Around Baseball 2017

[Spanky__99]

MLBTR's top 10 rookies of the year...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/the-top-10-rookies-of-2017.html?fv-home=true&post-id=100552

1) Aaron Judge

2) Cody Bellinger

3) Paul DeJong

4) Austin Barnes

5) German Marquez

6) Jordan Montgomery

7) Trey Mancini

8) Andrew Benintendi

9) Matt Chapman

10) Chad Green

 

Thoughts? I knew Chapman was a great defender but already top 3 at his position?

 

I had a good laugh reading the comments, some pretty good snark.

[G-Snarls]

I just read this a little while ago...

 

Jon Lester to miss one or two starts

 

By Craig CalcaterraAug 18, 2017, 9:55 AM EDT NBC Sports

 

Jon Lester had a terrible outing yesterday, allowing nine runs — seven earned — and leaving the game before he could complete two innings.Lester entered the afternoon with a 3.99 ERA. He exited with a 4.37 ERA. Later the Cubs said that Lester was suffering from left lat tightness.

 

The Cubs are now saying that Lester will miss 1-2 starts. They are sending him to see Dr. Stephen Gryzlo for a more in-depth exam, and it’s possible Gryzlo will determine the injury is more serious, but at the moment the assessment seems cautiously optimistic.

 

Mike Montgomery will fill in for Lester for the time being.

 

Conflicting reports I guess

 

Rotoworld:

 

Lester was sent to see Dr. Stephen Gryzlo for a more in-depth exam, and it's possible Gryzlo will determine the injury is more serious. However, at least initially, it appears that the left-hander might not miss too much time. Even in a best-case scenario, a trip to the disabled list is virtually guaranteed. We'll find out more about Lester's condition later Friday. Mike Montgomery will fill in as long as Lester is out. Aug 18 - 9:14 AM

 

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-jon-lester-leaves-game-with-apparent-injury-in-second-inning/

 

The Cubs are bracing for the possibility that they could be without their rotation ace for most or all of what’s left of the regular season after Jon Lester left his start Thursday in the second inning because of tightness in his left lat muscle.

[Spanky__99]

um. Late August is a little subjective. It's not the most outrageous fake news I've read.

 

That was 3 days ago and he said late August at a minimum, bruh!

 

[Pendleton]

I had a good laugh reading the comments, some pretty good snark.

 

Haha quite the battle going on there

[Spanky__99]

Conflicting reports I guess

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-jon-lester-leaves-game-with-apparent-injury-in-second-inning/

 

The Cubs are bracing for the possibility that they could be without their rotation ace for most or all of what’s left of the regular season after Jon Lester left his start Thursday in the second inning because of tightness in his left lat muscle.

 

Chicago Tribune also says 1 to 2 starts, it really depends on what that specialist says anyhow.

[G-Snarls]

[Spanky__99]

 

I thought of this after I saw his line.

[Grant77]

It's possible he's the best 3B defender the league has seen since Beltre's prime.

 

It's possible, but I need to see more before putting him ahead of Manny Machado.

[Brownie19]

That was 3 days ago and he said late August at a minimum, bruh!

 

 

August has 5 weeks this year, next week will be the 4th of 5 - that qualifies as "late" to me....and that is all predicated on how his side session goes. I love ya, but you're grasping.

[G-Snarls]

Wilner battling uphill again

 

[jaysfan2014]

Kiermaier's back with the Rays! Not like it's going to do any good at this point.. corresponding moves on the 25 and 40 still TBA. He didn't hit much on rehab.. but the Rays want his D back. Either Smith or Bourjos will be sent to AAA or in Bourjos' case, DFAd...

[Spanky__99]

August has 5 weeks this year, next week will be the 4th of 5 - that qualifies as "late" to me....and that is all predicated on how his side session goes. I love ya, but you're grasping.

 

Hey man, get off my cloud dude!

[Brownie19]

Dexter Fowler got hot and not longer sucks. 120 wRC+ and 2 WAR on the year.

[G-Snarls]

The Dodgers *BENCH* now includes:

 

Chase Utley

Curtis Granderson

Adrien Gonzalez

 

Not only does that provide lots of veteran pinch hitting ability in tight games, but they could stand to lose almost anyone other than their starting C or SS and barely miss a beat

[jays4life19]

The Dodgers *BENCH* now includes:

 

Chase Utley

Curtis Granderson

Adrien Gonzalez

 

Not only does that provide lots of veteran pinch hitting ability in tight games, but they could stand to lose almost anyone other than their starting C or SS and barely miss a beat

 

Actuallyyyy...lol They have both Yasmani Grandal and Austin barnes so they would be just fine.

 

Barnes quietly putting up 147 wRC+. Damn.

[G-Snarls]

Actuallyyyy...lol They have both Yasmani Grandal and Austin barnes so they would be just fine.

 

Barnes quietly putting up 147 wRC+. Damn.

 

Didn't know he was hitting so well

 

The depth is nuts

[Pendleton]

Didn't know he was hitting so well

 

The depth is nuts

 

A top framer as well

[Cbert]

So apparently the Dodgers sent 8 guys to watch Otani over the weekend. Obviously, everyone knows they'll be all in on him, but what's interesting is that they're restricted to giving out int'l bonuses of $300K max this year. It got me wondering about how teams will bid for his services. Do you think the signing bonus will be a non-factor in landing him? Or do you think teams will be trying to trade for more cap space to offer him the biggest bonus possible?

I tend to think the latter. I think he'd take a small bonus if it's a team that can win, he wants to play there, and offers him the most perks (perhaps with some sort of verbal agreement for a massive contract the folllowing season?)

[P2F]

Actuallyyyy...lol They have both Yasmani Grandal and Austin barnes so they would be just fine.

 

Barnes quietly putting up 147 wRC+. Damn.

 

Didn't know he was hitting so well

 

The depth is nuts

 

A top framer as well

 

#FreeAustinBarnes

[Bobthe4th]

So apparently the Dodgers sent 8 guys to watch Otani over the weekend. Obviously, everyone knows they'll be all in on him, but what's interesting is that they're restricted to giving out int'l bonuses of $300K max this year. It got me wondering about how teams will bid for his services. Do you think the signing bonus will be a non-factor in landing him? Or do you think teams will be trying to trade for more cap space to offer him the biggest bonus possible?

I tend to think the latter. I think he'd take a small bonus if it's a team that can win, he wants to play there, and offers him the most perks (perhaps with some sort of verbal agreement for a massive contract the folllowing season?)

 

Until the rule changes last year Otani would have been exempt from international signing bonus restrictions at the end of this season (at least 23 with 5 years service in a professional league). He is also a potential superstar who would be an even bigger media draw than either Dice-K or Yu Darvish were.

 

So don't be surprised if the MLB allows some sort of exemption for him if he wants to come over - he's just the kind of exciting player that MLB want.

[Orgfiller]

I feel like this is something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: what the f*** happened between the Indians and Tyler Naquin? Even if you/they don't believe he's not as good as last year's numbers, you don't just have a guy who was worth 2.5 wins with a 135 wRC+ and non-awful CF defense, nearly won ROY (for whatever that's worth), and then don't even have him on the MLB roster the next season without people asking questions. What's up Cleveland?

[BTS]

The whole Naquin situation is weird. Guy was given 9 games of leash before being optioned, coming off a season in which he contributed 2.5 wins in 365 PA. He's gone down and put up a 137wRC+ in AAA. If they don't want him, I have a hard time understanding why nobody else would.

[Ray]

Devers is clowning major league pitching thus far.

 

Through 21 games: .350/.416/.700 with a 185 OPS+ and 8HR.

 

K-rate isn't anything absurd, and he's walking more than he was in the minors. Kids a beast.

Edited August 21, 2017 by Ray

[Cbert]

Until the rule changes last year Otani would have been exempt from international signing bonus restrictions at the end of this season (at least 23 with 5 years service in a professional league). He is also a potential superstar who would be an even bigger media draw than either Dice-K or Yu Darvish were.

 

So don't be surprised if the MLB allows some sort of exemption for him if he wants to come over - he's just the kind of exciting player that MLB want.

 

Yeah, I could see MLB wanting to do that to get a guy like him, but I wonder if they'd want to deal with the fallout from other amateur international players and their agents for playing favourites.

 

I do wonder about how long teams and players have to wait before signing extensions, though. Does anyone know how this process works? Is it something like a full season or could a guy, in theory, sign an extension after the first game of the season?

[Abomination]

Yeah, I could see MLB wanting to do that to get a guy like him, but I wonder if they'd want to deal with the fallout from other amateur international players and their agents for playing favourites.

 

I do wonder about how long teams and players have to wait before signing extensions, though. Does anyone know how this process works? Is it something like a full season or could a guy, in theory, sign an extension after the first game of the season?

 

MLB isn't going to change the rules for him. I don't know how the process works though, in terms of when an extension could be signed (or how long it would take before it would be seen as circumvention of the rules and disallowed). I would imagine he would sign with them for the min allowed under the terms of their penalty for a 1 year deal, then they would have a handshake agreement for a new deal when that one ran out. The sponsorship deals he may be able to get could probably more than make up for monetary difference.

 

I suppose they could also put an agreement in place with another team who could sign him, then trade him to them midseason.

[Spanky__99]

MLB isn't going to change the rules for him. I don't know how the process works though, in terms of when an extension could be signed (or how long it would take before it would be seen as circumvention of the rules and disallowed). I would imagine he would sign with them for the min allowed under the terms of their penalty for a 1 year deal, then they would have a handshake agreement for a new deal when that one ran out. The sponsorship deals he may be able to get could probably more than make up for monetary difference.

 

I suppose they could also put an agreement in place with another team who could sign him, then trade him to them midseason.

 

Yeah, sure it's against the rules, but a guaranteed contract, would not be out of the ordinary. It happens with IFA's all the time. No one pulls out of them deals or word passes fast, either way.

[Abomination]

Yeah, sure it's against the rules, but a guaranteed contract, would not be out of the ordinary. It happens with IFA's all the time. No one pulls out of them deals or word passes fast, either way.

 

The Dodgers aren't allowed to give him more than 300K, are they?

[Spanky__99]

The Dodgers aren't allowed to give him more than 300K, are they?

 

Wait, wouldn't next season have him past the 23 window... everyone offers there 10 million to bid? Offers a contract at minimum rules too, I believe?

[Spanky__99]

Toronto, kid!

[Cbert]

Wait, wouldn't next season have him past the 23 window... everyone offers there 10 million to bid? Offers a contract at minimum rules too, I believe?

 

Just checked. Wiki says his 23rd birthday was July 5th this year. So I guess since it was after the signing period opened, he would have to wait until midway through next year to sign with someone freely? I wonder if his current team would accept that request if he asked for it. I doubt they would, IMO