The MLB Thread

hutch wrote:
I wish you all would quit it with the Harper hype honestly..

You're boring dude.

hutch wrote:

vansmack wrote:

vansmack wrote:
And I'm just going to say this because I know none of you stay up late enough to see it for yourselves:

Mike Trout>Bryce Harper

I'm referring to all 5 tools, plus he's better looking and has better hair.

hutch wrote:

but harper is like 20 or 19?

harper is great. .hit a huge home run today and legged out a fielder's choice…so far..

I rest my case.  I hope you all watched that first hand tonight.

yeah yeah.. we know you're always right..

you're boring dude.

vansmack wrote:

hutch wrote:
I wish you all would quit it with the Harper hype honestly..

You're boring dude.

hutch wrote:

vansmack wrote:

vansmack wrote:
And I'm just going to say this because I know none of you stay up late enough to see it for yourselves:

Mike Trout>Bryce Harper

I'm referring to all 5 tools, plus he's better looking and has better hair.

hutch wrote:

but harper is like 20 or 19?

harper is great. .hit a huge home run today and legged out a fielder's choice…so far..

I rest my case.  I hope you all watched that first hand tonight.

yeah yeah.. we know you're always right..

you're boring dude.

Yeah I have the benefit of two more seasons!

EUREKA! I was wrong wrong wrong… Mike Trout is twice the man Bryce Harper will ever be…

for shame..for shame…

The Dodgers are close to trading for SS Alexi Ramirez.  Not sure who they are offering, however.

Stanton deal keeps getting stranger..

ESPN reporting that the deal is heavily backloaded.  Making $30M over the first three years.  $107M over the first 6 years of the deal.  So, the last 7, when he can opt out, he'll be making $218M.

imbecile wrote:
Stanton deal keeps getting stranger..

ESPN reporting that the deal is heavily backloaded.  Making $30M over the first three years.  $107M over the first 6 years of the deal.  So, the last 7, when he can opt out, he'll be making $218M.

Zero risk for Stanton.  100% risk for the Marlins.  Best case scenario for the Marlins is one strong playoff run in the next 3-4 years, Stanton stays healthy and then opts out.

vansmack wrote:

imbecile wrote:
Stanton deal keeps getting stranger..

ESPN reporting that the deal is heavily backloaded.  Making $30M over the first three years.  $107M over the first 6 years of the deal.  So, the last 7, when he can opt out, he'll be making $218M.

Zero risk for Stanton.  100% risk for the Marlins.  Best case scenario for the Marlins is one strong playoff run in the next 3-4 years, Stanton stays healthy and then opts out.

I don't know enough about baseball salary inflation, the likely available free agent sluggers in 6 years, and whatever else would factor into the decision.. But, is it really possible that in 6 years, someone will shell out $31M per year for 7 years for a bat?

Looking at recent-ish numbers, I could see that kind of progression on salaries if we used ARod as our example, but I have to believe he and his salary/contract are outliers.

Nevertheless, good for Giancarlo.

imbecile wrote:
I don't know enough about baseball salary inflation, the likely available free agent sluggers in 6 years, and whatever else would factor into the decision.. But, is it really possible that in 6 years, someone will shell out $31M per year for 7 years for a bat?

Looking at recent-ish numbers, I could see that kind of progression on salaries if we used ARod as our example, but I have to believe he and his salary/contract are outliers.

Trout and Stanton would both become free agents in 2021.  Stanton will be 31, Trout will be 29.  Trout will have made $33.5m the season leading into his FA year.  We don't know yet what Stanton will make in 2020.

Either way, I don't think it will be unreasonable to think $31m might be market rate, especially with the Pujols and Cabrera deals as the measure.

That free agent chase in 2020 could be something to watch though. 

A's sign Billy Butler for 3 yrs/$30m.  Has Beane officially lost it?

Stanton's Contract Details

YEAR AGE SALARY
2015 25 $6,500,000
2016 26 $9,000,000
2017 27 $14,500,000
2018 28 $25,000,000
2019 29 $26,000,000
2020 30 $26,000,000 may opt out of contract following 2020 season
2021 31 $29,000,000
2022 32 $29,000,000
2023 33 $32,000,000
2024 34 $32,000,000
2025 35 $32,000,000
2026 36 $29,000,000
2027 37 $25,000,000
2028 38 *$25,000,000 *$25M Team Option, $10M Buyout

I think Smackie you are undervaluing the market…

players just cost a lot more now….baseball is profitable…. tickets cost more….television contracts are higher for many teams….there's inflation…. the dollar just ain't what it used to be….

ground beef at Trader Joe's used to be 2.49 a pound 3 years ago…it went up to 3.99 and just a few weeks ago to 4.49….

hutch wrote:
I think Smackie you are undervaluing the market…

Is this about the Butler deal?

hutch wrote:
ground beef at Trader Joe's used to be 2.49 a pound 3 years ago…it went up to 3.99 and just a few weeks ago to 4.49….

Relating the vagaries of ground beef futures prices-to-MLB salaries is the new sabermetrics.

Julian, wrote:

hutch wrote:
ground beef at Trader Joe's used to be 2.49 a pound 3 years ago…it went up to 3.99 and just a few weeks ago to 4.49….

Relating the vagaries of ground beef futures prices-to-MLB salaries is the new sabermetrics.

I am NOT a sabermetrician!

vansmack wrote:

hutch wrote:
I think Smackie you are undervaluing the market…

Is this about the Butler deal?

and Stanton too….yes.

hutch wrote:
and Stanton too….yes.

Just wanted to be sure because I defended the $30m plus per year salaries in 2020 for Trout, Stanton, etc.  Not Harper.

But the Butler deal I don't get.  Sure, $10m is not a lot of money, but for Oakland?  That's 1/7th of their salary for a one dimensional, overweight singles hitter whose decline over the last 2 seasons has been meteoric. 

He doesn't hit HR's (9), he doesn't walk anymore (.323 OBP), no longer hits fly balls (near the league lead in GIDP), and can't play the field. How is this a Beane guy?

Sure, he hits lefties well, which Oakland needs, but $10m per season for a platoon player is not something Oakland can afford.   

vansmack wrote:

hutch wrote:
and Stanton too….yes.

Just wanted to be sure because I defended the $30m plus per year salaries in 2020 for Trout, Stanton, etc.  Not Harper.

But the Butler deal I don't get.  Sure, $10m is not a lot of money, but for Oakland?  That's 1/7th of their salary for a one dimensional, overweight singles hitter whose decline over the last 2 seasons has been meteoric. 

He doesn't hit HR's (9), he doesn't walk anymore (.323 OBP), no longer hits fly balls (near the league lead in GIDP), and can't play the field. How is this a Beane guy?

Sure, he hits lefties well, which Oakland needs, but $10m per season for a platoon player is not something Oakland can afford.   

but they all make millions these days… even guys who bat .220 …..

my guess is they think they can help him have a late career resurgence… these days you don't get much for $10 million….

I mean I'd rather have Morse any day but how much do you think Morse will go for? Less than 10 million?

Salaries are ridiculous these days….that's just the way it is….

hutch wrote:
I mean I'd rather have Morse any day but how much do you think Morse will go for? Less than 10 million?

He's 32, can't field, and can't stay healthy.  None of things are going to improve over the next few years…

If anybody gives Morse more than one-year/$7m they should be shot.  I see someone signing him for 2yrs/$15 though.

Smackie's head just exploded:

http://grantland.com/features/mlb-transaction-trees/

Finding the roster spot with the longest lineage on all 30 teams

hutch wrote:
I think Smackie you are undervaluing the market…

players just cost a lot more now….baseball is profitable…. tickets cost more….television contracts are higher for many teams….there's inflation…. the dollar just ain't what it used to be….

ground beef at Trader Joe's used to be 2.49 a pound 3 years ago…it went up to 3.99 and just a few weeks ago to 4.49….

Inflation ain't the prime reason for the increase in beef costs…..