Around Baseball 2019

[Ehjays]

Too late, part of the remit of Mike Elias their new GM is to revamp their international scouting. Expect them to spend big on international signings this year.

 

I'd be shocked if they did....owner has never believed in that

[Orgfiller]

I'd be shocked if they did....owner has never believed in that

 

They've already made 4 international signings since the FO overhaul.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/orioles-sign-four-international-prospects/c-299675794

[John_Havok]

In the neighborhood of 5 years $60 million according to Nightengale. Not bad at all for a guy like Pollock.

 

Harper and Boras have gotta be sweating a bit. Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers are not going to sign him at this point. As unlikely as it still is, I would love if we swooped in on Harper. His market has collapsed.

 

While his destination is unknown at this point, I can promise you that he is not sweating in the least.

[glory]

Yeah, Harper and Machado are both likely sitting on lucrative deals waiting to see if anyone tops it. I doubt they will settle for a s***** deal. Although I would love if the Jays swooped in and signed Harper. I mean, they have to spend money on somebody over the next 7 years, right? Might as well be an elite young player in his prime (....I know it's not going to happen).

 

MLB really needs to change its free agency rules. Fans salivate over NBA free agency because signings happen quickly. Baseball is already known as the "boring" sport during the season. The last few off seasons have been torture. Make a signing deadline for all FA's, or something.

[Grant77]

We should be all over Joc Pederson right now.

[baseballsss]

Yeah, Harper and Machado are both likely sitting on lucrative deals waiting to see if anyone tops it. I doubt they will settle for a s***** deal. Although I would love if the Jays swooped in and signed Harper. I mean, they have to spend money on somebody over the next 7 years, right? Might as well be an elite young player in his prime (....I know it's not going to happen).

 

MLB really needs to change its free agency rules. Fans salivate over NBA free agency because signings happen quickly. Baseball is already known as the "boring" sport during the season. The last few off seasons have been torture. Make a signing deadline for all FA's, or something.

 

Alright Rob Manfred.

[glory]

Alright Rob Manfred.

 

I actually feel for the guy, even though I’m not a fan of his. Seriously, baseball gets like no mainstream coverage now, attendance sucks, and now even their off seasons are so boring that nothing happens. Unfortunately Manfred is busy trying to shave 5 minutes off game times rather than focus on the issues that might actually make a difference.

 

Harper and Machado not being signed when we are damn near close to Feb is ridiculous. Bill James was pretty much speaking on behalf of front offices when he said players are replaceable.

[TheHurl]

DL length will probably go back to 15 days. The 10 day stints were too easy to manipulate and pitchers days on the DL increased rather than decreased. It also probably led to more fresh pitchers and even lower runs scored (Thanks Rays)

[z3r0s]

DL length will probably go back to 15 days. The 10 day stints were too easy to manipulate and pitchers days on the DL increased rather than decreased. It also probably led to more fresh pitchers and even lower runs scored (Thanks Rays)

 

I fully support this. That was predictably a bad idea.

[TheHurl]

I fully support this. That was predictably a bad idea.

 

I loved the 10 day for hitters though. I'd like to see a 15 day for pitchers and 10 day for hitters.

[G-Snarls]

I loved the 10 day for hitters though. I'd like to see a 15 day for pitchers and 10 day for hitters.

 

Ohtani makes it difficult to make a separate rule for each.

[KevinGregg]

Ohtani makes it difficult to make a separate rule for each.

 

just make the rule that if you are a pitcher you get the 15 day DL

 

Ohtani is a pitcher, so he gets the 15 day DL

He might not pitch at all next year, so he could get the 10 day DL as long as he never throws an inning. But if he becomes a pitcher again this year then boom 15 day DL automatically

[Spanky99]

just make the rule that if you are a pitcher you get the 15 day DL

 

Ohtani is a pitcher, so he gets the 15 day DL

He might not pitch at all next year, so he could get the 10 day DL as long as he never throws an inning. But if he becomes a pitcher again this year then boom 15 day DL automatically

 

Or he just can't pitch for the 15 days, simple.

[Abomination]

Or he just can't pitch for the 15 days, simple.

 

Yeah, this. If you go on the DL, you can't hit for 10 days or pitch for 15.

[Abomination]

Estrada to the A's for 1/$4M. He could have a pretty nice bounce back season pitching in that park and division.

[Pendleton]

Morosi is reporting that the Marlins want Mejia included from the Padres as part of a Realmuto offer.

 

A top catcher prospect + a good pitching prospect (Allen or Morejon?) seems just about right to me.

[Boxcar]

Morosi is reporting that the Marlins want Mejia included from the Padres as part of a Realmuto offer.

 

A top catcher prospect + a good pitching prospect (Allen or Morejon?) seems just about right to me.

 

Mejia isn't really a catcher, so this will be amusing.

[King]

Royals sign Merrifield to a 4 year 15 mil extension

[Orgfiller]

Royals sign Merrifield to a 4 year 15 mil extension

 

Absolute steal, wtf is wrong with contracts this offseason? Man I don't want a strike.

[Abomination]

Absolute steal, wtf is wrong with contracts this offseason? Man I don't want a strike.

 

Well, he doesn't reach arbitration until 2020, so it's probably fair.

[Laika]

Absolute steal, wtf is wrong with contracts this offseason? Man I don't want a strike.

 

It only covers the four years that KC already had control over him. It's a cost-certainty contract.

 

He is betting against himself a little bit because $15M over three arb years seems low and he has been great since coming into the league. Kevin f***ing Pillar is on track to go $3M - $6M - $8M in arbitration, Whit!

 

Having said that, Whit doesn't really have the kind of skills/stats that make huge arb bucks so I'm not sure he left a bucket of money on the table. And $15M guaranteed is huge, especially for a $100k signing bonus guy who is already 30 years old. 6.5 years in the minors for a college draftee!

 

Baseball is such an insane sport. So many players spend the majority of their 20s not even in the majors, and then if they do make it they are cost controlled well past their decline phase even begins.

[baseballsss]

It only covers the four years that KC already had control over him. It's a cost-certainty contract.

 

He is betting against himself a little bit because $15M over three arb years seems low and he has been great since coming into the league. Kevin f***ing Pillar is on track to go $3M - $6M - $8M in arbitration, Whit!

 

Having said that, Whit doesn't really have the kind of skills/stats that make huge arb bucks so I'm not sure he left a bucket of money on the table. And $15M guaranteed is huge, especially for a $100k signing bonus guy who is already 30 years old. 6.5 years in the minors for a college draftee!

 

Baseball is such an insane sport. So many players spend the majority of their 20s not even in the majors, and then if they do make it they are cost controlled well past their decline phase even begins.

 

There’s also 2M in performance bonuses and an option back could bring the contract to 30M.

[Spanky99]

There’s also 2M in performance bonuses and an option back could bring the contract to 30M.

 

I thought you were nuts, but I guess the 2M performance bonuses are for every year including the 5th year option, per Heyman.

 

[glory]

Absolute steal, wtf is wrong with contracts this offseason? Man I don't want a strike.

 

He is a 30 year old 2B coming off a career year. He will be a free agent at age 34, so pretty much guaranteed that he's not going to get another big contract given the way the league has shifted. Not surprised he took this deal. It is a guaranteed $16m (with performance incentives) for a guy who probably did not want to risk year to year arbitration in his 30's.

[Jimcanuck]

He is a 30 year old 2B coming off a career year. He will be a free agent at age 34, so pretty much guaranteed that he's not going to get another big contract given the way the league has shifted. Not surprised he took this deal. It is a guaranteed $16m (with performance incentives) for a guy who probably did not want to risk year to year arbitration in his 30's.

 

This. I expect some regression in 2019.

[Terminator]

It only covers the four years that KC already had control over him. It's a cost-certainty contract.

 

He is betting against himself a little bit because $15M over three arb years seems low and he has been great since coming into the league. Kevin f***ing Pillar is on track to go $3M - $6M - $8M in arbitration, Whit!

 

Having said that, Whit doesn't really have the kind of skills/stats that make huge arb bucks so I'm not sure he left a bucket of money on the table. And $15M guaranteed is huge, especially for a $100k signing bonus guy who is already 30 years old. 6.5 years in the minors for a college draftee!

 

Baseball is such an insane sport. So many players spend the majority of their 20s not even in the majors, and then if they do make it they are cost controlled well past their decline phase even begins.

 

Yeah if the Player's Union wants to change something they need to get their guys to FA earlier than they currently are. The average age has to be really close to 30 at which point long term deals are too risky.

[Olerud363]

Yeah if the Player's Union wants to change something they need to get their guys to FA earlier than they currently are. The average age has to be really close to 30 at which point long term deals are too risky.

 

What if they started counting from the moment the player was signed. Maybe 12 years for International signings, 10 for High School, and 8 for College. I don't know exactly how you'd figure out the arbitration. However aim to get most players to free agency between 28-30, and also eliminate the disincentive to call up 19-20 year old potential superstars.

[glory]

Or start arbitration after 1 year. That way teams still have six years of control, but players can start making real money by year 2, and by years 5 and 6 would be making FA level money anyway.

[TheHurl]

I just want to see really smart people in on the creation process. Boras advised on the last one and would honestly say “this is the way we are going to manipulate that, and this is the way the teams are going to manipulate”. Get some of those brainiacs in Tampa or Oakland talking honestly about loopholes they see. You will never have a perfect system but minimize the loopholes.

 

If I were the PA, I’d be shooting for removing 1 year of control (down to 5 seasons) and keeping 3 years of arbitration (no super 2). Keep the current manipulation BS, and 1 season still equals 171 days. The owners biggest concerns have been 40% alleviated by Fox handing them a 7 year contract extension (ESPN and Turner Sports still end in 2021 and Dazn is 2022). Owners are never just going to bend over, but too much has been in their favour for too long.

[Ray]

Reds making a serious push for Realmuto, according to Heyman. If they get Realmuto, they might have one of the best lineups in all of baseball:

 

Votto

 

Suarez

 

Realmuto

 

Gennett

 

Puig

 

Winker

 

Senzel