Around Baseball 2021

[BTS]

 

Not really understanding this one

[connorp]

Yes. There has been some longform journalism on this. It seems like Davis is determined to play out the contract and collect his dough.

 

The union was at some point probably leaning on him pretty heavily to keep playing.

 

I imagine the relationship between David and the O's is completely broken at this point. I wonder if he would even quit if they offered him like, 95 cents on the dollar.

 

Perhaps I’m mistaken but I thought in mlb you can’t buy out even 1%

[Orgfiller]

 

Not really understanding this one

 

I'm pretty sure Kirk will start in AAA regardless, I'd imagine the aim if we were actually interested would be to have him and Jansen split time. Of course, a trade of Jansen for a starter cannot be discounted in this scenario.

[Laika]

 

Not really understanding this one

 

4D chess

[G-Snarls]

Welll, by “buy out” they’d have to pay him in full. Can’t do the NBA thing

 

Oh I know

 

Jays did it with Tulo

[G-Snarls]

 

Not really understanding this one

 

Yeah

 

Yadi makes no sense for us

[dineke]

Yadi molina? Might as well bring Russell Martin back while you're at it.

[Laika]

Perhaps I’m mistaken but I thought in mlb you can’t buy out even 1%

 

Teams have no right to buyout a contract, aside from buyouts that are part of option years. If they release a player they still owe them the full amount of money.

 

However, players and teams are technically allowed to amend their contracts and agree on lower buyouts. The union strongly frowns upon it though and perhaps frowns upon it to the point that they basically don't "allow" players to take a reduced buyout of a guaranteed contract. You almost never see it happen, of course.

 

In 2014 the Orioled signed some Korean to a three year MLB deal. He sucked so bad in AAA in 2014 that they didn't invite him to camp in 2015, and then the player agreed to give up his guaranteed money in exchange for a release so he could go home.

[connorp]

 

Not really understanding this one

 

Pretty sure there’s some solid logic behind it based on the movie Major League 2 if I remember right. They signed Tom Berenger’s character to help their young C prospect that couldn’t hit or something (Jansen being his real life counterpart)

[jerb]

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeyman

 

Surprise entry in Marcell Ozuna derby is the Rays. Ozuna nearly win the Triple Crown last year, and yes obviously a fantastic hitter, but the lack of a universal DH could be impacting his market to a degree, as well.

[connorp]

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeyman

 

Surprise entry in Marcell Ozuna derby is the Rays. Ozuna nearly win the Triple Crown last year, and yes obviously a fantastic hitter, but the lack of a universal DH could be impacting his market to a degree, as well.

 

I saw a report he’s looking for 4 years $22-25p. Guess he’s already talking to teams about a backup for his backup plan.

[G-Snarls]

f*** the Rays if they get Ozuna

 

Goddammit

[G-Snarls]

I saw a report he’s looking for 4 years $22-25p. Guess he’s already talking to teams about a backup for his backup plan.

 

You don't get that unless you can also play acceptably in the outfield

[Hipfan]

Yeah

 

Yadi makes no sense for us

 

Kirk is the future; sign Molina as a stop gap/mentor, while Jansen is prime part of a package for Vasquez.

[connorp]

You don't get that unless you can also play acceptably in the outfield

 

I guess JD Martinez would be the relevant comp at $22m AAV. Not saying I think Ozuna is worth it, just the agent angle

[Orgfiller]

Kirk is the future; sign Molina as a stop gap/mentor, while Jansen is prime part of a package for Vasquez.

 

Who? The child predator?

[Brownie19]

Who? The child predator?

 

I'm going to assume he means Marquez.

[Laika]

I guess JD Martinez would be the relevant comp at $22m AAV. Not saying I think Ozuna is worth it, just the agent angle

 

That's the perfect comparison.

 

Ozuna is also more athletic than Martinez, FWIW. Bad defensive reputation (even if UZR doesn't peg Ozuna as awful most years) but look at how much better Ozuna's BsR is.

[connorp]

That's the perfect comparison.

 

Ozuna is also more athletic than Martinez, FWIW. Bad defensive reputation (even if UZR doesn't peg Ozuna as awful most years) but look at how much better Ozuna's BsR is.

 

I’d still prefer Martinez as Ozuna has been much more up-and-down as uber elite bat

[connorp]

At time of signing I mean

[Orgfiller]

That's the perfect comparison.

 

Ozuna is also more athletic than Martinez, FWIW. Bad defensive reputation (even if UZR doesn't peg Ozuna as awful most years) but look at how much better Ozuna's BsR is.

 

JDM was also a far better hitter with a much longer track of success for what it's worth. Ozuna has one excellent season in 2017 and one monster season in a shortened 2020. JDM was basically averaging Ozuna's best two seasons (offensively of course) the 4 seasons prior to signing his deal. I agree that I don't understand where Ozuna's DH only reputation came from, he was an average or better defender as late as 2019 by most metrics. I guess the eye test says he's awful because he looks goofy out there and has plays like this on his lowlight reel?

 

[jerb]

 

Ken Rosenthal

@Ken_Rosenthal

 

Brewers are in discussions with free-agent second baseman Kolten Wong, sources tell @TheAthletic. Not clear at this point whether a deal is close.

[Hipfan]

I'm going to assume he means Marquez.

 

Oops...yep Marquez. In the hospital with my daughter after her scoliosis surgery and my brain isn't all there!

[G-Snarls]

Oops...yep Marquez. In the hospital with my daughter after her scoliosis surgery and my brain isn't all there!

 

s*** man

 

Best wishes for her recovery!!

[Jays24]

 

Ken Rosenthal

@Ken_Rosenthal

 

Brewers are in discussions with free-agent second baseman Kolten Wong, sources tell @TheAthletic. Not clear at this point whether a deal is close.

 

He was the least favourite name I heard connected to us all offseason. Happy he's going somewhere else.

[G-Snarls]

O's are hoping he finds baseball so embarrassing at some point that he retires and gives up the money.

 

Every year I look at his stats I just honestly can't believe he's really actually THAT bad but he really truly is

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/chris-davis/9272/stats?position=1B

 

He might be the worst hitter in baseball now who still gets regular playing time

[G-Snarls]

He was the least favourite name I heard connected to us all offseason. Happy he's going somewhere else.

 

Yes. I think he was the Jays plan D/E at most.

[jerb]

 

Jon Morosi

@jonmorosi

 

Kolten Wong and the #Brewers have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract, source says. @Ken_Rosenthal was first to report the teams were in serious talks. @MLB @MLBNetwork

[Ryu In My House]

I think there was prob some hope of that at some point but that light has all but been extinguished

 

If he’s made it this far he clearly has no shame...or not enough to give up that $$. Can’t really blame him

 

Oh I totally agree. To walk away from ~ $46M? I sure as hell wouldn't. He is probably hoping for COVID-shortened seasons so that the embarrassment of him looking sad on the bench is quicker. I find the whole thing so fascinating. If I'm Davis I manufacture an injury. He's got to have some aches and pains he can focus on. And stay away from the PEDs. His playing days are virtually over. I hope he doesn't restart PEDs hoping to make a come back at 34.

[G-Snarls]

Oh I totally agree. To walk away from ~ $46M? I sure as hell wouldn't. He is probably hoping for COVID-shortened seasons so that the embarrassment of him looking sad on the bench is quicker. I find the whole thing so fascinating. If I'm Davis I manufacture an injury. He's got to have some aches and pains he can focus on. And stay away from the PEDs. His playing days are virtually over. I hope he doesn't restart PEDs hoping to make a come back at 34.

 

Can't blame him either

 

I'd stand there and take called strikes and occasional "FU" bean balls all year long for that money. All of us would.

 

(And empty stands makes it all the less painful at the moment cause you're not even getting booed by the home fans or heckled at Yankee stadium)

Edited February 3, 2021 by G-Snarls