Around Baseball 2018

[Spanky__99]

[Spanky__99]

JFL19 or Hurl... post this article please and thanks!!

 

[Spanky__99]

[P2F]

The Dodgers are "actively" trying to trade Yasiel Puig (and Matt Kemp - yippee).

 

Holy f***, get right in there, Atkins, me boy.

[Abomination]

The Dodgers are "actively" trying to trade Yasiel Puig (and Matt Kemp - yippee).

 

Holy f***, get right in there, Atkins, me boy.

 

Puig only has one year left. Not sure that makes much sense for us.

[P2F]

Puig only has one year left. Not sure that makes much sense for us.

 

Touche. I didn't check first, but I thought he still might've had a couple years.

[TheHurl]

JFL19 or Hurl... post this article please and thanks!!

 

The​ last​ time​ White​ Sox​ owner​ Jerry Reinsdorf​ acted out​ of​ character the way​ he​ would if he​ signed​​ Bryce Harper was in November 1996.

 

Reinsdorf, a longtime advocate of fiscal restraint and one of the most hawkish owners during the 1994-95 players’ strike, stunned the baseball industry with his signing of free agent Albert Belle to a five-year, $55 million contract.

 

“For Jerry Reinsdorf, who’s been a proponent of all the things he’s been a proponent of, to walk up to the podium and bust the market, I think that says something there,” said John Hart, who was then the general manager of the Indians, Belle’s prior club.

 

Reinsdorf, who was cited by arbitrator George Nicolau as a central figure in baseball’s collusion conspiracy in 1985-87, defended the Belle deal by saying, “It is perfectly fiscally responsible to give him this money . . . We have an obligation to our fans to try to win.”

 

More than two decades later, the same obligation exists, only the urgency is greater.

 

Reinsdorf is 82. He has presided over six straight losing seasons. And the White Sox – with a new local TV deal coming and minimal payroll commitments in the future – are perfectly positioned to make a run at Harper or the other prized 26-year-old free agent, shortstop Manny Machado.

 

Harper appears to be their preference – both general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice-president Ken Williams are said to be intrigued by the possibility of signing him. The particulars of the TV deal are not known, but it’s expected one will be in place for the White Sox after the 2019 season with Reinsdorf’s other team, the NBA Bulls, and their United Center partner, the NHL Blackhawks.

 

By signing Harper, the White Sox would gain a star for their new network, score a coup in their perennial battle for attention with the crosstown Cubs and accelerate their rebuilding program, presuming they also made other strategic additions.

 

Everything adds up, except for one thing:

 

This is not a Jerry Reinsdorf type of move.

 

The biggest contract in White Sox history is the six-year, $68 million deal the team awarded first baseman Jose Abreu in October 2013. The Cubs, in contrast, have three $100 million deals on their current roster – Jason Heyward, Jon Lester and Yu Darvish.

 

Reinsdorf also is not a natural ally of Harper’s agent, Scott Boras – the two have sparred at times in the past, though it did not stop the White Sox from making left-hander Carlos Rodon the third overall pick in the 2014 draft and signing him for $6.582 million.

 

Finally, the kind of deal Harper likely would want – one with multiple opt-outs in the early years – might be counter-productive for a White Sox team that would not want to lose its marquee addition just as it was ready to mature into a legitimate contender.

 

Then again, money conquers all in free agency – see former Boras client Alex Rodriguez, who signed for $252 million with the Rangers when they were coming off a 71-win season, and averaged only 72 wins in his three years with the club. With a monster offer, perhaps the White Sox would persuade Harper to delay his opt-out and make a longer commitment.

 

Reinsdorf privately has expressed doubt his team will actually win the bidding for Harper or Machado, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking. But even with the White Sox at least a year away from contention, he is not stopping his front office from engaging in the pursuit of the two stars, and the possibility of a marriage with Harper seemingly is growing more realistic.

 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Nationals owner Mark Lerner all but bowed out of the Harper sweepstakes in recent days, though Nats GM Mike Rizzo did not rule out resuming negotiations. The Cubs and Cardinals are among the other teams not engaged in a pursuit of Harper, according to sources.

 

The Dodgers certainly could play on Harper, and the Phillies are in the mix, though they also are believed to be competing against the Yankees for Machado. Other teams almost certainly are involved with Harper as well. But none – repeat, none – is in as flexible position with its payroll as the White Sox.

 

The team’s commitments for 2019, including arbitration-eligible and 0-to-3 year players, amount to just $53.575 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. The number further decreases to a jaw-dropping $5.75 million in ‘20, with shortstop Tim Anderson and reliever Nate Jones the only players under contract. Anderson is the only player signed for ‘21 and ‘22.

 

The White Sox clearly could afford Harper as well as a number of lesser additions, and who knows what they might accomplish in the feeble AL Central if they put such a master plan together?

 

The Indians, who already are losing free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley and relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen, are talking about trading one of their two best starting pitchers, Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer. The Twins face major questions coming off a 78-win season. The Royals and Tigers are rebuilding.

 

The opening for the White Sox is clear, if they choose to embark upon a new era. The central question remains, Would Reinsdorf really sign Bryce Harper? But perhaps the better question is, How could he not?

[Spanky__99]

 

Wat?

[Laika]

Puig only has one year left. Not sure that makes much sense for us.

 

Puig always makes sense

[BTS]

 

Wat?

 

I don't see why not. Bellinger has graded as a plus defender in CF. No reason to play him at 1B.

[Brownie19]

I don't see why not. Bellinger has graded as a plus defender in CF. No reason to play him at 1B.

 

What about Muncy at 2nd? Martinez has a great bat, but I'm not sure you want Muncy at 2nd all year. I guess it could be some platoon thing where neither Muncy or Martinez are expected to get 600 PA's anyway.

[BTS]

What about Muncy at 2nd? Martinez has a great bat, but I'm not sure you want Muncy at 2nd all year. I guess it could be some platoon thing where neither Muncy or Martinez are expected to get 600 PA's anyway.

 

Meh, it's the Dodgers. Everyone will play everywhere. Muncy will see time at 3B when Turner is hurt. Taylor will see time at 2B. Martinez probably won't play everyday etc..

[P2F]

Happ re-signs with the Yankees.

[BTS]

Happ re-signs with the Yankees.

 

Dammit! I really thought he'd be back.

[Daniel Labude]

Dammit! I really thought he'd be back.

 

Wasnt likely given our season outlook at this point

[P2F]

Dammit! I really thought he'd be back.

 

I think it's completely unnecessary, but it sure seems like this team is hell-bent on punting the entire season because reasons.

[BTS]

I think it's completely unnecessary, but it sure seems like this team is hell-bent on punting the entire season because reasons.

 

It's looking more and more like it.

[EZe]

Even if punting it would still be prudent to deploy capital on a FA signing and flip for future assets near the deadline.

Who best fits that bill now ? Morton ? Brantley ?

[glory]

The problem with signing Happ is it would be horrible optics to sign him and then flip him.

 

The team is rebuilding, so they will go after the 1-2 year deals where they can easily move the player if demand is there.

 

Shapiro doesn't like free agency and definitely doesn't want to trade prospects. Seems like this team will be built almost entirely off their own drafting and development, plus whoever else they can trade for. Happ wouldn't fit that.

[BTS]

Even if punting it would still be prudent to deploy capital on a FA signing and flip for future assets near the deadline.

Who best fits that bill now ? Morton ? Brantley ?

 

I'm still holding out hope for Brantley. This team doesn't have to be terrible. If a few guys push, they have a small chance to be decent even.

[EZe]

The optics aren't bad if the player is on board with the plan.

Leafs flipped Winnik multiple times with little to no backlash.

 

A big benefit with Happ was the track record with this team. That reduced risk with performance and gave us a better probability of a useful asset.

[EZe]

I'm still holding out hope for Brantley. This team doesn't have to be terrible. If a few guys push, they have a small chance to be decent even.

 

Career 1.198 OPS at Rogers Centre adds to my bullishness.

[glory]

The optics aren't bad if the player is on board with the plan.

Leafs flipped Winnik multiple times with little to no backlash.

 

A big benefit with Happ was the track record with this team. That reduced risk with performance and gave us a better probability of a useful asset.

 

Happ could get the same years from a contender and not have to think about being traded. I don't see any reason why he'd choose the Jays unless they either decided to try to win in 2019 or if they gave him a NTC, which definitely wasn't going to happen.

[Dr. Dinger]

I'm still holding out hope for Brantley. This team doesn't have to be terrible. If a few guys push, they have a small chance to be decent even.

 

Brantley is the perfect modern leadoff hitter.

[TheHurl]

I love fans reactions to non-moves in December.

[EZe]

Happ could get the same years from a contender and not have to think about being traded. I don't see any reason why he'd choose the Jays unless they either decided to try to win in 2019 or if they gave him a NTC, which definitely wasn't going to happen.

 

We'd have to increase dollars or add a year.

Not sure that's a good risk as we weren't blown away by the return last deadline and we have to presume it diminishes from here.

[Brownie19]

Career 1.198 OPS at Rogers Centre adds to my bullishness.

 

Am I right when I say this kind of stuff rarely matters?

[glory]

Man, fans hoping for Brantley or any other mid tier free agent are setting themselves up for disappointment.

[glory]

We'd have to increase dollars or add a year.

Not sure that's a good risk as we weren't blown away by the return last deadline and we have to presume it diminishes from here.

 

Yeah I wouldn't take that chance. If teams are unwilling to go above 2 years for Happ, then I don't see why they'd trade assets for him six months from now and be obligated to pay the 3rd year they didn't want to give him now.

 

The Jays got $65m of value out of a 3/36 free agent signing and turned that into six years of McKinney and four years of Drury. Not a fan of that trade, but ultimately that was a win. No sense trying to get more out of Happ when the window of contention isn't there anymore and he's more likely to decline this time around.

[G-Snarls]