Around Baseball 2020

[TheHurl]

This is stupid, but I guess it's Manfred's sad attempt to try and limit the Rays gaming the system. The league should just come out and say any new idea the Rays try is automatically banned. Force the team to be 62-100 every year until they can move or disband it.

 

That would be based on the premise that anyone in the office understands the moves and believes they actually work

[Spanky__99]

Rangers Plan To Decline Corey Kluber’s 2021 Option

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/rangers-decline-option-corey-kluber.html

[wilko]

Rangers Plan To Decline Corey Kluber’s 2021 Option

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/rangers-decline-option-corey-kluber.html

 

I assume they will work on a cheaper deal.. if not, could be a target!

[dineke]

Kolten Wong would be a nice add.

[Spanky__99]

I assume they will work on a cheaper deal.. if not, could be a target!

 

Go hard in the paint, get em!

[Spanky__99]

Kolten Wong would be a nice add.

 

No, gross.

[glory]

Man, there's going to be a ton of free agents this year.

[BTS]

Cardinals must be expecting a dead market. Wong is a ~3-win player and 12.5M would have been a very reasonable salary pre-covid.

[Jimcanuck]

If Wong had versatility I'd see him as a good Jays target. But he's been exclusively a 2B except for a few hundred innings in the OF in 2016.

[Spanky__99]

If Wong had versatility I'd see him as a good Jays target. But he's been exclusively a 2B except for a few hundred innings in the OF in 2016.

No thanks, man!

[Jimcanuck]

Would it be bad if he played 2b exclusively for us though?

 

Yes, that would be a lineup downgrade.

 

If he was versatile, he would be useful for his speed, defense, and league average'ish bat - not as a regular starter but a guy that gets ~350 AB playing around the diamond. He doesn't give that, so pass.

[Laika]

There really are a lot of options for Toronto if they will consider any 2B or 3B or SS.

 

Stars like Turner and DJLM and Semien.

Solid second tier players like Simmons and Gregorius.

Some harder to evaluate second tier players like Wong and La Stella.

Younger guys with upside like Lamb, Profar, Schoop.

Veteran bounce-back candidates like Marwin or Asdrubal.

Other semi-interesting vets like Kipnis, Brad Miller.

 

Cesar Hernandez is very interesting to me.

[Brownie19]

Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports that the Astros have placed Roberto Osuna on outright waivers.

 

Kaplan notes that this is essentially an early non-tender, assuming Osuna clears waivers and elects to become a free agent, which is likely how it will play out. He was projected to command a 2021 salary of around $10 million through the arbitration process this winter. Osuna made only four appearances in 2020 before going down with a right elbow injury that at one point was believed to be leading toward Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old is attempting the rest and rehab route instead and hopes to pitch at full health next season.

[King]

Holy s*** the Indians waiver Brad Hand declining his 10mil team option

[Laika]

Holy s*** the Indians waiver Brad Hand declining his 10mil team option

 

Makes all the sense in the world for the Toronto Blue Jays but I wonder if they'll even get the chance to claim him

 

The economics in MLB are going to lead to a lot of reasonable options getting declined. Sergio Romo yesterday

[glory]

 

Indians trying to save $1m. Tough times. I’d be shocked if they don’t end up trading Lindor.

[Brownie19]

 

Indians trying to save $1m. Tough times. I’d be shocked if they don’t end up trading Lindor.

 

This is pretty insane. Remember Blake Snell complaining how he wouldn't take a pay cut or prorated salary to play this season because there was so much risk? Based on what we've seen so far, the players might have pushed too far. What an awful season to be a FA.

[BTS]

Holy s*** the Indians waiver Brad Hand declining his 10mil team option

 

On one hand, it's insane to think he might go unclaimed. On the other, you'd think if any team was willing to pay Hand 10M, they would have also been willing to toss Clevlend a low-end prospect or two to pick up his option and trade him to them.

[Ray]

This is shaping up to be an insane market already. Part of me is legitimately wondering if guys like Bauer and Springer will even clear $100M in total contract value. They probably will, but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't or if it's barely over that.

 

Good year to be a team like us, that has very little financial commitments and no big arbitration salaries, because I can imagine getting premium free agents for relative pennies on the dollar. If you can get Springer for 4/$100M or 5/$115M, you do that in a heartbeat. Just need Rogers to approve a respectable level of spending. We could load up on so many good players this offseason and really take advantage.

[connorp]

This is shaping up to be an insane market already. Part of me is legitimately wondering if guys like Bauer and Springer will even clear $100M in total contract value. They probably will, but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't or if it's barely over that.

 

Good year to be a team like us, that has very little financial commitments and no big arbitration salaries, because I can imagine getting premium free agents for relative pennies on the dollar. If you can get Springer for 4/$100M or 5/$115M, you do that in a heartbeat. Just need Rogers to approve a respectable level of spending. We could load up on so many good players this offseason and really take advantage.

 

I think the few high-end guys will get paid what they should. There aren’t many, so supply/demand and if you balk, your rival may not. You have to know you’ll take a hit in at least year 1.

 

I don’t think it’ll be a good year for the players other than the very few stars

[connorp]

The glut of middle rotation starters especially won’t see what they normally would I don’t think

[Ray]

I think the few high-end guys will get paid what they should. There aren’t many, so supply/demand and if you balk, your rival may not. You have to know you’ll take a hit in at least year 1.

 

I don’t think it’ll be a good year for the players other than the very few stars

 

We'll see, but I still don't think Bauer, Realmuto, and Springer will get paid what they would've in any normal market.

 

Bauer would've gotten at least ~$200M in last years market? Springer probably around $150M-$170M. We'll see what happens, but I don't see those numbers being touched.

[The Iceman]

Add Roberto Osuna to the list...dropped by Houston

[glory]

The top end free agents might be better off going the rumored Bauer route and either accept the QO or sign the best one year deal they can get. Take your chances next winter. I think the very top guys will still get their money but the mid and low end are going to get screwed big time.

 

Good time to be a buyer so at least the Jays are beyond the tanking days and trying to upgrade the roster. Good to very good players will be readily available.

[The Iceman]

We are seeing this played out in the NHL right now. Leafs loaded the bottom of their roster with minimum salary guys and squuezed some others.

 

Top FA took a 1 year deal Taylor Hall.

[Brownie19]

White Sox hire Tony LaRussa to be their manager. WOW.

[Stangstag]

White Sox hire Tony LaRussa to be their manager. WOW.

 

Feels like this came out of nowhere

[Orgfiller]

White Sox hire Tony LaRussa to be their manager. WOW.

 

Nothing like hiring an old man with old-man mentality to manage a young up and coming team full of flair. This looks like a move that came from the very top, pretty disgusting hire honestly.

[Laika]

White Sox hire Tony LaRussa to be their manager. WOW.

 

Hard to think of a worse manager for that team. Hahahahaha this is hilarious.

[BTS]

I can't imagine reporting to a 76-year old man with a terrible attitude.