Travis Hamonic (who sucks and is reportedly hated in the Vancouver room) was on waivers earlier this year. Dorion moved a 3rd for him. He's also due to make $3.25M next year, and Ottawa is already over their expected 70M payroll for 2022-23.
We've always ended a week before the actual MLB season ends (season typically ends on a Sunday but this year it's a Wednesday). Three options:
- ending 10 days before MLB with a 7-day final
- ending 3 days before MLB with a 7-day final
- running right to game 162 with a 10-day final.
I don't see this is a very big get for Boston. There are some health concerns there, he's moving off SS, and xwOBA has been in the 0.330s every year since 2018. I bet Boston regrets this within a couple of years.
I tried to squint and see an 85-90 season, because its the A's. Maybe if they keep Manaea and Montas? If those two move, it looks really, really bad. The lineup is awful.
So Oakland is going to be terrible right? Does anyone think this is one of those years where everyone expects them to be terrible and they win 90 games? Go on record now and look like a genius in 6 months!
I'll play. Not unlikely bear cases:
Ruiz - never becomes more than a slap hitter
Bellinger - is actually bad
Buxton - injured most of the year
Rodriguez - doesn't hit the ground running
Bell - performs somewhere between his 2020 and 2021
Your questionable rotation stumbles in round 1 and the plucky 8th seed BTS ends up bouncing you with extreme prejudice.
Story feels like the biggest landmine in the market. I guess second after Correa if he gets 300M. He seems to have a reputation as a better hitter than he is.
SS - Turner
RF - Betts
1B - Freeman
3B - Turner
DH - Muncy
2B - Taylor
CF - Bellinger
C - Smith
LF - Pollock
If Bellinger returns to being a good hitter and they stay reasonably healthy, that might be one of the best lineups ever assembled.
Why are the Reds keeping Castillo and Mahle? They’re going to lose 100 games a year over the next few years with or without them. Why not cash in while they’re healthy?
I'm still salty about the Braves win last year. They honestly weren't that good. With Soroka and Acuna out it was 3 good starters (but no aces), a mediocre bullpen that went on a run, and an above-average but unremarkable offense.