Around Baseball 2020

[BTS]

Howie Kendrick retiring

[Spanky99]

Howie Kendrick retiring

 

Even Howie's tired of this offseason...

[Jimcanuck]

The $900B covid relief bill includes an unrelated provision for up to 10 years in jail for illegal streaming. Wonder if this will impact the baseball streams next season.

[Brownie19]

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports that the White Sox are expected to sign Cuban outfielder Yoelqui Céspedes.

 

The deal is expected to be around $2 million and will likely be finalized on January 15, 2021, which is the first day of the international signing period. Céspedes, 23, is the younger half-brother of Yoenis Céspedes and has been considered the No. 1 international prospect due to his five-tool ability. He defected from the Cuban National Team in June of 2019 before establishing residency in the Bahamas. It's tough to compare the 5-foot-9 Céspedes to his brother, but he's reportedly packed on more muscle since defecting. The White Sox have a long history with Cuban players, so it's no surprise to see him end up here.

[BTS]

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports that the White Sox are expected to sign Cuban outfielder Yoelqui Céspedes.

 

The deal is expected to be around $2 million and will likely be finalized on January 15, 2021, which is the first day of the international signing period. Céspedes, 23, is the younger half-brother of Yoenis Céspedes and has been considered the No. 1 international prospect due to his five-tool ability. He defected from the Cuban National Team in June of 2019 before establishing residency in the Bahamas. It's tough to compare the 5-foot-9 Céspedes to his brother, but he's reportedly packed on more muscle since defecting. The White Sox have a long history with Cuban players, so it's no surprise to see him end up here.

 

Signing Jose Abreu was one of the the best moves in their franchise's history.

[glory]

Abreu, Robert, Moncada, and Grandal in the same lineup, and all of them are very good/great players. The White Sox are going to be a desirable landing spot for Cuban players moving forward.

[G-Snarls]

The Mets and right-hander Noah Syndergaard have agreed to a contract for the 2021 season and will avoid going to salary arbitration, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports.

 

Syndergaard will earn $9.7MM, which was also what he earned in 2020 when missing the entire season due to Tommy John surgery.

[Orgfiller]

Signing Jose Abreu was one of the the best moves in their franchise's history.

 

The White Sox have basically been a desirable location for Cuban players since they integrated Minnie Miñoso back in the 50s. Later in the 2000s they signed Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez, both high profile Cuban players, culminating with Jose Abreu's signing in the 2010s. It's certainly paid off massively for them and will continue to do so.

[G-Snarls]

Mets should really get an extension done with Syndergaard

 

I can't believe he's a free agent next year.

Edited December 22, 2020 by G-Snarls

[G-Snarls]

Phillies To Name Sam Fuld As General Manager

[Spanky99]

Phillies To Name Sam Fuld As General Manager

 

I'm watching this now on MLBN, wasn't he just playing baseball. lol

[BTS]

Phillies To Name Sam Fuld As General Manager

 

Wow. I remember him as a marginal speed and defense guy with the Rays. Had no idea he was so well-regarded in the industry.

[G-Snarls]

I'm watching this now on MLBN, wasn't he just playing baseball. lol

 

Yeah he didn't retire from playing very long ago. He's only 39. Has been in the Phillies FO for 3 years I guess. Sounds like a smart guy.

 

Edit: His last season playing was 2015

[G-Snarls]

Wow. I remember him as a marginal speed and defense guy with the Rays. Had no idea he was so well-regarded in the industry.

 

Also, apparently, a Stanford economics major

[Spanky99]

Also, apparently, a Stanford economics major

 

And was going to be the manager of the Bosox also, if Cora hadn't taken the job.

[Dr. Dinger]

Linc got a Q answered on the At The Letters podcast re: Kirk

[Spanky99]

Linc got a Q answered on the At The Letters podcast re: Kirk

 

Hah... first question...

 

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS9zaG93cy9hdC10aGUtbGV0dGVycy9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv/episode/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS8_cD0yNDE2OA?hl=en-CA&ved=2ahUKEwiA6-H1qOLtAhX8FVkFHXAMCFIQieUEegQIBRAF&ep=6

[P2F]

Indians Avoid Arb With Nick Wittgren

 

Cubs Claim Phillip Ervin

 

MLBTR Live Chat

[G-Snarls]

This has been such a stupid year in so many ways and this season was such a short weird one that it somehow barely registered with me that all of:

 

Justin Verlander

Chris Sale

Luis Severino

Noah Syndergaard

 

All had Tommy John surgery this year. That's really pretty insane

Edited December 23, 2020 by G-Snarls

[King]

This has been such a stupid year in so many ways and this season was such a short weird one that it somehow barely registered with me that all of:

 

Justin Verlander

Chris Sale

Luis Severino

Noah Syndergaard

 

All had Tommy John surgery this yeah. That's really pretty insane

 

I suggest you recalibrate and try again for next year.

[jaysguy44]

The Mets can piss right off

[connorp]

The Mets can piss right off

 

Don’t post this stuff at this point. I googled thinking they signed Springer

[jaysguy44]

Don’t post this stuff at this point. I googled thinking they signed Springer

Don't tell me what to do, connor.

[Spanky99]

Don't tell me what to do, connor.

 

f***ing Baldilox, he still has no clue.

[G-Snarls]

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a contract with right-hander Matt Andriese, per a club announcement.

 

The Beverly Hills Sports Council client will receive a one-year, Major League deal with a club option for the 2022 season.

 

He’s guaranteed $2.1MM on the contract and could earn up to $7.35MM if the 2022 option is exercised, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman

[The Iceman]

The White Sox have basically been a desirable location for Cuban players since they integrated Minnie Miñoso back in the 50s. Later in the 2000s they signed Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez, both high profile Cuban players, culminating with Jose Abreu's signing in the 2010s. It's certainly paid off massively for them and will continue to do so.

 

Old Contreras was acquired from NYY for Esteban Loaiza and was cooked by the time he got there. NYY had a better Cuban pipeline than CWS

[Orgfiller]

Old Contreras was acquired from NYY for Esteban Loaiza and was cooked by the time he got there. NYY had a better Cuban pipeline than CWS

 

wat

 

First of all, Contreras defected when he was in his 30s, so he was old his entire MLB career. He wasn't cooked at all when the White Sox acquired him, less than two seasons into his MLB career. In fact, he was an instrumental part in them winning in 2005 and posted consecutive 3+ WAR seasons in '05 and '06 before gracefully finishing off his CWS career as an average starter.

 

As for your second point, okay? The Yankees had El Duque who obviously was a high profile Cuban player and might've helped them land Contreras. So the White Sox basically took that and ramped it to 11 by acquiring Contreras for the winning run, followed by Alexei Ramirez - who was excellent for them btw - and continued to fill their farm system with Cuban players, with Jose Abreu being one of the highest profile of the IFAs to come to them, which helped signed Robert, probably helped them sign Grandal, and probably helped them sign Yoelqui Cespedes.

 

The White Sox have a strong history with Cuban players, and certainly Contreras is part of that history, whether he signed with them immediately or not.

[G-Snarls]

Paxton hitting 94 mph in a bullpen session with scouts from 20 teams present Edited December 23, 2020 by G-Snarls

[P2F]

 

Josh Bell traded to the Nats for Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean

[Laika]

Josh Bell traded to the Nats for Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean.

 

wow a significant move.

 

Both top 15 prospects for Washington.