Laika

I think a big advancement that will occur eventually with fancy stats is that people will come to appreciate legit Centres much like people appreciate legit defensive C/SS/CF in baseball. I think the position is that important. Right now, all too often, viable C just kind of get lumped in as "forwards", and you don't see them go for real premiums in trade or on the free agent market (this is my presumption with no data).

The comforting thing about Worley is that even in 2011 and 2012 he was an above average major league pitcher. 2013 is really the only blip. He's always had a good command profile in the minor leagues too. I like him more in Pittsburgh than, say, Miley in Boston.

Because the window is NOW!

I'm not in love with the ides of giving all of these youngsters spots out of spring training. It's looking and sounding like: Norris #5 Sanchez RP Travis 2B Pompey CF Castro possible RP?? Man, I'd much prefer to bring in some pieces and start at least 4 of those guys in the minors out of the gate. As it stands, depth it going to be terrible and a lot of the pieces on the MLB team will have a high bust potential. Not a great combo.

To KingKat: OF Curtis Granderson SP Vance Worley To THB: SP Jake Odorizzi This trade comes down to how much you believe in Odorizzi, I guess. I don't really buy into his numbers long term because of the 50 grade FB and inconsistent track record. Granderson was a waiver claim for JB so no sweat for him. But, KK's offense blows so Granderson will add something to it. It's a useful - not-useful piece swap. Worley could easily out ERA and K/BB Odorrizi. Edge KK!

Carrasco is boom or bust. I think everyone would agree that there's a wide range on his sensible projections. He could be a legit Ace and one of the elite pitchers in baseball (Felix Hernandez peripherals...) or he could be a sort of frustrating #3(ish) guy like Wily Peralta or Zack Wheeler or Liriano. Obviously the injury risk is there too but that exists for every arm. I think the "maybe can't hold up as a SP for 200 innings" gets thrown around way too much for unestablished guys. Most of the guys who "can't hold up" were just straight up not talented enough. Carrasco has the talent - he wasn't even that bad in 2010/11.

Looks like Toronto will end up in that all too familiar position - outside of the playoffs but also outside of the lottery.

pretty sure he does

Joe Colborne has more points per game right now than Kadri

INDEED. Actually, there are plenty of decent RP left out there. No need to even pay KRod (who might suck). Badenhop Coke Cotts Soriano Joba Axford Personally I'd try to get one of Joba/Axford + one of Cotts/Coke. Preference for Joba and Cotts.

Pap Smear has a vesting option at 13M for 55 "games finished" in 2015, or 100 in 2014+2015. He had 52 last year and his career low is 49. So basically, if he doesn't get hurt or lose the closer role, the option is very likely to vest.

It's not really about somebody being "stupid", it's about somebody wanting more information or a different kind of information, and not asking for it effectively. It's a communication failure, not a brain cell failure.

I am soooooo excited about the new turf! * said nobody ever

He didn't say that, exactly. He responded to JFaS' answer with a decent reason as to why JFaS' answer was not satisfactory.

I really don't think that questioning the significance of a 20 foot increase in average fly ball distance is stupid. For all he knows, that type of increase might have moved Smoak from the 40th percentile to, say, the 50th... It's not readily apparent that a 20 foot increase in average FB distance would translate into a lot more HR. The comment was made by someone who didn't know about Smoak's xHR/FB, or what that meant for his place in the population, etc. It's not stupid to be hesitant about gobbling up positive Blue Jays stat factoids like they're crunch berries.

Izturis should a) have never been signed have been released immediately after 2013 c) yes, definitely be released before 2015. he's a plug

"ARTICLE XIX—Assignment of Player Contracts A. Consent to Assignment (1) The contract of a Player with ten or more years of Major League service, the last five of which have been with one Club, shall not be assignable to another Major League Club without the Player’s written consent. At his sole election, however, a Player may, at the time he signs a multi-year contract with a Club, waive the right to prevent an assignment of his contract under this Section A(1), provided that the multi-year contract (a) is signed before the Player has attained ten or more years of Major League service, the last five of which have been with one Club, and ( contains a no trade provision that, at a minimum, limits the Club’s right to assign the Player’s contract, during each of its years, to no more than sixteen (16) Clubs designated or subsequently to be designated by the Player. (2) (a) The contract of a Player with five or more years of Major League service, not including service while on the Military List (or seven or more years of Major League service, including service while on the Military List), shall not be assigned otherwise than to another Major League Club, without the Player’s written consent." The bolded portion of the above CBA excerpt is commonly known as the "veteran's consent" rule. Subsection (1) directly above it outlines "10/5" rights.

Do a triple crown league AVG HR RBI W K ERA f*** sabermetrics

MLB.com pipeline prospect coverage seems pretty legit now with Callis in the fold. No longer a joke.

The jerseys were f***ing horrendous this year too. I actually kind of like the combine style skill events. It's cool seeing who the hardest shooters, fastest skaters, etc. are. I wish the skills comp had even more of that - events that display actual discrete skills (tools). The breakaway challenge thing is pure cringe at this point.

6.5 more years with a cap hit of ~7M for a guy that's clearly a 2nd pairing D-man at best..... hard to think of a sensible team that would eat that whole thing, but it's hockey so I guess there are a few dumb GMs that might.

Actually, I guess it's not fair to call Nay's stats underwhelming. Not great obviously but his .731 OPS in the Midwest League came with good K and BB rates and he was about a year below the average age for the league. If he can stick at 3B somehow then I suppose that's a prospecty enough season.

The fact that the Orioles wanted Mitch Nay should be a good sign for a guy whose stats to date have been pretty underwhelming.

$80,439,816 in salary during his career. Remarkable.

Mike Richards' decline sure is weird.