Around Baseball 2015

[BTS]

LA's behaviour right now is pretty interesting. Their roster is excellent with no real holes. and they're aggressively trying to improve instead of sitting on a position of strength and letting opportunities come to them. Kind of the opposite of a team like St. Louis that is generally content to hold on a roster they think is good.

[Dr. Dinger]

‏@JeffPassan

Source: Dodgers, White Sox nearing a trade. Top pitching prospect Frankie Montas is going to Los Angeles, so it could be pretty big.

 

 

Ethier?

 

As a 2x Montas owner, this makes me very happy.

[Dr. Dinger]

Pretty awful return for Frazier.

 

Seriously gross. The Reds are sooooo bad.

[HERPDERP]

Votto has said that he does not want to be dealt, but I wonder if he'll keep that same tone a few years into the tanking.

 

Votto will earn on average at least $22m up until 2024, when he will be 41. Amazing that they gave him that contract. I wonder if they'll be willing to find a team to take half of that.

[BTS]

As a 2x Montas owner, this makes me very happy.

 

I may have been undervaluing him. I saw him as a longshot to stick as a starter, and more of a back end of the pen type of arm. LA must believe in his ability to start.

[Dr. Dinger]

It kinda seems to me like LAD is getting all the best prospects in this deal, which I really don't understand.

[Dr. Dinger]

I may have been undervaluing him. I saw him as a longshot to stick as a starter, and more of a back end of the pen type of arm. LA must believe in his ability to start.

 

Either that or they think he can step in and quickly be a high-leverage reliever, which I would be okay with.

[BTS]

Either that or they think he can step in and quickly be a high-leverage reliever, which I would be okay with.

 

That 100 mph gas.

 

Fun fact: I brought him up as a possible second piece in a deal with catsass shortly before trading him to you and he responded "Montanez is awful".

[Dr. Dinger]

Twitter is also speculating that the Dodgers' swap is part of a bigger push for Jose Fernandez. Maybe Miami is on on this and was pointing out some dudes from the White Sox that they coveted.

 

That could make sense. De Leon and Montas would be a starting point.

[Dr. Dinger]

That 100 mph gas.

 

30% K, 13% SwStr... he could really be a monster closer some day if they go that direction.

[AdamLindsMom]

poor Votto

[reedjohnsonfan]

White Sox got much better with Todd Frazier.. that Central division is going to be a dogfight. Royals better have enjoyed their World Series win.. they may not get back there due to the parity of the AL Central. All 5 teams should be in contention.

 

Dodgers get a 2B in case Utley is awful in 2016, and Enrique "Kiki" Hernandez regresses.. and he's good with the glove. Plus, Thompson gives the Dodgers insurance in case Pederson or Puig struggle. And Montas gives them more depth in the minors, and gets the Dodgers closer to their goal of a cost-controlled young team that doesn't require $200M+ payroll to succeed, which has been the plan, as they try to get under the tax.. spending in recent years was only temporary until their young talent arrives.

 

As for the Reds.. 100 losses for sure. Lots of rotation/bullpen questions, lineup questions outside of Votto (if he isn't dealt next), and Chapman likely to be suspended.

 

AL Central will be an interesting division to watch. Chicago could be good with Frazier and guys like Rodon, Garcia and even Lawrie (to some extent) looking to take a big step forward. Not sure what the odds are now but I'd be interested in putting $$ down on them taking the division.

[BTS]

AL Central will be an interesting division to watch. Chicago could be good with Frazier and guys like Rodon, Garcia and even Lawrie (to some extent) looking to take a big step forward. Not sure what the odds are now but I'd be interested in putting $$ down on them taking the division.

 

I dunno, they still have a ton of questions/holes:

 

C - Avila and Navarro are not good players

2B - can Lawrie stay healthy and defend well at 2B all year?

SS - black hole

LF - Melky is below average

RF - black hole

DH - black hole

 

SP4 - black hole

SP5 - black hole

 

and so on...

 

I think they're going to be awful again.

[Frenchsoup]

The White Sox still look pretty bad to me as well.

[Dr. Dinger]

That 100 mph gas.

 

Fun fact: I brought him up as a possible second piece in a deal with catsass shortly before trading him to you and he responded "Montanez is awful".

 

Pretty sure he said the same about Gattis.

[The Cats Ass]

That 100 mph gas.

 

Fun fact: I brought him up as a possible second piece in a deal with catsass shortly before trading him to you and he responded "Montanez is awful".

 

In my defense, I don't really remember saying that. I'm not even sure I was looking at the right player page.

[The Cats Ass]

Pretty sure he said the same about Gattis.

 

For a LFer, ya he is. He's good for a catcher though.

[The Cats Ass]

I dunno, they still have a ton of questions/holes:

 

C - Avila and Navarro are not good players

2B - can Lawrie stay healthy and defend well at 2B all year?

SS - black hole

LF - Melky is below average

RF - black hole

DH - black hole

 

SP4 - black hole

SP5 - black hole

 

and so on...

 

I think they're going to be awful again.

 

They still have a long way to go. Atleast the division they're in isn't all that tough.

[G-Snarls]

Most analysts seem to think the Dodgers raked in some prospects in order to re-trade for a #1 SP

[Ziggyy108]

poor Votto

 

Bring him home AA

[Brownie19]

I don't follow the prospects as close as I once did, or anywhere as much as you guys do - but the Reds are dumn.

[Laika]

Wait, the Reds dealt Frazier but the Dodgers got the better return?

 

WTF is the difference between Peraza and Micah Johnson. I might even prefer Johnson.

 

Age vs. level is a massive, massive argument in favour of Peraza.

 

He might have sucked last year but he was also basically the youngest position player in AAA or the NL (if he wasn't the absolute youngest, probably close).

[Brownie19]

Bring him home AA

 

Where? To Montreal for some poutine? I don't think that's going to make Votto feel much better.

[reedjohnsonfan]

I dunno, they still have a ton of questions/holes:

 

C - Avila and Navarro are not good players

2B - can Lawrie stay healthy and defend well at 2B all year?

SS - black hole

LF - Melky is below average

RF - black hole

DH - black hole

 

SP4 - black hole

SP5 - black hole

 

and so on...

 

I think they're going to be awful again.

 

They could be terrible, I'm talking about taking them at longshot odds to win the division which is pretty weak. Gotta do the projections still.

[Dr. Dinger]

Age vs. level is a massive, massive argument in favour of Peraza.

 

He might have sucked last year but he was also basically the youngest position player in AAA or the NL (if he wasn't the absolute youngest, probably close).

 

He can't hit and he doesn't walk at all. Really a headscratcher... surely the Reds could have gotten a sexier centrepiece for Frazier, who isn't even an impending FA.

[glory]

The Central will come down to KC and Cleveland, imo. White Sox still need more work.

[admin]

poor Votto

 

Seems like he doesn't really care. Wants to stay with the Reds and never have to move. Can't believe he'll be making $25M when he's 40.

[CJ-Freeway]

The Central will come down to KC and Cleveland, imo. White Sox still need more work.

 

What about Detroit

[Sammy225]

They could be terrible, I'm talking about taking them at longshot odds to win the division which is pretty weak. Gotta do the projections still.

 

The way i see it Cleveland is going to be tough to beat this season i think. Even if they trade one of their arms for a position player they still got a top 5 Rotation i think.

[HERPDERP]

What about Detroit

 

Detroit will be a threat considering 2nd half Verlander was vintage Verlander.

 

dat bullpen tho..