2018 MLB Regular Season Thread! Current thread batting average: .420 (1 Viewer)

[Bogart]

A bunch of SB Nation dudes did a simulated MLB off-season. out.

http://www.royalsreview.com/2015/11/19/9757104/sb-nation-2015-off-season-simulation-debriefing?_ga=1.201976465.1429801526.1445284916

Good reading. I do think the Texas "GM" had some good shtick going, basically bringing back as much of the 2010 team back as possible, all the way down to Andres Blanco and David Murphy.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Cincy GM is apparently NOT down with the rebuild and re-signed Cueto!

 

[pantagrapher]

Carlos Carrasco had heart surgery before the 2015 season? I did not know that.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

JED JED JED JED

 

[heckmanm]

Cincy GM is apparently NOT down with the rebuild and re-signed Cueto!

Wait, what? I assume you're talking about the SBN simulation.

 

[Eephus]

The Pirates acquired RHP Allen Webster who was DFAed by Arizona last week. Ray Searage has had a lot of success with reclamation projects and Webster never lacked for stuff when he was a prospect.

 

[Eephus]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

 

[pantagrapher]

Found my new go-to source for breaking hot stove alerts.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

Kind of like the Rockies announcers having to deal with a Justin Morneau and a Dustin Garneau.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

I think this is another solid-if-not-spectacular move, although they're a bit tilted with Lowrie hitting lefties much better (as does Valencia and Lawrie and Semien). I guess that's going to be the norm for a lot of infields. With Canha being a righty with a reverse-split, I guess there's a chance that Valencia could play 1B against lefties if they don't get anyone else?

Hill and Chavez are almost a wash salary-wise, so Lowrie's $7mm is the first real dip into their war chest, which figures to be around $30mm or so.

 

[Eephus]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

I think this is another solid-if-not-spectacular move, although they're a bit tilted with Lowrie hitting lefties much better (as does Valencia and Lawrie and Semien). I guess that's going to be the norm for a lot of infields. With Canha being a righty with a reverse-split, I guess there's a chance that Valencia could play 1B against lefties if they don't get anyone else?

Hill and Chavez are almost a wash salary-wise, so Lowrie's $7mm is the first real dip into their war chest, which figures to be around $30mm or so.

It's an interesting move. I expected Beane to pick up a gloveman to play SS, slide Semien into a less demanding defensive role, and keep Sogard as the utilityman. Lowrie can play any IF position but not particularly well.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

I think this is another solid-if-not-spectacular move, although they're a bit tilted with Lowrie hitting lefties much better (as does Valencia and Lawrie and Semien). I guess that's going to be the norm for a lot of infields. With Canha being a righty with a reverse-split, I guess there's a chance that Valencia could play 1B against lefties if they don't get anyone else?

Hill and Chavez are almost a wash salary-wise, so Lowrie's $7mm is the first real dip into their war chest, which figures to be around $30mm or so.

It's an interesting move. I expected Beane to pick up a gloveman to play SS, slide Semien into a less demanding defensive role, and keep Sogard as the utilityman. Lowrie can play any IF position but not particularly well.

I wonder if some of the more shift-happy teams are starting to value sure-handedness more and range less?

Lowrie had a pretty good 2015 before he got injured/Correa came along, I think Houston might've erred in not keeping him around to hit lefties at 3B and spell the other infielders from time to time. His BABIP was pretty gross, but he was still worth 1 WAR in 69 games. He doesn't have the same power as Valbuena, but he's also not a complete statue at 3B either.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Rosenthal reports that the top suitors for Price are SF, LAD, STL, BOS, and CHC. Nothing surprising there.

 

[Eephus]

Bud Norris to Atlanta for 1/$2.5M

 

[RnR]

Bud Norris to Atlanta for 1/$2.5M

:gobbler:

 

[Eephus]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

I think this is another solid-if-not-spectacular move, although they're a bit tilted with Lowrie hitting lefties much better (as does Valencia and Lawrie and Semien). I guess that's going to be the norm for a lot of infields. With Canha being a righty with a reverse-split, I guess there's a chance that Valencia could play 1B against lefties if they don't get anyone else?

Hill and Chavez are almost a wash salary-wise, so Lowrie's $7mm is the first real dip into their war chest, which figures to be around $30mm or so.

It's an interesting move. I expected Beane to pick up a gloveman to play SS, slide Semien into a less demanding defensive role, and keep Sogard as the utilityman. Lowrie can play any IF position but not particularly well.

I wonder if some of the more shift-happy teams are starting to value sure-handedness more and range less?

Lowrie had a pretty good 2015 before he got injured/Correa came along, I think Houston might've erred in not keeping him around to hit lefties at 3B and spell the other infielders from time to time. His BABIP was pretty gross, but he was still worth 1 WAR in 69 games. He doesn't have the same power as Valbuena, but he's also not a complete statue at 3B either.

Interesting argument re: the shift although Semien isn't exactly sure handed.

The A's seem to like Semien as do I. He has a good bat for a SS and is a plus baserunner. He has decent range but the errors have to come down. I applaud Oakland's willingness to let him play through the errors--they didn't send him to Nashville and kept sending him out to short and his second half stats were a definite improvement.

I assume Beane didn't bring Lowrie back to play SS but he could probably still fill in there in a pinch. He's another piece in the Oaklands' collection of semi-interchangeable parts. It's difficult to acquire veterans in Lowrie's (and Rich Hill's) price range. Decent free agents will want more money for longer terms and most teams who have mid-price regulars already will want to keep them. Guys like Lowrie will hopefully allow Beane to field a competitive team if the pitching is there.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

JED JED JED JED

Good luck to the Oaklands' announcers with Lowrie and Lawrie in the same infield.

I think this is another solid-if-not-spectacular move, although they're a bit tilted with Lowrie hitting lefties much better (as does Valencia and Lawrie and Semien). I guess that's going to be the norm for a lot of infields. With Canha being a righty with a reverse-split, I guess there's a chance that Valencia could play 1B against lefties if they don't get anyone else?

Hill and Chavez are almost a wash salary-wise, so Lowrie's $7mm is the first real dip into their war chest, which figures to be around $30mm or so.

It's an interesting move. I expected Beane to pick up a gloveman to play SS, slide Semien into a less demanding defensive role, and keep Sogard as the utilityman. Lowrie can play any IF position but not particularly well.

I wonder if some of the more shift-happy teams are starting to value sure-handedness more and range less?

Lowrie had a pretty good 2015 before he got injured/Correa came along, I think Houston might've erred in not keeping him around to hit lefties at 3B and spell the other infielders from time to time. His BABIP was pretty gross, but he was still worth 1 WAR in 69 games. He doesn't have the same power as Valbuena, but he's also not a complete statue at 3B either.

Interesting argument re: the shift although Semien isn't exactly sure handed.

The A's seem to like Semien as do I. He has a good bat for a SS and is a plus baserunner. He has decent range but the errors have to come down. I applaud Oakland's willingness to let him play through the errors--they didn't send him to Nashville and kept sending him out to short and his second half stats were a definite improvement.

I assume Beane didn't bring Lowrie back to play SS but he could probably still fill in there in a pinch. He's another piece in the Oaklands' collection of semi-interchangeable parts. It's difficult to acquire veterans in Lowrie's (and Rich Hill's) price range. Decent free agents will want more money for longer terms and most teams who have mid-price regulars already will want to keep them. Guys like Lowrie will hopefully allow Beane to field a competitive team if the pitching is there.

Semien's errors did tail off in the second half, some of that's likely due to having Washington back. His range last year was slightly above-avg. He's never going to be an elite SS defender, but I don't think average is out of the question, and I think his bat could be + for his position. Oakland loves to target guys who have temporarily stalled out after having good success in the minors, be it because of injury or they're just not ready for the bigs, e.g. "AAAA" players.

Slusser thinks Lawrie might get dealt. He could be a very good 3B with his defensive skills but his swing needs to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up. It's an utter disaster, and nobody got through to him last year, obviously.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Yasiel Puig is Scarface, I guess?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Rosenthal reports that the top suitors for Price are SF, LAD, STL, BOS, and CHC. Nothing surprising there.

No way STL ####s that kind of money.

 

[AnonymousBob]

Twins won the bidding for Byung-Ho Park.

 

[the moops]

Twins won the bidding for Byung-Ho Park.

Again?

 

[AnonymousBob]

Twins won the bidding for Byung-Ho Park.

Again?

Never saw the news. Or forgot. I'm getting Eephus old, I suppose.

Anyhow, meant to say they're finishing up a deal.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

All-time MILB HR leader Mike Hessman retires, setting the mark at 433. Way to go, Mike!

 

[the moops]

If Hanley Ramirez was a free agent this year, what sort of deal would he get? Talk is they are looking to move him but wondering how much he they have to eat on the deal. He is owed 3/68. My guess is he would get like a one year, 15 million, make good deal, or something like 3/40.

 

[shadyridr]

Zimmermann to the Tigers for 110 million

 

[Good Posting Judge]

That seems pretty reasonable for a well-monied team.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

If Hanley Ramirez was a free agent this year, what sort of deal would he get? Talk is they are looking to move him but wondering how much he they have to eat on the deal. He is owed 3/68. My guess is he would get like a one year, 15 million, make good deal, or something like 3/40.

1/10 or 1/15 maybe, for a team with a need at...3B? I don't know. You don't need any sort of analytics team to know his glove is going to give a ton of runs back.

At this point Boston might be better off hanging on to him and hoping he bounces back, and then moving him. You're really selling at rock-bottom right now.

 

[the moops]

I would think for a team with a need at DH. But yes, they absolutely are selling at rock bottom if they do in fact trade him.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I would think for a team with a need at DH. But yes, they absolutely are selling at rock bottom if they do in fact trade him.

There are only a few teams that even have space at DH, much less the room. Even if Boston eats half his money and a team's getting him for 3/33, you're clogging DH for the next 3 years with a guy who might be completely shot offensively, as well. A team like Tampa or Oakland can't do that. Cleveland's pretty thrifty, too. Seattle?

Obviously somebody's going to be interested for the right price, it's just a matter of how much Boston's willing to eat. I think they'd jump at paying off half of it.

 

[Balco]

Why even bother trying to to trade Hanley? What team would possibly take him even if Boston eats half the contract. He was find pre all star break, then got hurt and scuttled rest of the way. Won't earn his contract (or close to it), but no reason, health permitting, he can't hit .280 with 25 homers,

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Why even bother trying to to trade Hanley? What team would possibly take him even if Boston eats half the contract. He was find pre all star break, then got hurt and scuttled rest of the way. Won't earn his contract (or close to it), but no reason, health permitting, he can't hit .280 with 25 homers,

Playing where?

 

[RnR]

Presumably Boston. I don't think he's wrong. .280/25 does seem obtainable given good health (which isn't a given).

 

[pantagrapher]

Cueto reportedly turned down 6/120 from the Diamondbacks.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Outfielder Chris Young to Boston. Fenway's a good fit for a righty who pulls everything, but Bradley and Betts are also righties (and superior fielders). So he might be a platoon-mate for Castillo and a backup to the other two...or, there's another shoe that's going to drop here.

 

[jfranco77]

Outfielder Chris Young to Boston. Fenway's a good fit for a righty who pulls everything, but Bradley and Betts are also righties (and superior fielders). So he might be a platoon-mate for Castillo and a backup to the other two...or, there's another shoe that's going to drop here.

Big Papi quietly hit .231/.277/.426 against lefties last year. Now, Bradley and Betts and even Castillo don't exactly need time at DH, but at least this gives them a righty caddie for Ortiz.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Outfielder Chris Young to Boston. Fenway's a good fit for a righty who pulls everything, but Bradley and Betts are also righties (and superior fielders). So he might be a platoon-mate for Castillo and a backup to the other two...or, there's another shoe that's going to drop here.

Big Papi quietly hit .231/.277/.426 against lefties last year. Now, Bradley and Betts and even Castillo don't exactly need time at DH, but at least this gives them a righty caddie for Ortiz.

That's a good point. And he's versatile in the OF, so there's that.

I guess Shaw is the 1B unless they come up with someone better in free agency? He seemed pretty solid down the stretch last year.

 

[jfranco77]

Outfielder Chris Young to Boston. Fenway's a good fit for a righty who pulls everything, but Bradley and Betts are also righties (and superior fielders). So he might be a platoon-mate for Castillo and a backup to the other two...or, there's another shoe that's going to drop here.

Big Papi quietly hit .231/.277/.426 against lefties last year. Now, Bradley and Betts and even Castillo don't exactly need time at DH, but at least this gives them a righty caddie for Ortiz.

That's a good point. And he's versatile in the OF, so there's that.

I guess Shaw is the 1B unless they come up with someone better in free agency? He seemed pretty solid down the stretch last year.

Until they trade him, Hanley is the 1B. That will go well.

:clank:

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Outfielder Chris Young to Boston. Fenway's a good fit for a righty who pulls everything, but Bradley and Betts are also righties (and superior fielders). So he might be a platoon-mate for Castillo and a backup to the other two...or, there's another shoe that's going to drop here.

Big Papi quietly hit .231/.277/.426 against lefties last year. Now, Bradley and Betts and even Castillo don't exactly need time at DH, but at least this gives them a righty caddie for Ortiz.

That's a good point. And he's versatile in the OF, so there's that.

I guess Shaw is the 1B unless they come up with someone better in free agency? He seemed pretty solid down the stretch last year.

Until they trade him, Hanley is the 1B. That will go well.

:clank:

Fourth position is a charm?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Park reportedly agrees with the Twins for 12mm over 4 years, with a team option for a 5th.

 

[Frostillicus]

Park reportedly agrees with the Twins for 12mm over 4 years, with a team option for a 5th.

Team option is $6.5 with a $500k buyout. Seems like a pretty good deal.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Park reportedly agrees with the Twins for 12mm over 4 years, with a team option for a 5th.

Team option is $6.5 with a $500k buyout. Seems like a pretty good deal.

Even taking the posting auction money into account, this sure seems like a good deal. If he's any good at all this contract is a steal.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Don't wanna piss on anyone's cornflakes but Eric Thames had 47 HR and 140 RBI in the KBO last year.

OK I want to piss on Frosty's cornflakes.

 

[Frostillicus]

Don't wanna piss on anyone's cornflakes but Eric Thames had 47 HR and 140 RBI in the KBO last year.

OK I want to piss on Frosty's cornflakes.

Yeah you're just being mean.

Besides, Eric Thames maybe became really good.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Price to the Sox for 7/217

 

[Limp Ditka]

Price to the Sox for 7/217

Hate to root against the guy, but it begins now

 

[Northern Voice]

They'll still suck.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

3 year opt out

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Price to the Sox for 7/217

Hate to root against the guy, but it begins now

Yep.

 

[Eephus]

Price can afford to buy a bunch of Byung-Ho Parks

 

[Capella]

31 mil a year for Price