Around Baseball 2024

[Stangstag]

Wow, Alex Kirilloff retired

 

“In my nine professional seasons, I’ve encountered numerous injuries, which led me to search for new ways to overcome the pain. These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically; over time, I’ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted,” Kirilloff said in his announcement. “Baseball demands an ‘all-in’ approach, something I’ve brought to every season. However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I’ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.”

 

Wow, interesting. Feel bad for the dude. Makes me wonder just how bad the pain is for some of these guys (Lindor, Correa, Stanton, etc.)

[Orgfiller]

Wow, Alex Kirilloff retired

 

Damn, the continued injuries must have taken a big toll on him. Definitely teams out there that would take a chance on him, but the constant rehabbing must have been exhausting and destroyed his mental capacity to keep taking it on. Also was a high draft pick and top prospect, so it probably affected his self confidence as a player to see poor performance as a result of injuries.

[Terminator]

 

For Griffin Canning.

 

Looks like the Angels are paying Soler's full salary.

 

This is a horrible trade for them. Canning isn't very good but he's a cheap #5 or swingman and Soler has negative value on his contract.

[Abomination]

Looks like the Angels are paying Soler's full salary.

 

This is a horrible trade for them. Canning isn't very good but he's a cheap #5 or swingman and Soler has negative value on his contract.

 

It's not like it's a terrible contract though. The negative value is because of the DH positional WAR adjustment, which IMO doesn't mean much when evaluating a DH. He's still a well above average bat.

[Brownie19]

“In my nine professional seasons, I’ve encountered numerous injuries, which led me to search for new ways to overcome the pain. These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically; over time, I’ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted,” Kirilloff said in his announcement. “Baseball demands an ‘all-in’ approach, something I’ve brought to every season. However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I’ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.”

 

Wow, interesting. Feel bad for the dude. Makes me wonder just how bad the pain is for some of these guys (Lindor, Correa, Stanton, etc.)

 

I remember reading about how when he was a kid, he had a batting cage in his basement and would hit 1,400 balls a day. His dad is a hitting instructor who is pushing the idea of "hitting perception". Alex was a top prospect at one point - just never worked out for him unfortunately.

[Terminator]

It's not like it's a terrible contract though. The negative value is because of the DH positional WAR adjustment, which IMO doesn't mean much when evaluating a DH. He's still a well above average bat.

 

You could be right. Maybe Canning is cooked and they want to move on. And Soler on 2 years, 26 million isn't that bad?

 

Hard to give the Angels the benefit of the doubt though. I think I'd rather have Canning and use that money in FA over what an aging Soler brings.

[jaysblue]

Daniel Hudson announced his retirement last night. Anyone who's read The Arm knows he went through hell, blowing his UCL in his first game back from TJS. Ended up up having a very solid career.

 

One of my favourite arms to watch 14 to 15 years ago. Drafted him in one of my first dynasty fantasy leagues I believe in the 5th round of a prospect draft and watched him rise through Chicago's system and then he was traded to Arizona and was fantastic in his 11 starts with them during the 2010 season. He had a full breakout season in 2011 and looked like he was going to be one of the top starters in the NL for sometime. Him and Ian Kennedy were great at the top of the D'backs rotation in 2011. Sucks his career as a starter was derailed because of injuries, but he came back and carved out a really nice career as a reliever. Nice way to go out on top with the Dodgers like he did.

[jaysblue]

Looks like the Angels are paying Soler's full salary.

 

This is a horrible trade for them. Canning isn't very good but he's a cheap #5 or swingman and Soler has negative value on his contract.

 

Atlanta already has Ozuna at DH, and with a healthy outfield returning in 2025, there really isn't any room for Soler to begin with. Nice move dumping his contract and freeing up some salary. Nothing against Soler and his contract isn't that bad. He's capable of putting up monster power numbers. Just an overcrowded OF in ATL when everyone is healthy and Ozuna already at DH.

 

Canning is alright as a back-of-the-rotation starter who can eat innings. Posted a 1.8 fWAR in 2023 in 24 games (22 starts) with the Angels. Not sure if he cracks their rotation though but good depth to have.

[Brownie19]

Atlanta already has Ozuna at DH, and with a healthy outfield returning in 2025, there really isn't any room for Soler to begin with. Nice move dumping his contract and freeing up some salary.

 

Yeah I'm not surprised by this move at all. They didn't have room for him when they traded for him. Putting Soler out in RF was a desperate move to try and inject offense into a lineup that grossly underperformed and dealt with major injuries. And it worked pretty good as Soler hit well in Atlanta. You just knew that wasn't a long term fix.

 

It's an...interesting return for him, but we knew the Braves needed arms. It will be interesting to see what the DH bats get this offseason. 2 years $26M for Soler might end up looking like decent value. Or not.

[L54]

Nobody wants to take LAA’s money so they have to trade for players at this point, probably

[Terminator]

Also, getting these backend starters to sign with you can be tricky so sometimes it's best to trade for them instead.

 

If you don't have a wide open spot for them, they often sign elsewhere where they are guaranteed to be in the rotation. Even the cheap teams are usually willing to throw enough cash and a guaranteed rotation spot at these guys to entice them to sign with them over taking a bullpen job with a contender.

 

But by trading for Canning, he's got no say in the matter, and the Braves can open the season with him as a long reliever.

[Jimcanuck]

Wow, Alex Kirilloff retired

 

Crazy. Issue with his wrist must be incurable.

[Jonn]

Angels make some bizarre moves.

 

Trout moving on would be lovely.

[John_Havok]

Not surprising but Teo says his priority is resigning with LA

[jaysblue]

Not surprising but Teo says his priority is resigning with LA

 

The big question is does LA go after Juan Soto this offseason? Will be interesting.

[L54]

The big question is does LA go after Juan Soto this offseason? Will be interesting.

 

Hopefully they sign him to a 13/600M contract with 550M deferred so they only have an AAV hit of like 4M dollars for the rest of his career. That’s what the people want

[Jimcanuck]

Hopefully they sign him to a 13/600M contract with 550M deferred so they only have an AAV hit of like 4M dollars for the rest of his career. That’s what the people want

 

The AAV hit for a contract like that would be around $39M/yr

[Stangstag]

Hopefully they sign him to a 13/600M contract with 550M deferred so they only have an AAV hit of like 4M dollars for the rest of his career. That’s what the people want

 

The Ohtani deferrals are absolutely egregious and I doubt we will see another guy be willing to defer that much ever again.

 

Also another good point from David Samson (if you watch that podcast) is that for deferrals, the agent doesn’t get their % until the money is actually paid out. Soto’s agent is Boras… Boras ain’t waiting on deferred commission.

[Spanky__99]

Nobody wants to take LAA’s money so they have to trade for players at this point, probably

 

Makes sense, easy Brave win here.

[Spanky__99]

The Ohtani deferrals are absolutely egregious and I doubt we will see another guy be willing to defer that much ever again.

 

Also another good point from David Samson (if you watch that podcast) is that for deferrals, the agent doesn’t get their % until the money is actually paid out. Soto’s agent is Boras… Boras ain’t waiting on deferred commission.

 

That's not up to Boras though.

[L54]

The AAV hit for a contract like that would be around $39M/yr

 

Point remains

[L54]

The Ohtani deferrals are absolutely egregious and I doubt we will see another guy be willing to defer that much ever again.

 

Also another good point from David Samson (if you watch that podcast) is that for deferrals, the agent doesn’t get their % until the money is actually paid out. Soto’s agent is Boras… Boras ain’t waiting on deferred commission.

 

I would assume you’re right and that we don’t see a contract like that again that circumvents the rules like that

[Stangstag]

That's not up to Boras though.

 

He'd probably threaten to drop the his client. Dude is an egomaniac lol

[Terminator]

Ohtani's deferrals are all fugazi. They basically don't matter one bit and the Dodgers aren't circumventing the rules because the rules account for deferrals.

 

Ohtani can dress his contract up however he wants but he signed a 10 year 460 million dollar deal and everything else is just noise.

[Laika]

Ohtani's deferrals are all fugazi. They basically don't matter one bit and the Dodgers aren't circumventing the rules because the rules account for deferrals.

 

Ohtani can dress his contract up however he wants but he signed a 10 year 460 million dollar deal and everything else is just noise.

 

It is amazing how many people don't get this

 

The whole thing is more or less a financial literacy test

[L54]

It’s dumb. I don’t care what anyone says

 

The largest contract in history to the best player in the world just happens to allow the league’s biggest spender to spend more

 

Two thumbs up

[Terminator]

It’s dumb. I don’t care what anyone says

 

The largest contract in history to the best player in the world just happens to allow the league’s biggest spender to spend more

 

Two thumbs up

 

Not true

[Laika]

Sorting hat says L54 can pursue an English degree!

[june.june]

Watching the Dodgers parade on tv and the smile of Teo on top of that bus is priceless. Missed him.

 

f*** you Atkins.

[Stangstag]

Ohtani's deferrals are all fugazi. They basically don't matter one bit and the Dodgers aren't circumventing the rules because the rules account for deferrals.

 

Ohtani can dress his contract up however he wants but he signed a 10 year 460 million dollar deal and everything else is just noise.

 

I guess if you look at it that way