The 2020 Major League Baseball, Chatter, News, and Fantasy Thread

[stevenash]

Happy New Year fellow baseball fans.

[JMobile]

85 days until opening day.

[stevenash]

Don Larsen just died.
RIP

[JaimeMiro]

Happy New Year all, countdown to new season starts

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Hoping we get a few blockbuster trades before the season starts.

[Cross]

Happy new year, let’s get some hot stove action going!

[Otters27]

When do pitchers and catchers report?

[stevenash]

When do pitchers and catchers report?

2/10
SD is the first team to report.

[yisman]

Yankees starter Domingo German will miss the first 63 games of the 2020 season as part of his suspension for a domestic incident last year, a source confirms to ESPN. On top of the 18 games served, it’s one of the most significant suspensions for domestic violence MLB has levied.

[JMobile]

I have a feeling Dodgers will get Mookie Betts

[batt33]

Wondering if the Giants will sign a bat.....

[EmpireMaker]

The Dodgers have been linked to several superstar players in both free agency and potential trades this winter, though with so many of the big free agents already signed elsewhere, the trade market might be Los Angeles’ best avenue to land a major roster upgrade. To this end, the Dodgers have continued to explore the possibility of acquiring Mookie Betts from the Red Sox, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
The deal could potentially be expanded to involve multiple players heading from Boston to Chavez Ravine, as Morosi suggests that David Price might be a fit as the veteran arm the Dodgers are looking to add to their rotation. With the Red Sox looking to cut payroll and ideally get under the luxury tax threshold, rumors have swirled all winter about Price, Betts, and other high-priced Boston names being floated as trade chips. Betts is projected for a hefty $27.7MM salary in his final year of arbitration, though that’s certainly a reasonable price to pay (especially for a big-market team like the Dodgers) for one of the sport’s very best players.
As game-changing as the idea of a Betts trade may be, the Sox aren’t actively trying to deal him, since the club would naturally prefer to explore other cost-saving options before parting ways with the 2018 AL MVP. Moving Price and the $96MM owed to the southpaw through 2022 would be one of those preferred options. While the Sox have drummed up some trade interest in Price, however, it still seems unlikely that a suitor would take on most of that contract given Price’s age (34) and recent injury concerns.
Moving Betts along with Price would definitely make a trade suitors more willing to absorb perhaps even all of Price’s contract, though obviously the Red Sox aren’t willing to move Betts just for the sake of a salary dump. Indeed, Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom recently downplayed the idea of giving away any sort of younger talent along with Price, saying “so much of what we’re always going to be trying to accomplish, but certainly now, is to make sure we have as strong a farm system as possible.”
Morosi opines that the Red Sox would want one of the Dodgers’ top young pitchers (i.e. Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin) as part of a trade, though “Boston appears less insistent on” including infielder Gavin Lux as part of a trade package. It could be for this reason that L.A. is perhaps currently more focused on Betts than on Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, another All-Star who has been heavily rumored to be on the Dodgers’ list of targets. The Lindor talks appear to be in something of a stalemate — Cleveland has continued to demand Lux in any deal for Lindor, while the Dodgers think so highly of Lux’s potential that they “have refused to include him in any offer for Lindor alone.” The Dodgers are also known to be pursuing Cleveland righty Mike Clevinger, so it’s safe to assume that some multi-player offers have been floated in the Tribe’s direction.

[jrgum3]

Wondering if the Giants will sign a bat.....

I'm not holding my breath but every year the Giants do seem to make 1 or two minor tweaks to their roster so we'll see what happens.

[JaimeMiro]

The Dodgers have been linked to several superstar players in both free agency and potential trades this winter, though with so many of the big free agents already signed elsewhere, the trade market might be Los Angeles’ best avenue to land a major roster upgrade. To this end, the Dodgers have continued to explore the possibility of acquiring Mookie Betts from the Red Sox, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
The deal could potentially be expanded to involve multiple players heading from Boston to Chavez Ravine, as Morosi suggests that David Price might be a fit as the veteran arm the Dodgers are looking to add to their rotation. With the Red Sox looking to cut payroll and ideally get under the luxury tax threshold, rumors have swirled all winter about Price, Betts, and other high-priced Boston names being floated as trade chips. Betts is projected for a hefty $27.7MM salary in his final year of arbitration, though that’s certainly a reasonable price to pay (especially for a big-market team like the Dodgers) for one of the sport’s very best players.
As game-changing as the idea of a Betts trade may be, the Sox aren’t actively trying to deal him, since the club would naturally prefer to explore other cost-saving options before parting ways with the 2018 AL MVP. Moving Price and the $96MM owed to the southpaw through 2022 would be one of those preferred options. While the Sox have drummed up some trade interest in Price, however, it still seems unlikely that a suitor would take on most of that contract given Price’s age (34) and recent injury concerns.
Moving Betts along with Price would definitely make a trade suitors more willing to absorb perhaps even all of Price’s contract, though obviously the Red Sox aren’t willing to move Betts just for the sake of a salary dump. Indeed, Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom recently downplayed the idea of giving away any sort of younger talent along with Price, saying “so much of what we’re always going to be trying to accomplish, but certainly now, is to make sure we have as strong a farm system as possible.”
Morosi opines that the Red Sox would want one of the Dodgers’ top young pitchers (i.e. Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin) as part of a trade, though “Boston appears less insistent on” including infielder Gavin Lux as part of a trade package. It could be for this reason that L.A. is perhaps currently more focused on Betts than on Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, another All-Star who has been heavily rumored to be on the Dodgers’ list of targets. The Lindor talks appear to be in something of a stalemate — Cleveland has continued to demand Lux in any deal for Lindor, while the Dodgers think so highly of Lux’s potential that they “have refused to include him in any offer for Lindor alone.” The Dodgers are also known to be pursuing Cleveland righty Mike Clevinger, so it’s safe to assume that some multi-player offers have been floated in the Tribe’s direction.

Moving Price shouldn't be a problem

[JAKEPEAVY21]

2/10
SD is the first team to report.

Hoping Tatis Jr can stay healthy for the full season this year.

[JMobile]

Where is Donaldson gonna sign with?

[JaimeMiro]

Where is Donaldson gonna sign with?

Definitely wouldn't pay him the 110m he wants

[JMobile]

Definitely wouldn't pay him the 110m he wants

Twins high on him right now

[JaimeMiro]

Rendon getting that paper; $245 million over 7 years.

[JMobile]

On this date, Anthony Rizzo was traded from the Padres to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner.

[pimike]

On this date, Anthony Rizzo was traded from the Padres to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner.

That was a horrible move.

However Can’t wait for badeball to get here....

Good thread!

[JaimeMiro]

There's been discussions for on-field tech to prevent stealing sign calling; I couldn't be bothered, it's all in the game...

[JaimeMiro]

MLB should let sleeping dogs lie it's 2020
"MLB reportedly close to disciplining Astros for sign stealing, players expected to be spared" want to see what kind of punishment it is...

[mpaschal34]

drove by the rangers new stadium the other day....those guys better get busy if they want to be ready for opening day.

[JMobile]

That was a horrible move.

However Can’t wait for badeball to get here....

Good thread!

I think Theo Epstein took Rizzo when he left the Padres.

[yisman]

https://sports.yahoo.com/hot-stove-tracker-angels-trade-for-orioles-pitcher-dylan-bundy-211008577.html




The Rays have acquired major-league outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena, along with a Compensation A pick, from St. Louis in an exchange for a combination of prospects and draft picks that include 20-year-old left-hander Matt Liberatore.

[JMobile]

https://sports.yahoo.com/hot-stove-tracker-angels-trade-for-orioles-pitcher-dylan-bundy-211008577.html




The Rays have acquired major-league outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena, along with a Compensation A pick, from St. Louis in an exchange for a combination of prospects and draft picks that include 20-year-old left-hander Matt Liberatore.

Rays making up for losing Pham

[JAKEPEAVY21]

https://sports.yahoo.com/hot-stove-tracker-angels-trade-for-orioles-pitcher-dylan-bundy-211008577.html




The Rays have acquired major-league outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena, along with a Compensation A pick, from St. Louis in an exchange for a combination of prospects and draft picks that include 20-year-old left-hander Matt Liberatore.

Interesting, the Rays usually seem to come out ahead on their trades.

[yisman]

Like 10 guys signed one year contracts today. Some arbitration-eligible, some FA-eligible.

[JMobile]

Like 10 guys signed one year contracts today. Some arbitration-eligible, some FA-eligible.

Betts and Lindor staying with their teams.

[JMobile]

Alex Wood back with the Dodgers.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Looks like Arenado might be traded to STL.

[Heltah Skeltah]

Looks like Arenado might be traded to STL.

Wow that be nice land for them

[yisman]

Ken Rosenthal
Per sources, MLB’s penalties for Astros include:
*One-year suspensions for GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch.
*Losses of 1st and 2nd round draft picks in both 2020 and ‘21.
*A fine of $5M.


Ken_Rosenthal






Astros owner Jim Crane just announced the firings of Luhnow and Hinch.

[JMobile]

Nationals beat the Dodgers fair and square and won the WS.