The 2022 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread

[stevenash]

Apparently from one of his numerous motorcycle accidents over the offseason...I'm fukking pissed off why wouldn't he learn his lesson after the first accident? He let down the fans and his teammates, kid better learn and fast or he might squander his talent.

Several teams have clauses in players contracts that prohibit such things as motorcycle riding for instance.

Boone's career ended in the winter of the year he hit that iconic postseason walk off dinger playing a pickup basketball game.
Yankees had legal reasons to terminate the rest of his contract, chose not to, but could have dicked Boone hard if they wanted to.

[stevenash]

Red Sox are players in the Freeman sweepstakes.

https://www.mlb.com/news/freddie-freeman-rumors?partnerId=zh-20220315-562617-mlb-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20220315-562617-mlb-1-A&bt_ee=rOC1vmowT2x%2BNDdGW1nJ7zOvD7a756Yrfyj9Kba3Efjzc5QxfLIf9HGvdN6GKEIS&bt_ts=1647351205897

[Cross]

Tatis news is a huge bummer. Nobody wants to see the stars sidelined.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Several teams have clauses in players contracts that prohibit such things as motorcycle riding for instance.

Boone's career ended in the winter of the year he hit that iconic postseason walk off dinger playing a pickup basketball game.
Yankees had legal reasons to terminate the rest of his contract, chose not to, but could have dicked Boone hard if they wanted to.

They do and decided to let it slide this time.

Tatis news is a huge bummer. Nobody wants to see the stars sidelined.

Yeah, pretty gutted but even more upsetting is that it wasn't during baseball activities.

Given his position and what's invested in him financially(ownership) and emotionally(fans and teammates), riding any motorbike is a reckless decision.

[JMobile]

Yankees sign Rizzo for 2 years

[Cross]

And Reds fire sale by another gutless owner.

[EmpireMaker]

The Yankees have settled on a first baseman, reportedly agreeing to terms with Anthony Rizzo on a two-year, $32MM guarantee. The deal pays the Sports One Athlete Management client $16MM salaries annually and gives him the opportunity to opt out after the 2022 campaign. The contract is pending a physical.

Rizzo will be returning to the Bronx, where he finished the 2021 season. New York acquired him from the Cubs in advance of the trade deadline, and he hit .249/.340/.428 in 200 plate appearances in pinstripes down the stretch. That was more or less in line with the .248/.346/.446 mark he’d put up in 376 trips to the plate with Chicago over the season’s first couple months.
It was the second straight season of reasonable but unexciting production for Rizzo. He’d posted a .222/.342/.414 line during the shortened 2020 campaign. Going back two seasons, he owns a .240/.343/.432 mark over 819 plate appearances. By measure of wRC+, that production checks in nine percentage points above the league average hitter’s. It’s actually a bit below the standard (.254/.335/.455, 113 wRC+) set by first basemen around the league.
It’s been a rather sharp downturn for Rizzo as he’s entered his 30’s. He broke out with the Cubs in 2014, his age-24 campaign. Over the next six seasons, he never posted a wRC+ below 126. Overall, Rizzo hit .284/.388/.513 between 2014-19, with his 141 wRC+ in that stretch tying for twelfth among 375 qualified hitters.
Rizzo was a lineup anchor for the Cubs as they emerged from their rebuild, and he was also highly-regarded for his leadership and presence in the clubhouse. That combination made him perhaps the face of the Cubs’ most successful run in over a century. He appeared in three consecutive All-Star games from 2014-16, finishing in the top ten in NL MVP voting each season. Rizzo played a key role on Chicago’s curse-breaking World Series winner in 2016, and he remained highly productive for three years beyond that even as the team never recaptured that level of postseason success.
The Yankees would be thrilled with their investment if he were to recapture anything near that form next season. Yet there’s clearly some trepidation around the league regarding Rizzo’s back-to-back relative down years. Just 12 months ago, Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of the Athletic reported that the Cubs had put a five-year, $70MM extension offer on the table. Rizzo declined Chicago’s overture, preferring to bet on himself after his middle-of-the-road 2020 season. After continuing to produce at a similar level over a full schedule in 2021, though, he essentially finds himself accepting a pillow contract and betting on a bounceback once again.
To be sure, Rizzo still does a lot of things well. He continues to boast an enviable combination of contact and raw power. Rizzo’s 81.5% contact rate and 15.1% strikeout percentage last season were both well better than average; so too were his 90.1 MPH average exit velocity and 41.1% hard contact rate. That neither Rizzo’s bat-to-ball skills nor his bat speed have evaporated lend hope he may again find some of his old form.
It’s also possible that forthcoming rules changes could aid Rizzo as he ages (albeit not during the upcoming season). The left-handed hitter has become more pull-oriented over the past two seasons than he’d been throughout his career. Not coincidentally, he has faced a higher rate of defensive shifts that have contributed to lackluster results on balls in play. Rizzo’s .246 batting average on balls in play since the start of 2020 ranks 108th out of 114 qualified hitters. That may continue to be an issue this year, but it’s expected MLB will implement restrictions on defensive shifting beginning with the 2023 campaign.
However one feels about Rizzo’s long-term projection at the plate, there’s not as much question about the value he brings on the other side of the ball. He’s a four-time Gold Glove Award winner who was unanimously well-regarded by public defensive metrics up through 2020. Defensive Runs Saved felt he dropped off in that regard last year, but Statcast’s Outs Above Average remained bullish on his work. Rizzo seems a fairly definitive upgrade with the glove over incumbent first baseman Luke Voit, who has always been a bat-first player — even relative to the lower defensive standards of the position.
With Rizzo back in the fold, it stands to reason Voit’s name will come up in trade talks over the coming weeks. They could coexist as a first base/designated hitter pairing on many rosters, but the Yankees don’t have many DH at-bats to spare. They’ve leaned heavily on the position to keep Giancarlo Stanton from having to shoulder too significant a workload in the outfield. Even if Stanton were capable of assuming more defensive responsibilities than he has in the recent past, New York already has a projected starting outfield of Joey Gallo, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge.
More broadly, it has become apparent in recent months the Yankees weren’t fully committed to Voit, the 2020 MLB home run leader. They traded for Rizzo at the deadline, then reportedly came close to pulling the trigger on a subsequent deal that would’ve shipped Voit out over the summer. That never came to fruition, but the Yankees were again tied to bigger names at first base this offseason. New York was in contact with the A’s about Matt Olson before Oakland traded him to the Braves. More recently, they were considered among the top handful of suitors for Olson’s predecessor in Atlanta.
With Rizzo returning to the Bronx, it no longer seems the Yankees will be in that Freddie Freeman mix. The Braves have already moved on to Olson, leaving Freeman’s future home one of the most fascinating remaining storylines of the offseason. Recent reports have generally cast the Dodgers as the leading contender for the 2020 NL MVP, with the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Padres reported to be on the outskirts of his market.
Wherever he ends up, Freeman is sure to command a deal much loftier than the one the Yankees are guaranteeing Rizzo. New York has been wary of making a long-term commitment to free agents this winter, with the desire to work out an extension with Judge seemingly looming over the offseason calculus. Yet the recent trade for Josh Donaldson and today’s agreement with Rizzo solidify that the Yankees will exceed the competitive balance tax threshold in 2022 after dipping below the marker last season.
After today’s agreement, New York has around $244MM in real payroll and $258MM in CBT obligations on the books this year, in the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. (Luxury tax calculations are determined by summing contracts’ average annual values and player benefits as opposed to looking strictly at actual year-over-year salaries). They’ll pay a 20% fee on every dollar spent between $230MM and $250MM, as well as a 32% tax on every dollar between $250MM and $270MM. They’d face even higher penalties for exceeding $270MM and $290MM, and it’s not clear how far owner Hal Steinbrenner and the front office are willing to push things this season.
New York will see the salaries of both Aroldis Chapman ($16MM) and Zack Britton($14MM) come off the books after this year. Judge and Gallo, both of whom have lofty projected arbitration tallies in 2022, will be hitting free agency. There should be decent long-term maneuverability for general manager Brian Cashman and his staff. How much more they’ll do in the short term remains to be seen, but a Voit trade at least looks like a very plausible next step as they try to round out the 2022 roster.
Jordan Brown first reported the Yankees and Rizzo were in agreement on a two-year, $32MM guarantee with an opt-out after 2022. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported he’ll be paid flat salaries of $16MM in each year.

[Otters27]

Apparently from one of his numerous motorcycle accidents over the offseason...I'm fukking pissed off why wouldn't he learn his lesson after the first accident? He let down the fans and his teammates, kid better learn and fast or he might squander his talent.

Oh man from a motorcycle accident. Hopefully they write in his contact no motorcycle. I know they say no basketball a lot for guys

[jrgum3]

And Reds fire sale by another gutless owner.

Yeah my buddy who is a Red fan can't be happy that they traded away Winker and Saurez like it was nothing and didn't get much in return for them. The Reds will continue to be mediocre which sucks for their fans.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

I guess Freeman is not going to the Yankees.

[jrgum3]

I guess Freeman is not going to the Yankees.

The Dodgers are the leaders in the clubhouse for him I think although I've heard that the Red Sox and Blue Jays are interested. It would be cool if he went to the Jays as they've already got a dangerous lineup. I don't want to see him go to the Dodgers but they can give him what he wants so it wouldn't shock me if he ended up in Dodger blue.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

The Dodgers are the leaders in the clubhouse for him I think although I've heard that the Red Sox and Blue Jays are interested. It would be cool if he went to the Jays as they've already got a dangerous lineup. I don't want to see him go to the Dodgers but they can give him what he wants so it wouldn't shock me if he ended up in Dodger blue.

Anyone but the Dodgers is fine by me.

I did read that the Padres threw their hat into the mix...

[stevenash]

The Dodgers are the leaders in the clubhouse for him I think although I've heard that the Red Sox and Blue Jays are interested. It would be cool if he went to the Jays as they've already got a dangerous lineup. I don't want to see him go to the Dodgers but they can give him what he wants so it wouldn't shock me if he ended up in Dodger blue.

Freeman to the Red Sox is today's buzz.

[d2bets]

The Padres are known to be making a push for Seiya Suzuki, and the outfielder worked out in front of Padres executives at Petco Park this weekend, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (Twitter link). Suzuki’s time in San Diego also included a visit with Padres righty Yu Darvish and Darvish’s family.
Now that the lockout is over, Suzuki is finally free to partake in normal free-agent recruitment tours, which are particularly key for players coming to Major League Baseball for the first time. Lin notes that it isn’t known if Suzuki visited any other teams this weekend or what his other travel plans may entail, though given the number of teams interested in Suzuki, he could have quite a few stops to make before his posting period is up. Suzuki now has 17 of his 30 posting days remaining, as the lockout interrupted this process and kept Suzuki from any contract with big league clubs.
Suzuki has seemingly become an increasingly important figure in the Padres’ roster-building efforts, as Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune said earlier today that obtaining Suzuki was part of a “Plan A” scenario for the team. That outline included signing Suzuki and Nelson Cruz, and then trading one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers to open up payroll space, though one element of that plan has now been scuttled since Cruz signed with the Nationals.
With Cruz now off the board, it could only intensify the Padres’ pursuit of Suzuki. Since Cruz is limited to DH duty, adding Suzuki would arguably be a better fit for San Diego anyway given the team’s needs in the outfield. Suzuki could be easily slotted right into the Padres’ right field spot, as Myers (if he isn’t traded) could be moved across the grass to fill San Diego’s left field vacancy.

Cubs signed Suzuki.

[d2bets]

They do and decided to let it slide this time.


Yeah, pretty gutted but even more upsetting is that it wasn't during baseball activities.

Given his position and what's invested in him financially(ownership) and emotionally(fans and teammates), riding any motorbike is a reckless decision.

Padres should push for Kris Bryant. Gives them flexibility while Tatis is out as he can play either 3B or anywhere in the OF well.

[stevenash]

Freeman to the Red Sox is today's buzz.

Just read Tampa is in the Freeman sweepstakes now.

Also read Oakland's got a massive fire sale going on now.
Laureano, Manaea, Montas, Chapman.

Those two arms can help out a lot teams, not elite starters, but better than average for sure.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Padres should push for Kris Bryant. Gives them flexibility while Tatis is out as he can play either 3B or anywhere in the OF well.

I like that idea. He also went to college out here at USD.

The Padres don't seem to be getting the free agents that they wanted initially.

Please dump Hosmer on someone, that is all I ask!

[jrgum3]

Freeman makes it official and signs with the Dodgers. Also, Kris Bryant signs a massive deal with the Rockies. The hot stove is starting to heat up fellas with only a few short weeks to opening day.

[Cross]

Suzuki signing made my day. Correa signing would be icing on the cake.

[EmpireMaker]

The Dodgers are adding another star, reportedly agreeing to terms with Freddie Freeman on a six-year, $162MM contract. The Excel Sports Management Client finds the sixth guaranteed year he’d been seeking, setting himself up to bolster an already loaded lineup.

Los Angeles finished tied for third as a team in wRC+ last season (excluding pitchers), with their collective .251/.339/.446 mark checking in 13 percentage points above the league average offense. Only the Astros and Giants fared better, while L.A. was tied with the Blue Jays. They’ve lost Corey Seager to free agency this winter, but Freeman steps right into the void as a left-handed, middle-of-the-order bat for manager Dave Roberts.
One could argue Freeman’s even an offensive upgrade over Seager, who himself is one of the best hitters in the game. Freeman has been a consistently excellent bat, not having posted a wRC+ lower than 132 in any season since 2013. That run has earned him five All-Star nods, three Silver Slugger Awards and six top ten finishes in NL MVP balloting.
Freeman has remained at the top of his game over the past few seasons. He obliterated opposing pitchers to the tune of a .341/.462/.640 line during the 60-game season in 2020. Among qualified hitters, only Juan Soto fared better by measure of wRC+, and Freeman earned a resounding victory in that year’s Senior Circuit MVP balloting. It was never realistic to expect him to repeat that kind of otherworldly performance over a full schedule, but he returned to his metronomically consistent ways in 2021.
Over the course of the season, Freeman appeared in 159 games and tallied 695 plate appearances of .300/.393/.503 hitting. He popped 31 homers, drew walks at a robust 12.2% clip and only struck out in 15.4% of his trips to the plate. Freeman began the year with a relatively pedestrian start by his lofty standards, but he got scorching hot from June onwards. Over the season’s final four months, he raked at a .329/.404/.520 clip. That production helped carry the Braves to their fourth straight division title, and Freeman picked up where he left off when the lights were brightest. He posted an OPS of .996 or better in all three playoff rounds, helping Atlanta to their first World Series title since 1995.
Coming off that championship, many expected Atlanta would strike quickly to ink the career-long Brave to another deal. Freeman and the club had already lined up on an extension once, a February 2014 eight-year pact that guaranteed him $135MM and delayed his first trip to the open market by five years. The Braves maintained they had interest in keeping Freeman in the fold, but the first baseman’s desire for a sixth year quickly became a stumbling block.
Atlanta, which had made Freeman a qualifying offer at the start of the offseason, reportedly put forth a five-year proposal in the $135MM range. It’s believed they eventually nudged the guarantee around $140MM, but the organization seemed opposed to putting a sixth year on the table. Freeman turned 32 years old in September, and Braves brass apparently had real reservations about guaranteeing him a notable salary through his age-37 campaign.
Throughout the lockout, industry chatter picked up that Freeman and the Braves might be heading their separate ways. That became all but official when Atlanta struck a deal to acquire A’s star Matt Olson on Monday afternoon, then signed him to a $168MM extension the next day. Freeman penned a farewell to his former teammates, coaches and the Atlanta fanbase on Instagram this afternoon.
It’s not hard to see the Braves reasoning for letting Freeman walk. Olson is more than four years younger, so his extension only takes him through his age-35 season. There’s real risk in committing to any player into his late 30’s, and that’s particularly true given that Freeman needs to continue to hit at a very high level to be an elite player. He’s a solid defensive first baseman but unlikely to be a perennial Gold Glove winner into his mid-30’s.
Recent six-plus year contracts for free agents at the position haven’t been particularly fruitful. Each of the past four deals of six-plus years for first basemen — the Padres’ eight-year Eric Hosmer agreement, the Orioles’ bringing back Chris Davis on a seven-year pact, Prince Fielder’s nine-year contract with the Tigers, and the Angels’ ten-year investment in Albert Pujols — turned out to be missteps for the club.
Of course, that’s not to say Freeman’s deal with Los Angeles will end the same way. It’s shorter than those precedents, for one, and Freeman has a much more consistent track record than either Hosmer or Davis did at the time they signed their deals. There’s essentially nothing to nitpick in his offensive profile. Freeman doesn’t chase many pitches, and he makes plenty of contact on offerings both inside and outside the strike zone. He posts high-end exit velocities and hard contact rates annually. As is the case with most left-handed hitters, he’s better against right-handed pitching. Yet Freeman’s career .266/.348/.436 mark against southpaws demonstrates he’s more than capable of holding his own without the platoon advantage.
Even after the Braves dropped out, a few teams remained involved in the running for his services. The Red Sox, Blue Jays and Padres were superficially tied to Freeman in recent days, but it seems the surprising Rays may have proven one of the Dodgers strongest challengers in the end. Juan Toribio of MLB.com tweets that Tampa Bay made a “strong push” throughout the process, but L.A.’s willingness to acquiesce on the sixth year proved a deal-breaker.
It’s a return to Southern California for Freeman, an Orange County native. In addition to the financial and geographical appeal, he’ll step into a lineup that’s among the best in recent memory. It’s conceivable the Dodgers will roll out an Opening Day lineup consisting of Freeman, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Will Smith, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock. Betts, Freeman and Bellinger are each former league MVP’s. Eight of those nine players have garnered at least one All-Star selection; the one player who hasn’t yet gone to the Midsummer Classic, Smith, is among the top handful of catchers in MLB.
The Dodgers have assembled a similarly star-studded pitching staff, and the construction of this kind of roster required a sizable investment from ownership. Los Angeles blew past all three luxury tax tiers last season, incurring nearly $33MM in fees. They’re in line for another huge expenditure this year.
The exact financial structure of Freeman’s deal isn’t yet known, but contracts’ average annual values are used for luxury tax purposes anyhow. Adding $27MM to that mark pushes the 2022 CBT tab north of $277MM, in the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. Because they exceeded the CBT last season, the Dodgers will be subject to escalating fees as a second-time payor. They’ll be taxed at a 30% rate for every dollar spent between $230MM and $250MM, a 42% clip on overages between $250MM and $270MM, a 75% rate on overages between $270MM and $290MM and a 90% tax on all expenditures north of $290MM.
In addition to the financial cost, the Dodgers will take on some non-monetary penalties for signing a player who had rejected a qualifying offer. Because they paid the luxury tax last year, they’ll lose their second-highest and fifth-highest picks in the upcoming draft and be stripped of $1MM in international signing bonus space. The Braves, as a team that neither received revenue sharing nor paid the luxury tax, will receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B in the upcoming draft. Those selections typically fall in the 70-75 overall range.
That pick will be little consolation to Braves fans disheartened by Freeman’s departure, although that the organization replaced him with a hometown star of their own in Olson should soften the blow. Even when it became clear he’d be leaving Atlanta, however, there were presumably many Braves fans hoping he’d wind up somewhere other than L.A.
Freeman moves on from the reigning World Series winner to join the team he played an instrumental role in defeating in last year’s NL Championship Series. His departure from the defending champs to sign on with what appears to be MLB’s best team adds plenty of intrigue to what’ll be an entertaining battle for control in the National League.
Jon Morosi of MLB.com first reported the Dodgers and Freeman were making progress on a deal that would guarantee $150+MM. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported the sides were discussing a six-year deal in the $160MM range. Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN reported Freeman and the Dodgers were in agreement on a six-year, $162MM contract.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Fukk Freeman and fukk the dodgers, that is all.

[Otters27]

Ken Griffey Jr. Still getting paid by reds

[Cross]

Fun seeing spring training back in action.

[jrgum3]

Now that March Madness abruptly ended for my Cats tonight I can focus on baseball fully. I got my fantasy draft next week and need to start doing some homework. Baseball may be boring to some but to me it is probably the best sport for fantasy and the toughest to win because it's a grind.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Now that March Madness abruptly ended for my Cats tonight I can focus on baseball fully. I got my fantasy draft next week and need to start doing some homework. Baseball may be boring to some but to me it is probably the best sport for fantasy and the toughest to win because it's a grind.

I want to see your Giants replicate last year. Still trying to figure out how they were so good.

[Otters27]

Fun seeing spring training back in action.

Super short spring training. These players must have known the owners were bluffing so the probably were ready to go

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Super short spring training. These players must have known the owners were bluffing so the probably were ready to go

They had to prepare as if the season was going to happen.

Better to be ready.

[EmpireMaker]

11:10am: The Padres have announced the trade as well, placing righty Michel Baez on the 60-day injured list to create a 40-man roster spot for Voit.
11:04am: The Yankees have announced the trade.
10:47am: The Padres and Yankees are in agreement on a trade sending first baseman Luke Voit from New York to San Diego, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that minor league right-hander Justin Lange is headed back to the Yankees in return. Lange, 20, was the No. 34 overall draft pick in 2020 but struggled with the Padres’ Rookie-ball affiliate in his pro debut last year.
The writing for Voit has been on the wall at least since New York re-signed Anthony Rizzo — and quite arguably longer than that. The Yanks acquired Rizzo last summer while Voit was on the injured list for the third time that year alone, and since the 2021 season ended they’ve been connected to Rizzo, Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson as they made no secret about pursuing alternative options to the incumbent Voit.
Voit’s trade marks the culmination of a swift shift in the organization’s stance on him. Just one year ago, Voit was heading into Spring Training as the clear everyday first baseman, having just led the Majors with 22 home runs during the truncated 2020 season. However, a knee injury in camp led to meniscus surgery that kept Voit out of action for the season’s first six weeks. Voit returned in early May, but just two weeks later he headed back to the 10-day IL due to an oblique strain. That issue kept Voit out another three-plus weeks, and he lasted only a month before going back on the IL in mid-July due to lingering inflammation in his surgically repaired left knee.
All told, Voit was limited to just 68 games and 211 plate appearances in 2021. When he was on the field, Voit remained somewhat productive, slashing .239/.328/.427 (111 wRC+), but his offensive output was nowhere near its peak levels. Looking beyond leading the Majors in long balls during the brief 2020 season, Voit had raked from the moment the Yankees acquired him from the Cardinals in exchange for relievers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos.
Largely blocked from regular playing time in St. Louis, Voit immediately proved to be a hidden gem unearthed by the Yankees. He belted 14 home runs in less than two months down the stretch in 2018, and in 892 trips to the plate as a Yankee from ’18-’20, he batted .279/.372/.543 with 57 home runs, 31 doubles, a triple and an 11.5% walk rate against a 26.3% strikeout rate. Even adding in his “down” year this past season, Voit’s time with the Yankees will draw to a close with a stout .271/.363/.520 batting line in 1133 plate appearances.
That type of production would be a boost to any lineup, and the Padres in particular could use some thump of that nature at first base and/or designated hitter. San Diego first basemen, led by Eric Hosmer, hit a combined .275/.337/.412. That’s not terrible production by any means, but the resulting 106 wRC+ ranked 20th in the Majors. Of more concern was that the Padres, as a team, hit just .241/.324/.380 against left-handed pitching (94 wRC+, 24th in MLB). Voit, a career .264/.344/.516 hitter against left-handed pitching, ought to be particularly helpful with regard to that deficiency — though it’s important to note that he shouldn’t be regarded as a platoon player. To the contrary, Voit actually has slightly better career numbers against right-handed pitching.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

I like the trade for Voit, did not give up much.

[jrgum3]

I want to see your Giants replicate last year. Still trying to figure out how they were so good.

I think it'll be tough even though they made some key signings. Their rotation looks ok with the addition of Rodon. They added Joc Jams quietly but it's not the splash the Dodgers and Rockies made within their own division. I can't explain last year they simply overachieved and sent Buster Posey out on a high note. My opinion is that they'll take a step backward without Posey because he was such a leader in the clubhouse and he produced at a high level last season. We'll see though every year is a fresh start and you never know what to expect so maybe they'll surprise me again and be a contender.

[jrgum3]

My slow (email) roto draft started on RTsports today and I had the first pick so I took Juan Soto. He's been very good to me in the past so I took him with the first pick. What I'm really interested to see is how far your boy Tatis falls Jake. He won't play until June so everybody passed on him in the first round where he would have been taken if he didn't fracture his wrist.

[EmpireMaker]

In a stunning move, the Twins have agreed to sign the market’s top free agent, shortstop Carlos Correa, reports Mark Berman of Houston’s FOX 26 (Twitter link). Rather than the massive long-term deal that Correa has been seeking, he’ll instead sign a three-year, $105.3MM contract with opt-out clauses after the contract’s first and second seasons. Correa is represented by the Boras Corporation.
In signing Correa, the Twins are giving him the second-highest average annual value of any position player in MLB history, trailing only the $36MM AAV on Mike Trout’s decade-long, $360MM contract extension with the Angels and narrowly topping the $35MM AAV on Anthony Rendon’s seven-year deal with the Angels. The move also gives the Twins the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the 2012 draft, Correa and Byron Buxton, who’ll now be teammates for at least the 2022 season.

[jrgum3]

In a stunning move, the Twins have agreed to sign the market’s top free agent, shortstop Carlos Correa, reports Mark Berman of Houston’s FOX 26 (Twitter link). Rather than the massive long-term deal that Correa has been seeking, he’ll instead sign a three-year, $105.3MM contract with opt-out clauses after the contract’s first and second seasons. Correa is represented by the Boras Corporation.
In signing Correa, the Twins are giving him the second-highest average annual value of any position player in MLB history, trailing only the $36MM AAV on Mike Trout’s decade-long, $360MM contract extension with the Angels and narrowly topping the $35MM AAV on Anthony Rendon’s seven-year deal with the Angels. The move also gives the Twins the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the 2012 draft, Correa and Byron Buxton, who’ll now be teammates for at least the 2022 season.

Big signing by the Twins. I don't think many of us thought Correa would wind up there so that was a major surprise. I say good for them because they usually don't make a big splash in free agency.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

My slow (email) roto draft started on RTsports today and I had the first pick so I took Juan Soto. He's been very good to me in the past so I took him with the first pick. What I'm really interested to see is how far your boy Tatis falls Jake. He won't play until June so everybody passed on him in the first round where he would have been taken if he didn't fracture his wrist.

He probably would've been #1 overall if healthy.

[Cross]

Correa to the Twins is a shocker, now where is Story going?