Laika

Oh boy, people are going to hate this press call. This is either just positioning to lowball players, or they will really just add an old DH and call it an offseason. KK the fulltime CF. IKF to get 650 PA.

2. Blue Jays presser: As noted by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins is expected to address the media at 9am CT this morning followed by recent signings Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa later in the day. The press conference comes on the heels of a December that saw the Blue Jays connected to many of the league’s top free agents including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman. Since then, however, Toronto has come up short in their bids for both Ohtani and Yamamoto while the signings of Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa seemingly cast doubt on the club’s odds of landing Bellinger to play center field or reuniting with Chapman at third base. Will today’s presser provide additional clarity regarding Toronto’s pursuits of a the two biggest bats left on the market?

contract is a nightmare, never going to happen, even if SDP ate half the money Toronto would be paying this guy $20M a year until he is 40 team should just sign Chapman if they are that desperate Machado also had elbow surgery in October and might not be playing 3B to begin the year

Yeah I don't think MLB even needs to suspend him They will but even if the guy dodges criminal charges and gets a visa... no team is signing him

He's never playing in MLB again regardless of what happens from here on

It will probably come to that if he can't post much less I want to give him some rope because I think the MH issues are real

Frenchy just lost it. Homophobic slurs mixed with seemingly talking to some "Geeb" person who does not exist. Also, he thinks Kyle Higashioka and Anthony Rizzo are legends. 3 day ban needed but he needs serious help. Yikes.

Pederson is a great fit. I'd give him a second year if that's what it takes. Would be fine with the Garver contract. He's a butcher in the OF but at least you can throw him there for a short period of time. He can probably pick up a 1B glove. Think he has stood there for a few games recently Nearly a .370 xwOBA last year..... need that. Perfect Belt replacement on offense.

Weird take He played 3B to some extent in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023. Every defensive measurement liked his defense at 3B in those seasons. In 2021 and 22 he played an adequate shortstop. He's still young. There is basically no reason to doubt the defense... Is 3B even a power position anymore? Guys will barely touch 100 wRC+ and be borderline all stars. There are six or seven studs at the position but everyone else gives something up.

The KK signing is at least objectively good value The Falaffle one is trickier. Not as clearly worth it

No but IKF and KK are pseudo starters so it's a distinct possibility that they are both in the starting 9 this spring That's the fear What if they just sign a DH, a left handed utility bat, and call it an off-season? Woof.

Also, infielder options are so limited It's Chat Mappman or.... trading for Yoan Moncada? Perfectly reasonable to run some s***** platoon for a year

You must love Chad Green then since he was the best RP in baseball a few years ago

anunoby + precious + flynn for barrett, quickley, and a 2nd apparently

oh my

Chadley Green and Isaac Falaffle combined for 6 bWAR in 2021 the bet for the Red Sox is: a) it works out and they get a good SP for 2024 for $19.5M it does not work out and they pay a s***** SP $39M over two years the downside is about as significant as the upside comparing to IKF and Green deals is weird and makes no sense. lesser players making half the money or less; less variance on the contracts. I think IKF has a realistic chance to out-WAR Giolito in 2024, though. Will be hilarious when/if it happens.

I mean the contract is fine, whatever, but it's $40M guaranteed to a 2023 1 win player

He's a different pitcher Mediocre to bad for two full seasons. Greinke was a 5 war pitcher as recently as Giolito. Anyone excited by Giolito's upside should be ecstatic with Alek Manoah as a no expectations #5 SP

I'm resigning as mod Connor is now head moderator

He might suck Bad last year, not good the year prior. Velo down.

"taken the lead" lmao it never ends

The definitions in the policy are pretty broad. Easy to see how someone could fit the definition without committing a crime. I. Definitions. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any intimate relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. It occurs in heterosexual and same sex relationships and impacts individuals from all economic, educational, cultural, age, gender, racial, and religious demographics. Domestic violence includes, but is not limited to, physical or sexual violence, emotional and/or psychological intimidation, verbal violence, stalking, economic control, harassment, physical intimidation, or injury. Notwithstanding this definition, a single incident of abusive behavior in any intimate relationship, or a single incident of abusive behavior involving a female member of a Player’s family who is domiciled with him, may subject a Player to discipline under this Policy. Sexual assault refers to a range of behaviors, including a completed nonconsensual sex act, an attempted nonconsensual sex act, and/or nonconsensual sexual contact. Lack of consent is inferred when a person uses force, harassment, threat of force, threat of adverse personnel or disciplinary action, or other coercion, or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, unconscious or legally incapable of consent.

You would hope so...

In Canada the principle of res judicata prevents most people from getting a "second try" in court if they have already had the benefit of something fair like an arbitration process that was collectively bargained for by their union. However, not sure if this would apply to Bauer in whatever the relevant US state is. Maybe he can just sue the Dodgers and MLB under a basic breach or contract case. Depends on the relevant state and the prevailing laws. Also depends on the arbitration context perhaps. In Canada you can sometimes do it as well but it depends on the facts. Sometimes you would need to choose a civil suit before using the arb process. A procedural appeal of the arbitration process would be a different form or claim that may be open to him. Those are difficult and strict though. So if he can just have double jeopardy and sue the dodgers for breach or contract he is better off. A procedural review asks a narrow question like "did the arbitration process have a flaw" it does not ask "does the court agree with the decision". But I don't see the slander angle at all. It's a stretch. I bet all MLB ever said was that he violated the policy and since the arbitration panel agreed, MLB can certainly say they weren't lying.

There is no slander case Bauer's main angle would be some kind of appeal or judicial review of the arbitration decision or process