Around Baseball 2014

[intentional wok]

Don't you think the radio show would be a little boring if he said "well I don't know for sure and I don't want to speculate or guess" to every question that came in.

 

For the most part - he's speculating, guessing or giving his opinion on EVERY f'ing call that comes in man. That's the job.

 

 

At the end of the day - that's just his opinion and in this case, he's likely bang on. Sure it would be fan-f***ing-tastic to have Aoki here as "insurance" encase Pompey sucks or Saunders gets hurt - but it's likely not the best use of the remaining budget when we already have Dirks and Pillar on the team.

 

Yeah, thanks. I know what his job is. But there's no proof the team wasn't in on Aoki is what I said (twice). The dude just gets his news from MLBTR or Rotoworld or wherever the same as anyone else. He answers questions like that's not the case though.

[Pulk_Pull]

I would much rather have Dirks on a minor-league contract with an invite to ST than 4-5 mil on Aoki given the other needs on the team.

[Brownie19]

Yeah, thanks. I know what his job is. But there's no proof the team wasn't in on Aoki is what I said (twice). The dude just gets his news from MLBTR or Rotoworld or wherever the same as anyone else. He answers questions like that's not the case though.

 

Wilner didn't say "the Jays were never interested in Aoki" man.....he simply said they aren't really in a position to spend money on depth. That seems like a logical and likely a very accurate view. You seemingly call Wilner a maroon based on some fictitious notion that he was suggesting that without a doubt, the Jays had no interest in Aoki.

[Stangstag]

I would much rather have Dirks on a minor-league contract with an invite to ST than 4-5 mil on Aoki given the other needs on the team.

 

Bingo

[SaskJaysFan_2]

That being said, Aoki signed for less than I thought he would have. I would take him over Rasmus, and doesn't Rasmus want north of $8M this year?

[glory]

Ignoring cost, what makes the 2015 team better: Aoki in LF/Happ #5 starter, or Saunders in LF/Sanchez #5 starter?

[Orgfiller]

Ignoring cost, what makes the 2015 team better: Aoki in LF/Happ #5 starter, or Saunders in LF/Sanchez #5 starter?

 

Saunders has potential to be about the same as Aoki if not a bit better, while we have multiple starters that can replicate if not obliterate (in the case of Norris) Happ's value from last year.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Wow, you like Norris. I'm not a fan.

[Frenchsoup]

Wow, you like Norris. I'm not a fan.

 

Why?

[jaysfan2014]

Wow, are the O's cheap on Steve Pearce.. and it's not just him either:

 

Pearce: Offered $2M--Requested $5.4M

Gonzalez: Offered $2.5M--Requested $3.95M

Britton: Offered $2.2M--Requested $4.2M

Norris: Offered $7.5M--Requested $10.25M

Flaherty: Offered $900K--Requested $1.5M

De Aza: Offered $5M--Requested $5.65M

 

Guess they won't be able to afford signing Colby Rasmus..

[Deadpool]

Wilner's such an idiot, there's a very real chance that CF or LF can become a problem for the Jays this year. And for less than 5 million, that would've been an excellent signing

 

Why would Aoki come here to be "insurance if s*** doesn't pan out with the guys they already have", when he has the option to go be a starter elsewhere?

[jaysfan2014]

Why would Aoki come here to be "insurance if s*** doesn't pan out with the guys they already have", when he has the option to go be a starter elsewhere?

 

Exactly. SF has very little depth in their OF, mostly LF.. they were playing Ishikawa out of position in the playoffs, and had Gregor Blanco playing everyday..

[Abomination]

Wow, are the O's cheap on Steve Pearce.. and it's not just him either:

 

Pearce: Offered $2M--Requested $5.4M

Gonzalez: Offered $2.5M--Requested $3.95M

Britton: Offered $2.2M--Requested $4.2M

Norris: Offered $7.5M--Requested $10.25M

Flaherty: Offered $900K--Requested $1.5M

De Aza: Offered $5M--Requested $5.65M

 

Guess they won't be able to afford signing Colby Rasmus..

 

This seems like a fantastic way to piss off 1/4 of your team.

[Deadpool]

This seems like a fantastic way to piss off 1/4 of your team.

 

Angelos probably mandated these figures... Since, y'know, he makes outrageous demands and always gets what he wants, right?

[jaysfan2014]

This seems like a fantastic way to piss off 1/4 of your team.

 

Especially with so many arb-eligible players. Is it a wonder why the O's have done NOTHING this offseason, and are heading for regression this year regardless of Machado and Wieters' return? They're projected to finish last in the AL East.. even the rebuilding Rays project better. Not surprised though.. these arb raises were going to eat up their entire budget, making it impossible for them to make additions.

[jaysfan2014]

This seems like a fantastic way to piss off 1/4 of your team.

 

Especially when they're trying to save $10M.. the players see trouble ahead for Baltimore, especially with concerns with MASN, Dan Duquette's future, and a major purge coming next offseason as much of their team hits free agency, including Davis and Wieters.

[Ambassador Ch0n]

Wow, you like Norris. I'm not a fan.

 

Contrarian/10

[Stangstag]

This seems like a fantastic way to piss off 1/4 of your team.

 

I don't really see the problem. The team has to try and get the player for as cheap as possible. Its negotiating tactics. We did the same thing with Donaldson.

[jaysfan2014]

I don't really see the problem. The team has to try and get the player for as cheap as possible. Its negotiating tactics. We did the same thing with Donaldson.

 

Peter Angelos is a cheapskate. And most teams don't have a quarter of the roster facing arb hearings. Usually it's only 1-2 players, or none at all. And Donaldson's gap isn't that big compared to the O's ones.

[Abomination]

Peter Angelos is a cheapskate. And most teams don't have a quarter of the roster facing arb hearings. Usually it's only 1-2 players, or none at all. And Donaldson's gap isn't that big compared to the O's ones.

 

Actually, looking closer at the projected salaries (based on mlbtr for whatever it's worth), Gonzalez and Britton seem like definite low ball offers, but the rest don't seem all that unreasonable. Pearce especially is out of his mind imo. I don't see any chance in hell that an arbitrator would give him that, based on essentially 1/2 a season.

[jaysfan2014]

Royals have a few big gaps as well.. many of their young players, such as Hosmer, Cain, Holland are demanding huge raises as well.

[Brownie19]

Actually, looking closer at the projected salaries (based on mlbtr for whatever it's worth), Gonzalez and Britton seem like definite low ball offers, but the rest don't seem all that unreasonable. Pearce especially is out of his mind imo. I don't see any chance in hell that an arbitrator would give him that, based on essentially 1/2 a season.

 

Is Pearce the next Bautista?

[Abomination]

Is Pearce the next Bautista?

 

Unlikely, but even if he was, no arbitrator in his right mind is going to give a raise from 700k to 5.4M, for a 31 year old based on a single 1/2 season of PA.

[baubau]

Wow, are the O's cheap on Steve Pearce.. and it's not just him either:

 

Pearce: Offered $2M--Requested $5.4M

Gonzalez: Offered $2.5M--Requested $3.95M

Britton: Offered $2.2M--Requested $4.2M

Norris: Offered $7.5M--Requested $10.25M

Flaherty: Offered $900K--Requested $1.5M

De Aza: Offered $5M--Requested $5.65M

 

Guess they won't be able to afford signing Colby Rasmus..

 

What a gong show of a franchise that is.

[jaysfan2014]

What a gong show of a franchise that is.

 

Got to the ALCS, and now won't spend on upgrading or maintaining the roster, especially considering what everyone else in the AL East did this offseason. And those players want $10M more than the O's were willing to offer.. yes, I know Machado and Wieters are coming back, but they really need more..

[baubau]

Got to the ALCS, and now won't spend on upgrading or maintaining the roster, especially considering what everyone else in the AL East did this offseason. And those players want $10M more than the O's were willing to offer.. yes, I know Machado and Wieters are coming back, but they really need more..

 

I think they made good moves. I wouldn't have signed Markakis and while Nelson Cruz would have been nice can see them being weary of giving a long term contract to someone who is on the wrong side of 30. However I think they've missed a few opportunities in signing Aoki and potentially making trades to upgrade their starting pitching. Either way, alienating your ball club and your GM on a position he doesn't want to be in, doesn't bold well to attract talent on all levels in the future.

[Angrioter]

Ken Rosenthal ‏

#Rangers on verge of trading for #Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

 

 

 

Goodbye Mazara?

[TheHurl]

Gallardo is a very unique pitcher. Any PitchFX method would say he is terrible, but he gets tons and tons of out of zone strikes. He knows how to utilize Lucroy. Would be interesting to see him with a bad framer.

 

at least opponents swung at over 40% of his pitches last year. It's still the second lowest in baseball (of qualified pitchers) but at least it's going up (which might be a factor of the catchers getting so many calls for him causing hitters to swing). He's been a guy I've thought of as a stay away from for a couple seasons now.

[King]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 16s17 seconds ago

#Nationals also looking for bullpen help. Have checked in on Casey Janssen, others.

[HERPDERP]

AA

 

Strasmas pls