Laika

Synthetic Grass: Globe Life Field features a specially designed synthetic grass playing surface that was provided by Shaw Sports Turf with installation completed by Texas-based Paragon Sports Constructors. The choice to go with Shaw Sports Turf was rooted in data, and supported by extensive research as it relates to player safety. The goal was not to only have the highest performing synthetic grass but also to have the highest performing surface for baseball. GLF’s playing surface is the B1K natural system, which employs a natural, sustainable infill called Geofill. The system results in excellent ball surface and player surface interaction. B1K is a dual fiber turf system comprised of Shaw’s high-performance Strenexe® XD slit film and Bolt® monofilament. This system provides excellent durability and functionality by minimizing the infill from “splashing,” maintaining adequate infill levels across the field. The Bolt fiber provides realistic ball roll, friction and natural grass aesthetics. The Geofill infill used in the system is made of coconut husks and fibers, which is a rapidly renewable resource. The infill requires much less water than natural grass. A concrete subsurface is the base of the turf system, which is extremely flat to accommodate the turf system, its buildup and layers, a drainage mat and a shock-resistant mat. The infield and warning track will be clay surfaces, There will also be a retractable mound for easy storage during non-baseball events on the field.

Sugano day is a big deal for me. Every time I try to play my $50M game above ^ I end up with Toronto signing Sugano. Just seems like a real upside play without much risk. I mean if he is an SP4 instead of an SP2, Toronto still isn't going to feel the contract... but if he is an SP2 the WAR profit is large and could vault the team into a top ~5 MLB squad. (check the projections - any significant additions have Toronto leap-frogging multiple teams in projected WAR).

I think my intent was that total team payroll would only go up by $50M or so. I doubt they add that much 2021 payroll! Would be neat but I would be shocked.

Yeah. Here is your confirmation that Toronto will have to offer him 3 years, though:

Spanky was angry last night. Grr.

You wouldn't pay the best projected reliever in baseball that??? Will Smith Sr got 3/40 last year...

So it's the end of an era, obviously. What would blowing it up look like?

Say you have $50M in AAV you can spend. No going over. Assume these contracts: Bauer 5/150 ($30 AAV) Springer 5/135 ($27 AAV) Realmuto 5/100 ($20 AAV) DJLM 4/80 ($20 AAV) Ozuna 4/76 ($19 AAV) Paxton 3/57 ($19 AAV) Semien 3/54 ($18 AAV) Tanaka 3/51 ($17 AAV) Didi 3/48 ($16 AAV) Hendriks 3/45 ($15 AAV) Turner 3/45 ($15 AAV) Brantley 3/45 ($15 AAV) Simmons 3/39 ($13 AAV) Kluber 1/13 ($13 AAV) Hamels 1/13 ($13 AAV) Sugano 3/36 ($12 AAV) Odorizzi 3/36 ($12 AAV) Pederson 2/20 ($10 AAV) Wong 3/30 ($10 AAV) Walker 2/20 ($10 AAV) Quintana 2/20 ($10 AAV) Happ 2/18 ($9 AAV) Hand 3/27 ($9 AAV) Archer 1/9 ($9 AAV) Cesar Hernandez 2/16 ($8 AAV) Garrett Richards 2/16 ($8 AAV) Treinen 2/16 ($8 AAV) Puig, La Stella, Hill...1/8 ($8 AAV) For anyone else assume the AAV here: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker or just use $5M if there is no prediction there. (you can assume that smaller $1M and $2M additions don't affect payroll) Who are you signing? Two big fish or spreading the money around?

We don't really know how much payroll they are willing to add. They had payrolls north of $160M a couple of years ago. 2021 projected payroll is a pittance of that. What is it, like $75M tops? They have the room to add a lot. I don't think signing Sugano makes them out on anybody. I mean, if you are giving Springer a $30M AAV it would be stupid to stop there... the team's pitching is the biggest problem. I could see them rolling over the $120M payroll mark for the right combination of players. I don't think they will approach $160 any time soon. I think they will also try their best to avoid any contracts that could interfere with potential extensions for the core.

Yeah that sounds like a you problem. Lots of really solid potential additions you didn't name.

On Eno Sarris' podcast a couple weeks ago he said that he thinks Toronto's offseason will end up looking something like Sugano + Hendriks + Joc Pederson. Hendriks projects to be the best RP in baseball (or tied for that). He would be a massive upgrade and an upgrade that is probably underrated by fWAR. Probably only takes a three year contract... so he'll be off the books well before the current core starts getting too expensive.

It's pretty funny. Lots of dumb fans.

Love his stats but his delivery is annoying lol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AkaFQf8wsU

West Coast teams have a massive advantage on these guys. It's been reported that Kim chose the Padres in part because he preferred the weather. "The Red Sox made a strong bid for South Korean infielder Ha-Seong Kim before he agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal with the Padres. Several reports in South Korea said Kim was wary of playing in cold weather and preferred a West Coast team."

Sugano - it is now being reported that he Mets are out on him. Interesting. That leaves the Jays, Red Sox, and Giants as the rumoured teams.

Didn't see this pasted anywhere:

Increasing. Also increasing minors by two spots. The initial polls said these changes would take place this offseason IIRC but I have decided we will implement them just before the NPD (which will probably be March 1 ish depending on how the MLB offseason and 2021 schedules shakes down).

Guaranteed Semien is looking for a big deal To get someone like him or Didi or Turner on a short deal would require some gambling. Toronto would basically have to wait until the end of the offseason and bet that the market for one of them will not develop. It does sort of seem like Toronto is taking this approach and is going to lean on their roster flexibility to just sign whoever is left

Trades??? Anyone??

Never thought about it like that but this could be exactly right. Most outfielders are just baseball players who couldn't stick on the dirt. It's like saying "this system doesn't have enough reliever prospects!"

Arbitrary Fangraphs numbers mean nothing. You don't hang on to every prospect you think is likely to bust on the off off off off off off off chance that some other teams likes them a lot and you can package them with three other assets for a good player on a free agent contract Edit - I thought you were being sarcastic

36% K rate in A ball for a college prospect. I'll eat my dad's shorts if he's anything but an MLB role player

OF depth would be nice. Maybe he'll sign an MiLB deal

Looks like Kim got a bit more money than initially reported. 28M guaranteed with an extra 4M in incentives. Posting fee is 5.25M and is in addition to his deal. Then they have a mutual option at the end for some reason. I think the initial report was 25M but it's more like 37.25M with the fee, if he hits the incentives.

If this is true, seems like they just got outbid on the dollars or the Kim fam just picked SD