**2015 MLB Season Thread: This is how the chapter ends (2 Viewers)

[Billy Bats]

Cueto was headed to Kansas City tonight until a Royal's medicals didn't pass.

Rosenthal: #Royals were close to acquiring Cueto from #Reds earlier tonight, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. Deal fell through.

Sources indicate that the problem was that one of the players going from the #Royals to the #Reds for Cueto did not check out medically.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I don't believe you

My link

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Cueto was headed to Kansas City tonight until a Royal's medicals didn't pass.

Rosenthal: #Royals were close to acquiring Cueto from #Reds earlier tonight, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. Deal fell through.

Sources indicate that the problem was that one of the players going from the #Royals to the #Reds for Cueto did not check out medically.

Chlamydia?

 

[shadyridr]

Cueto was headed to Kansas City tonight until a Royal's medicals didn't pass.

Rosenthal: #Royals were close to acquiring Cueto from #Reds earlier tonight, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. Deal fell through.

Sources indicate that the problem was that one of the players going from the #Royals to the #Reds for Cueto did not check out medically.

went against him last night so thanks for this royals

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Ball cancer.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Ken Rosenthal says Cueto to Royals is done. Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

Jeff Passan says Brandon Finnegan's name came up in trade talks.

 

[Eephus]

Ken Rosenthal says Cueto to Royals is done. Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

Jeff Passan says Brandon Finnegan's name came up in trade talks.

Just what the Reds need--another guy they can't decide whether he's a starter or reliever

 

[bud29]

Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

...And we're still waiting.

 

[GOB]

Reds:

https://youtu.be/280yPTyei0U

 

[gianmarco]

Ken Rosenthal says Cueto to Royals is done. Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

Jeff Passan says Brandon Finnegan's name came up in trade talks.

Ugh.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

...And we're still waiting.

Having trouble figuring out what combo works, or if a bigger deal is in play that would also bring Jay Bruce over to fill Alex Gordon's spot in the batting order.John Lamb? Nice K rate at AAA, but a 25-year-old AAA pitcher.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Nice sunglasses, Rob

 

[bud29]

Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

...And we're still waiting.

Having trouble figuring out what combo works, or if a bigger deal is in play that would also bring Jay Bruce over to fill Alex Gordon's spot in the batting order.John Lamb? Nice K rate at AAA, but a 25-year-old AAA pitcher.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/kansas-city-royals

Says that Lamb is "expected to be among the prospects going to the Reds in a Cueto deal." We'll see, I'm anxiously awaiting some updates and my last 2 ESPN notifications have been unrelated to the trade.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

...And we're still waiting.

Having trouble figuring out what combo works, or if a bigger deal is in play that would also bring Jay Bruce over to fill Alex Gordon's spot in the batting order.John Lamb? Nice K rate at AAA, but a 25-year-old AAA pitcher.

This slightly-outdated study finds the average debut age of pitchers is 24.4, between 2005 and 2009. His path does seem a little circuitous, but he was a HS pitcher.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

BTW, I don't think giving up a significant haul is a great idea on KC's part. They have the division more or less in the bag.

 

[Billy Bats]

Morosi: TRADE IS OFFICIAL: Johnny Cueto to #Royals; Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed to #Reds. KC gets its ace. @FOXSports

 

[bud29]

Finally got an update:

Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto and cash considerations acquired from Reds for LHPs Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb, and Cody Reed

 

[Doctor Detroit]

BTW, I don't think giving up a significant haul is a great idea on KC's part. They have the division more or less in the bag.

Well they have one of the worst starting pitching staffs statistically in baseball. If they want to win it all having an ace is crucial IMO, so they are striking while the iron is hot. This is a strangely composed team, the window could close pretty quick with the parts they have. Hosmer and Perez are really the only long-term premier young assets they have in the majors right now, and bullpen dominance only lasts so long.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Smoltz is how long into this, 25 minutes?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Smoltz is how long into this, 25 minutes?

Yeah the last 10 minutes should have just been shots of his wife's cans (or shots off of them).

 

[Limp Ditka]

Thank goodness Jeff Foxworthy got a shout out there.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Didn't say who the Royals are giving up.

...And we're still waiting.

Having trouble figuring out what combo works, or if a bigger deal is in play that would also bring Jay Bruce over to fill Alex Gordon's spot in the batting order.John Lamb? Nice K rate at AAA, but a 25-year-old AAA pitcher.

This slightly-outdated study finds the average debut age of pitchers is 24.4, between 2005 and 2009. His path does seem a little circuitous, but he was a HS pitcher.

I'm going to guess the pitchers who went on to anchor rotations and make All-Star Teams are front-loaded under that 24.4.

ETA: still, that average debut age was higher than I would have guessed, and the study was a good read. Thanks!

My point is this trade has little chance of playing out like Andersen-for-Bagwell or even Alexander-for-Smoltz.

And I'm all for this trade, and having the division lead makes me like it even more. This isn't a gamble to try to win a wild-card game. This is a calculated risk to avoid the wild-card game altogether and try to get back to the Series before the team gets too expensive to keep together. This isn't all in preflop with suited connectors versus a pair; this is all-in after the flop with top pair and nut flush draw.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

National League baseball is soooooooooooo overrated. Pretty fast runner on 2nd with no one out in the top of the tenth, and Mattingly bunts Van Slyke to get Rollins to third. Then Joc Peterson Ks (shocking) and Kendrick flies out.

Then Mets try to do the same thing in the bottom of the tenth with Granderson on second and no one out, and the bunt doesn't work.

 

[Zigg]

Really like these M's uniforms.

 

[Annyong]

National League baseball is soooooooooooo overrated. Pretty fast runner on 2nd with no one out in the top of the tenth, and Mattingly bunts Van Slyke to get Rollins to third. Then Joc Peterson Ks (shocking) and Kendrick flies out.

Then Mets try to do the same thing in the bottom of the tenth with Granderson on second and no one out, and the bunt doesn't work.

Lol

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Donnie Baseball!

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Strangest triple play ever just happened in Seattle. Something like 3-6-5-2-5-2

 

[sports_fan]

Trout never ceases to amaze. Unreal

 

[PIK95]

National League baseball is soooooooooooo overrated. Pretty fast runner on 2nd with no one out in the top of the tenth, and Mattingly bunts Van Slyke to get Rollins to third. Then Joc Peterson Ks (shocking) and Kendrick flies out.

Then Mets try to do the same thing in the bottom of the tenth with Granderson on second and no one out, and the bunt doesn't work.

I would have done that, but P.h. for Joc. Gotta go all in there.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Would've tried to bunt again with one out, runner on second and if that was successful, then just have him steal home.

 

[larch]

A.L. Manager of the Year.... whatcha got?

A.J. Hinch

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Can't really think of a better Hall of Fame class, you are talking about two of the greatest pitchers ever, a unique big stage talent like Smoltz, and a Mr Baseball guy in Biggio. Randy Johnson's speech was very heartfelt, he seems like a super nice guy. Also his daughters are someone's daughters.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Great special on MLB Network with Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz. They are just talking shop. Very informative and interesting.

 

[fdas2]

National League baseball is soooooooooooo overrated. Pretty fast runner on 2nd with no one out in the top of the tenth, and Mattingly bunts Van Slyke to get Rollins to third. Then Joc Peterson Ks (shocking) and Kendrick flies out.

Then Mets try to do the same thing in the bottom of the tenth with Granderson on second and no one out, and the bunt doesn't work.

Your face is overrated

 

[Annyong]

Nl sucks. I prefer when big fat turds try to slam homers 100% of the time.

 

[Capella]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Nl sucks. I prefer when big fat turds try to slam homers 100% of the time.

Well looks like as a Cubs fan you're gonna get exactly what you want.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

I guess it's some combination of him not wanting to be here and Tigers not offering up 7/$210M+ yet

 

[Long Ball Larry]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

I guess it's some combination of him not wanting to be here and Tigers not offering up 7/$210M+ yet

Tigers have a lot of money committed right now, too. Cabrera's new deal does not start until next year.

They've got $104 million per year tied up in Cabrera, Verlander,Sanchez, Kinsler, and Martinez for each of the next 3 years, and I don't think that those guys are going to get better over the course of that time.

 

[Bogart]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

I guess it's some combination of him not wanting to be here and Tigers not offering up 7/$210M+ yet

Tigers have a lot of money committed right now, too. Cabrera's new deal does not start until next year.

They've got $104 million per year tied up in Cabrera, Verlander,Sanchez, Kinsler, and Martinez for each of the next 3 years, and I don't think that those guys are going to get better over the course of that time.

Next year also starts the $6 million a year for 5 years they are sending over to Texas for the Prince/Kinsler deal. Dead money at this point I'm sure, but it is an additional cost.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Clippard trade might happen today. Zobrist not too far behind.

Puke for Puk!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Preller already trying to dump Kimbrel, Shields, and Cashner, as well as his expirings. TGunz, to the white courtesy phone.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

I guess it's some combination of him not wanting to be here and Tigers not offering up 7/$210M+ yet

Tigers have a lot of money committed right now, too. Cabrera's new deal does not start until next year.

They've got $104 million per year tied up in Cabrera, Verlander,Sanchez, Kinsler, and Martinez for each of the next 3 years, and I don't think that those guys are going to get better over the course of that time.

Sanchez and Kinsler only have two years left on their deals with team options in '18.

Also not sure what the bolded means. Read it out-loud to yourself and see if it makes sense to you.

$30mm for Cabrera is a deal and of those contracts probably only JV is bad. Kinsler's contract is actually cheaper in the final two years than it was this year, he's owed $25mm the last two years. Pretty sure your numbers are off.

 

[the moops]

who closes if Clippard is traded?

Mujica?

Doolittle is still a few weeks away, right?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

who closes if Clippard is traded?

Mujica?

Doolittle is still a few weeks away, right?

Yeah I was trying to figure out that myself. Doolittle just hopes he can pitch again in 2015, regardless of his return they'd need someone in the interim. Mujica has closed before, recently even. They have better arms in the pen than him, but he seems like the logical choice.

 

[the moops]

hearing that pomeranz might be in the mix

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Eduardo Rodriguez?

That seems like a mess to me, Pomeranz was supposed to go back to the rotation then pitched yesterday in relief.

 

[Annyong]

who closes if Clippard is traded?

Mujica?

Doolittle is still a few weeks away, right?

Yeah I was trying to figure out that myself. Doolittle just hopes he can pitch again in 2015, regardless of his return they'd need someone in the interim. Mujica has closed before, recently even. They have better arms in the pen than him, but he seems like the logical choice.

Scribner or Mujica is my guess

 

[Peyton Marino]

Rajai Davis apparently just followed a bunch of Cardinals related twitter accounts.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

What's up with Price and Detroit? Is he being non-committal? I know they are having a bad season but I figured he was there for the long haul when he was traded.

I guess it's some combination of him not wanting to be here and Tigers not offering up 7/$210M+ yet

Tigers have a lot of money committed right now, too. Cabrera's new deal does not start until next year.

They've got $104 million per year tied up in Cabrera, Verlander,Sanchez, Kinsler, and Martinez for each of the next 3 years, and I don't think that those guys are going to get better over the course of that time.

Sanchez and Kinsler only have two years left on their deals with team options in '18.

Also not sure what the bolded means. Read it out-loud to yourself and see if it makes sense to you.

$30mm for Cabrera is a deal and of those contracts probably only JV is bad. Kinsler's contract is actually cheaper in the final two years than it was this year, he's owed $25mm the last two years. Pretty sure your numbers are off.

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/

Cabrera - 31

Verlander - 25

Sanchez - 16

Kinsler - 15

Martinez - 17

The total of that is $104.

But I see that Kinsler's salary drops, so he averages 12.5 the next 2 years. And Cabrera starts a little lower, so 28 the next 2 years. But Martinez increases, so he is actually 18 the next 2 years. Verlander increases, so he is 28 the next 2 years.

So for each of the next 2 years it's actually $102.5 for those 5.

Did not realize there were options for Sanchez and Kinsler, but what I mean about them not getting better is that they will be getting less and less value from those contracts each year, with all of those guys on the wrong side of their careers.