Laika

Gordon Beckham expected to get non-tendered. Not very interesting anymore but I could see the Jays bringing him in to bridge to Travis.

Not really though, when you consider the incumbents. Ackley ~2 = Travis ~2 (0) Kuma ~3 > Happ ~1.5 (+1.5) Bautista ~5.5 > Saunders ~2.5 (-3) Team trades a star and gets worse.

Melky is worth more than Cruz. If Cruz gets 4/$57, Melky should get about that + a year. Not the he necessarily will...

Past injury rate does predict future injury rate to some extent, but I think people drastically overstate that effect. What you see if this type of categorical analysis - talented players like Lawrie and Saunders become "would not acquire" guys because they are "made of glass". That's not an intelligent way of approaching it. If you think Saunders will miss 10% more time than an average LF due to injury, then apply that to his reasonable projections (which already include past playing time and this injury risk, btw), adjust his value, and make a rational decision. 2.0 WAR in 120 GP is better than 1.5 WAR in 162 GP (unless your backup OF is much worse than replacement level).

You really obfuscated your point with that last line. Are you saying you're the 1 person in the world who wouldn't want to acquire Forsberg at any given point during his hockey career? He got hurt a lot last year, sure, but in the two years prior he played over 130 games. I guess the shoulder issues in his career have been sort of recurring, but it's not like he's a pitcher.

Dude is in his physical prime, is a career 110 wRC+ hitter, can play D, has power and speed, strong projections, and would probably be pretty cheap given the situation (everybody and their mother knows he's getting dealt before the season).

Bob Dutton ‏@TNT_Mariners #Mariners aren't done. They would prefer to have Cruz serve as DH. So they're now looking for find a right fielder. Could still be in the mix for Leche

It's really like buying a new car. Sticker price might be $57M but as soon as you bring that thing home, the most someone is going to give you for it might be half that...

His nickname is "The Condor". Who f***ing cares how much he gets hurt?

The relationship with Saunders is so torn that Seattle will probably end up settling for the best possible offer, even if it's just some B- prospect at the end of the offseason. Seattle could use another good hitter (current projected lineup is probably Cruz RF, Ackley LF, LoMO 1B, Jesus Montero DH; Cruz DH and LF on occasion depending on context). They could also use quality SP depth. Their top 5 is fine but their #6 and #7 SP don't inspire much confidence (Brandon Maurer and Erasmo Ramirez). With Taijuan Walker (rookie), Roenis Elias (injury scare), and James Paxton (sophomore) in the rotation, someone like JA Happ who they could slot into a swingman role might actually appeal. I honestly don't think a Happ for Saunders swap is out to lunch.... Saunders is more talented, 4 years younger, and he has an extra year of control, but financial costs are similar and the relationship between Saunders and Seattle is in tatters and the whole world knows it.

Certainly this means Dustin Ackley or Michael Saunders are fully on the trade block. Ackley is more likely because of a variety of reasons (2B playing in the OF for the M's because of Cano; disappointing former top prospect). A great trade target for 2B with such a weak free agent crop. Saunders might move because of the relationship damage between him and the M's though. Saunders obviously the better OF.

That's a lot of money for a 34 going on 35 year old without a diverse skill set. They're also giving up pick #21 to sign Cruz - that's a value of about $10M IIRC.

Dirks > Markakis Dirks/Pillar platoon >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Markakis (and Melky, for that matter).

Free agent market largely sucks ass for infielders though. Alberto Callaspo 1B / 2B / 3B / DH Kelly Johnson 1B / 2B / 3B / LF Mark Ellis 2B Rafael Furcal 2B Brandon Hicks 2B Rickie Weeks 2B Josh Wilson 2B Donnie Murphy 2B / 3B Emilio Bonifacio 2B / CF Asdrubal Cabrera 2B / SS Stephen Drew 2B / SS Jed Lowrie 2B / SS Ramon Santiago 2B / SS / 3B Clint Barmes SS Jeff Bianchi SS / 3B John McDonald SS / 3B - Clint Barmes is interesting only because he can actually play short and he'd be super cheap. - Kelly Johnson is preferable to Callaspo IMO because he's actually got some pop, and he might offer a bit more flexibility with the recent OF reps. - Mark Ellis was a popular SABR target last offseason but he's even older than Barmes, and he had a really bad year. - Rickie Weeks can't play the field anymore, so he's not even really an option except in the most dire circumstances. - Lowrie is a pipe-dream. Too good of a fit and he might get like 3/$30. - Asdrubal Cabrera is similar to Lowrie (but worse). - Stephen Drew? Didn't hit in 2014 so he'll probably 100% sign as someone's shortstop, for his own sake.

Maicer Izturis was a replacement level player before his major knee surgery. He's just a sunk cost and nothing more. At least Callaspo is healthy, a little bit younger. He's a marginally better replacement level POS!

puke.

How many keepers are there

Redmond could probably be a decent SP5 in Oakland though, lol.

Donaldson Stroman Martin Reyes Pompey? Norris w/ bible? so many golden boys!

How is this roster in second place? Can Crosby + two decent goalies carry a team that much?

Is ECJF a racist? All these lazy brothas....

holy f***, you're the worst.

You would want to drop $200M+ to create a "buzz" with a guy that you'd already want to be cycling into the DH spot to save his legs, with 9 or 10 years still left on his mega-deal? I love Votto, but he's forever unclean on that contract. No touchy.

- Highly doubt that the Reds give a s*** about locking up Mat Latos right now. - Attendance and viewership wouldn't increase much more than it already inevitably will with Russell Martin coming to town (and he'll have a negligible effect). Winning is the only thing that increases attendance consistently. The hometown Canadian boys maple syrup angle is mostly BS. - 5 year policy - Semi-chronic leg issues on turf = no bueno - Even elite .300/.400; 30/100 hitters tend to turn into goop in their mid 30's. Look at Mark Teixeira. Do you want that situation on a Joey Votto contract? Look at Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, even Adrian Gonzalez... almost all of the top 1B from 4-5 years ago are shells of their former selves at this point. Even Miggy is showing cracks with the bone spurs and stress fractures this past year.

Steamer assumes an awful lot of offensive improvement simply based on age. Watching him play all year, it's obvious that he'll actually have to make some serious adjustments in approach or mechanics to see that improvement. And he's retarded, so that doesn't bode well for his chances to become a more cerebral hitter.