Around Baseball 2025

[Jays24]

Are the Rays completely rebuilding (again) but will still somehow win 85 games? Lol

[mphenhef]

3 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Are the Rays completely rebuilding (again) but will still somehow win 85 games? Lol

I wondered the same thing.  I thought initially they might be looking to clear salary to make a splash but it's not like Baz clears much salary.

[Terminator]

21 minutes ago, glory said:

Wow, a 5 for 1!?

Giving the Rays (a division rival no less) 5 chances to hit big is not something I would want to sign up for, especially when all I'm getting in return is 3 years of Shane Baz.

I think there's a strong chance the O's end up regretting this one, and with a smart developmental org like the Rays getting 5 bites at the apple, it could turn into an all-time fleecing.

[Laika]

10 minutes ago, mphenhef said:

I wondered the same thing.  I thought initially they might be looking to clear salary to make a splash but it's not like Baz clears much salary.

Sometimes the Rays just sell because someone is overpaying 

[Orgfiller]

21 minutes ago, glory said:

Shane Baz is like the epitome of a 5 and dive guy, so I like this a lot for the Rays even if no one prospect they're acquiring is particularly exciting. Baz's numbers fall off the table literally on just the second time through the order, probably the fakest "starter" in the league. He's essentially a really good 2-3 IP opener that can cover a mediocre 4th and 5th innings.

I remember last season when he carved us up first time through the order, literally unhittable, and then immediately turned into a pumpkin the second time through and got shelled.

[Orgfiller]

5 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Wow, a 5 for 1!?

Giving the Rays (a division rival no less) 5 chances to hit big is not something I would want to sign up for, especially when all I'm getting in return is 3 years of Shane Baz.

I think there's a strong chance the O's end up regretting this one, and with a smart developmental org like the Rays getting 5 bites at the apple, it could turn into an all-time fleecing.

This trade is essentially 5 40 FV types for one mediocre starter who doesn't eat innings, is already in arbitration, and who would best be utilized as a 2 IP fireman. It improves the O's rotation but in no meaningful way and with little upside.

[Terminator]

Just now, Orgfiller said:

This trade is essentially 5 40 FV types for one mediocre starter who doesn't eat innings, is already in arbitration, and who would best be utilized as a 2 IP fireman. It improves the O's rotation but in no meaningful way and with little upside.

Could have just signed Bassitt to a two year deal and kept all of the prospects.

[Laika]

O's get their SP but he's basically Dean Kremer 

[Pendleton]

22 minutes ago, Laika said:

O's get their SP but he's basically Dean Kremer 

 

He's only really shown to be one of those twice through the order type of pitchers (pretty ugly numbers third time through) and I just don't know if that's what the O's needed, at least not this bad. 

[Stangstag]

38 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Wow, a 5 for 1!?

Giving the Rays (a division rival no less) 5 chances to hit big is not something I would want to sign up for, especially when all I'm getting in return is 3 years of Shane Baz.

I think there's a strong chance the O's end up regretting this one, and with a smart developmental org like the Rays getting 5 bites at the apple, it could turn into an all-time fleecing.

3 years of Shane Baz could end up only actually being like 50 starts too lol.

[Abomination]

The Baz trade seems fine for the Rays, but I don't get the Lowe one at all. I feel like the prospects they received may not be as good as the ones they gave up, and that's before discussing Lowe.

[mphenhef]

7 minutes ago, Abomination said:

The Baz trade seems fine for the Rays, but I don't get the Lowe one at all. I feel like the prospects they received may not be as good as the ones they gave up, and that's before discussing Lowe.

Melton is easily the best prospect in those deals imo

[Abomination]

11 minutes ago, mphenhef said:

Melton is easily the best prospect in those deals imo

He has the highest upside if he figures it out, but he really feels like a AAAA guy or 4th outfielder to me.

[Terminator]

 

[Orgfiller]

23 minutes ago, Abomination said:

The Baz trade seems fine for the Rays, but I don't get the Lowe one at all. I feel like the prospects they received may not be as good as the ones they gave up, and that's before discussing Lowe.

Lowe is in the last year of his contract and making $11.5M as a 2 win player which is too much for the Rays. I'm more surprised they gave up on Montgomery given the stuff, but they must think his command is tough to fix. Melton has some big tools, he's a pretty legit prospect to get back for a low value piece in Lowe and a likely reliever with high risk/upside.

[Orgfiller]

5 minutes ago, Terminator said:

 

This is less impressive considering they sold Paredes to acquire Morel who was f***ing awful for them lol, but yeah pretty cool trade tree.

[sliderguy35]

6 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

Lowe is in the last year of his contract and making $11.5M as a 2 win player which is too much for the Rays. I'm more surprised they gave up on Montgomery given the stuff, but they must think his command is tough to fix. Melton has some big tools, he's a pretty legit prospect to get back for a low value piece in Lowe and a likely reliever with high risk/upside.

the crazy thing about montgomery is that his command isn't even that bad, he had a 65% strike rate and a 67%(!) first pitch strike rate last year, both above average. when he was walking guys in the minors, he was well below average in both of these metrics.

there's a real possibility he changes nothing, regresses to walking 6-7% of hitters instead, and becomes one of the best relievers in baseball. 

 

my idiot monkey brain won't let me escape the thought that shane baz looks like a temu version of gerrit cole. my rational brain knows that's idiotic and he doesn't have the command or the durability but he's got the elite fastball... and the banger curveball... if he just threw the slider more.................

[Omar]

 

 

[G-Snarls]

2 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

This is less impressive considering they sold Paredes to acquire Morel who was f***ing awful for them lol, but yeah pretty cool trade tree.

Meanwhile, the Pirates got 33 starts out of Archer with a cumulative ERA ~ 5

Franchise derailing trade for them 

[Carlos Danger]

2 hours ago, mphenhef said:

Melton is easily the best prospect in those deals imo

Forret is a good get.

[Jonn]

 

The picture they picked for this was certainly a choice. The comment section is great. After reading Orioles Hangout I didn't know Orioles fans had a sense of humor.

[Pendleton]

35 minutes ago, Jonn said:

 

The picture they picked for this was certainly a choice. The comment section is great. After reading Orioles Hangout I didn't know Orioles fans had a sense of humor.

Looks like he was halfway through a glass of milk and then was informed where it comes from 

[BatFlip]

45 minutes ago, Pendleton said:

Looks like he was halfway through a glass of milk and then was informed where it comes from 

[glory]

 

[L54]

So the White Sox got him for 2/34 

Safe to say his market was pretty much non existent 

[BTS]

Wow, no smart org believes in Murakami at all. Looks like a huge long-shot to succeed at this point. 

[Orgfiller]

Yeah when the entire baseball world can’t beat 2/34 it means the concerns about his ability to make contact are valid and significant. A huge embarrassment for Murakami and his camp.

[Laika]

Peanuts 

Hard dynasty draft decisions on him 

Not sure he's worth a top 7 NPD pick 

[Laika]

1 minute ago, Orgfiller said:

Yeah when the entire baseball world can’t beat 2/34 it means the concerns about his ability to make contact are valid and significant. A huge embarrassment for Murakami and his camp.

Not sure about embarrassing. He was making $4m in Japan so this is a massive raise 

[BTS]

1 minute ago, Laika said:

Peanuts 

Hard dynasty draft decisions on him 

Not sure he's worth a top 7 NPD pick 

He should plummet in FYPD's. The entire baseball world just told people what they think of his chances of success, and they're not high.