Bobthe4th

Not really, both Gurriel and Urena likely see at least some big league playing time in 2018.

Stroman and Pillar both Golden Glove finalists. Stroman vs Sale and Cobb. Pillar vs Cain and Buxton.

Girardi to the Nats would be my guess

I'm really surprised at that. The Yankees look to have a great future, but it's not like they were favourites to win the AL this year or anything, so they've not really underachieved.

The story is that the waiter recognised him only after checking his id, that makes a lot more sense than recognising him by sight. The waiter says he refused service because someone else in the party didn't have id on them.

Don't count out the Bucks either. Jabari Parker is due back around February time, he'd be a nice addition to the rotation for the last part of the season. Their weakness is rotation depth and they could do with upgrading from Jason Terry for the 3 point shooter from the bench role.

Also Martin was behind only 4 regular Jays in wRC+ this year, and Carrera was the only one who isn't a particularly good fielder. In OBP Martin was one place better, with a much better OBP than Morales, or Pearce (a likely DH candidate if Morales wasn't available). It's not a stretch to assume that if Martin was only catching 3 out of 5 games, that he'd DH about once a week if Morales wasn't tying up the DH spot.

Yeah it's a big leap from wanting Portland and Montreal to have teams, to getting rid of the NL / AL. Surely it's more likely Oakland and Tampa are relocated than that.

If that's his true talent level, I agree it seems impossible for him to win his case.

Colin Kaepernick has filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that his continued unemployment is the result of collusion among NFL owners. I don't see how he can prove enough collusion to claim damages. If there are two people available at similar skill levels surely it's within the hirer's rights to sign the player with less controversy? I don't watch the NFL - is he actually any good and could he be a starter on a current team?

Yeah you're not including the remainder of 2015 after the trade when Reyes was -0.4. Tulo was 1.4, added to his 2.9 in 2016 = 4.3.

Not really: Tulo = 4.3 and Reyes = 2.9. It's only that close because this year Tulo had zero WAR and Reyes somehow put up 2 WAR when his career looked done after being released by the Rockies. Tulo was a 3 WAR player in 2016 (2.9).

I'd prefer spending extra to bump up that starter to more like a 2nd/3rd in the rotation guy.

Koehler is the only one who won't be IMO. Carrera is definitely staying with the current lack of MLB outfielders on the team. Carrera, Loup and Goins are all cheap enough that if they are upgraded by a new player later on, it's no big deal to DFA them if necessary if they can't trade them (though Loup still has options left).

I wouldn't want Martinez for the contract he'll get. Not when he's a bad outfielder and we already have significant salary tied up in 3 1B/DH players. I guess if we got rid of Pearce (and Morales) it'd make more sense.

Yeah I hope he's a target. AL East experience, very good when fully fit, and (hopefully) relatively cheap as teams may not be willing to offer high AAV and/or years after his injury problems. Would make the middle and depth of the rotation look much more solid.

Link: Gibbons interview Gibbons said that realistically Travis will always have to deal with his knee, and will have to be managed like an older injury prone player - he isn't planning for Travis to be the lead off hitter and play 150+ games. Other highlights: Gibby thinks Danny Jansen needs at bats everyday so would prefer him to start at AAA; he was happy with what he's seen from Teoscar; he was positive about the chances of Sanchez being fit next year ("all indications show his problems are behind him").

All aboard the hype train!

Martin 2.5 in 116 games (Actual 1.8 in 91) Saltalamacchia N/A (not yet updated as he's on 0 games, they have Graterol and AJ sharing backup duties at a combined 0.1 WAR in 31 games) (Actual -1.5 in 117 combined from back up catchers) Smoak 0.1 in 115 games (Actual 3.4 in 158) Pearce 1.3 in 91 games (Actual 0.0 in 92) Travis 1.8 in 117 games (Actual 0.6 in 50) Barney 0.2 in 38 games (Actual -0.6 in 129) (Goins 0.0 in 36 games) (Actual -0.3 in 143) Donaldson 6.1 in 145 games (Actual 5.0 in 113) Tulowitzki 2.8 in 119 games (Actual 0.0 in 66) Upton 0.2 in 88 games (N/A) Pillar 2.8 in 134 games (Actual 1.9 in 154) Bautista 2.6 in 124 games (Actual -0.5 in 157) Carrera 0.0 in 50 games (Actual 0.7 in 131) (Pompey 0.5 in 57 games) (Actual 1.3 in 69 from other outfielders) Morales 0.8 in 129 games (Actual -0.6 in 150) Sanchez 3.0 (Actual 0.0) Stroman 3.1 (Actual 3.4) Happ 2.5 (Actual 2.9) Estrada 1.4 (Actual 2.6) Liriano 2.2 (Actual 0.8) (Other starters = -0.1) Osuna 0.9 (Actual 2.9) Grilli 0.5 (Actual -0.7) Biagini 0.5 (Actual 1.1) Howell 0.2 (Actual -0.2) Floyd 0.1 (N/A) Loup 0.4 (Actual 0.6) Sparkman 0.2 (Actual 0.0) Barnes 0.4 (Actual 0.2) Bolsinger 0.5 (Actual -0.4) Dermody 0.0 (Actual 0.0) Tepera 0.2 (Actual 1.0) Girodo 0.0 (N/A) Schultz 0.1(N/A) (Other relievers = 2.2) Overall position players let us down massively (only Smoak and Carrera exceeded their projections). The bullpen was pretty good, and the starting pitchers were overall pretty much as expected minus Sanchez. Nothing we didn't already know, but interesting to see it in actual numbers!

He kind of is. He's just had a really s***** career.

What? I guarantee the Jays playoff odds would be much higher than that even with no signings (which obv won't happen). One third of the teams make the playoffs. If you meant the World Series that would make more sense.

This. It's also helps to make the baseball season more exciting. Virtually every team is a couple of prospects, a waiver claim and a reclamation free agent all having unexpectedly good seasons, away from the playoffs.

That is so, so wrong. IMO the whole point of this board is to have interesting debates, and if hardly anyone is posting, debates don't happen as often. I know that the trolls that post are annoying, but just ignore them. Most regulars are posting less (in some cases much less) and that's a shame.

I think he's shown enough that he'll at least begin the season as one of the starting outfielders.

You can't tell me that you don't want to see Bartolo Colon pitch (and hit) in the World Series!