It's honestly pathetic that Detroit has seemingly conceded that they won't sign him. They've been good enough that he'd likely stay if the money is there. So pay him the money. If he stays healthy he's on track to be a first ballot HoFer. Lock him in and people in Detroit will still be talking about watching Tarik Skubal's career 50-60 years from now. Detroit isn't even a small market.
Mets reportedly interested in Schwarber.
I don't understand their lack of respect for Alonso. By all accounts he wants to be there and is well liked by everyone in the org. He's not going to get outrageous money - just pay him and have him chase 500 HR as a career Met.
Rodriguez was good enough last year that there they they could have easily saved face by keeping on the 40-man (and 26-man for that matter). But it's obviously more valuable to the team to have him off the roster and providing depth in AAA. He's probably the 8th or 9th best SP on the team and 7th or 8th best RP (with more RP additions coming), but that can and will change when guys get hurt this season, and he'll be there able to fill in with innings that might be above replacement level.
There are probably fewer than 5 orgs that DFA him in this situation. This team is serious about winning.
If the team can find someone willing to take on Rodriguez's full contract, they should let him go. 3 more years at a 6.4M cap hit is too much for what he brings. He's basically the mop-up guy right now: he's not good enough to start games or pitch in high leverage spots, and Lauer and Berrios are both ahead of him on the swing-man depth chart.
Gausman, Cease, Yesavage, Bieber, Ponce is definitely the most fun Jays rotation of all-time, right? Like, with this defense we could set franchise run prevention records.
It's such a weird profile. The fact that he's projected to be comfortably above average offensively with a k-rate like that is pretty crazy. I won't be surprised if there are teams out there willing to pay big money for a 26-year old with prodigious power, hoping they can coach him to a ~30% k-rate.
I'm guessing he has 18 or so guaranteed in year 1. Something like 14M in 2026 plus a 14M player option and 4M buyout.
Still less than I thought he'd get. Nice signing by Baltimore if he's healthy.
He fits in in a few different ways: contact hitter, still a plus 3B defender, big character guy. A dead cat bounce from a HoF talent at 35 isn't exactly out of the question either.
Depends on whether Bo is retained or not for me. If he's not, I'd think I'd take Arenado over Berrios to get out of the Berrios deal in 2028. Clement to 2B and backup SS, Barger 3B against the toughest RHP and corner OF when Arenado is in. I think the team probably squeezes more WAR out of Arenado this season than they do Berrios under the current configuration.
I'm coming from the perspective that a Berrios rebound is unlikely though. Stuff+ has declined like 5 years in a row, to the point that he was just throwing slop last year.
Trying to wrap my head around an Arenado/Berrios trade. IIRC the luxury tax hit for the acquiring team is only based on dollars paid out for the remaining years. So:
Arenado: 2 years 42M in real money 21M cap hit
Berrios: 3 years 66M in real money 22M cap hit
Arenado projects for 2 WAR, Berrios for 1.5.
Is it crazy to think a straight swap makes sense for all 3 parties:
- St. Louis frees up 3B playing time for a guy who might have a future with the team and gets a grizzled vet to eat innings for them. They're committed to paying more money and years than they would have, but it comes with a potential for being off the hook after 2026 if Berrios rebounds and opts out.
- Toronto gets out of their commitment a year earlier and gets a guy who still plays a good 3B and seems to be a great clubhouse guy. It's a bit tricky roster-wise if Arenado declines again because you always have room for a 1-1.5 WAR SP but don't necessarily have room for a 1.5 WAR 3B. But that's the cost of shedding the 2028 commitment.
- Arenado gets to play for a WS contender.
I guess St. Louis probably needs a kicker from Toronto but it seems pretty close.