Around Baseball 2024

[Terminator]

 

Clemens projected 3 for 51 for Walker.

[Brownie19]

 

Clemens projected 3 for 51 for Walker.

 

Interesting. The market is still pretty warm IMO, but $20M AAV for an aging 3 WAR player isn't bad business.

[Terminator]

Of the deals I can remember since Soto signed and relative to projections:

 

-Fried broke the bank

-Kepler slightly underpaid

-Walker beat the projections slightly

[Stangstag]

 

Clemens projected 3 for 51 for Walker.

 

Seems like a good deal

[Jays24]

That's a really good deal for Walker. Astros should get his remaining good year in the MLB.

[Pendleton]

Not sure why the Stros trotted out Jon Singleton at 1B all year, but that should be a sizable upgrade

[Brownie19]

That's a really good deal for Walker. Astros should get his remaining good year in the MLB.

 

At 34, it will be a little russian roulette to see if he gives them more than 1 good year. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a Goldy type decline. Great at 34, steep decline at 35 and replacement level at 36.

[Brownie19]

Not sure why the Stros trotted out Jon Singleton at 1B all year, but that should be a sizable upgrade

 

They trotted Singleton out there last year because the last old 1st baseman they signed immediately fell off a cliff (albeit he was 36).

[Jays24]

At 34, it will be a little russian roulette to see if he gives them more than 1 good year. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a Goldy type decline. Great at 34, steep decline at 35 and replacement level at 36.

 

Meh .. he's a First Baseman whos turning 34 in March... I don't think his fall off will be that drastic but impossible to judge since every player has their own motivations in life.

[Brownie19]

Meh .. he's a First Baseman whos turning 34 in March... I don't think his fall off will be that drastic but impossible to judge since every player has their own motivations in life.

 

That's why I said it's Russian Roulette. Miggy died at age 34, Votto died at age 35, Carlos Santana died at age 34. But Freeman won WS MVP at age 34 - so who knows.

[Terminator]

That's why I said it's Russian Roulette. Miggy died at age 34, Votto died at age 35, Carlos Santana died at age 34. But Freeman won WS MVP at age 34 - so who knows.

 

I wish

[Laika]

It's $1.5M off the contract they gave Jose Abreu, lol

 

So many cautionary tales for mid 30s 1B types.

[xposbrad]

I think I'm up for all of this if it were to happen. That's assuming we get a good return for Bo. Bregman and Bo are almost completely opposite hitters. Bo swings a ton and uses his physical skills to hit the ball hard, but stats like Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% all suck. Bregman is the opposite. He generally excels in Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% (albeit BB% dropped hard last year), but doesn't wow you with exit velo and such. It will be interesting to see which skillset ages better.

 

Neither of them run well anymore, but Bregman offers more defensively. If they think Gimenez can be above average defensively at SS, then you can certainly see this approach helping out defense. If you could sign Teo (3 years $66M) and trade for Robert (maybe using pieces from the Bo trade), then this starts to look really solid. You could also trade for Naylor (and Bo Naylor?) and play him at 1st/DH, with Teo sliding into LF.

 

C - Kirk

1st - Vlad

2nd - Wagner/Leo

SS - Gimenez

3rd - Bregman

LF - Robert

CF - Varsho

RF - Springer

DH - Teo

 

That's a lineup with WS potential IMO. No idea where that would leave us from a budget perspective and we'd still have to patch the bullpen (Minter, LeClerc, Hoffman, etc.) and the SP depth (Lynn?), but it wouldn't be hard to get excited about this team for 2025. Make it happen Ross.

 

Need 2 solid relievers and a frontline SP and then I'd get behind that.

[Jays24]

I think I'm up for all of this if it were to happen. That's assuming we get a good return for Bo. Bregman and Bo are almost completely opposite hitters. Bo swings a ton and uses his physical skills to hit the ball hard, but stats like Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% all suck. Bregman is the opposite. He generally excels in Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% (albeit BB% dropped hard last year), but doesn't wow you with exit velo and such. It will be interesting to see which skillset ages better.

 

Neither of them run well anymore, but Bregman offers more defensively. If they think Gimenez can be above average defensively at SS, then you can certainly see this approach helping out defense. If you could sign Teo (3 years $66M) and trade for Robert (maybe using pieces from the Bo trade), then this starts to look really solid. You could also trade for Naylor (and Bo Naylor?) and play him at 1st/DH, with Teo sliding into LF.

 

C - Kirk

1st - Vlad

2nd - Wagner/Leo

SS - Gimenez

3rd - Bregman

LF - Robert

CF - Varsho

RF - Springer

DH - Teo

 

That's a lineup with WS potential IMO. No idea where that would leave us from a budget perspective and we'd still have to patch the bullpen (Minter, LeClerc, Hoffman, etc.) and the SP depth (Lynn?), but it wouldn't be hard to get excited about this team for 2025. Make it happen Ross.

 

I like the cut of your jib. That's exactly the type of lineup this team needs to be a World Series contender and it's realistic to obtain imo. Make the Blue Jays Great Again Ross!!

[Brownie19]

Need 2 solid relievers and a frontline SP and then I'd get behind that.

 

You're not adding a frontline SPer to this. No budget for it.

[Terminator]

It's $1.5M off the contract they gave Jose Abreu, lol

 

So many cautionary tales for mid 30s 1B types.

 

Does Walker's interesting profile change the equation for you at all?

 

He's basically a unicorn when it comes to impactful 1B defense.

 

Or does that not matter because age effects hitting, fielding, baserunning all the same?

[jaysblue]

That's why I said it's Russian Roulette. Miggy died at age 34, Votto died at age 35, Carlos Santana died at age 34. But Freeman won WS MVP at age 34 - so who knows.

 

Carlos Santana actually was pretty solid last season. I was shocked.

[Brownie19]

Carlos Santana actually was pretty solid last season. I was shocked.

 

Yeah - after 4 years in a coffin. Dead cat bounce. Votto had 1 too.

[jaysblue]

I think I'm up for all of this if it were to happen. That's assuming we get a good return for Bo. Bregman and Bo are almost completely opposite hitters. Bo swings a ton and uses his physical skills to hit the ball hard, but stats like Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% all suck. Bregman is the opposite. He generally excels in Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% (albeit BB% dropped hard last year), but doesn't wow you with exit velo and such. It will be interesting to see which skillset ages better.

 

Neither of them run well anymore, but Bregman offers more defensively. If they think Gimenez can be above average defensively at SS, then you can certainly see this approach helping out defense. If you could sign Teo (3 years $66M) and trade for Robert (maybe using pieces from the Bo trade), then this starts to look really solid. You could also trade for Naylor (and Bo Naylor?) and play him at 1st/DH, with Teo sliding into LF.

 

C - Kirk

1st - Vlad

2nd - Wagner/Leo

SS - Gimenez

3rd - Bregman

LF - Robert

CF - Varsho

RF - Springer

DH - Teo

 

That's a lineup with WS potential IMO. No idea where that would leave us from a budget perspective and we'd still have to patch the bullpen (Minter, LeClerc, Hoffman, etc.) and the SP depth (Lynn?), but it wouldn't be hard to get excited about this team for 2025. Make it happen Ross.

 

Definitely would be a nice lineup which I think would be good enough to contend and to go on a deep Postseason run. Hopefully Atkins could swing some magic.

[Laika]

Does Walker's interesting profile change the equation for you at all?

 

He's basically a unicorn when it comes to impactful 1B defense.

 

Or does that not matter because age effects hitting, fielding, baserunning all the same?

 

Dunno. Without looking, his batted ball stats are probably not as impressive as some other good 1B.

 

So while his good D might give him slightly more wiggle room on the decline side, his core hitting stats might give the opposite.

 

Like if you ignore 2024 and look at 2021 to 2023, his maxEV and barrel rate comps are guys like Lamonte Wade, Garret Cooper, Nate Lowe, Jared Walsh, Torkelson, Mancini.

[Carlos Danger]

I think I'm up for all of this if it were to happen. That's assuming we get a good return for Bo. Bregman and Bo are almost completely opposite hitters. Bo swings a ton and uses his physical skills to hit the ball hard, but stats like Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% all suck. Bregman is the opposite. He generally excels in Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% (albeit BB% dropped hard last year), but doesn't wow you with exit velo and such. It will be interesting to see which skillset ages better.

 

Neither of them run well anymore, but Bregman offers more defensively. If they think Gimenez can be above average defensively at SS, then you can certainly see this approach helping out defense. If you could sign Teo (3 years $66M) and trade for Robert (maybe using pieces from the Bo trade), then this starts to look really solid. You could also trade for Naylor (and Bo Naylor?) and play him at 1st/DH, with Teo sliding into LF.

 

C - Kirk

1st - Vlad

2nd - Wagner/Leo

SS - Gimenez

3rd - Bregman

LF - Robert

CF - Varsho

RF - Springer

DH - Teo

 

That's a lineup with WS potential IMO. No idea where that would leave us from a budget perspective and we'd still have to patch the bullpen (Minter, LeClerc, Hoffman, etc.) and the SP depth (Lynn?), but it wouldn't be hard to get excited about this team for 2025. Make it happen Ross.

 

For this to happen, the Jays would need to agree to go extra years of sunk cost on both Bregman and Teo, plus have the assets to get Robert... I just don't see it....

[Brownie19]

For this to happen, the Jays would need to agree to go extra years of sunk cost on both Bregman and Teo, plus have the assets to get Robert... I just don't see it....

 

I'd agree on sunk costs for Bregman. Teo at 3 years shouldn't be too bad. The prospects we receive for Bo would hopefully give us enough to get Robert (although his value may have dropped already following a terrible 2024). But yes - overall, this is likely a bit of a pipe dream scenario...

[Jays24]

Report: Yankees interested in Goldschmidt, Arenado tandem

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3166336

 

Yankees are not messing this summer. They could easily be a much better team after losing Soto even if Goldschmidt/Arenado aren't what they used to be.

[Spanky__99]

 

Clemens projected 3 for 51 for Walker.

 

MLBTR nailed it.

[Brownie19]

Report: Yankees interested in Goldschmidt, Arenado tandem

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3166336

 

Yankees are not messing this summer. They could easily be a much better team after losing Soto even if Goldschmidt/Arenado aren't what they used to be.

 

Tons of risk in this approach. The last few Rizzo years have been challenging already.

[Stangstag]

Tons of risk in this approach. The last few Rizzo years have been challenging already.

 

Yankees seem to love the old and broken types. Rizzo, Donaldson, Edwin, Soriano, and golden boy Stanton. Im sure there’s others im missing

[L54]

[BTS]

Yankees go from one cooked old 1B to another

[jaysblue]

Yankees seem to love the old and broken types. Rizzo, Donaldson, Edwin, Soriano, and golden boy Stanton. Im sure there’s others im missing

 

Stanton at least when healthy has still been productive for them.

 

He would have been second in HR's on the Jays team this year with 27. Vladdy was the only Jays player who hit above 20 HR's last season lol.

[Abomination]

Yankees go from one cooked old 1B to another

 

Eventually they're gonna get lucky. I could see Goldy being the one too.