jaysfan2014

Of course, payroll notwithstanding, they're also going to have to hope that the Red Sox, Rays, Jays and Yankees continue to be mediocre (doubtful, especially with the Rays and Red Sox likely to improve in 2015.) This was probably their best chance to win a World Series.. it may be difficult for them to return next season, no matter what the roster is.

Not so certain on Wieters. His numbers are expected to significantly regress from his small sample size in 2014 pre-injury (heavily BABIP inflated). And Machado's got to stay healthy. And of course, losing Cruz will definitely hurt. Without Cruz, the O's don't even make the playoffs, and likely finish behind the Yankees and Blue Jays. Oh, and it's more likely that Gausman starts in the bullpen or AAA.. that awful Ubaldo Jimenez deal is still there. No way the O's will pay him all that money to be a long reliever/mop-up man.. they'll probably see if he can improve as a starter first before giving Gausman a chance, unless the O's trade a starter (which is likely.. no way the O's are raising the payroll to $150M, as is projected.)

Os expected to boost payroll: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-next-season-1018-20141017-story.html#page=1 Unfortunately, most of it is arb raises..so it'll be difficult for them to upgrade, and in fact, they may be worse, especially if Cruz leaves. And there's still the MASN issue threatening to cut some of the O's source of TV revenue if Washington gets a favorable ruling.. which seems likely, considering the Nats have jacked up payroll significantly in recent years ($137M last season)

Especially a team that ranks at the bottom in runs scored and basically drives fans away.. people want big hitters or at least a more consistent offense.. Pitching is great, but it doesn't mean a thing when they can't hit. Even the Royals, who don't hit many HRs, manage to find ways to score with speed and putting the ball in play, which is why they're going to the World Series, and the Rays are in a downward spiral.

At least the one team with a 21-year drought isn't threatened with relocation like the $77M budget one. Rays likely lost money last year at $77M payroll, even with TV money and revenue sharing, as the attendance was near the bottom of the game (Cleveland was worse.)

Rays ownership ordered the trades because the team can't draw flies, frequently 29th or 30th in attendance and basically only surviving on revenue sharing. If the Rays were in a better market, they would be able to afford to hang on Shields and Price. As payrolls continue to rise, it may become difficult for the Rays to sustain operations, even with revenue sharing.

Because Toronto doesn't really need a new GM right now? At least they don't have a ton of payroll stuck between multiple outfielders like the Dodgers do (Crawford, Ethier, Kemp), with Joc Pederson blocked and Puig playing out of position in CF. Besides, Coletti was going to be fired anyway. And the Dodgers are hoping he can do the same magic for them, especially with their payroll set to decrease this offseason to offset big losses from their TV deal, which will likely require a trade of their OFs..

Yes, especially with BIG payroll cuts coming in Tampa, and the likely gutting of the roster to get payroll down to levels that more suit the attendance level (likely $60M or less), and a weak farm system. Don't be surprised if Silverman starts a fire sale.

Yanks making some moves. Cashman extended for 3 years, Kevin Long headed for unemployment along with Mick Kelleher(1B coach).

Yes. A 3B/DH playing SS.. and one who will not be back with the Dodgers as that team is planning to cut payroll after losing the NLDS and to pay off losses from their bad TV deal with TWC. Any team that signs him to play SS would be stupid.. he's been falling off a cliff defensively.. 16 errors at SS this year.

Also note in that article that the Dodgers are undergoing some austerity.. it shows the disadvantages of bad TV deals(which the Dodgers have with TWC) caused by the TV rights bubble, forcing teams to cut payroll to offset losses. Bet the Dodgers will be making some trades.. and letting HanRam and hopefully one of their OFs go. Lucky the Blue Jays don't have TV deal problems like the Astros and Dodgers..

If Andrew Friedman leaves Tampa, I bet he might take a few players and Joe Maddon with him.. I can't see a GM that replaces Friedman keeping that roster together, because of the failure to get a new stadium and payroll restrictions.

Not if your team's payroll is the highest in baseball, and a World Series is expected of them. BTW, Mattingly will be safe(for now.).. Ned Colletti, on the other hand, may get canned.. I mean, look at the mess of that roster! Way too many overpaid OF and no room for top prospect Joc Pederson, who should be in the majors now! And the bullpen is terrible. The only reason the Dodgers are even winning is more due to the awful NL West outside of them and the Giants.

No chance. I imagine the Jays want a lot more than what the Yankees have in their system for Reyes.. we'd probably ask for a young SS, which the Yankees don't have.

Jays wouldn't take Beltran at all, especially with his inability to play defense due to injuries and age. Plus, Gardner is being paid $13M/year, and is showing some signs of decline.. speed players do not age well, especially if they get injured.

Good to see that the O's resigned Hardy. As a result, it hurts the Yankees.. now they'll have to either significantly overpay for HanRam, or sign a platoon partner for Brendan Ryan. Hurts the Dodgers as well, as it will make it harder and more expensive for them to resign HanRam. The only good options left at SS in free agency are Asdrubal Cabrera (who is more a 2B than a SS), Jed Lowrie (injury-prone and below average defensively) and Stephen Drew.. Yanks might as well start extension talks with Drew now, considering the limited options in free agency. BTW, the O's are also looking to resign Markakis and Cruz, as well. Either they got new money from their deep playoff run, or Chris Davis is heading for a non-tender (most likely), with Pearce/Walker likely to replace him in 2015. Because of Chris Davis being busted for PEDs, it's very likely the O's won't even consider a contract for him.. he made $10.35M this season and isn't worth the money because of his significant regression this season offensively (he was on his way to 200+ Ks before the suspension.) So they might as well use his money and resign Markakis and Cruz. Andrew Miller is still likely headed for free agency, though.. he's going to get overpaid by teams who might use him as a setup man or closer(such as the Tigers).

Not the same turf the Jays and Rays have. And this is kids we're talking about playing soccer.

And before 2013, the Astros as well. However, for the Cardinals, it is going to get more difficult in the years to come, with the coming emergence of the Cubs, and the success of the Pirates. No idea on the Brewers, though.

Bo Schultz will be DFAd the moment AA finds somebody else (or outrights him to Buffalo).

No idea.. and the Jays were stupid enough at one time to give that kind of money to BJ Ryan, who didn't even finish out his contract due to declining velocity and TJS.

Ned Colletti shouldn't have made that deal.. especially considering Wilson had come off TJS.

Ryan Dempster is also retiring. At least he has a World Series ring to go out with from 2013 with the Red Sox.

As will the Tigers soon. Once Mike Illitch dies, the payroll is going to be slashed dramatically.. and Detroit doesn't have any good prospects in their system.

Don Mattingly all the way. This team was favored to win a World Series.. and they got knocked out in the NLDS. Brad Ausmus is unlikely, because he's only 1 year into his deal. John Farrell should be on the list too.. his management this past season was horrible, and part of the reason Boston lost 90 games, not just the roster. Remember, most of that roster was 1 year removed from a World Series win.

Dome's already paid off. At this time, there is no pressure for Rogers to build a new stadium for the Blue Jays, especially considering the Rogers Centre has been renovated in recent years, and is expected to get grass in 2018. Besides, MLB is more concerned about the situations in Oakland and Tampa Bay right now, who need new stadiums worse than Toronto. The other problem is that any new stadium for Toronto would require a roof. Open-air baseball without a retractable roof is a no-go in Toronto, especially considering the mess with Exhibition Stadium, plus weather conditions in April and September.