Around Baseball 2014

[Chappy]

I did forget that! Should be fun to watch them. They were just talking about Melky as a target for the Cubs, which would certainly help their lineup.

 

Cubs will be super exciting to follow. Melky could help but do they really want to commit to him for 4-5 years?

[z3r0s]

Cubs will be super exciting to follow. Melky could help but do they really want to commit to him for 4-5 years?

 

That would be the thing... i still don't see him getting that kind of length to a deal.

[Laika]

Anyone think that it makes too much sense for the Cubs to trade Starlin Castro to the Mets for a young pitcher? I'd have to think that Castro and Syndergaard would be somewhat close in value. Would set up Russell to come up and play SS and get them a young controllable pitcher that could contribute in 2015. Go get a half decent LF/RF, its a nice lineup and rotation.

 

1- A. Russell - SS

2- J. Soler - RF

3- A. Rizzo - 1B

4- K. Bryant - 3B

5- J. Baez - 2B

6- A. Alcantara - CF

7- Some LF/RF

8- M. Montero - C

9- Pitcher

 

SP- J. Lester

SP- J. Arrieta

SP- N. Syndergaard

SP 3-4 - Wood, Hendricks, Wada, Turner, maybe even McCarthy?

 

I think their SP depth and talent is fine as is. I'd trade Castro for an OF.

 

I mean, they have a legit 1-5, lot of names down the list, and they're projected top 8 in SP fWAR with Lester.

 

Lester

Arrieta

Hammel

Hendricks

Wada

Wood

Jackson

Turner

Doubront

Straily

Edwards

Johnson

[LongTimeReader]

I think their SP depth and talent is fine as is. I'd trade Castro for an OF.

 

I mean, they have a legit 1-5, lot of names down the list, and they're projected top 8 in SP fWAR with lester.

 

Lester

Arrieta

Hammel

Hendricks

Wada

Wood

Jackson

Turner

Doubront

Straily

Edwards

Johnson

 

Top 8 MLB or NL?

[Laika]

MLB

 

Including RP they have the best overall pitching projection in their division.

 

SP only, pretty much tied with the Cards.

[z3r0s]

Got any targets for LF? Melky doesn't actually seem like a bad option if you get him on a 4 year deal. A bit of proven production at the top of the lineup. 13-15M per year, shouldn't be a negative value if he starts at ~2WAR next year.

 

Russell, Melky, Rizzo, Bryant, Soler, Baez, Alcantara, Montero, Pitcher is a much better lineup

Lester, Arrieta, Hammel, Syndergaard, Hendricks is a pretty slick rotation with lots of depth like you said.

[Laika]

Castro for Justin Upton would be a big overpay but maybe the Braves could balance it out somehow.

 

Castro for Souza Jr is more than fair on paper, and because of name value and MLB data, the Cubes could probably get Souza + something else nice (which JFaS suggested yesterday).

 

Signing Melky also makes a lot of sense for the Cubes.

 

Could also just give Baez or Castro LF reps in spring and keep all of your infield depth to cover for the inevitable failure...

[KingKat]

So Kang = Thames ewwww

 

Damn, they're the same age too.

[z3r0s]

Castro for Justin Upton would be a big overpay but maybe the Braves could balance it out somehow.

 

Castro for Souza Jr is more than fair on paper, and because of name value and MLB data, the Cubes could probably get Souza + something else nice (which JFaS suggested yesterday).

 

Signing Melky also makes a lot of sense for the Cubes.

 

Could also just give Baez or Castro LF reps in spring and keep all of your infield depth to cover for the inevitable failure...

 

I had thought about Baez to LF, but then he really has to hit to his potential. I hadn't thought of Souza, but that's a good idea.

[Angrioter]

Castro for Justin Upton would be a big overpay but maybe the Braves could balance it out somehow.

 

Castro for Souza Jr is more than fair on paper, and because of name value and MLB data, the Cubes could probably get Souza + something else nice (which JFaS suggested yesterday).

 

Signing Melky also makes a lot of sense for the Cubes.

 

Could also just give Baez or Castro LF reps in spring and keep all of your infield depth to cover for the inevitable failure...

 

Valbuena for Joyce or Stubbs

[z3r0s]

Valbuena for Joyce or Stubbs

 

Valbuena isn't a bad bench piece either.

[Angrioter]

 

That is - Takashi Toritani

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/japan/player.cgi?id=torita001tak

 

Basically, just this article being ref'd by that guy on twitter.

 

Great read about Takashi Toritani and Blue Jays

 

阪神から海外フリーエージェント（ＦＡ）権を行使した鳥谷敬内野手（３３）が、メジャーに流出する可能性が高まった。調査を続けてきたロイヤルズ、ブルージェイズに続き、ナショナルズなど複数球団が新たに獲得に向けて調査していることが１２日、明らかになった。この日、ＦＡ宣言８選手が公示され、１３日から契約交渉が可能に。鳥谷人気が高まるほどに、猛虎の危機も高まっていく。

 

　阪神にとって、流出危機は避けられない状況になってきた。鳥谷は前日１１日に海外ＦＡ権行使に必要な書類を担当者を通じて球団に提出し、この日、海外ＦＡ宣言選手として公示された。鳥谷サイドの具体的な動きに呼応するかのように、メジャー側も反応。アリゾナ州フェニックスで開催されているＧＭ会議の会場では、ナショナルズのマイク・リッツォＧＭが高い評価を口にした。

 

　「（鳥谷は）高い能力があり、大リーグでも成功するだろう」

 

　チームは今季、ナ・リーグ東地区を制覇した。遊撃には不動ともいえるデスモンドがいる一方で、二塁は計６選手が守備に就いており手薄な状況。７月にトレードで補強した強打のカブレラはＦＡとなっており、二塁のポジションが補強ポイントであることは明白だ。

 

　鳥谷は今季までの１１年間で、公式戦での二塁出場はない。ただ、日本球界屈指の遊撃手となった守備力を考えれば、二塁転向は、大きな問題ではないだろう。昨年３月のワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）では実際に二塁を守るなど、適性も十分にあると思われる。ナ軍も二遊間という位置付けで興味を示しており、鳥谷サイドにとっても不具合はないはずだ。

 

　アストロズのジェフ・ルノーＧＭは、昨オフに田中（ヤンキース）の獲得競争に敗れたことについて触れ「いい報告を受けている。アストロズにとって、日本はやり残した宿題」とも語り、球団として日本人選手獲得を目指していることを明言した。また、レッドソックスのベン・チェリントンＧＭも「（鳥谷の）日本での実績に敬意を表している」と好意的に話した。

 

　シーズン中から視察していたロイヤルズに続き、最近になってブルージェイズも補強リストに「ＴＯＲＩＴＡＮＩ」を加えていることが判明している。そして、この日のナショナルズなど、メジャーの数球団が獲得に動くと見られ、今後は代理人を通じ交渉を進めていくことになる。

 

　阪神はフロント、現場が一体となり慰留へ全力を尽くす構えでいるが、残留の可能性は低くなってきていると言わざるを得ない。渡米中の鳥谷が帰国するのを待って再度、残留交渉に臨むが、誠意を伝えられる場は決して多くはない。

 

 

and this --->

[burlingtonbandit]

2015 Projected win totals now up on FG. Obviously a lot will change.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

[gbill2004]

2015 Projected win totals now up on FG. Obviously a lot will change.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

 

After all the Jays upgrades only a one win difference from last season??

[Laika]

Varios colegas japoneses me han dicho que los Azulejos han expresado interés en el agente libre internacional Takashi Toritani para jugar 2B

 

= Various Japanese colleagues are saying that the Blue Jays are expressing interest in free agent Takashi Toritani for playing 2B?

[Sammy225]

= Various Japanese colleagues are saying that the Blue Jays are expressing interest in free agent Takashi Toritani for playing 2B?

 

Tell me what you know about him because that does not mean much to me..... All i can see is that he has a Solid OBP.

[Angrioter]

= Various Japanese colleagues are saying that the Blue Jays are expressing interest in free agent Takashi Toritani for playing 2B?

 

That's right Canadian!!

[burlingtonbandit]

After all the Jays upgrades only a one win difference from last season??

 

Those projections don't include Dickey and Buehrle's defence and Martin's framing. Also doesn't have Travis playing 2nd base. Add that all up and its 4 more wins at least.

[Horses Fart]

How much will Toritani be looking for? His obp looks good.

[L54]

Those projections don't include Dickey and Buehrle's defence and Martin's framing. Also doesn't have Travis playing 2nd base. Add that all up and its 4 more wins at least.

 

88 wins sounds about right.

[JaysRap]

2015 Projected win totals now up on FG. Obviously a lot will change.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

 

Lots of parity right now... Tons of teams in the mid to low 80's win totals.

[burlingtonbandit]

Lots of parity right now... Tons of teams in the mid to low 80's win totals.

 

Im gonna say thats usually the case around this time in the offseason.

[Brenner]

Room to pickup another 2-3 wins from bullpen upgrades as well, pretty much only Cecil and Loop providing anything there right now. 2b is still a black hole.

[King]

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 3m3 minutes ago

Couple of execs told me that they think the Mariners have soured on Taijuan Walker's makeup, in part due to his behavior in the AFL.

[King]

Shi DavidiVerified account

‏@ShiDavidi

Per agent Scott Boras, #BlueJays have expressed interest in Japanese INF Takashi Toritani. "We've had discussions, yes," he said.

[LongTimeReader]

The funny thing about trying to project a teams next season is that it's a crap shoot, you may have better odds but a large portion of it is based off luck. A great example of this is the '12 O's... basically an even run differential and they went on to win 93 games.

[Jimcanuck]

Shi DavidiVerified account

‏@ShiDavidi

Per agent Scott Boras, #BlueJays have expressed interest in Japanese INF Takashi Toritani. "We've had discussions, yes," he said.

 

Boras talking to the Jays. Has Beeston already cleared out his office.

 

By the way, Beeston never played baseball.

[LongTimeReader]

Rollins would have been interesting as a short-term stop-gap at SS/2B. But just not worth any possible trade scenario given his age and our 2B prospect(s).

[flafson]

Red Sox and Tigers swap Rick Porcello for Cespedes++.

[labadee]

Red Sox and Tigers swap Rick Porcello for Cespedes++.