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Interesting stuff................................... .....................................Comment -
Isn't the guy who made this thread like a multi millionaire?Comment -
The Dodgers’ best chance of moving Matt Kemp may be to package the veteran outfielder (and the $43MM remaining on his contract) along with some good minor league talent to a team with payroll space that is willing to “buy a prospect,” Fangraphs’ Jeff Sullivan writes. Such moves are becoming increasingly common around baseball, such as the Padres’ acquisition of Chase Headley and Bryan Mitchell from the Yankees earlier this offseason. The Dodgers have a deep enough farm system that they might not necessarily have to offer one of their top-tier prospects to unload Kemp; Sullivan cites righty Wilmer Font as the type of MLB-ready minor leaguer that could step right into the rotation of a rebuilding team. Some creativity may be required to work out a Kemp trade, though the five-player, luxury tax-bending deal with the Braves that brought Kemp back to L.A. was itself pretty unique. If it costs the Dodgers a star prospect to get Kemp off the books, it might be worth it in the long run if the trade frees up enough money for the Dodgers to re-sign Yu Darvish.
Some more from around the National League…
- Should the Giants sign Madison Bumgarner to an extension? The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (subscription required) looks at the factors that the team will face in making that decision, such as other future salary commitments, whether the Giants will remain competitive in the coming years, and whether they’ll be wary about another long-term deal for a pitcher going into his 30s when other such recent contracts (i.e. Barry Zito, Matt Cain) didn’t work out. San Francisco isn’t in any immediate rush to decide on the matter, however, as Bumgarner is controlled through 2019 via a $12MM club option. This gives the Giants time to determine if they can extend their window of contention or perhaps if Bumgarner himself is still in his old form after his injury-marred 2017 campaign.
- The Braves’ lineup has lost a lot of pop with the departures of Kemp, Matt Adams, and Brandon Phillips, and the team’s primary hope is that its young players emerge as power threats, Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Continued development from Ozzie Albies, Rio Ruiz, and Johan Camargo would be a boon for the team, and big things are expected from star prospect Ronald Acuna. There’s also still the potential for another addition, GM Alex Anthopoulos said: “We’ve talked about the loss of power and how to make up for it. I don’t have an answer today. Normally you’d say ’Wow, it’s late January, how do you not have an answer?’ But there’s a lot of free agents still out there and there’s a lot of bodies.”
- The Marlins’ fire sale is the largest ever, The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh writes, as only one team in baseball history has traded more WAR in a single offseason than Miami has this winter. That team (the 1899 Louisville Colonels) technically shouldn’t count given the unusual circumstances — Colonels owner Barney Dreyfuss bought a share of the Pirates and then sold much of Louisville’s top talent to Pittsburgh. Lindbergh’s piece chronicles the top 20 biggest talent purges from one season to the next, with some other recent teams (the 2014 Braves, 2014 A’s, and 2012 Marlins) also appearing on the list.
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MLB implements player ideas in latest pace-of-game proposal
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has pleaded time and again for workable feedback from the players in the effort to accelerate the pace of play, and the latest proposal on the negotiating table reflects that player sentiment.
Manfred was in California for owners meetings Thursday, and he told reporters generally that MLB is willing to defer implementation of a pitch clock for the 2018 season if the players agree to guidelines designed to reduce the average time of game.
That was the headliner of a proposal sent to the union in the aftermath of a Jan. 23 meeting between representatives from the union and Major League League, but was just one of many details, according to an official on the team side who described the proffer.
Because of a clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated decades ago, Major League Baseball has the power to unilaterally implement changes to the game, such as a pitch clock or a limit on the number of mound visits. But as MLB aims to reduce the average game time, which continues to increase despite constant conversation in recent years, it prefers a collaborative effort with the players. To that end, MLB integrated ideas from the players in its latest proposal.
The opener: "The following is offered as a potential framework for resolving the pace-of-game dispute based on the feedback we have received from the Players Association and players' comments at the August 2017 meeting, and to the media."
Among the highlights of the most recent MLB proposal:
- The time-of-game goal for 2018 would be to play games in under 2 hours, 55 minutes; if 2:55 or longer -- a failure to meet the goal -- then an 18-second pitch clock would be put into effect for the 2019 season, with an automatic ball-strike penalty for violations put into effect on May 1, 2019. If the average game time was under 2:55 in 2018, then MLB would play in 2019 without a pitch clock, and the time-of-game goal would be 2 hours, 50 minutes. If that goal wasn't met, the use of a pitch clock would be triggered for 2020.
- MLB will withdraw its request for a between-batter timer if the union reaches an agreement on the pace-of-play initiatives.
- MLB maintained its request for a limit of six mound visits, with a possible circumstantial trigger to five.
- Specific times allotted for pitchers to warm up between innings, and for hitters to approach home plate, so that the game promptly restarts after a commercial break -- but, in 2018, no penalties attached to the ball-strike count for those not in compliance. Special circumstances are acknowledged, such as when an inning ends with a runner on base, or when a catcher makes the last out of an inning and requires more time to put on his gear.
- MLB is ready to accept the union's proposal to study the feasibility of bullpen carts and would introduce the use of carts where feasible in 2018 and 2019.
- MLB is prepared to discuss the reduction of the 30-second replay clock, in which managers are required to decide whether they would challenge a call, as well as a reduction in the number of manager challenges.
- There are specific proposed guidelines on the commercials for the local broadcasts (2:05), national television (2:25) and postseason (2:55).
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American League
1. Shohei Ohtani, RHP/OF, Angels (1): He has to be atop any potential ROY list, right? The very nature of what he is trying to do, play both ways at the highest level, will impact the game in a big way.
2. Austin Hays, OF, Orioles (23): The 2016 third-round pick surprised many by playing his way from the Class A Advanced Carolina League up to the big leagues, with a .958 OPS in the Minors along the way. He will be given an opportunity to win a corner outfield spot this spring and his power will play in the big leagues.
3. Willy Adames, SS/2B, Rays (22): It might have been a little surprising Adames didn't get a September callup in 2017, but he was helping Durham win the Governor's Cup in the International League. He had a terrific second half and should get a long look for Tampa Bay's infield this spring.
4. Willie Calhoun, OF, Rangers (53): The hit and power tools are as legit as they come, with 69 homers in 333 Minor League games. A defensive home has always been the one question, but it looks like left field could be his for a long time. Wherever he plays, that bat is ready for the big leagues.
5. Brent Honeywell, RHP, Rays (12): Another upper-level Rays prospect who will impact the big league club in a big way in 2018. His combination of stuff, command and competitiveness on the mound points to a future near or at the top of a rotation. It's a question of when, not if, it starts to happen in 2018.
6. Gleyber Torres, INF, Yankees (5):Torres is only at the bottom of this list because he is coming back from Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow. He's going to get a chance to make the Opening Day roster and there are openings at second and third, potentially. Even if he goes to Triple-A to work off rust, he's going to see time on the Yankees infield this year.
National League
1. Lewis Brinson, OF, Marlins (27):The key prospect in the trade that made Christian Yelich a Brewer, Brinson has some big league time under his belt. Don't draw any conclusions from that small sample size. He has an exciting power-speed combination and if he stays with his gameplan, he's going to take full advantage of his opportunity in Miami.
2. Jorge Alfaro, C, Phillies (No. 6 catcher): Like Brinson, Alfaro has a clear path to a regular big league job. He's always shown off glimpses of his power bat at the plate and arm behind it. If he can take a step forward in his overall approach as a hitter and with his receiving skills as a catcher, he will open a lot of eyes.
Mayo on Alfaro's ROY chances 01:00 Jan. 30th, 2018
3. Luiz Gohara, LHP, Braves (49): Gohara went from the Class A Advanced Florida State League all the way to Atlanta in 2017 as he started to transform himself from a tantalizing hard-throwing lefty to a complete pitcher. He's still hitting the upper-90s with ease, but his secondary stuff all got better, as did his strike-throwing ability, putting him in line to step full-time into the Braves' rotation.
4. J.P. Crawford, SS, Phillies (37): Alfaro isn't the only rookie worth watching in Philadelphia in 2018. Crawford got his first callup last year, but played a lot of third and some second. With Freddy Galvis gone, the everyday shortstop gig is his. He's had some ups and downs, but look for him to settle in as the next exciting young shortstop in the NL East.
5. Max Fried, LHP, Braves (83): Fried had an up-and-down 2017 season, but threw better during his time in the big leagues and was one of the best pitchers in the Arizona Fall League. His September callup and that AFL stint should act as springboards to putting it all together as he tries to find a full-time home in Atlanta's rotation.
6. Ronald Acuna, OF, Braves (2): In terms of total upside, no one on this list surpasses Acuna, who turned in one of the best Minor League seasons in recent memory in 2017, then capped it off with an MVP performance in the AFL. Even if he doesn't break into the big leagues right away, the five-tool talent will force his way up. If he does it sooner rather than later, it's easy to see him surpassing everyone on this list.Comment -
Excited to see Gleybar Torres, could have been a Cub though.Comment -
Thanks in part to the signing of catcher Alex Avila to a two-year, $8.25MM deal this week, the Diamondbacks are on track to run a franchise-record payroll in 2018 (upward of $120MM), as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes. They may not be done adding, either, as general manager Mike Hazen informed Piecoro that the Diamondbacks still have financial flexibility and are seeking another outfielder. “We’re still very much involved in both,” Hazen said of free agency and the trade market. “We have enough balls in the air, we could be a couple of yesses away from something getting done in any direction. We’re not close on anything just yet.” With A.J. Pollock being the only natural center fielder on the D-backs’ 40-man roster, they could pick up someone capable of handling that spot, Piecoro reports.
More from the NL:
- The Mets plan to continue with a timeshare at catcher consisting of Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki in 2018, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com writes. Although there may be an upgrade available in free agency (past Mets target Jonathan Lucroy, to be specific), GM Sandy Alderson is inclined to stick with with his in-house tandem. “At that position, I think it would be difficult for us to find a pair that we like appreciably better,” he said. “I think we’ve been generally happy with our catching play.” The 28-year-old d’Arnaud and Plawecki, 26, represent a pair of former top 100 prospects who haven’t delivered as hoped in the majors (injury woes are partly to blame in the former’s case), but they each posted passable offensive numbers a season ago. D’Arnaud also graded as one of the majors’ top pitch framers in 2017, per Baseball Prospectus (though StatCorner saw things differently).
- As he continues working back from February 2017 Tommy John surgery, Cardinals right-hander Alex Reyes is in Jupiter Fla., throwing off a mound and facing hitters in live batting practice sessions, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com relays. The Cardinals are hopeful Reyes will be able to return to game action by May 1, according to Langosch. The highly touted 23-year-old figures to fill a bullpen role upon coming back, but the Cards continue to regard him as a long-term starter, per Langosch.
- Former Mets manager Terry Collins is now working as a special assistant to Alderson, and he explained what some of his new role will entail to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “I will be another set of eyes, and one of the things is to make sure the instruction at the minor league level is efficient,” revealed Collins, a former minor league manager. “We have to make sure, when they call up a player, he’s ready. I think I still have something to give to the game.” On whether he’d like to manage in the majors again, the 68-year-old Collins said, “I would, but I don’t think with the new era of stuff that would happen.”
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Three Braves prospects going to do some damage, good for them!Comment -
PHOENIX -- Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.
Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.
Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who presided over Thursday's hearing.Comment -
Entering the offseason, Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi looked like a shoo-in to end up elsewhere via trade, but the lack of action across the majors this offseason has played a role in preventing that, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Although the soon-to-be 28-year-old Odorizzi says he’s “still happy” to be in Tampa Bay, he’s cognizant that a trade could come together in the next few weeks – especially considering all the pitchers the low-spending Rays have dealt in the past. “There’s always that unsureness, especially with us and when people get to where I’m at in contract status and years left remaining (until free agency), this is typically the time (to be traded),” Odorizzi said. “We saw (Jeremy Hellickson), David (Price), (Drew) Smyly, (Matt) Garza, like everybody who gets to that point. We know it’s a pretty strong reality of how things go.” The Rays will “almost certainly” trade Odorizzi at some point, according to Topkin, and, as the player himself pointed out, it figures to occur soon given his dwindling team control. He’s in his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility and will earn between $6.05MM and $6.3MM, depending on what the panel decides.
More from Tampa Bay and two other AL East cities:
- Along with the previously reported Carlos Gonzalez and Jarrod Dyson, the Orioles have interest in free agent outfielder Jon Jay, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Signing any of the three would give the Orioles a much-needed lefty-swinging outfielder to join a group that currently includes four righties (Adam Jones, Trey Mancini, Austin Hays and Joey Rickard) and a switch-hitter (Anthony Santander). Jay, who’ll turn 33 in March, has offered average to slightly above-average offense throughout his career, and he has typically held his own against both lefty and righty pitchers. In 433 plate appearances with the Cubs in 2017, he hit .296/.374/.375 – good for a 101 wRC+.
- The Yankees have been on the hunt for starting pitching help throughout the offseason, though they haven’t made any significant moves on that front aside from re-signing CC Sabathia. Although the Yankees have a full rotation on paper with Sabathia, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery, Sabathia would like to see them add to it. “It is what it is, (but) you always need more,” Sabathia said to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. “It’s a long season. You never know what’s going to happen. The more arms we got, the better.” As Kuty notes, the Yankees’ talented rotation does come with questions, namely in the form of durability/workload concerns regarding everyone in the quintet.
- Joining the Rays this week on a minor league pact was an easy decision for righty Ryan Weber, details Topkin, who adds that the 27-year-old told his agent to immediately take their offer. Weber was eager to accept the Rays’ proposal because he’s a local product who still lives in the area. “This is where I first saw a big-league game, telling my parents I’m going to be out there one day,” he said of the Rays’ home ballpark, Tropicana Field. “So to actually have a chance to play for the Rays, that’s cool. That’s pretty cool.” As a member of the Mariners last season, arm problems limited Weber to just seven appearances between the majors and minors, but he’s now “100 percent.”
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Incoming Hall of Famer Jim Thome said Friday that he does not want to be wearing a cap with the Chief Wahoo logo on his plaque in Cooperstown.
"I know my decision would be to wear the 'C' because I think it's the right thing to do," Thome said at an event in Cleveland. "I think I need to have a conversation with the Hall of Fame because of all the history and everything involved. I just think that's the right thing to do."
The Indians said Monday they are removing the Chief Wahoo logo from their jerseys and caps starting in the 2019 season. They have been wearing a cap featuring a block-C in recent years and phasing out caps with the logo.
Thome spent 13 of his 22 seasons with the Indians but has not said which team's cap he will wear when he is inducted into Cooperstown this summer. He said he and his wife will make a final decision in consultation with Cooperstown officials.
Hall of Fame weekend will be July 27-30 in Cooperstown with the induction ceremony on July 29.Comment -
times really have changed. No more foul balls.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
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[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Thome needs to wear that chief logo, comon man!!!Comment -
Third baseman Mike Moustakas ranks among most prominent victims of this year’s abnormal offseason, having not landed a contract three months after hitting free agency as one of the top players available. It’s unlikely Moustakas’ next deal will come courtesy of the Cardinals, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, even though they’ve been in on third basemen this offseason (trade targets Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson in specific). It appears the Cards will use Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter at third, per Ortiz, who adds that the team has informed Carpenter he’ll fill a super-utility role. The Cards are the second potential landing spot for Moustakas that has been downplayed in the past few days; Mets GM Sandy Alderson suggested on Thursday that a match with Moustakas didn’t seem likely for a variety of reasons.
Some more notes from around the Senior Circuit…
- With the Rockies’ control over third baseman Nolan Arenado, center fielder Charlie Blackmon and second baseman DJ LeMahieu dwindling, it’s imperative infield prospects Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers and young outfielder Raimel Tapia pan out, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post observes. The Rockies have turned away trade interest in McMahon and Rodgers, Saunders reports, indicating they’re highly confident in the pair. McMahon is seemingly the more likely of the two to make an impact in 2018, as he could emerge as the Rockies’ starting first baseman. He’s also capable of playing third and second, both of which will open up soon if Arenado and LeMahieu depart within the next couple years. Rodgers is a shortstop, but with Trevor Story there, he might also be an option at the keystone. Regardless, the Rockies believe their young talent will help them withstand any potential losses in free agency. “Our job is to not worry about Charlie, Nolan or DJ. Our goal is churning out impactful, major-league players from year to year,” director of player development Zach Wilson told Saunders. “We think we have a chance to do that for a really long time.”
- The Mets will be able to place David Wright on the 60-day disabled list as soon as Feb. 14, notes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, which could be advantageous given the glut of free agents that remain unsigned and the number of players that’ll be jettisoned from 40-man rosters throughout the league as free agents (presumably) begin to sign at some point in the coming weeks. New York can’t and won’t simply release Wright, as doing so would cancel their insurance policy on the remaining $47MM of his contract (which reportedly covers 75 percent of his salary) and because Wright continues to strive for an improbable comeback. If Wright ultimately decides he’s no longer able to continue his career, the Mets and the insurance company could work out a settlement, but that doesn’t seem likely for the current season, it seems. Wright is owed $47MM through 2020 — $20MM in 2018, $15MM in 2019 and $12MM in 2020.
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Too dangerous in the cell phone era for sure.Comment -
Happy 84th birthday to the great Hank Aaron.
He had the most HRs (755) without a 50-HR season.
Most without 40: Eddie Murray (504).
Most without 30: Al Kaline (399).
Most without 20: Ron Fairly (215).Comment -
Todd Frazier to the Mets.
2 years, 17 million[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
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[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment
