didn't want to do the one year opt out due to losing a pick for a one year deal, but they'll lose a pick for a two year deal and, according to their medical staff, possible shoulder trouble as well. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

I rest my case that the Orioles front office literally has no plan in place to get better. What a clusterfuck.

Could of new rule changes are happening this season.

Mound visits are now strictly timed for 30 seconds and starts the moment a manager or pitching coach leaves the dugout.

Due to a few nasty incidents last year, sliding rules got changed both to lessen potential injuries and determine what counts as a legal slide from now on. Automatic double play out if any of the 4 situations don't happen from a slide.
Phantom out calls at 2nd base are now reviewable.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/so...165116380.html

Could be this year's Chris Colabello if injuries allow him to get out of Buffalo.....

That leaves Soler and Baez on the bench. Dear lord. I want a DH while this lasts.

If droford, with his Craigslist girls saga, was actually running the O's, would it surprise you?

I wouldn't be so staunchly anti opt out clause

I think they might dea Soler or Baez. Baez is blocked by better infielders, and may Baez has the lesser track record, but may bring more back just by being a shortstop.

If I'm the Padres, I'm calling the Cubbies now and seeing what they want for either Soler or Baez. Preferably Soler as there's a giant hole in left field, San Diego.

Should call the Orioles

Tyson Ross for Javy Baez and a couple of minor leaguers

Great, animal Sanchez already hurt

Deal. Do you guys have a starter that would become expendable?