2021/2022 Free Agency Thread

[saskjayfan]

 

In Carlos we trust. I still remain skeptical that this could ever happen, but if by some small miracle we signed Freeman I don't want to hear anyone complaining! It would be epic!

[L54]

Freeman is only a fit if they think Vlad can play 3B. There's no way you can reasonably expect George Springer to not need to DH 20-30 games a year

[wilko]

In Carlos we trust. I still remain skeptical that this could ever happen, but if by some small miracle we signed Freeman I don't want to hear anyone complaining! It would be epic!

 

Yeah for maybe 2 out of 6 seasons...

[Terminator]

Such a ridiculous take, especially from a player presumably not spending his off season in America. When it comes to baseball's regular season, I'm taking May, June, July, August and September in Toronto, Chicago, Boston or New York over anything south of Pittsburgh. April and October are toss-ups and if you're playing in November you should feel happy to be playing anywhere in November. Hopefully his agent helped in educating him about this continent's climate.

 

Going to have to disagree with you on this one. I'll take San Diego's weather (and you can pick the season if you want) over anywhere, especially their summers. The place has perfect weather. It doesn't even rain there very much. He made a wise choice.

[Deadpool]

Such a ridiculous take, especially from a player presumably not spending his off season in America. When it comes to baseball's regular season, I'm taking May, June, July, August and September in Toronto, Chicago, Boston or New York over anything south of Pittsburgh. April and October are toss-ups and if you're playing in November you should feel happy to be playing anywhere in November. Hopefully his agent helped in educating him about this continent's climate.

 

While I agree, if you've never been to Canada, literally all the international information about the country is "it's cold and they like hockey"

[John_Havok]

 

Red Sox Stats

@redsoxstats

 

Nikkan is reporting Suzuki to the Padres for 5/$70M, with opt-outs. Mentions he wanted to play in a warm climate.

https://t.co/jEFDqn1Epz

 

 

2:28pm: Suzuki has not chosen a team yet, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, who says six to seven teams remain under consideration. Jon Heyman of MLB Network names the Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners, and Cubs as some of the teams still involved.

[Grant77]

Grant's irrational hatred of the Red Sox is so immense that he even hates players who wore a Sox Jersey for a couple of months after being traded there. That's why Grant hates Schwarber.

 

I don't hate Schwarber. If you can trade Grichuk and have a bunch of extra cash then by all means, but he's just not a fit.

 

Why would we spend a bunch of money on a DH when we have gaping holes at 3B and the bullpen, with presumably limited resources? I wouldn't support a Nelson Cruz acquisition either.

[jerb]

 

Jon Heyman

@JonHeyman

 

Rockies are aggressively pursuing Kris Bryant. Talks are at ownership level. @Ken_Rosenthal and @nickgroke on it

[Brownie19]

Wasn't Carlos Baerga the first to break a couple of big moves? or am I mis-remembering because I find it odd that Carlos Baerga is reporting anything

[Jays24]

Wasn't Carlos Baerga the first to break a couple of big moves? or am I mis-remembering because I find it odd that Carlos Baerga is reporting anything

 

He broke the Semien and Yimi Garcia signings before anyone.

[Grant77]

Wasn't Carlos Baerga the first to break a couple of big moves? or am I mis-remembering because I find it odd that Carlos Baerga is reporting anything

 

Marcus Semien he got first.

[RustyTrombone]

Going to have to disagree with you on this one. I'll take San Diego's weather (and you can pick the season if you want) over anywhere, especially their summers. The place has perfect weather. It doesn't even rain there very much. He made a wise choice.

 

Its funny, I was in San Diego over christmas for like 10 days and it did not stop raining, kinda ruined the trip

[Terminator]

Its funny, I was in San Diego over christmas for like 10 days and it did not stop raining, kinda ruined the trip

 

Ha, they get like 20 days of rain a year. National average is much higher. Tough luck.

[Ehjays]

[Jays24]

 

I just can't see him and Freeman together but i do hope we get at least one of them. Would love a Ramirez and Schwarber combo #CaptainObvious

[Jonn]

I’m really just in position where if we get either of them I will be pretty happy lol. Schwarber makes a bit more sense because he doesn’t move Vlad. We can get Schwarber and an Infielder. If its Freeman I would imagine we are done and have to make Vlad work at 3B.

[glory]

Schwarber + a 3B makes more sense than signing Freeman, although the latter would create way more buzz.

[Terminator]

 

Let's just make this easy for everyone and have them both sign tonight.

[Stangstag]

Schwarber + a 3B makes more sense than signing Freeman, although the latter would create way more buzz.

 

I could see ownership on board with the whole marketing angle of signing Freeman. He’s part Canadian, family guy, would be perfect for commercials and stuff

[Jays24]

Schwarber + a 3B makes more sense than signing Freeman, although the latter would create way more buzz.

 

Ya I think Schwarber and Bryant might only cost a little more yearly while being less overall than a 6 year deal to Freeman.

[connorp]

Ya I think Schwarber and Bryant might only cost a little more yearly while being less overall than a 6 year deal to Freeman.

 

Bryant is a coin flip man. Someone else can flip that coin

[Jays24]

Bryant is a coin flip man. Someone else can flip that coin

 

Doesn't have to be Bryant, Chapman/Ramirez/Story will do too lol.

[Terminator]

Kris Bryant has an ugly wife. He lacks confidence. Pass.

[Laika]

Sign Kris Bryant's wife. I bet she can slug

[jerb]

 

Daniel Álvarez-Montes

@DanielAlvarezEE

OF Andrew McCutchen is in agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell @ElExtrabase.

[Jays24]

 

Daniel Álvarez-Montes

@DanielAlvarezEE

OF Andrew McCutchen is in agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell @ElExtrabase.

 

I remember I wanted the Jays to go after him so badly when he was with the Pirates.

[Orgfiller]

 

Daniel Álvarez-Montes

@DanielAlvarezEE

OF Andrew McCutchen is in agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell @ElExtrabase.

 

Funny way to spell DH. I'm sure he'll be in against every lefty and give days off to Yelich in the field every once in a while.

[Ehjays]

 

Let's just make this easy for everyone and have them both sign tonight.

 

Blue Jays “Making Push” For Kyle Schwarber

By Anthony Franco | March 14, 2022 at 6:34pm CDT

 

The Blue Jays are “making a big push” for Kyle Schwarber, tweets Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. Marly Rivera of ESPN reported (on Twitter) this evening the Jays had interest in the lefty-hitting outfielder. Heyman adds that multiple teams remain in the mix but puts Toronto among the frontrunners for his services.

 

Toronto has been tied to a few marquee bats, as reports suggest they’re at least on the periphery of the Freddie Freeman market. Presumably, a Schwarber deal would take the Jays out of the running for the 2020 NL MVP, but he’d be a notable boon to their offense himself.

 

Schwarber, who turned 29 last week, is coming off a career-best season. Non-tendered by the Cubs last winter, he signed a $10MM deal with the Nationals. The Indiana University product hit .253/.340/.570 with 25 home runs across 303 plate appearances with Washington. That included an unreal 16-homer month of June that had made Schwarber the league’s hottest hitter before he suffered a severe hamstring strain in early July.

 

He spent the next six weeks on the injured list, during which time the Nationals fell out of contention. The Red Sox acquired Schwarber in a deadline deal despite his injury, with plans to have him rotate between first base and left field for the stretch run. He returned in mid-July and picked up right where he’d left off pre-injury, popping seven homers with a .291/.435/.522 line in 41 games with Boston. (The midseason trade also made him ineligible to receive a qualifying offer).

 

Between the two clubs, Schwarber posted a .266/.374/.554 line with 32 homers over 471 plate appearances. That production was 45 percentage points above the league average, by measure of wRC+. As he has throughout his career, Schwarber was a bit prone to strikeouts (27%), but he also drew walks at an elite 13.6% clip and posted top-of-the-scale power production. He ranked in the 90th percentile or better in terms of average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard contact percentage. It was the kind of middle-of-the-order output many expected from Schwarber when he was drafted fourth overall and ranked as one of the sport’s top offensive prospects.

 

The corner outfield market is robust, with Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Conforto all joining Schwarber in the ranks of the unsigned. Freeman and Anthony Rizzo are the top options at first base, leaving plenty of possibilities for clubs in search of an upgrade to the middle of the lineup.

[G-Snarls]

A big lefty bat somewhere between Springer/Bichette/Vladdy sure sounds good no matter who it is

[Blazeit420]

Kris Bryant has an ugly wife. He lacks confidence. Pass.

 

Wrong. It means he has integrity.