Around Baseball 2025

[Pendleton]

 

[max silver]

2 hours ago, Vladdywagon said:

Maybe you'd have more time to catch up with news if you weren't always writing 15 paragraph replies defending Atkins.

That's it, I challenge you to a duel!

 

[jerb]

 

[Brownie19]

Wow - that stupid rule has been in place for a LONG time.  Long overdue.

[Jimcanuck]

1 hour ago, jerb said:

 

Yankees gearing up for a run at Vlad next offseason

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Brownie19 said:

Wow - that stupid rule has been in place for a LONG time.  Long overdue.

Absolutely garbage. Tradition, respect for the rules, and the authority of the men who own businesses is clearly eroding before our very eyes. 

What's next, women voting?

[Jimcanuck]

4 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Absolutely garbage. Tradition, respect for the rules, and the authority of the men who own businesses is clearly eroding before our very eyes. 

What's next, women voting?

Agreed, the woke crowd is out of control

[Laika]

Does anyone else think the FA market cratered much more than usual as we head into spring training? 

Seems like there are FAs taking minor league deals who would have gotten MLB contracts in prior years. Also guys signing for much less money than expected. Like Andrew Heaney, signing for $5M, was projected for 2/$25M...

[Stangstag]

Yes. Glancing at my fantasy teams and seeing more blue flags than usual. Lots of depth pitchers and bench pieces remain unsigned.

[Jimcanuck]

25 minutes ago, Laika said:

Does anyone else think the FA market cratered much more than usual as we head into spring training? 

Seems like there are FAs taking minor league deals who would have gotten MLB contracts in prior years. Also guys signing for much less money than expected. Like Andrew Heaney, signing for $5M, was projected for 2/$25M...

This is likely the outcome of many teams having financial limitations due to the broadcasting revenue issues and overall loss of entertainment market share by MLB.  It's the back of the roster guys that get the hit.

[Pendleton]

38 minutes ago, Laika said:

Does anyone else think the FA market cratered much more than usual as we head into spring training? 

Seems like there are FAs taking minor league deals who would have gotten MLB contracts in prior years. Also guys signing for much less money than expected. Like Andrew Heaney, signing for $5M, was projected for 2/$25M...

 

There's still almost a rosters worth of mostly old dudes who may still be positive contributors. 

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-25-mlb-free-agents-by-position

 

They are lacking any higher end hitting or starter talent but team remaining FA has a ton of pitching still available. 

Gibson

Quintana 

Corbin 

Lynn

Desclafani/Turnbull

 

Robertson

Kimbrel

Chafin

Neris

Beeks

Gott

Kelly

 

C Grandal

1B Rizzo

2B Rodgers (MiLB)

SS Iglesias

3B JD Davis? (MiLB)

LF Verdugo

CF Pillar 

RF Canha

DH JDM

McCann, Merrifield, Hicks, Madrigal (MiLB)

 

 

 

[glory]

There's some revenue uncertainty with most MLB teams when it comes to their local media rights, and now MLB announced that they are no longer going to partner with ESPN after 2025, so there's some uncertainty there as well depending on if they can get more money (or equal money) from another media partner(s). Not surprised the market cratered. 

I think MLB is going to be in much better shape after 2028, as they can negotiate a new media rights package, and Manfred's plan is to bundle the local rights of most of the teams and sell it to a streaming service. That seems like a much better financial scenario for most of the owners. What happens between 2025 and then is the question. Seems like a financial holding pattern for most of the owners. 

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

Does anyone else think the FA market cratered much more than usual as we head into spring training? 

Seems like there are FAs taking minor league deals who would have gotten MLB contracts in prior years. Also guys signing for much less money than expected. Like Andrew Heaney, signing for $5M, was projected for 2/$25M...

 

18 minutes ago, glory said:

There's some revenue uncertainty with most MLB teams when it comes to their local media rights, and now MLB announced that they are no longer going to partner with ESPN after 2025, so there's some uncertainty there as well depending on if they can get more money (or equal money) from another media partner(s). Not surprised the market cratered. 

I think MLB is going to be in much better shape after 2028, as they can negotiate a new media rights package, and Manfred's plan is to bundle the local rights of most of the teams and sell it to a streaming service. That seems like a much better financial scenario for most of the owners. What happens between 2025 and then is the question. Seems like a financial holding pattern for most of the owners. 

Vlad is going to re-sign for the Alonso contract at this rate

[wilko]

1 hour ago, Terminator said:

 

Vlad is going to re-sign for the Alonso contract at this rate

I hope the market eats him up and he comes back to the Jays for a "Hometown" discount offer. 

[BTS]

Damn, scoreless inning for Stroman in his spring debut. I really want to see the fireworks of him being used in  middle relief. 

[jaysblue]

5 hours ago, Pendleton said:

 

There's still almost a rosters worth of mostly old dudes who may still be positive contributors. 

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-25-mlb-free-agents-by-position

 

They are lacking any higher end hitting or starter talent but team remaining FA has a ton of pitching still available. 

Gibson

Quintana 

Corbin 

Lynn

Desclafani/Turnbull

 

Robertson

Kimbrel

Chafin

Neris

Beeks

Gott

Kelly

 

C Grandal

1B Rizzo

2B Rodgers (MiLB)

SS Iglesias

3B JD Davis? (MiLB)

LF Verdugo

CF Pillar 

RF Canha

DH JDM

McCann, Merrifield, Hicks, Madrigal (MiLB)

 

 

 

Some interesting names still on the FA market. Wonder if the Jays pick up someone.

Grandal as a backup C would be nice. 

Astros just signed Rodgers to a MiLB deal. 

If you can sign JD Davis to a MiLB deal, why not. 

[Stangstag]

5 hours ago, Terminator said:

 

Vlad is going to re-sign for the Alonso contract at this rate

It will be like the Bautista posturing in 2016. Came back on a 1 year deal the next year after wanting 100 million lolll.

[JaysAllMighty]

1 hour ago, Stangstag said:

It will be like the Bautista posturing in 2016. Came back on a 1 year deal the next year after wanting 100 million lolll.

Vlad is gambling that he will have a good year for FA,  we should trade him now before he stinks.

[Pendleton]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/details-on-nick-pivettas-contract-with-padres.html

 

Further details released on Pivetta's contract. It would seem as though only $23M of the $55M is actually guaranteed, and there is a club option for 2027 that can be triggered by Pivetta's injury resurfacing. 

[Jays24]

8 hours ago, Pendleton said:

 

There's still almost a rosters worth of mostly old dudes who may still be positive contributors. 

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-25-mlb-free-agents-by-position

 

They are lacking any higher end hitting or starter talent but team remaining FA has a ton of pitching still available. 

Gibson

Quintana 

Corbin 

Lynn

Desclafani/Turnbull

 

Robertson

Kimbrel

Chafin

Neris

Beeks

Gott

Kelly

 

C Grandal

1B Rizzo

2B Rodgers (MiLB)

SS Iglesias

3B JD Davis? (MiLB)

LF Verdugo

CF Pillar 

RF Canha

DH JDM

McCann, Merrifield, Hicks, Madrigal (MiLB)

 

 

 

So sad to think Myles Straw will make more than most of these guys lol

[jaysblue]

Drew Smyly is still available. Would be a nice MiLB pickup for some depth. A southpaw who could start or pitch out of the pen. Looks like a guy though that outperforms his FIP. 

[jaysblue]

Still a lot of solid #4-5 starters available like Quintana, Lynn, Gibson, Turnbull. Heck, I'm sure you can sign each guy for around $5M + incentives on a one-year deal now. Turnbull might even sign a $1-2M deal somewhere haha. 

Jays rotation is good now though 1 through 5 if its healthy. 

[Brownie19]

2 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Still a lot of solid #4-5 starters available like Quintana, Lynn, Gibson, Turnbull. Heck, I'm sure you can sign each guy for around $5M + incentives on a one-year deal now. Turnbull might even sign a $1-2M deal somewhere haha. 

Jays rotation is good now though 1 through 5 if its healthy. 

Lots of solid talent still available.  Those who signed early did well to get what they did. The market has collapsed.  It's too bad we weren't able to unload Bassitt earlier, he could have been replaced for 1/4 of what he's making.

[L54]

Sign JDM please 

[Brownie19]

59 minutes ago, L54 said:

Sign JDM please 

Yes. I support this.  Although I am surprised Turner got $6M. I suspect JDM may still cost $8M.  I'd still love to see if he's got 1 more good season in him.  We have fallback options if he doesn't.

[Angrioter]

20 hours ago, jerb said:

 

Now the will trade for Vladdy 

[jaysblue]

7 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Yes. I support this.  Although I am surprised Turner got $6M. I suspect JDM may still cost $8M.  I'd still love to see if he's got 1 more good season in him.  We have fallback options if he doesn't.

Yeah kinda of puzzled how Turner got $6M from the Cubs, but read supposedly they view him as 1B and 3B depth, so they plan on playing him a bit in the field. Also, likely for playoff experience and veteran presence lol. 

Would love JDM at DH, but I still see him costing around $8-10M like you said. Would like to see if he has one more good season left in the tank.

[jaysblue]

8 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Lots of solid talent still available.  Those who signed early did well to get what they did. The market has collapsed.  It's too bad we weren't able to unload Bassitt earlier, he could have been replaced for 1/4 of what he's making.

Yeah, we were saying the same thing when Pivetta signed last week. Atkins would have needed a crystal ball. Unloading Bassitt in mid-November when the FA market for mid-rotation veteran starters was insane, would have freed up $21M. Could have been replaced with Quintana or Lynn at $5-8M on a one-year deal + over $12M in savings + an asset acquired in trade which would have been nice haha. Or having Pivetta at $13.75M AAV. 

But yeah not much you can do. The other side to it is if the Jays traded Bassitt, failed to sign a starter like Scherzer and if a lot of these vet SP's were scooped up earlier, would have left a big hole in the rotation. 

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Yeah kinda of puzzled how Turner got $6M from the Cubs, but read supposedly they view him as 1B and 3B depth, so they plan on playing him a bit in the field. Also, likely for playoff experience and veteran presence lol. 

Would love JDM at DH, but I still see him costing around $8-10M like you said. Would like to see if he has one more good season left in the tank.

Turner end up having a good season last year. 117 wRC+

[BTS]

Bobby Valentine on colour commentary for the Angels is the worst thing I've ever experienced