2013-14 MLB Off Season Thread
 

This is clearly an off-season topic so the Hot Stove League begins.

Reds are actively trying to trade Brandon Phillips who has apparently become a real problem.

The Real McCoy | www.daytondailynews.com

The leading rumor seems to be Atlanta ... but I have an incredibly tough time seeing that happening. The Braves historically shun players who have any personality at all, much less a personality as volatile as Phillips.

Maybe it's a different clubhouse with Chipper gone though, might be willing to acquire a player that doesn't hunt, dip or mudbog.

LA is already looking at locking up Kershaw. Good for them. I was thinking 5/6yr deal, but this seems to blow that idea out of the water.

Clayton Kershaw offered deal in $300M range by Los Angeles Dodgers, source says - ESPN Los Angeles

I saw that yesterday and $300M seems insane for any player, but especially a pitcher. I hope Uncle Neddy does it because if LA actually spent their money wisely, the rest of baseball could be in trouble.

SI

I predict the Royals will lock in some mediocre talent for too much, trade too many prospects for players not worth what they gave away, and pat themselves on the back for it

The only unexpected part is which names to plug into the mad lib. Do they sign Cruz to a stupid deal to get a "run producer" or do they do something like trade for Phillips or Kinsler, not realizing that those guys aren't worth the salary they will be making for the life of the contract? Do they overpay to keep Ervin Santana and buy high after the smart buy low last offseason? Do they tender players like Luke Hochevar and Emilio Bonifacio despite the fact that they won't be worth their arbitration salaries?

It's now "will Dayton screw things up" but "how"

SI

I predict that LA brings in some more offensive punch, trades Either, signs a new 2b, and 3b, and locks up Kershaw.

Even more concerning, god tends to send plagues in sets of ten. This would just be the first...

The Reds have to make some difficult choices. As is they need to somehow improve while losing their second best hitter. There isn't any help for 2014 in the minors and at best the Reds will have 10 mil to spend. The only way to improve is to trade pieces of the lineup and hope the production plus savings improve the team.

This will be Jocketty's most difficult off-season.

Reports coming out that Tim Lincecum will test the free agent market. Local stations claiming that this is just posturing and negotiations, but I have a sad feeling that Timmy will be pitching in a different uniform next year.

Apparently the Giants offered him a two year deal, and he didn't like that idea. I'm assuming it's going to take 3+ years at around $45M total to get him.

The dodgers are printing money at this point and Kershaw needs to be signed. Not sure this constitutes unwise.

I think he is referring to the ease at which they are spending money at this point. As in, if they went for more value picks and improved all the areas with that money, instead of spending wildly here and there.

Clearly the massive salary that they took on over the last year and a half will not continue. The team needed names that would put butts back in the seats and put some marks in the W column. They achieved that, and then some.

I think that they will move more toward the value picks here and there, while not being afraid to spend the big money to bring in the guys, more like the Yankees have done in the past. I wouldn't expect them to just blow money out the window to just grab the biggest names that happen to be available.

Wouldn't that guarantee the exit of McCann? Maybe that is the case anyway but there is no way Phillips and McCann co-exist in Turner Field much less the Braves clubhouse.

i didnt think the braves were even considering McCann at this point...

Well, I cant think of one big name signing that they'll be making in this offseason. Cano is possibly, but unless he learns to play third and takes half as many years, it's probably not a match

I believe they might give it lip service but that's about it. I don't expect him to be back.

I don't expect the Dodgers to be big players in free agency this year. They're not going to give Cano ten years, and if the contract is 5 years, I expect the Yankees to win that bid anyway.

OTOH, there's talks of trading for Price and I think that's just as unrealistic. The farm doesn't have the pieces to be a big player in the trade market right now, either. Lock up Kershaw. You've then got Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu for sure in the rotation with Billingsley and Beckett coming back. If you don't trust either one of them to be ready to go for Opening Day, either retain Nolasco or see about Tanaka in international free agency. Stephen Fife is also a #5 starter option who could give the Dodgers solid innings without being an eight figure salary.

Offensively, the issues are going to be 2B and 3B. If you can get a cromulent 2B bat without breaking the bank, you can try to retain Uribe for defense (or find another glove-first 3B type). I'm not looking for All-Star offensive production. Just...not an offensive liability.

Not sure the Dodgers should be looking to trade away OFs at this point. Crawford, Kemp and Ethier all have health-related question marks.

If you move one, you remove one of those question marks, but then you still have to find offense to slot in there for when one of the other two misses time in 2014 (as you have to assume one or both will, and then hope you get lucky and they DON'T).

The Dodgers should sign Arroyo. He'd be a great 4th starter for them.

Cardinals need a SS and a CFer. A LH SP would be nice as well.
I imagine they will sign Beltran to a one year deal.

Cards have lots of trade bait. Young pitchers that need to be moved. SP Lynn will probably be traded.

I do believe the Dodgers are trying to sign that Cuban 2B, but who knows if he can make the transition.

NATS need... a manager, and a 5th starter.

I have no idea what the Phillies will do this off-season. . .except continue their descent into mediocrity.

Which is as it should be.

2008 must still sting, huh?

Fuck the Phillies. That's all I'm sayin'. :)

+1

The Yankees have a lot of money coming off the books so I expect them to make a splash. If A-Rod is suspended for all of 2014 then that's another $27 million for them to spend. Besides re-signing Cano I think they'll go after McCann and if they can't get Granderson back for cheap they'll try to get Beltran. They desperately need a C and RF. Probably need a SP as well. They want to get under $189 million but will still have a lot to spend.

Mets won't do anything with the money they have. I'm done.

Jimmy L is stepping down.

COME TO BOSTON TIMMAH!!!!!!

Did they learn nothing from the Giants Zito-deal?

Thank God.

Kershaw is like vastly better than Zito ever was.

Yes, because the Tigers had so much success before he got here. Clearly, he was the problem.

When was the last time the Tigers made it to the post-season before Leyland was managing? Last time they made it to the ALCS? The World Series?

It's all because of Leyland? Not Verlander, Cabrera, etc?

Interestingly enough, Detroit is Leyland's first managerial job where he's had a winning record.

How many games has Leyland thrown away because of his stubborn, old-fashioined, bone-headed moves and non-moves? A hell of a lot more than he's won.

He was given it all to win, and he didn't do everything he could have with it. If the Tigers weren't in the AL Central, the Tigers would have been lucky to make the playoffs after '06.

He's easily the best manager the Tigers have had since Sparky Anderson.

While it's possible whoever replaces Leyland will be an upgrade, I think it's unlikely.

He took far too much blame for losses and never much credit for wins. I believe he played a large role in the Tigers' success these past few years.

If he had a mediocre roster, I would agree with you; however, he was given all the tools and players anyone could have wanted, and he was just ok.

Anyway, we'll just have to disagree.

Still. How often have ginormous "lifetime deals" to pitchers ever worked out?

The next one will be the first.

Too much risk.

The Sabathia deal has worked out pretty damned well for the Yankees - even with his below par season this year.

So making it to the ALCS is just ok?

With this roster? Yes. Barely.

Scioscia makes stupid decisions all the time, and he is stubborn as hell. He overvalues defensive ability behind the plate at the cost of offensive ability. He plays too many punch and judy hitters over more powerful hitters (when he has them). The Angels have not won the AL West since 2009 and have missed the playoffs four years running, which is maddening for a team with this payroll.

All that said, no way in hell would I consider firing Scioscia.

You Detroit fans will miss Jim Leyland if you don't get an absolute stud to replace him.

The odds of any MLB team winning any playoff series have to be right around 50%, maybe bumped up slightly due to starting pitching and home field advantage. (It looks like the Red Sox were very slight Vegas favorites in the ALCS). It seems like a lot of evaluation of managers is based on these series coin flips. Unless there's some glaring decision you can point too (like maybe Grady Little in '03), I don't think you can really blame a manager for almost any playoff series loss.

I tend to agree with Schmidty here. Leyland did not do near enough with the talent and payroll that he had at his disposal. With an owner like Illitch, who put so much into this team to win a world series, Leyland was ultimately a failure in Detroit. Getting blown out in 2 world series and winning a mediocre AL central is just not good enough.

Now, who comes in to take over a loaded team with some bullpen issues and a bloated contract for a bloated player (Fielder)? It looks to be a great gig despite those issues, but who will it be?

I'd love to have Scioscia back in Dodger blue. That's where he belongs anyway.

FUCKING GRADY LITTLE!!!!

Dodgers lock up Cuban infielder.

Los Angeles Dodgers reach deal with Cuban infield prospect Alexander Guerrero | MLB.com: News

dola

Mattingly goes public over frustrations dealing with contract status after team source says he will be back. Maybe they'll have second thoughts now?

Don Mattingly of Los Angeles Dodgers uncertain of return despite option - ESPN Los Angeles

ohpleaseohpleaseohplease

Let him go manage someone else.

How many three..err..two time Cy Young winners have come across FA when they are 26?

Yes, they don't "work" but it's not like long contracts have been around since 1920