The MLB Thread

I don't say this often because I always want my team in the Series, but this World Series has been so much more enjoyable as a passive observer.  I couldn't imagine how many years would be shaved off my life if I was a fan of either team.

How is Gurriel still in the lineup?  This guy does something that is racist and offensive. Also, he admits doing it.
The MLB will suspend him 5 games after the World Series.  This shows that the MLB initiative to standing up to Racism is bs.

MLB certainly missed an opportunity to stand up to racism. 

vansmack wrote:
Justin Upton to the Angels only makes sense if he opts out of his deal.  If he doesn't, the same year Josh Hamilton is taken off the books at $26.4m per year, they add Upton for $22.4m for the next 4 years…

But hey, if they make the playoffs, it was worth it, right?  (No.)

They never learn….

Angels Extend Upton deal to 5 years, $106m.  With a FULL NO TRADE CLAUSE!  This is how the Angels end up paying for Wells and Hamilton to play for their rivals…..

That will be a bad deal after two seasons.

vansmack wrote:
MLB Rumors: Braves sign closer Jim Johnson to 2-Yr/$10M extension after passing physical

Fuck me.  Angels just traded for him…

EDIT: Interestingly, the deal included $1.2m of Int'l cap space for the Halo's.  That's not enough for a move on Ohtani, but maybe for one of the Braves prospects that was just released?

Either way, he doesn't last the season and I will throw a lot of things this season because of him.

vansmack wrote:
That's not enough for a move on Ohtani, but maybe for one of the Braves prospects that was just released?

I guess I was wrong.  So intriguing….

6-man rotation?  Pujols shares DH and plays in the field again?  Either way I'm stoked.

Ohtani is a throwback…not about the money…

Congrats to Angels…

F'ing Jeter!

hutch wrote:
F'ing Jeter!

It's almost like he's still on the Yankees payroll.

It's not Jeter's fault.  His first two preferred deals were to St Louis and San Francisco, but Stanton said no. 

Jeter had no choice but trade Stanton where Stanton wanted to go because the previous owner gave him a full no trade clause and he said either the Yankees or the Dodgers and no one else.  The Dodgers said no thank you (because they're going after Harper next season?) leaving Jeter with one option - trade Stanton to the Yankees.   

Ian Kinsler to the Angels.

The Phillies give Tommy Hunter $18M for 2 years???  That's insane.

And the O's get Jose Mesa back!  Sweet.

shemptiness wrote:
And the O's get Jose Mesa back!  Sweet.

It was humorous to watch the O's raid the Yankees farm system in the Rule 5 Draft this morning…

vansmack wrote:

shemptiness wrote:
And the O's get Jose Mesa back!  Sweet.

It was humorous to watch the O's raid the Yankees farm system in the Rule 5 Draft this morning…

Humorous that Dan Duquette was able to raid their farm system or humorous because they have to?

shemptiness wrote:
Humorous that Dan Duquette was able to raid their farm system or humorous because they have to?

Both, because the more fringe prospects he takes now, the less they'll have on hand to give up when they trade for Machado.

Have an off season Billy Eppler:

Added J Upton: .273, 35 HRs and 109 RBIs
Before that, it was the worst left field production in MLB for three straight years….

Added Ian Kinsler: .236 / .313 / .412
3 different 2B's combined for .206/.274/.327

Added Zack Cozart: .297 / 24 HRs / .548 slg
Escobar was .272 / 7 HRs / .397 slg with an atrocious defensive number.

And because that's now a very right handed lineup, took a flyer on the left handed hitting Shohei Ohtani.

You have my attention.

vansmack wrote:

shemptiness wrote:
Humorous that Dan Duquette was able to raid their farm system or humorous because they have to?

Both, because the more fringe prospects he takes now, the less they'll have on hand to give up when they trade for Machado.

There were reports that the White Sox were going to trade for Machado and flip him to the Yankees.  I can't believe that Ol' Pete
would approve a direct trade to NY. 

If the Yankees give up too much for a one year rental, then it's a victory.  Of course, that means enduring a successful 2018 Yankees team…

shemptiness wrote:
The MLB is failing its players

Thinking you might have an opinion on this

Of course I do!  I've been talking about this ad nauseum in my MLB Whatsapp thread….though you changed the headline: It should "MLBPA" is failing it's players.

First off - this is all Mike Trout and the Angels fault.  He would have been a free agent this off season and things would have been dramatically different.  Instead, he got paid, they got an extension, and both sides are happy until 2021.

That sets up next season for Harper, Machado and Kershaw (potentially) and a ton of teams making 1-year/2-year deals this often season to be part of next years premiere class. 

But here's what else you've got - an MLBPA Head that is a former major leaguer, not a lawyer, not a labor expert.  And he's getting trounced.  He comes from the old school, where the Union worked hard to make sure veterans get paid, and did so at the expense of younger players.  6 years of control kept the young players salaries down so the veterans could make more money.  Teams (and fans) are over that model and you're seeing that play out right now in the free agency period.  Houston and Chicago showed teams that getting younger is better and only the Giants haven't adjusted.

Does anybody really want their team to give:

Yu Darvish (31) - 5 years?
Lorenzo Cain (31) - 4 years?
Jake Arrietta (31) - 5 years?
JD Martinez (30) - 5 years?   

Until those guys sign, the rest won't - but teams don't want to meet their year demands.  I'm a little surprised that Moustakas and Hosmer are still there, given their age, but maybe they won't be signed until the best bat, JD Martinez, signs.  Let's not forget most of these guys turned down qualifying offers of $17+ million.

Next year is going to be an ABSOLUTE shitshow that I can't wait to watch, but this isn't going to get better until 2021 when the contract is up for review.  Hopefully the players association gets a new leader and they do what's right for baseball - reduce the years of control to 4 or 5, and owners will be more likely to sign bigger deals for younger (think age 27/28) players. 

Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome and Trevor Hoffman were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Very happy about Vlad and Chipper