The 2016 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread...

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  • MexicanStallion
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 09-08-08
    • 20429

    #281
    If only Brandon would have went to Washington. I love him, but I'm ready to turn the page and start basically fresh.

    Reds manager Bryan Price said Sunday that there have been no recent trade discussions regarding Brandon Phillips and the club is preparing to enter the season with him entrenched as the starting second baseman.


    That's bad news for Jose Peraza who is believed to be ready to handle a regular role at the big league level, but has no position to play with Phillips blocking his path. The 35-year-old Phillips has twice vetoed trades this offseason that would have sent him elsewhere, and it seems his desire is to remain in Cincinnati for the remaining two years on his contract.
    Comment
    • yisman
      SBR Aristocracy
      • 09-01-08
      • 75682

      #282
      dodgers should make the playoffs

      good story
      [quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
      [/quote]

      [quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]
      Comment
      • Cross
        SBR Hall of Famer
        • 04-15-11
        • 5777

        #283
        Dodgers gonna spend again, then choke in playoffs like usual.
        Comment
        • El Nino
          SBR Posting Legend
          • 05-03-12
          • 18426

          #284
          Originally posted by yisman
          dodgers should make the playoffs

          good story
          Maybe Wild Card. Starting pitching downgraded, bullpen still a dumpster fire.
          Comment
          • EmpireMaker
            SBR Posting Legend
            • 06-18-09
            • 15578

            #285
            Originally posted by Cross
            Dodgers gonna spend again, then choke in playoffs like usual.
            Dodgers have been trying to be the new Yankees but they can't figure it out. They need to find pitching somewhere.
            Comment
            • Shortstop
              BARRELED IN @ SBR!
              • 01-02-09
              • 27281

              #286
              Originally posted by koz-man
              Vin Scully spills beans on final season

              The announcer intends to finish his 67th season with the Dodgers with the season-ending three-game series at San Francisco. Staying in California in '16


              The Dodgers' final three games are scheduled for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at AT&T Park.

              Scully said he would be willing to call games on the radio if the Dodgers advance to the postseason, but reluctantly.

              "When you get to the playoffs, you are allowed to do radio. We can't do any television, and I always feel funny when we do have the playoffs because Rick [Monday] and Charley [Steiner] do such a great job all year on radio and I feel that it's unfair that I go in and do six of the nine innings," Scully said.

              "But maybe, because it is the last year, I would go in and do the playoffs. But I don't think I would do the World Series. I think folks would say thank you and goodbye."


              Wow! How emotional will it be for him and everyone else as he's calling the last play of the game...

              How fitting would it be, if it is a game winning hit for the Dodgers...
              Comment
              • Chi_archie
                SBR Aristocracy
                • 07-22-08
                • 63167

                #287
                Dodger games with out Scully will be weird
                Comment
                • koz-man
                  SBR Hall of Famer
                  • 11-21-08
                  • 7102

                  #288
                  Originally posted by MexicanStallion
                  If only Brandon would have went to Washington. I love him, but I'm ready to turn the page and start basically fresh.

                  Reds manager Bryan Price said Sunday that there have been no recent trade discussions regarding Brandon Phillips and the club is preparing to enter the season with him entrenched as the starting second baseman.


                  That's bad news for Jose Peraza who is believed to be ready to handle a regular role at the big league level, but has no position to play with Phillips blocking his path. The 35-year-old Phillips has twice vetoed trades this offseason that would have sent him elsewhere, and it seems his desire is to remain in Cincinnati for the remaining two years on his contract.
                  As a Reds fan I was also hoping he would find a new home.
                  Comment
                  • yisman
                    SBR Aristocracy
                    • 09-01-08
                    • 75682

                    #289
                    Originally posted by El Nino
                    Maybe Wild Card. Starting pitching downgraded, bullpen still a dumpster fire.
                    every year they underachieve

                    so much talent last few seasons
                    [quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
                    [/quote]

                    [quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]
                    Comment
                    • BigSpoon
                      SBR MVP
                      • 11-04-10
                      • 4113

                      #290
                      Greg Bird is out for the 2016 season with a torn labrum, tough blow for the Yankees.

                      Greg Bird will miss the 2016 season for the Yankees and will have surgery after suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team announced.
                      Comment
                      • Shortstop
                        BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                        • 01-02-09
                        • 27281

                        #291
                        Originally posted by yisman
                        dodgers should make the playoffs

                        good story
                        Originally posted by El Nino
                        Maybe Wild Card. Starting pitching downgraded, bullpen still a dumpster fire.
                        Originally posted by Chi_archie
                        Dodger games with out Scully will be weird
                        Originally posted by yisman
                        every year they underachieve

                        so much talent last few seasons


                        I am a Dodgers fan this year!
                        Comment
                        • Shortstop
                          BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                          • 01-02-09
                          • 27281

                          #292
                          Can't believe I just typed that!
                          Comment
                          • Andy117
                            SBR Hall of Famer
                            • 02-07-10
                            • 9511

                            #293
                            Originally posted by Shortstop
                            I am a Dodgers fan this year!
                            You can enjoy listening to Vin Scully and still hope the Dodgers lose.
                            Comment
                            • El Nino
                              SBR Posting Legend
                              • 05-03-12
                              • 18426

                              #294
                              Originally posted by Andy117
                              You can enjoy listening to Vin Scully and still hope the Dodgers lose.
                              Comment
                              • EmpireMaker
                                SBR Posting Legend
                                • 06-18-09
                                • 15578

                                #295
                                2015-2016 FA Signings

                                There’s certainly still some work left to be done in the free agent market, so it’s too soon for any grand pronouncements, but the vast majority of the money has probably already been spent. It’s long been clear that this year would include a record overall spend, and that has indeed occurred. (2013-14 had the previous high of just over $2B.) And it seems we’ll likely end up with another new high point in terms of average annual value, though awarding that crown will need to await a final tally.
                                For now, we’ll focus primarily on spending by team. With Ian Desmond, Dexter Fowler, Yovani Gallardo, David Freese, Austin Jackson, Tyler Clippard, Mat Latos, and Justin Morneau still yet to be taken off of MLBTR’s top fifty free agent board — to say nothing of the many other viable as-yet-unsigned players — there’s definitely more cash to be distributed.
                                So, the list could well change quite a bit, and that may be something to revisit. But it’s still interesting to take a peak. We did this last year, and the year prior, and some spending patterns have changed. There are obvious reasons for that, of course, which in many cases reflect roster realities and opportunities more than overarching strategies. But the cases of some teams — the Yankees and Mariners, for example — are rather dramatic.

                                There are several observations apparent from these figures, and others which are buried in the underlying data. The Dodgers, of course, have spread a good bit of money over many players and years. Organizations like the Cubs (Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, and John Lackey), Tigers (Justin Upton & Jordan Zimmermann), Giants (Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, and Denard Span) racked up significant tallies with multiple large contracts. Other clubs’ major splashes are hidden somewhat by multiple, less significant signings, as with the Orioles (Chris Davis), Marlins (Wei-Yin Chen), and Cardinals (Mike Leake). The Rangers and Angels are traditional big spenders, and current contenders, who have been quiet in free agency. And the Diamondbacks’ one big open-market splash — Zack Greinke — remains a sight to behold.
                                Note that the above figures include the signings and posting fees for Kenta Maeda (Dodgers) and Byung-ho Park (Twins), neither of whom was technically a free agent. The contract between Cuban free agent Yaisel Sierra and the Dodgers is not included, as its precise value remains unreported, though it is said to be in the range of $30MM over six years. (That would, of course, only further drive home that organization’s wide spread of free agent spending.) MLB deals with unreported guarantees are presumptively treated as league-minimum.
                                Comment
                                • cala56
                                  SBR MVP
                                  • 02-25-10
                                  • 4231

                                  #296
                                  The same dodgers that are zack-less?
                                  Comment
                                  • koz-man
                                    SBR Hall of Famer
                                    • 11-21-08
                                    • 7102

                                    #297
                                    Top 5 Hall of Fame classes

                                    The inaugural Hall of Fame class was announced 80 years ago today, and that class of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson might be the best class ever.

                                    1. 1936 (Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson)

                                    2. 1972 (Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, Early Wynn, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Will Harridge)


                                    3. 2015 (Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio)


                                    4. 2014 (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa)

                                    5. 1947 (Lefty Grove, Carl Hubbell, Frankie Frisch, Mickey Cochrane)
                                    Comment
                                    • Chi_archie
                                      SBR Aristocracy
                                      • 07-22-08
                                      • 63167

                                      #298
                                      Originally posted by koz-man
                                      Top 5 Hall of Fame classes

                                      The inaugural Hall of Fame class was announced 80 years ago today, and that class of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson might be the best class ever.

                                      1. 1936 (Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson)

                                      2. 1972 (Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, Early Wynn, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Will Harridge)


                                      3. 2015 (Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio)


                                      4. 2014 (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa)

                                      5. 1947 (Lefty Grove, Carl Hubbell, Frankie Frisch, Mickey Cochrane)
                                      yeah hard to beat that first class, but they had an advantage of having a pool of all the players who had ever played and been retired all at once
                                      Comment
                                      • Shortstop
                                        BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                        • 01-02-09
                                        • 27281

                                        #299
                                        Originally posted by Andy117
                                        You can enjoy listening to Vin Scully and still hope the Dodgers lose.
                                        Originally posted by El Nino
                                        Haha! Yeah, I know...

                                        This guy will never stop rooting in the Black & Gold!

                                        Comment
                                        • yisman
                                          SBR Aristocracy
                                          • 09-01-08
                                          • 75682

                                          #300
                                          Originally posted by Shortstop
                                          I am a Dodgers fan this year!
                                          I hope they do well for Vin .
                                          [quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
                                          [/quote]

                                          [quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]
                                          Comment
                                          • EmpireMaker
                                            SBR Posting Legend
                                            • 06-18-09
                                            • 15578

                                            #301
                                            Blue Jays To Acquire Darrell Ceciliani

                                            By Jeff Todd | February 2, 2016 at 1:35pm CST
                                            The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Darrell Ceciliani from the Mets, as Chris Cotillo of SB Nation first tweeted. Toronto will send a player to be named later in the deal, per a team announcement, though New York calls it a cash deal in its own release.
                                            The 25-year-old had been designated for assignment to clear roster space for Yoenis Cespedes. He’ll provide another outfield option for Toronto, which sacrificed some depth when it shipped Ben Revere to the Nationals for reliever Drew Storen. A left-handed hitter, Ceciliani did reach the bigs last year for New York but accrued only minimal major league experience.
                                            It remains to be seen what the youngster can do with a full opportunity, but he’s shown some promise. He logged an impressive .345/.398/.581 slash and contributed nine home runs and 16 steals in his 255 plate appearances at Triple-A last year, and has generally swung the bat well during his time on the farm.
                                            Notably, too, Ceciliani drew strong ratings from defensive metrics in his short, 129-inning run in the majors last year. He can be deployed all across the outfield, too, adding to his versatility.


                                            I don't understand why the Mets got rid of this kid, they really aren't very deep in the outfield.
                                            Comment
                                            • BigSpoon
                                              SBR MVP
                                              • 11-04-10
                                              • 4113

                                              #302
                                              Originally posted by EmpireMaker
                                              Blue Jays To Acquire Darrell Ceciliani

                                              By Jeff Todd | February 2, 2016 at 1:35pm CST
                                              The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Darrell Ceciliani from the Mets, as Chris Cotillo of SB Nation first tweeted. Toronto will send a player to be named later in the deal, per a team announcement, though New York calls it a cash deal in its own release.
                                              The 25-year-old had been designated for assignment to clear roster space for Yoenis Cespedes. He’ll provide another outfield option for Toronto, which sacrificed some depth when it shipped Ben Revere to the Nationals for reliever Drew Storen. A left-handed hitter, Ceciliani did reach the bigs last year for New York but accrued only minimal major league experience.
                                              It remains to be seen what the youngster can do with a full opportunity, but he’s shown some promise. He logged an impressive .345/.398/.581 slash and contributed nine home runs and 16 steals in his 255 plate appearances at Triple-A last year, and has generally swung the bat well during his time on the farm.
                                              Notably, too, Ceciliani drew strong ratings from defensive metrics in his short, 129-inning run in the majors last year. He can be deployed all across the outfield, too, adding to his versatility.


                                              I don't understand why the Mets got rid of this kid, they really aren't very deep in the outfield.
                                              Would be nice if the Blue Jays 'won' a trade with the Mets for once.
                                              Comment
                                              • koz-man
                                                SBR Hall of Famer
                                                • 11-21-08
                                                • 7102

                                                #303
                                                Originally posted by Shortstop
                                                Haha! Yeah, I know...

                                                This guy will never stop rooting in the Black & Gold!
                                                Really the STEELERS !???!!!


                                                jk lol
                                                Comment
                                                • Chi_archie
                                                  SBR Aristocracy
                                                  • 07-22-08
                                                  • 63167

                                                  #304
                                                  Originally posted by EmpireMaker
                                                  Blue Jays To Acquire Darrell Ceciliani

                                                  By Jeff Todd | February 2, 2016 at 1:35pm CST
                                                  The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Darrell Ceciliani from the Mets, as Chris Cotillo of SB Nation first tweeted. Toronto will send a player to be named later in the deal, per a team announcement, though New York calls it a cash deal in its own release.
                                                  The 25-year-old had been designated for assignment to clear roster space for Yoenis Cespedes. He’ll provide another outfield option for Toronto, which sacrificed some depth when it shipped Ben Revere to the Nationals for reliever Drew Storen. A left-handed hitter, Ceciliani did reach the bigs last year for New York but accrued only minimal major league experience.
                                                  It remains to be seen what the youngster can do with a full opportunity, but he’s shown some promise. He logged an impressive .345/.398/.581 slash and contributed nine home runs and 16 steals in his 255 plate appearances at Triple-A last year, and has generally swung the bat well during his time on the farm.
                                                  Notably, too, Ceciliani drew strong ratings from defensive metrics in his short, 129-inning run in the majors last year. He can be deployed all across the outfield, too, adding to his versatility.


                                                  I don't understand why the Mets got rid of this kid, they really aren't very deep in the outfield.

                                                  see how it turns out
                                                  Comment
                                                  • Cross
                                                    SBR Hall of Famer
                                                    • 04-15-11
                                                    • 5777

                                                    #305
                                                    I think no post season for the J's this year.
                                                    Comment
                                                    • oiler
                                                      SBR Hall of Famer
                                                      • 06-06-09
                                                      • 6585

                                                      #306
                                                      well hopefully the cubs will finally make it to playoffs.
                                                      Comment
                                                      • EmpireMaker
                                                        SBR Posting Legend
                                                        • 06-18-09
                                                        • 15578

                                                        #307
                                                        Mariners Sign Dae-ho Lee

                                                        By Jeff Todd | February 3, 2016 at 11:56am CST
                                                        12:18pm: The Mariners have announced the minor league signing.
                                                        11:56am: The deal is done, with a physical already completed and an announcement expected in short order, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.
                                                        10:51am: Korean first baseman Dae-ho Lee has long been rumored to be negotiating with MLB clubs, and it appears that a deal could be in the works with the Mariners. A report from Korean baseball analyst Michael Min (Korean language link) says that Lee is in agreement on a one-year contract with Seattle that could pay him up to $4MM. (Jee-ho Yoo of Yonhap conveys the information in English.)
                                                        If something gets finalized, though, it may only be a minor league pact, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune suggests (Twitter links). In that scenario, Lee would presumably need to crack the MLB roster out of camp and reach some incentives to maximize the available earnings.
                                                        Lee, 33, declined a player option with Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in order to become a free agent and pursue an MLB opportunity. He is said to have been weighing offers from several MLB teams as well as his former employers in Nippon Professional Baseball. Because he is a true free agent with advanced professional experience, there is no posting fee or international spending cap involved in the deal.
                                                        After establishing himself in the Korea Baseball Organization, where he starred for the beter part of a decade, Lee moved to Japan for the start of the 2012 campaign. He’s been a steady producer there, generally mixing good on-base ability with a low strikeout rate and solid power. Last year, though, he took things to a new level, hitting 31 home runs and slashing .282/.364/.524 over 584 plate appearances.
                                                        It’s important to bear in mind, when weighing Lee’s numbers overseas against those carried by fellow Korean crossovers Jung Ho Kang and Byung-ho Park, that the NPB doesn’t feature the kind of unusually inflated batting lines found in the hitter-friendly KBO. Lee’s ..892 OPS last season was the fourth-best mark in the league. In fact, only eleven players reached the .800 threshold — including familiar names such as Wily Mo Pena, Cuban star Alfredo Despaigne, and Lee’s former teammate Nobuhiro Matsuda, who flirted with his own MLB bid this winter.
                                                        Ultimately, Lee is a hard player to peg, but obviously has shown enough with the bat to intrigue. He’s quite sizable and seems unlikely to see the field without a first baseman’s mitt, if he does more than DH. MLBTR’s Zach Links (Twitter link) recently asked a Korean scout for a comp for the veteran slugger. “Maybe Carlos Lee minus some power,” he was told. It’s tough. He is not typical, that’s for sure.”
                                                        For Seattle, that skillset would seem to put the Korean star on track to pair up with Adam Lind in a first base platoon. He could also see time in the DH slot when Nelson Cruz slots in at right field. Regardless, the fit is clear, and Lee would figure to receive a fair number of plate appearances in part-time duty.
                                                        Notably, that role had seemed destined to go to former top prospect Jesus Montero, with former big leaguer Gaby Sanchez providing competition in camp. Instead, it seems, Montero may need to compete with Lee to earn his way onto the active roster and remain a significant part of the organization’s plans moving forward.
                                                        Comment
                                                        • Shortstop
                                                          BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                          • 01-02-09
                                                          • 27281

                                                          #308
                                                          Originally posted by koz-man
                                                          Really the STEELERS !???!!!


                                                          jk lol

                                                          Comment
                                                          • Shortstop
                                                            BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                            • 01-02-09
                                                            • 27281

                                                            #309
                                                            Originally posted by koz-man
                                                            Top 5 Hall of Fame classes

                                                            The inaugural Hall of Fame class was announced 80 years ago today, and that class of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson might be the best class ever.

                                                            1. 1936 (Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson)

                                                            2. 1972 (Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, Early Wynn, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Will Harridge)


                                                            3. 2015 (Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Craig Biggio)


                                                            4. 2014 (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa)

                                                            5. 1947 (Lefty Grove, Carl Hubbell, Frankie Frisch, Mickey Cochrane)
                                                            Originally posted by Chi_archie
                                                            yeah hard to beat that first class, but they had an advantage of having a pool of all the players who had ever played and been retired all at once


                                                            Yeah, no class will come close to matching the group inducted back in 1936...
                                                            Comment
                                                            • El Nino
                                                              SBR Posting Legend
                                                              • 05-03-12
                                                              • 18426

                                                              #310
                                                              Dbacks were able to off load Hill & his bad contract. LaRussa doing great things already. Segura has a whip, he needs to hit better though. Dbacks may have the best defense in the NL.
                                                              Comment
                                                              • yisman
                                                                SBR Aristocracy
                                                                • 09-01-08
                                                                • 75682

                                                                #311
                                                                that was the first hall of fame class,of course nothing can match that

                                                                they hand-picked the players out of everyone

                                                                today we only have guys not inducted yet
                                                                [quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
                                                                [/quote]

                                                                [quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]
                                                                Comment
                                                                • Shortstop
                                                                  BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                                  • 01-02-09
                                                                  • 27281

                                                                  #312
                                                                  Originally posted by oiler
                                                                  well hopefully the cubs will finally make it to playoffs.

                                                                  I respectfully disagree.

                                                                  I hope the Cubs never see postseason baseball ever again!
                                                                  Comment
                                                                  • Cross
                                                                    SBR Hall of Famer
                                                                    • 04-15-11
                                                                    • 5777

                                                                    #313
                                                                    I can't wait to see the Cubs own the Bucs and Cards for years to come.
                                                                    Comment
                                                                    • Andy117
                                                                      SBR Hall of Famer
                                                                      • 02-07-10
                                                                      • 9511

                                                                      #314
                                                                      Originally posted by oiler
                                                                      well hopefully the cubs will finally make it to playoffs.
                                                                      They kinda did last year.
                                                                      Comment
                                                                      • EmpireMaker
                                                                        SBR Posting Legend
                                                                        • 06-18-09
                                                                        • 15578

                                                                        #315
                                                                        Braves Among Nine Teams With Interest In Lazarito

                                                                        By Jeff Todd | February 3, 2016 at 2:55pm CST
                                                                        TODAY, 2:50pm: Lazarito and his agents are willing to consider offers that would involve waiting until the next signing period to sign, Sanchez tweets. Certainly, that would appear to open up his potential market to more teams and explain the involvement of so many organizations as he nears a decision.
                                                                        1:10pm: There are nine total teams “heavily involved” in pursuit of Lazarito, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). It’s still unclear precisely which teams are pursuing him beyond the Braves, though the clubs already in the max penalty are certainly a good place to start.
                                                                        Of course, it’s also not yet entirely apparent what kind of cash outlay and signing timing those unnamed teams would be willing to offer. Paying a significant bonus and tax bill while taking on a two-year signing ban is a big ask at this stage of the year, with camp approaching and the next year’s July 2 prospect period already having developed quite a bit.
                                                                        YESTERDAY: The Braves are among the teams expected to make a strong push for young Cuban prospect Lazaro Armenteros — better known as Lazarito — according to a report from MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez. He’ll be eligible to sign on February 10 after being declared a free agent by the league, and Atlanta will see him at a private workout on Saturday.
                                                                        At just 16 years of age, Lazarito is subject to international signing restrictions. Though he is a raw talent, Sanchez says he’s expected to command a bonus in the range of $15MM to $20MM, if not more.
                                                                        Clearly, anything close to that would push Atlanta (or any other team) well over its bonus allotment if the signing were to be completed in this July 2 period. Such a move would trigger a two-year ban on $300K+ international signings and a 100% tax on overages.
                                                                        With the Braves reportedly lining up a massive spend on the signing season set to begin this summer — much-hyped Venezuelan Kevin Maitan is rumored to be the crown jewel — the club would have to do some maneuvering to get things done. Signing Lazarito now would mean punting on the opportunity to add multiple players in the July 2 session to come, though of course it could pursue other additions in this year’s period as numerous Cuban prospects filter into the free agent pool. Alternatively, Atlanta could attempt to convince the prospect and his representatives to hold off on officially striking a deal until the summer, thus rolling the signing into its future international class.
                                                                        There are other teams involved, Sanchez suggests, though it isn’t clear who else is in pursuit. As he notes, the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Royals stand to begin their own restricted stretches in a few months’ time. Having already triggered the maximum penalties, they could all strike without issue (beyond coughing up the bonus and tax). Only the Angels, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees are frozen out of the market, by virtue of prior budget-busting outlays. The rest of the league would find itself in the same situation as Atlanta — able to spend, if they are willing to sit out the next two signing periods.
                                                                        Comment
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