The 2021 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread

[stevenash]

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2020-06-17/padres-history-june-17-lamarr-hoyt-released

[stevenash]

LaMarr Hoyt just died.


Former Cy Young winner and White Sox ace LaMarr Hoyt dead at 66 (msn.com)

[JAKEPEAVY21]

I agree if they don't start the season on time or have a large portion of the season cut into I'm sure we won't be the only fans who are pissed.

Count me in fukk these greedy owners and players.

[stevenash]

When will the same be said about Gary Sheffield and Curt Schilling?

You can make a case for both of them.

Most people don't realize how good Shef was.
Some say he was a compiler, 500 taters is 500 taters, 22 years or 42 years, 500 is the bench mark.

Schilling?
That's all political.

[BarkingToad]

From the "It's about fukking time" department.
Gil Hodges is officially a Hall of Famer.

When will the same be said about Gary Sheffield and Curt Schilling?

[EmpireMaker]

Right-hander Kodai Senga signed a new five-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, according to The Kyodo News and other outlets. Full salary details aren’t known, though Senga will receive $5.3MM in 2022.
More pertinently for North American fans, the contract also contains an opt-out clause following the 2022 NPB season that would allow Senga to leave the Hawks for a potential deal with a Major League team. The opt-out clause is contingent on Senga banking enough service time in 2022 to officially qualify as a full free agent outside of the NPB/MLB posting system, which probably shouldn’t be considered a lock given that Senga missed quite a bit of the 2021 season recovering from an ankle injury.
However, Senga’s strong finish to the year should help answer any doubts about his health. The righty posted a 2.66 ERA over 84 2/3 innings for the Hawks, along with a 26.47% strikeout rate and 7.94% walk rate. If that wasn’t enough, Senga also helped Japan’s Olympic baseball team capture the gold medal at this past summer’s Tokyo Games.
Senga has made no secret of his desire to eventually test himself in MLB, and as he told reporters, “my thinking on that has not wavered” even after signing this multi-year pact with the Fukuoka team. “As a ballplayer, it’s essential to live my life always aiming higher….(Next year) I want to blow past all the numbers I’ve managed up to this point,” Senga said.
His biggest obstacle to a jump to North America has been, simply, the Hawks’ refusal to let him test the market. The Hawks have a team policy against posting any of their players to North American teams, and thus Senga has had to simply wait until he has been eligible. While it seems quite likely that he will indeed become a free agent next winter, the five-year contract does allow Senga some flexibility, as a number of factors could end up changing his mind. Injuries or a dip in form might convince him to stay with Fukuoka, or in terms of bigger-picture issues, the state of the pandemic or what the next MLB collective bargaining agreement may look like will certainly play into Senga’s eventual decision.
Senga has been one of Japan’s better pitchers for the better part of a decade, first working as a star reliever out of the Hawks’ bullpen and then becoming a regular starter in 2016. Senga has a 2.69 ERA and 28.33% strikeout rate over 945 career NPB innings, making three All-Star teams and twice leading the Pacific League in strikeouts. If he stays healthy and keeps pitching this well in 2022, Senga (who turns 30 in January 2023) should have no trouble attracting a noteworthy multi-year contract from Major League teams next offseason.

[jrgum3]

If baseball isn’t back in time, going to be very pissed.

I agree if they don't start the season on time or have a large portion of the season cut into I'm sure we won't be the only fans who are pissed.

[stevenash]

From the "It's about fukking time" department.
Gil Hodges is officially a Hall of Famer.

[Cross]

If baseball isn’t back in time, going to be very pissed.

[Cross]

Yeah, owners and Manfred are the worst. Too bad your ordinary baseball fan doesn’t realize this. Players want the best product on the field and simply asking these greedy billionaire owners to budge a bit.

[stevenash]

After hearing what Manfred had to say when they started this lockout I don't think they're going to play until a new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon. When that'll be is anybody's guess but it's possible the start of the season is delayed until both sides can come to terms on a new CBA.

Manfred is an idiot.

Did you guys know he's an Ivy League law school grad in, get this, specializing in labor and employment law.

Seriously, you can't make this shit up.

[JMobile]

The Brewers had talks with the Blue Jays about a trade that would have seen Randal Grichuk head to Milwaukee in a straight-up exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr., The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports. This was one of multiple alternate Bradley-for-outfielder deals explored by the Brewers before finally acquiring Hunter Renfroe from the Red Sox on Wednesday.
While the Brew Crew had to surrender two prospects along with Bradley in that deal, Renfroe is both less expensive than Grichuk and has been a better player over the last three seasons — Renfroe had a 3.5 fWAR since the start of the 2019 campaign, while Grichuk has been worth 1.5 fWAR. The Brewers’ outfield mix now consists of Renfroe, Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Tyrone Taylor, so barring any other transactions to shift some money around, Grichuk may no longer be on Milwaukee’s radar.
More from around the NL Central…

• The Cubs “were on the periphery” of the Kevin Gausman hunt and “were heavily involved” in trying to sign Steven Matz, according to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma. However, Chicago weren’t willing to sign either pitcher to as lengthy of a commitment as the five-year deal Gausman received from the Blue Jays or the four-year deal Matz got from the Cardinals. While the Cubs are aiming for shorter-term deals for quality starting pitchers, they have thus far been successful on that front, landing Marcus Stroman on a three-year contract and claiming Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. Along these same lines, Sharma suggests that Danny Duffy could be a target for the Cubs, as Duffy can likely be had for a one-year pact given his injury-shortened 2021. The team also needs more strikeout pitchers, either in the rotation via the trade market or in the bullpen.
• Though the Pirates signed Jose Quintana and traded for Zach Thompson as part of the Jacob Stallings deal, GM Ben Cherington told reporters (including The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Kevin Gorman) before the lockout commenced that the Bucs are still looking to add another starting pitcher to their mix. There isn’t much settled in a rotation that is short on experience apart from Quintana, and Cherington feels the Pirates’ incumbent arms will have to translate their promise into performance to win jobs during Spring Training. “There was nobody that we assumed is in our rotation, but there are a lot of guys who have a chance to be,” Cherington said.

Adding Renfroe is a big deal. I think Renfroe had a better season than Tommy Pham. Pham seem to go downhill ever since joining the Padres.

[EmpireMaker]

The Brewers had talks with the Blue Jays about a trade that would have seen Randal Grichuk head to Milwaukee in a straight-up exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr., The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports. This was one of multiple alternate Bradley-for-outfielder deals explored by the Brewers before finally acquiring Hunter Renfroe from the Red Sox on Wednesday.
While the Brew Crew had to surrender two prospects along with Bradley in that deal, Renfroe is both less expensive than Grichuk and has been a better player over the last three seasons — Renfroe had a 3.5 fWAR since the start of the 2019 campaign, while Grichuk has been worth 1.5 fWAR. The Brewers’ outfield mix now consists of Renfroe, Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Tyrone Taylor, so barring any other transactions to shift some money around, Grichuk may no longer be on Milwaukee’s radar.
More from around the NL Central…

• The Cubs “were on the periphery” of the Kevin Gausman hunt and “were heavily involved” in trying to sign Steven Matz, according to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma. However, Chicago weren’t willing to sign either pitcher to as lengthy of a commitment as the five-year deal Gausman received from the Blue Jays or the four-year deal Matz got from the Cardinals. While the Cubs are aiming for shorter-term deals for quality starting pitchers, they have thus far been successful on that front, landing Marcus Stroman on a three-year contract and claiming Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. Along these same lines, Sharma suggests that Danny Duffy could be a target for the Cubs, as Duffy can likely be had for a one-year pact given his injury-shortened 2021. The team also needs more strikeout pitchers, either in the rotation via the trade market or in the bullpen.
• Though the Pirates signed Jose Quintana and traded for Zach Thompson as part of the Jacob Stallings deal, GM Ben Cherington told reporters (including The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Kevin Gorman) before the lockout commenced that the Bucs are still looking to add another starting pitcher to their mix. There isn’t much settled in a rotation that is short on experience apart from Quintana, and Cherington feels the Pirates’ incumbent arms will have to translate their promise into performance to win jobs during Spring Training. “There was nobody that we assumed is in our rotation, but there are a lot of guys who have a chance to be,” Cherington said.

[jrgum3]

Good explanation. How long will this lockout last

After hearing what Manfred had to say when they started this lockout I don't think they're going to play until a new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon. When that'll be is anybody's guess but it's possible the start of the season is delayed until both sides can come to terms on a new CBA.

[JMobile]

Basically a strike is when the workers or in this case players tell management we're not going to show up. A lockout is a tool used by the owners during a labor dispute where they tell the players not to show up. During this time teams are not allowed to talk to the players, make free agent signings or swing trades.

Thanks for that. I got a new OLED 65 TV for next baseball season.

[stevenash]

I was reading what Manfred said yesterday.
Both sides are taking all the proposed rule changes off the table.
THANK GOD and that's encouraging.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Cubs staff already way stronger than last year.

Same with the Padres. Now let's hope we have a season.

[Otters27]

Basically a strike is when the workers or in this case players tell management we're not going to show up. A lockout is a tool used by the owners during a labor dispute where they tell the players not to show up. During this time teams are not allowed to talk to the players, make free agent signings or swing trades.

Good explanation. How long will this lockout last

[Cross]

Cubs staff already way stronger than last year.

[EmpireMaker]

The Brewers had talks with the Blue Jays about a trade that would have seen Randal Grichuk head to Milwaukee in a straight-up exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr., The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports. This was one of multiple alternate Bradley-for-outfielder deals explored by the Brewers before finally acquiring Hunter Renfroe from the Red Sox on Wednesday.
While the Brew Crew had to surrender two prospects along with Bradley in that deal, Renfroe is both less expensive than Grichuk and has been a better player over the last three seasons — Renfroe had a 3.5 fWAR since the start of the 2019 campaign, while Grichuk has been worth 1.5 fWAR. The Brewers’ outfield mix now consists of Renfroe, Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Tyrone Taylor, so barring any other transactions to shift some money around, Grichuk may no longer be on Milwaukee’s radar.
More from around the NL Central…

• The Cubs “were on the periphery” of the Kevin Gausman hunt and “were heavily involved” in trying to sign Steven Matz, according to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma. However, Chicago weren’t willing to sign either pitcher to as lengthy of a commitment as the five-year deal Gausman received from the Blue Jays or the four-year deal Matz got from the Cardinals. While the Cubs are aiming for shorter-term deals for quality starting pitchers, they have thus far been successful on that front, landing Marcus Stroman on a three-year contract and claiming Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds. Along these same lines, Sharma suggests that Danny Duffy could be a target for the Cubs, as Duffy can likely be had for a one-year pact given his injury-shortened 2021. The team also needs more strikeout pitchers, either in the rotation via the trade market or in the bullpen.
• Though the Pirates signed Jose Quintana and traded for Zach Thompson as part of the Jacob Stallings deal, GM Ben Cherington told reporters (including The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Kevin Gorman) before the lockout commenced that the Bucs are still looking to add another starting pitcher to their mix. There isn’t much settled in a rotation that is short on experience apart from Quintana, and Cherington feels the Pirates’ incumbent arms will have to translate their promise into performance to win jobs during Spring Training. “There was nobody that we assumed is in our rotation, but there are a lot of guys who have a chance to be,” Cherington said.

[jrgum3]

Basically a strike is when the workers or in this case players tell management we're not going to show up. A lockout is a tool used by the owners during a labor dispute where they tell the players not to show up. During this time teams are not allowed to talk to the players, make free agent signings or swing trades.

I'll admit that I looked this up but here is the article detailing the difference between a strike and a lockout:

https://www.nytimes.com/article/mlb-lockout.html

[jrgum3]

Can you explain the lockout for degenerates like me with a low IQ?

Basically a strike is when the workers or in this case players tell management we're not going to show up. A lockout is a tool used by the owners during a labor dispute where they tell the players not to show up. During this time teams are not allowed to talk to the players, make free agent signings or swing trades.

[JMobile]

Not a strike, it’s a lockout.

Can you explain the lockout for degenerates like me with a low IQ?

[EmpireMaker]

The Marlins are known to be looking for more outfield help, with Kyle Schwarber already reported as one of the names on the team’s radar. Barry Jackson and Craig Mish of The Miami Herald shed some more light on the Marlins’ pursuit, writing that Schwarber is looking for a three-year contract worth around $60MM.
Such a deal would top the Marlins’ four-year, $53MM pact with Avisail Garcia in dollars if not years, though it would also fall short of the four years and $70MM MLBTR projected Schwarber to land this winter. Three years and $60MM is still a healthy sum, particularly for a team with Miami’s traditionally limited payrolls, yet the Marlins have already shown a greater willingness to spend in order to upgrade their offense.
The Phillies are another team that has been linked to Schwarber, while the Red Sox and Nationals (the slugger’s two most recent clubs) have also expressed some level of interest in a reunion. Since several of the top free-agent bats have already landed new deals, Schwarber’s status as one of the top hitters available has only risen, so it’s fair to assume that other teams have already shown interest or will do so once the post-lockout dust settles. It remains to be seen whether Schwarber’s market will develop to the point where the Marlins or any other club eventually puts a four-year offer on the table.
Of other outfielders linked to the Marlins, Nick Castellanos “is viewed as too expensive,” while Eddie Rosario is another consideration if Schwarber is also ultimately deemed to be beyond Miami’s price range. Recent reports indicated that Castellanos is looking to score a seven- or eight-year contract, and even if that is an aim-high projection that could be lowered post-lockout, it would still seem like Castellanos might not be a fit for the Fish. Additionally, signing Castellanos have a further cost in the form of draft pick compensation, since he rejected the Reds’ qualifying offer.
The Marlins could possibly avoid the free agent route entirely by landing an outfielder in a trade, as before the lockout, Jackson and Mish note that Miami was in “ongoing discussions with one American League team.” The in-house fallback plan would be to have Brian Anderson play right field and the newly-acquired Joey Wendle take over as the everyday third baseman, but the Fish would prefer to have an established outfielder on the grass rather than Anderson, even if Anderson has looked at home as an outfielder. Anderson had a 7.9 UZR/150 and +6 Defensive Runs Saved over 1223 innings as a right fielder in 2018-19, but is also coming off an injury-plagued 2021 season.
Miami’s offseason pursuits led them to consider such players as Starling Marte, Manny Pina, and Yan Gomes, with the first two receiving contract offers. For Marte, the Marlins and two other teams made four-year offers worth roughly $60MM, and according to Jackson/Mish, Miami was prepared to spend a little more to bring Marte back to South Beach. Marte’s camp wanted something around a $70MM payday, however, and ended up topping that number handily with the $78MM over four years that Marte received from the Mets.
Pina was another player the Marlins lost to a division rival, as while the Fish offered Pina $4MM on a one-year deal, the Braves doubled that offer and signed Pina for two years and $8MM. However, the Marlins instead landed a longer-term target in Jacob Stallings, acquiring the backstop from the Pirates for a three-player trade package. Interestingly, Jackson/Mish write that the Red Sox came very close to trading for Stallings, which would have indicated the Sox were ready to move on from Christian Vazquez either next winter (2022 is Vazquez’s last year under contract) or perhaps this offseason if a trade partner could have been found.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Wake me up when the lockout's over...

[stevenash]

I agree. Pitchers only guy that has a chance

Yeah, and pitchers that have tendencies to fall off towards either first base or third base are at even a bigger disadvantage fielding a bunt.

[Otters27]

How to solve the shift.
It's real easy.
Drop a bunt to the opposite side.
Goes as a single in the box, gets your team an easy baserunner too.
Do that a couple of times, you'll never see a shift again.

Doesn't have to be a Phil Rizzuto Hall of Fame bunt, doesn't have to be a thing of beauty, just drop it in there where they ain't.
Spend 20 minutes a day a few times a week in BP, if you're a professional batting coach, he should easily teach a professional baseball hitter on the art and fundamentals of laying one down.
Even if you move like John Kruk, you'll easily beat the rap at first base if you do it right.

I agree. Pitchers only guy that has a chance

[jrgum3]

Exactly.
And all parties know that a work stoppage will do serious damage as sports fans will find something else to fill the void and some may not come back.

Yeah I can see a lot of people just being fed up with MLB and done this time for good. Last time this happened people came back a few years later when Sosa and McGwire were there to create excitement with a home run chase but this time I don't think people will be as likely to come back so this is a bad look for MLB. As for me, I love baseball so I will always be a fan but I will be a little upset if this cuts into the upcoming season.

[stevenash]

Not a strike, it’s a lockout.

Exactly.
And all parties know that a work stoppage will do serious damage as sports fans will find something else to fill the void and some may not come back.

[Cross]

Not a strike, it’s a lockout.

[Stallion]

Do any of these signings mean anything with a strike??

[stevenash]

Paxton to the Red Sox.

The dude has had a solid nine year career.
If healthy he can sure help. live left arms are a rarity.
57-33 lifetime, 1.2 WH/IP 3.6 ERA, almost a K per inning per start.

Thing is he's not due back to July.
Can he bounce back from TJ surgery?

Low risk, high reward signing from where I sit.

[Cross]

100% in favor of the players union. Owners love giving revenue to teams like the Pirates even though they aren’t spending money in order to win.

[JMobile]

Dodgers sign Chris Taylor for 4 more years

[JAKEPEAVY21]

STROMAN!!!! Fighhhhhhhhhhtttt!!!!!!!!!

Your Cubs showing signs of life