Around Baseball 2014

[Atothe]

At least Houston won't be blowing saves as much and losing 40 games because of their bullpen in 2014.. they also brought in Qualls and Albers as well this winter so far.

 

Albers is a gas can. Nice fastball but terrible secondaries

[Dr. Dinger]

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ubaldo Jimenez has asked for a four-year contract worth $17-20 million per season.

 

Hoynes says it's the "last thing (he) heard," so Jimenez could have dropped his asking price since then. It's possible Ubaldo get somewhere close to the shallow end of that demand, but $20 million per season would be a stretch. As Hoynes notes, Jimenez's asking price will be too much for Cleveland. The Yankees have been mentioned as a possible landing spot, and Hoynes lists the Blue Jays and D'Backs as potential destinations, as well.

 

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Yuck.

[P2F]

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ubaldo Jimenez has asked for a four-year contract worth $17-20 million per season.

 

Hoynes says it's the "last thing (he) heard," so Jimenez could have dropped his asking price since then. It's possible Ubaldo get somewhere close to the shallow end of that demand, but $20 million per season would be a stretch. As Hoynes notes, Jimenez's asking price will be too much for Cleveland. The Yankees have been mentioned as a possible landing spot, and Hoynes lists the Blue Jays and D'Backs as potential destinations, as well.

 

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Yuck.

 

A contract like that allows little to no room for potential value. If Jimenez gets even 17 per, he has to put up about 2.5 WAR to be worth his contract, yes?

 

I hope AA stays far away at that cost.

[jays4life19]

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ubaldo Jimenez has asked for a four-year contract worth $17-20 million per season.

 

Hoynes says it's the "last thing (he) heard," so Jimenez could have dropped his asking price since then. It's possible Ubaldo get somewhere close to the shallow end of that demand, but $20 million per season would be a stretch. As Hoynes notes, Jimenez's asking price will be too much for Cleveland. The Yankees have been mentioned as a possible landing spot, and Hoynes lists the Blue Jays and D'Backs as potential destinations, as well.

 

 

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Yuck.

 

lol @ 20 per year + giving up a draft pick.

 

No wonder he's still unsigned.

[TheHurl]

one of my one time dark horse prospects Carlos Ramirez was suspended 100 games for his third substance of abuse violation. Another in a long line of Angels defensive catchers that show an okay bat...who bust out.

[connorp]

I dont see the slightest issue with Jimi asking for $17-20m per.

 

His market value is prob 4/56-4/60.. His agent wouldnt be doing his job if he wasnt trying to squeeze some desperate sucker for more

[jaysfan2014]

Nobody wants Nelson Cruz. It's sitting there for Baltimore, but Peter Angelos won't spend the money. Draft pick compensation doesn't help.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/where-could-nelson-cruz-even-fit/

[Abomination]

Nobody wants Nelson Cruz. It's sitting there for Baltimore, but Peter Angelos won't spend the money. Draft pick compensation doesn't help.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/where-could-nelson-cruz-even-fit/

 

His contract demands were stupid in the first place. If we could get him at around 10M though, he and Melky could split time in the outfield and DH and we could move Lind (maybe Seattle wants another 1B lol). Cruz murders lefties and is playable vs righties, so that would eliminate the platoon partner we still need for Lind.

[TheHurl]

Home of the Midwest League's Western Michigan Whitecaps this morning.

 

[Abomination]

People might find this kind of interesting

 

http://www.thegiantscove.com/2014-articles/january/major-league-baseball-line-ups-the-mobius-theory.html

[Abomination]

It's interesting but it kinda ignores how the bottom of the order gets significantly less PA's over a season.

 

Yeah, I noticed that too. Still never hurts to see how others are approaching a problem though, which can often spark other ideas.

[AdamGreenwood]

The Mobius strip theory basically tries to put as much distance between the best hitters and the worst hitters as possible. By doing this, it minimizes the chances that good hitters will get on base, only to be stranded by weak hitters, as well as the chances that good hitters will come up with two out and nobody on.

 

With all the statistics and algorithms available, one would think that the science of batting lineups would have been evolved by now. Given a set of expected production sets from each of the players, each permutation should be run thousands of times to see which generates the most runs. Furthermore, depending on the battery, leadoff hitters should change, as putting a low SLG, average OBP, fast guy against a tandem that allows few baserunners doesn't really make sense.

 

Even a system such as that would have some shortcomings with players getting more/less walks based on the players in front or behind them. Another factor, is the amount of pitches players take per plate appearance. If it's a team with weak middle-relievers, players able to work the pitch count, are more useful batting early in the lineup, to wear starters down, a value that is not properly measured in baseball today.

[TheHurl]

Kevin Goldstein was promoted by the Astros. Now Director of MLB Scouting. An intern has been promoted to Goldstein's old position...promoting an intern, what a novel thought.

[TheHurl]

Matt Garrioch is going to post something (he didn't say when) about what would be a fair extension for Trout. What are the thoughts? I think it was Nox and I that were talking 10 years $300M at least. But I think 12 years $325M is appropriate. No matter what it's going to be a big number

[TheHurl]

He'd be worth at least a 10 year $600M contract so yeah lol. Anything a team gives him will be a steal barring injury or dramatic falloff.

 

Still would be tough to pay anyone expecting 8 WAR per season...but considering he'd be getting less that $40M per (no way they will extend him for that number) I think you have to talk extension before his agent gets more upset with the org.

[8D]

Kevin Goldstein was promoted by the Astros. Now Director of MLB Scouting. An intern has been promoted to Goldstein's old position...promoting an intern, what a novel thought.

 

He won't be returning to the podcast anytime soon. ;( But congrats I guess

[TheHurl]

KC is talking with Kendry Morales??? Queue the Billy Butler to the Jays posts

[leaffie]

KC is talking with Kendry Morales??? Queue the Billy Butler to the Jays posts

 

Talked about this yesterday on Xm. They said Toronto should be his number one location. Problem is that KC will be looking for pitching. Still thought Jays could get him.

[ElNik2013]

I don't know if this was posted, but the Phillies got a 2.5 billion tv deal for 25 years + some equity in ad revenue, that's 100M a year. Looks like Amaro will have more money to dig a bigger hole for the Phillies.

[Abomination]

I don't know if this was posted, but the Phillies got a 2.5 billion tv deal for 25 years + some equity in ad revenue, that's 100M a year. Looks like Amaro will have more money to dig a bigger hole for the Phillies.

 

Apparently that total is not linear, so they start out only getting about 60 or 70M / year and it gradually increases. Still a big increase over their current deal (although doesn't kick in for another year or two). BTW, these 25 year deals seem like a really really bad idea to me, although at least Philly gets a stake in the revenue above the fixed amount per year.

[z3r0s]

KC is talking with Kendry Morales??? Queue the Billy Butler to the Jays posts

 

My god that makes so little sense... Kendry costs a draft pick, probably costs more, and is worth just about the same in terms of WAR. I'd also consider him an injury risk with that ankle. The only way this makes a lick of sense is if they can get a big return for Butler.

[jaysfan2014]

The biggest risk is that the cable rights bubble bursts and it ends up bankrupting various RSNs (regional sports networks.) We've already seen this mess in Houston with Comcast.

[Pete_7]

The Jays are a leading candidate to sign either Santana or Jimenez; they have two protected first-round picks, Nos. 9 and 11, and would sacrifice only a second-rounder and the accompanying pool money for one of those free-agent right-handers.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-angeles-angels-best-time-to-add-payroll-pay-luxury-tax-masahiro-tanaka-matt-garza-albert-pujols-mike-trout-010414

[Lawrie22]

The Jays are a leading candidate to sign either Santana or Jimenez; they have two protected first-round picks, Nos. 9 and 11, and would sacrifice only a second-rounder and the accompanying pool money for one of those free-agent right-handers.

 

I would rather Jimenez over Santana and tanaka over both. If it was up to me I would only sign one of the 3 pitchers because I think we could live with internal candidates at the #5 spot, I would than try and get a real 2b with some of the leftover money

[Stangstag]

I would than try and get a real 2b with some of the leftover money

 

That ship has already sailed

[jays4life19]

Winter Leauge updates on Sierra, Gose, Pillar and Rogers: http://jaysjournal.com/2014/01/05/toronto-blue-jays-winter-league-update-moises-sierra-anthony-gose-kevin-pillar-esmil-rogers-news-rumors/

 

Sierra continuing to swing the bat.

[Angrioter]

2nd round pick + money Slot (good draft class) >> Jimenez 17 AAV or Santana 16 AAV Edited January 5, 2014 by Angrioter

[jaysfan2014]

We already have Jose Reyes at SS. And Drew is likely going to end up back in Boston, as the Mets refuse to pay, and the Yankees want Derek Jeter playing at SS everyday again, plus have already blown most of the budget on the McCann/Ellsbury/Beltran signings.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Do you really think Ubaldo is going to get 17 a year? 2/3 terrible seasons in the past 3 years. I don't see it happening. Maybe 13-14.

[LunchBox]

Do you really think Ubaldo is going to get 17 a year? 2/3 terrible seasons in the past 3 years. I don't see it happening. Maybe 13-14.

 

Take another look at his 2011 season, it was far from terrible.