And you think they're gonna be able to afford Machado lol.

Trumbo is realizing the jig is up. He's a low on base homerun only bat with no value outside of the batters box and now he's coming back to the one place that makes the most sense.

Padres signed Wil Myers to a 6 year, 84 million dollar extendion. Love it. Locked up thru age 31

The Orioles have shown no loyalty in the past to closers. I figure Britton is on the trade deadline block to be dealt this year unless the Orioles are in first place. I would be upset but its what they do.

I don't know why you'd be upset. Logically speaking, Britton is likely to regress while getting more expensive. They'd be smart to trade him while his value is high.

Britton is getting traded for sure. Most likely to the Yankee's or Nationals. Nationals love trading for closers every years. It's weird.

Why would the Yankees want him?

They just had Chapman, Miller and Betances in the same bullpen. Why do you think they'd want him?

I doubt he goes to the Yankees. He'll go to a team like Washington who needs a closer and has the cash and prospects to get it done.

I don't want the Nats to trade for anyone because I want them to suck this year.

Also I want Daniel Murphy to take a fastball to the ear.

They might suck this year. They're a weird team.

They want everyone

Looks like Bautista back to Toronto will be announced either later today or tomorrow, Marcus Stroman may have revealed his return on Twitter....

If it's short term and on the cheap I guess it's okay.

I read 2 years, somewhere between 17.5 and 20 mil AAV.

Two days until the Hall of Fame class is announced and because I'm a geek for the Hall - 50% of the ballots are now public and, while unlikely, there is still a fighting chance that the BBWAA could elect five players in one class for the first time since the inaugural HOF class of 1936. Raines (91.5%) and Bagwell (89.2%) both felt like safe bets coming in to this year and fans of theirs may very well have booked trips a while ago. But Pudge (78.4%), Vlad (74.2%), and Hoffman (72.8%) are all right there.

Given that the pool of voters who won't announce the ballot early likely trends older and therefore more strict about PED implications, I'm thinking Pudge will end up falling just short this year. A phrase I've read from some voters who did not go for Vlad are that they feel he is worthy of the HOF but not good enough where he should get in first ballot, which is an even higher honor. Seems silly to me, but he'll likely miss out this year because of it. Hoffman might still have the best chance at sneaking in as a third man as older voters tend to favor saves a lot more.

No matter which of the three miss out, they're all very likely to go in someday. Historically once you get to around the 60-65% voting threshold it just becomes a matter of time. Edgar Martinez and Mussina are in that range...and so are Bonds and Clemens. It's going to be such an awkwardly fun ceremony if/when those two eventually make it.

Why is first-ballot "an honor?" Feel like people only say that about active players, not members.

I've thought this for years, but I think I heard Simmons/Cousin Sal discuss it recently.

Technically a #BillSimmonsPost

Not sure I like a 2-year deal unless the second has a team option....

I think it's dumb personally. But for whatever reason people think you can separate the legends for the super legends by who got in on the first try.

To me, a Hall of Famer is a Hall of Famer.

Sources confirmed that if Bautista signs with Jays, it will be 1-year with a mutual option. Not confirmed yet.

Michael Suanders also close to a deal with Philadelphia.... Good signing for them, a cheap-ish power bat with lots of potential

Saunders deal is done: 1-year, $9m. Club option for $11m.

I like it. He can actually hit. And it takes the Phillies out of the Jay Bruce talks (thankfully).

I can't say Sandy fucked up by exercising Bruce's contract, because there was no guaranteed of Cespedes returning and nobody could've imagined the hitters market playing out this slowly.

But man....it sure looks like the Mets are gonna be stuck playing Bruce over Conforto, and that really fucking sucks.

Saunders is a worse version of Jay Bruce, Screech

At least he's cheaper

Baseball Writers' Association of America recently approved to make Hall of Fame ballot voting results public starting next year. Writers will no longer be allowed to be anonymous on who they pick.

Could have started this year but the voting for the rule change occurred after voting for the 2017 class started.

Maybe not. I don't know. I didn't want Jay Bruce, and just about anybody would be an upgrade at this point.

So Bautista's deal ended up being 1 year, $18 million. Different vesting options and performance escalators could potentially turn it into 3 years, $60 million.

BAUTISTA COMING BACK TO WIN THE RUMBLE!

White Sox prospect Michael Kopech, acquired from Boston in the Chris Sale trade, is now hitting 110 MPH on the radar gun.

They should pull him over for speeding

*rimshot*

I saw where he's coming off a broken hand when he punched a teammate. Maybe that makes him sorta like Henry Rowengartner.

Bagwell, Raines, and Pudge to the HOF.

Wooooooooooo!

All deserving but it's about damn time for Raines and Bagwell.

Raines and Bagwell were locks based on votes but the difference between Pudge and Hoffman was really close.

Hoffman missed joining the class by 5 votes while Pudge's win total was only 4 votes higher than the amount needed.

Probably a safe bet Trevor Hoffman is joining next year and maybe Vlad Guerrero since he missed getting inducted by 15 votes. Chipper Jones should be a lock based on the new guys for next year's ballot

Yeah it'll be at least a 4 man class next year: Hoffman, Vlad, Thome, Chipper

I gotta say though, Hoffman getting 74% and Wagner only 10% defies logic.

The disparity in the polling from a couple of days ago vs. the final numbers is astounding. I thought Edgar and Moose were going to finish mid to high 60s and be safe for next year but nope, both saw a 10% drop from the group that didn't reveal their ballots publicly. I still think they could go in someday but 20-25% for next year would be a huge jump. All ballots will be public next year so that could force some of the more crotchety members of the BBWAA to change their strategy.

Really think that next year might be my favorite class of all time. Love Thome, Rolen, and Vizquel.

It's because writers still believe in TEH SAVEZZZZ. Wagner was better last time I bothered to check.

Bro, how many times have you faced a team's 3 worst hitters in the 9th inning of a 3 run game?

Curt Schilling is one of my favorite Phillies ever.

But goddamn, he is not smart.

Lol that was a fun read