***Official 2017-18 Hot Stove League Thread: Peter Bourjos & Ryan Flaherty are signs the end is near (1 Viewer)

[rodg12]

No penalties announced yet for Braves.  Presumably they'll involve some prospects reverting to FA status and loss of future bonus pool money. 

The big question is whether Kevin Maitan will be thrown back into the pool, although his disappointing Rookie League showing has tempered some of the hype,  He's still just 17 though.

Maitan indeed becoming a FA:

https://www.baseballamerica.com/international/mlb-removing-prospects-braves/

 

[bigmarc27]

Maitan indeed becoming a FA:

https://www.baseballamerica.com/international/mlb-removing-prospects-braves/

I’ll be curious what he gets in a new deal. I’ve read a good bit that he’s lost some luster, so I’m kind of curious if he’s gonna pull in an extra $3M?  2M?  We’ll see. 

The punishment will suck... Coppy really boned us. 

 

[Eephus]

Venezuelan catching prospect Abrahan Gutierrez is also ruled a FA.  He doesn't have the hype of Maitan but had a better Rookie League season with the bat.

 

[bigmarc27]

Venezuelan catching prospect Abrahan Gutierrez is also ruled a FA.  He doesn't have the hype of Maitan but had a better Rookie League season with the bat.

Just added two more... top 4 signings from that class gone. Maitan obviously the biggest fish. 

 

[Limp Ditka]

They at least got something in return, but it only took about 12 minutes for Jeets to help out his buddies in the Bronx.

Its not like we're signing anyone from the intl market, so here, take our $.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Just added two more... top 4 signings from that class gone. Maitan obviously the biggest fish. 

12 total players. From the rotoworld blurb

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Kevin Maitan is one of 12 players on the Braves expected to become a free agent as a result of MLB's investigation into the club's international and domestic signing violations. MLB isn't messing around. In addition to losing the prospects, Passan reports that the Braves will be subject to significant restrictions in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 international free agent classes. The club will also lose a third-round pick in 2018 for trying to offer "off-the-books perks" to Drew Waters, who was the 41st overall pick in this year's draft. Finally, the team will be banned from signing 14-year-old Robert Puason after illegally reaching an agreement.

 

[bigmarc27]

12 total players. From the rotoworld blurb

Honestly, I’m fine with the 12. Whatever. If Coppolela did it, then he did it and there should be a punishment.

My problem is: “As the investigation into the Braves unfolded, executives around baseball agreed that other teams disregard the rules in similar fashion to Atlanta. The Braves were simply the ones caught. And the severity of the penalties go beyond merely losing players and facing restrictions going forward: Between the signing bonuses and penalties for exceeding their bonus pool, the Braves will have paid well over $20 million to players who no longer are part of their organization.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-hammers-atlanta-braves-declaring-12-minor-league-players-free-agents-201314625.html

So... there’s aknowledgement that others do the same things, but you’re not going to investigate them?

 

[Limp Ditka]

That's very Goodellish. Which, regardless of the word good being in there, is the farthest thing from a compliment. 

 

[rodg12]

Apparently all these players get to keep the money the Braves gave them. Possibly an interesting subplot to this when they sign with their new teams.

 

[Eephus]

Apparently all these players get to keep the money the Braves gave them. Possibly an interesting subplot to this when they sign with their new teams.

Not even the NFL would take away the kids' bonuses.  That's not to say they wouldn't think about doing it though.

 

[Northern Voice]

And they traded yet another first baseman, Danny Valencia, to them in about this time last year. 

... and Healy and Valencia are basically the same player. Valencia for what it's worth was at Jose Bautista's wedding on the weekend.

 

[Northern Voice]

12 total players. From the rotoworld blurb

All prospects, so Anthopolous would have traded them by the new year anyway.

 

[Northern Voice]

Jays expected to sign 15 year old SS Orelvis Martinez, apparently a/the top international free agent in 2018 for more than $3 million - but the signing window doesn't open until July 2, 2018.  Toronto has always been very aggressive on international rookies (Vlad bring the most recent success) which makes me a little nervous given the Braves news yesterday.

 

[Kraft...]

So do the players jettisoned by the Braves fall under the international pool or are they just straight up FAs now? 

 

[Eephus]

As I understand it, the Braves prospects are still subject to international bonus pool restrictions.  Teams will be able to defer the bonus to come out of the 2018-19 pool but they aren't able to split the bonus between the current period's pool and next year's.

 

[Hilts]

Joe Morgan wrote a letter speaking out against steroid users going into the HoF, now facing an outcry from baseball writers of America. 

Morgan was an idiot announcer, not sure why this should really surprise anyone. It's just a shame his opinion holds any weight. 

 

[Limp Ditka]

If the Yankees are going to keep toying around with the idea of hiring one of these no experience clowns like Aaron F'in' Boone and Carlos Beltran, the real play here is to hire Hideki Matsui to help lure Ohtani

 

[Eephus]

If the Yankees are going to keep toying around with the idea of hiring one of these no experience clowns like Aaron F'in' Boone and Carlos Beltran, the real play here is to hire Hideki Matsui to help lure Ohtani

The Boss would have hired and fired Girardi's replacement by now.

 

[Eephus]

Doug Fister signs with Texas for 1/$4M with incentives and a team option year.

He showed dramatic improvement in his K/9 rate in his age 33 season and Fangraphs shows his velocity was up over the past few season.   I don't know if throwing harder is a sustainable solution for an old pitcher with a long injury history but Fister knows how to pitch as long as his arm holds up. 

I think it's a good signing as long as the Rangers have a plan B to fall back on.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Doug Fister signs with Texas for 1/$4M with incentives and a team option year.

He showed dramatic improvement in his K/9 rate in his age 33 season and Fangraphs shows his velocity was up over the past few season.   I don't know if throwing harder is a sustainable solution for an old pitcher with a long injury history but Fister knows how to pitch as long as his arm holds up. 

I think it's a good signing as long as the Rangers have a plan B to fall back on.

Def. a good signing for that price.

 

[Wrigley]

Doug Fister signs with Texas for 1/$4M with incentives and a team option year.

He showed dramatic improvement in his K/9 rate in his age 33 season and Fangraphs shows his velocity was up over the past few season.   I don't know if throwing harder is a sustainable solution for an old pitcher with a long injury history but Fister knows how to pitch as long as his arm holds up. 

I think it's a good signing as long as the Rangers have a plan B to fall back on.

I’m sorry, but I still giggle when I hear his name 

yes, I still am a little kid at heart 

 

[Eephus]

I’m sorry, but I still giggle when I hear his name 

yes, I still am a little kid at heart 

Fister for Furbush is a classic

 

[Limp Ditka]

While the spelling is different, I've been chuckling about the name since the first time I passed the old Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee

 

[Eephus]

I used to carry my keys on a key ring from Milwaukee-based realtors Head & Seaman.

ETA:   ...and this is what you get when nothing is happening in the Hot Stove League.  Shame on MLB for promoting this childishness.

 

[shadyridr]

If the Yankees are going to keep toying around with the idea of hiring one of these no experience clowns like Aaron F'in' Boone and Carlos Beltran, the real play here is to hire Hideki Matsui to help lure Ohtani

They must've really hated girardi

 

[SoCalBroncoFan]

I wish the Giants would have signed Fister. Then we would have had the battery of Fister-Posey every 5 days.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I’m sorry, but I still giggle when I hear his name 

yes, I still am a little kid at heart 

Same for when I hear the name of long-time pitching coach, **** Pole. 

 

[jfranco77]

Red Sox interested in Jose Abreu. White Sox found out that Boston still has prospects left. 

 

[E-Z Glider]

It pains me greatly to imagine a Yankees team in a few years with Judge, Harper and Otani, but it feels almost inevitable at this point.   

 

[Eephus]

We have a trade.  Tampa Bay sends RP Brad Boxberger to Arizona for Canadian RHP Curtis Taylor.

Boxberger could be in the mix for SV because Fernando Rodney is a FA and the Dbacks don't seem to want to put Archie Bradley in that role.  Either way, Boxberger provides some bullpen depth with Randall Delgado's status uncertain.

Taylor is a 2016 draft pick out of college.  He's a big guy with decent numbers in A ball but was shut down early due to shoulder problems.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Fat, in no way passes the eye test, has bounced around, surprisingly strong productivity, Yusmeiro Petit, come on down!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

We have a trade.  Tampa Bay sends RP Brad Boxberger to Arizona for Canadian RHP Curtis Taylor.

Boxberger could be in the mix for SV because Fernando Rodney is a FA and the Dbacks don't seem to want to put Archie Bradley in that role.  Either way, Boxberger provides some bullpen depth with Randall Delgado's status uncertain.

Taylor is a 2016 draft pick out of college.  He's a big guy with decent numbers in A ball but was shut down early due to shoulder problems.

Boxberger probably a worthwhile gamble, but there's still some work to be done in re: his control.

 

[Eephus]

Fat, in no way passes the eye test, has bounced around, surprisingly strong productivity, Yusmeiro Petit, come on down!

I always liked Petit when he was with the Giants.  He's a flexible arm that can pitch in any role.  He has good command who can be effective if he keeps the ball in the park.

I'm glad he was able to turn his good year with the Anaheims into an eight figure contract.

 

[jfranco77]

We have a trade.  Tampa Bay sends RP Brad Boxberger to Arizona for Canadian RHP Curtis Taylor.

Boxberger could be in the mix for SV because Fernando Rodney is a FA and the Dbacks don't seem to want to put Archie Bradley in that role.  Either way, Boxberger provides some bullpen depth with Randall Delgado's status uncertain.

Taylor is a 2016 draft pick out of college.  He's a big guy with decent numbers in A ball but was shut down early due to shoulder problems.

Rays are going to trade Colome and sign Rodney, aren't they? 

 

[Limp Ditka]

Jim Johnson goes from Braves to Anaheims for some schlub and intl pool space

 

[Eephus]

Jim Johnson goes from Braves to Anaheims for some schlub and intl pool space

The Braves need international pool space for some reason

 

[Limp Ditka]

Read it wrong. Anaheim's getting the pool space too? Weird

 

[Eephus]

Read it wrong. Anaheim's getting the pool space too? Weird

My link

 

[jfranco77]

Read it wrong. Anaheim's getting the pool space too? Weird

Getting Johnson off their books by bribing the Angels with pool money they can't use? I guess?

 

[Eephus]

From Jon Heyman
 

The San Diego Padres aren’t kidding about their interest in free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer. While they haven’t yet made a formal presentation to Hosmer, they have laid out potential plans and seem serious about this pursuit.

The Padres have never spent more than $83 million on a player (what they gave to current first baseman Wil Myers) and haven’t necessarily come into a stash of new cash. So don’t expect them to be vying for a bunch of top free agents this winter (for instance, look for them to try to fill out their rotation with cost-efficient signings like they did last year) – it may be just Hosmer they like.

The attraction to Hosmer is thought to be based on a belief he’d make a great youngish leader for a team on the rise, and Hosmer’s bona fides in this area are well-known as the leader of a Royals team that twice made the World Series and won it once. And even if they aren’t going to win in the short-term, Hosmer would get a very long deal, meaning he’d potentially line up OK for them in terms of timing.

Hosmer is an interesting case, since some analytics-favoring people will downgrade him based on a high BABIP, high groundball rate and average defensive metrics. However, there are teams that give those numbers somewhat lower weight, and San Diego apparently is one of those teams.

 

[Northern Voice]

From Jon Heyman
 

I can't wait for someone to give him 100M plus for "leadership"

 

[AnonymousBob]

Fat, in no way passes the eye test, has bounced around, surprisingly strong productivity, Yusmeiro Petit, come on down!

Don't worry, they're not done yet. They're planning on taking their 300k limit and throwing it at Ohtani, selling him on the fact Melvin knows Ichiro, Oakland is close to Japan, and they might get a new stadium someday. They also plan to let him pitch, DH, and play in the outfield. 

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Fish are reportedly willing to accept Panik, Shaw (#11th ranked prospect) and Beede (#2), and eat $40mm, to trade Stanton to SF, who would take on the remaining quarter billy.

Stanton's 28, with 3 + 7 years left on his contract, and he's huge, it seems inevitable that he's going to end up at 1B. He already isn't a good defender.

 

[mr fancypants]

Fish are reportedly willing to accept Panik, Shaw (#11th ranked prospect) and Beede (#2), and eat $40mm, to trade Stanton to SF, who would take on the remaining quarter billy.

Stanton's 28, with 3 + 7 years left on his contract, and he's huge, it seems inevitable that he's going to end up at 1B. He already isn't a good defender.

It almost seems like reliving the Barry Bonds era part deux.

 

[Eephus]

It's a ridiculous contract of course but Panik and two prospects with limited upside isn't much to give up for a superstar in his prime.  The Giants will be getting further into Dodgers/Yankees territory with respect to payroll. 

It didn't end well but the Bonds era was a lot of fun.  Barry never stopped hitting.  It wasn't his fault that Sabean surrounded him with worse and worse talent.  The Giants have improved their scouting and development since then and It's not my money anyway.

 

[shadyridr]

I can't wait for someone to give him 100M plus for "leadership"

Huh? He had a GREAT year. 4.0 WAR, .882 OPS, 25HR, 94RBI, played every game, plays great defense, and only 27 years old. Why isn't he worth a big deal?

 

[the moops]

Huh? He had a GREAT year. 4.0 WAR, .882 OPS, 25HR, 94RBI, played every game, plays great defense, and only 27 years old. Why isn't he worth a big deal?

He did have a great year. He sucked balls in 2016 and 2014 though and his defensive reputation is overrated.

There are also a glut of 1B on the market who will provide nearly as much value for a much cheaper price.

 

[shadyridr]

He did have a great year. He sucked balls in 2016 and 2014 though and his defensive reputation is overrated.

There are also a glut of 1B on the market who will provide nearly as much value for a much cheaper price.

yeah it very may well have been a "contract year"

 

[AnonymousBob]

Hate Stanton being able to opt out. That really limits his value to whoever gets him, but if that's all it costs the Giants it's a pretty good get. 

 

[Eephus]

I disagree.  The opt out would be a great thing for the team.  3/$75M is much better than 10/$290.  The long tail of the contract to age 38 is Stanton's biggest negative.