The 2019 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[JaimeMiro]

Houston Astros are 1st in the top 10 power rankings
You'd think that'd be the Red Sox after how they proved they are built for the postseason

[BigSpoon]

Houston Astros are 1st in the top 10 power rankings
You'd think that'd be the Red Sox after how they proved they are built for the postseason

I guess they are questioning the bullpen with Kimbrel not resigned.

[cincinnatikid513]

Houston Astros are 1st in the top 10 power rankings
You'd think that'd be the Red Sox after how they proved they are built for the postseason

could be world series hangover, happens alot teams wins world series next year not as good

[cincinnatikid513]

wonder if kimbrell would take a 1 year contact maybe 15 mil from the braves or brewers

[jrgum3]

wonder if kimbrell would take a 1 year contact maybe 15 mil from the braves or brewers

Hope Kimbrel signs soon with either of those teams I like my fantasy closers to play on contenders as I believe that gives them more opportunities for saves.

[EmpireMaker]

1:03pm: MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets that Duda’s deal with the Royals carries a $1.25MM base salary and another $250K available via incentives.
12:44pm: The Royals announced Monday that they’ve selected the contract of veteran first baseman Lucas Duda and requested unconditional release waivers on outfielder Brian Goodwin. Duda will make the Kansas City Opening Day roster, while the out-of-options Goodwin, who’d previously been viewed as a strong candidate to log ample time in right field this coming season, will become a free agent if and when he clears release waivers in 48 hours.
Duda, 33, spent most of the spring with the division-rival Twins but opted out of his minor league pact with Minnesota last week when it became clear that he wouldn’t make the club as a bench bat. He’ll now open his second consecutive season with the Royals, who signed Duda to a one-year, $3.5MM contract in the 2017-18 offseason. Duda spent the first five months of last season with the Royals and hit .242/.310/.413 before being acquired by the Braves in exchange for cash on Aug. 29. Thus far in Spring Training, he’s posted a .250/.386/.417 slash through 44 PAs between Minnesota and Kansas City.
The Royals haven’t commented on what role Duda will play with the club, but the presence of a younger player with a similar skill set, Ryan O’Hearn, makes it seem likely that Duda will start the season as either a bench bat, joining Cam Gallagher, Terrance Gore and Chris Owings, or as a part-time designated hitter.
Spring Training was a disaster for the 28-year-old Goodwin, whom the Royals acquired in a trade with the Nationals last July. Goodwin appeared in 17 games for the Royals and took 49 plate appearances but slashed .166/.188/.256 with 13 strikeouts against four walks. His .266/.317/.415 output in 101 plate appearances with Kansas City last season gave the Royals a bit of cause for intrigue, but they’ll now entrust right field to a combination of Soler, Owings and Gore early in the season. It’s possible that they’ll try to bring Goodwin back on a minor league contract, though he’ll also have the opportunity to field interest from other clubs once his waiver period expires.

[JaimeMiro]

Houston Astros are 1st in the top 10 power rankings
You'd think that'd be the Red Sox after how they proved they are built for the postseason

https://www.mlb.com/news/closers-for-every-mlb-team

I'd still take the Red Sox, Astros are a good team but won't dismiss the reigning champions until they prove me wrong. Hangover or not

[ApricotSinner32]

https://www.mlb.com/news/closers-for-every-mlb-team
I'd still take the Red Sox, Astros are a good team but won't dismiss the reigning champions until they prove me wrong. Hangover or not

[Chi_archie]

Hope Kimbrel signs soon with either of those teams I like my fantasy closers to play on contenders as I believe that gives them more opportunities for saves.

that's very true

[JAKEPEAVY21]

looking forward to thursday opening day

[koz-man]

Cubs' Hamels gets hole-in-one, then hits homer


MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Cole Hamels had a fun few days of firsts. Over the weekend, he recorded his first hole-in-one on a golf course, and on Monday, he hit a home run in his final spring training tune-up.

Hamels has another first coming up when he faces the Texas Rangers in his first start of the regular season. It'll be the first time the left-hander has pitched against a former team.

Although Cubs manager Joe Maddon has not officially announced the rotation order, it is now lined up with Jon Lester starting Thursday on Opening Day against the Rangers, followed by Yu Darvish, Hamels, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana.

"It's finally that time. I feel healthy, strong," Hamels said. "Now it's go time, get in front of the big crowds and big stadiums, and everything starts to matter."

Monday night was Hamels' fifth spring start. He faced the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and served up Andrew Benintendi's home run with one out in the third, but he led off the Cubs' half with a homer to tie the game. He has hit two home runs in the regular season, including one last year with the Cubs.

"I've been taking lots of BP," Hamels said. "I haven't had to do that in a couple years. We all had fun in the dugout with that. It's nice to just make solid contact."
Does it feel the same as making an ace?

"No. I'd take a hole-in-one," Hamels said with a laugh. "It's a lot more rare. It took me about 15 years to get that."
He was playing golf with seven others, including teammates Anthony Rizzo and Lester, so he had plenty of witnesses.

"It was nice to go up there and finally hit one on the green on that hole," Hamels said. "Normally, I ended up in the bunker. I was happy I got it on the green, and then it just disappeared. It was a cool moment."
Who knows what's in store for Hamels this season?

"Rizzo is a little perplexed right now because of what's been going on," Hamels said.
After Benitendi's homer, Hamels retired the next eight batters and exited after five innings.
Next up will be the Rangers, for whom Hamels pitched from 2015 until last July, when he was traded to the Cubs.

"I haven't had an opportunity to go up against a former team," Hamels said. "I'm pretty familiar with the ballpark. It's just making sure I keep the ball in play."

[BigSpoon]

There has been cavalcade of extensions across Major League Baseball this spring, but it doesn’t appear Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom will become the latest star to ink a new deal. Speaking about his future Saturday, deGrom told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Tim Healey of Newsday and other reporters that his optimism about signing before his self-imposed Opening Day deadline on March 28 is fading.
As recently as March 13, the reigning National League Cy Young winner seemed hopeful about landing a long-term pact by the opener. But deGrom said Saturday he’s “probably not as [optimistic]” an agreement between his camp and the Mets will materialize in time for the season. At that point, the 30-year-old will be more concerned about on-field matters.
“I don’t know where it’s going to end up,” deGrom said. “I’ve really not been trying to think about it. Yeah, I said I wanted to get something done, but it’s getting close to Opening Day and I think my focus is on that right now.”
While talks haven’t gone to his liking, they’re still ongoing, according to deGrom, who again noted he’d like to remain with the Mets. That being the case, it seems there’s still hope they’ll reach an 11th-hour deal. To this point, though, the Mets have reportedly been leery of committing a sizable payday to deGrom – who, despite the brilliance he has displayed since debuting in 2014, doesn’t have all the leverage here. After all, not only is deGrom on the wrong side of 30, but he’s a past Tommy John surgery recipient whom the Mets aren’t at risk of losing to free agency until after the 2020 campaign. Conversely, fellow veteran aces Chris Sale and Justin Verlander were only a year from free agency when they signed extensions this week, thereby increasing their teams’ urgency to lock them up.
Asked if he’s comparable to Sale, whom the Red Sox awarded a five-year, $145MM guarantee, deGrom said: “I don’t know. He’s a little bit closer to free agency. I’d have to sit down with my agents again and go over some things to really fully understand where we’d like to be.”
Last July, as deGrom was amid a season for the ages, his former agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, implored the Mets to either trade the ace or extend him. The Mets didn’t oblige in either case, though they did make the outside-the-box decision in October to hire Van Wagenen as their general manager. Van Wagenen entered into the position with keen insight into deGrom’s circumstances, then, and as a former bigwig at CAA Sports, he’s familiar with the hurler’s new representatives, Jeff Berry and Matt Ricatto. Nevertheless, the parties haven’t been able to hammer anything out, and if deGrom’s deadline holds, they’ll either wait until next offseason to revisit contract talks or table them altogether. By then, deGrom could be heading into his final winter of arbitration eligibility. He and the Mets avoided the arbitration process this past January by agreeing to a record-setting $17MM salary for 2019.

Mets were under big pressure and got the deal done. 5 years for $137.5M for deGrom.

[JMobile]

If you guys have Tmobile, today is the day for the free MLB.TV.

[batt33]

looking forward to thursday opening day

Even though the Giants dont look great......still enjoy the baseball season!

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Even though the Giants dont look great......still enjoy the baseball season!

Tatis Jr and a bunch of other talented rookies made the squad...excited about the coming years

[EmpireMaker]

The White Sox have officially announced that outfielder Eloy Jimenez will open the season on the active MLB roster. Outfielder Jon Jay and righty Ian Hamilton have been placed on the injured list, with outfielder Ryan Cordell joining Jimenez in the majors.
Jimenez, the organization’s top prospect, had previously been optioned down but went on to sign a precedent-setting extension. That no doubt played a significant role in today’s decision, but the ensuing loss of Jay to a hip strain also cleared a path.
The hope will be that Jimenez emerges as a star from the outset of his MLB career. But with the club now controlling him for eight full seasons, thereby obviating any service-time considerations, it can make its future roster decisions with reference only to team need and Jimenez’s development.

[jrgum3]

Even though the Giants dont look great......still enjoy the baseball season!

I always look forward to opening day even when the Giants aren’t projected to do well. I just love baseball and always look forward to the new season.

[JaimeMiro]

Mets were under big pressure and got the deal done. 5 years for $137.5M for deGrom.

Not bad at all, he gets to stay in Queens

[cincinnatikid513]

what a great day thursday opening day baseball and ncaa tournament games snell vs verlander here in tampa going to be a pitching duel

[koz-man]

Fernando Tatis Jr. says he feels like "he's ready" for the majors after an impressive spring training. The Padres are still likely to send him down and it's not just above service time. (1) A lot of players have nice springs. (2) He's 20. (3) He hasn't played above Double-A. (4) He had a very high 28 percent K rate at Double-A. A month or two at Triple-A makes sense.

[Chi_archie]

Fernando Tatis Jr. says he feels like "he's ready" for the majors after an impressive spring training. The Padres are still likely to send him down and it's not just above service time. (1) A lot of players have nice springs. (2) He's 20. (3) He hasn't played above Double-A. (4) He had a very high 28 percent K rate at Double-A. A month or two at Triple-A makes sense.

i'm excited to see this next wave of guys like him and Vlad Jr

[dudekid]

Tatis is definitely an interesting name to watch, but yeah we may not be seeing him for a bit

[JMobile]

Can't believe baseball is already here.

[mr. leisure]

Good luck to everyone , may all your bets be winners.

[Cross]

Way to go Padres, they want to contend right now!

[batt33]

I always look forward to opening day even when the Giants aren’t projected to do well. I just love baseball and always look forward to the new season.

I think half the fun is listing/watching to kruk and kuip... watching the fans in the stands....and always saying next time im at the stadium I'm going to "get that and that and that "lol

[cincinnatikid513]

Good luck to everyone , may all your bets be winners.

haha then the bookies wouldn't stay open for business how bout may more of your bets be winners than losers

[jrgum3]

Man lots of good matchups as always tomorrow but the one I’m looking forward to besides my Giants is Nats/Mets game because Scherzer vs Degrom is the best pitching matchup on the board imo.

[JaimeMiro]

Just one more sleep until opening day...

[Cross]

Scherzer/Degrom does look delicious.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

The Urias you should know is Luis Urias, Padres 2b/SS

kid has a very advanced eye and approach at the plate

shocked that he was sent down to AAA

he'll be back at some point this season

[Otters27]

Today's the day. yankees are -375

[Chi_archie]

Today's the day. yankees are -375

highest opening day moneyline ever?

[dudekid]

highest opening day moneyline ever?

Though the orioles are horrible, I would have such a hard time laying that kind of wood on April Tanaka. Any baseball game really, lol

[Cross]

-375, that is insane, lol.