2013-14 MLB Off Season Thread

[sterlingice]

From what I heard, tho didn't quite understand it, MLB was just going to let it be open season on NPB players instead (no need for a posting system).

SI

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Arles

I'm not sure any of these guys are any good. Eaton has been hurt all the time and had marginal success and Skaggs was OK in both the majors and minors last year. At least Trumbo has shown he can play (albeit they bought high on him).

If Arizona can sign a decent FA OF, they make out pretty well here. The bloom is off the rose on Skaggs (unless you just play him in AAA).

Even if you think Eaton will always be injured, if you just wanted power you could've re(ish)-signed Chris Young, who at least plays above average defense and can cover CF if necessary. Career .235/.315/.431 vs. .250/.299/.469.

I guess you could say neither Eaton, Skaggs (or Bauer in Cleveland) has had any MLB success, or you could look a them like the 21y/o pitchers the latter two are. Serious question - what do you think Archie Bradley, or even a Matt Davidson is worth?

Originally Posted by cartman

So the MLB and NPB have agreed to a new posting system. The max bid is $20 million, and if more than 1 team ties with the highest bid, the player can negotiate with any of the tied teams.

After Yu's old team got $50 million, not sure why the Japanese league agreed to a max of $20 million.

Part of the thinking is that some Japanese teams wanted to decrease the incentive to post players, thus keeping the best Japanese players in NPB longer and reducing the increasing perception that they're a AAAA feeder to MLB, but instead an equal. Looks dumb from this side of the ocean, but those teams get most of their revenue from Japanese people buying tickets and Japanese TV rights, so hard to say they're wrong. The other likely part is that only 2 teams have had a player who got $50m+, and it didn't need unanimous approval to get passed.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Even if you think Eaton will always be injured, if you just wanted power you could've re(ish)-signed Chris Young, who at least plays above average defense and can cover CF if necessary. Career .235/.315/.431 vs. .250/.299/.469.

Young is going the wrong way and 30+ years old. Trumbo's gotten better over the last 2 seasons, is 27 and entering his prime. Young has been like this:
2010 - .257/.341/.452
2011 - .236/.331/.420
2012 - .231/.311/.434
2013 - .200/.280/.379

Heck, with that logic, why not sign Eric Byrnes? His career numbers are .258/.320/.439

I guess you could say neither Eaton, Skaggs (or Bauer in Cleveland) has had any MLB success, or you could look a them like the 21y/o pitchers the latter two are.

Skaggs is never going to be better than a No. 3 with his control issues. Eaton is a poor man's Geraldo Parra with more speed, less bat and injury concerns. What are you losing by letting either go? Skaggs has struggled lately and was going to lost value each season he didn't make the rotation. Eaton was their 4th OF and not hard to replace with Pollack and Parra already better than him. Trumbo is no great prize, but he has had three straight seasons with 29+ HR and is just 27. It's not like AZ gave up a ton to get him - neither were even top 5 prospects in the organization.

Serious question - what do you think Archie Bradley, or even a Matt Davidson is worth?

Both are better prospects than Skaggs or Eaton - esp Bradley. Eaton looked great in hitter-friendly Reno, but couldn't hit .260 with no pop in the majors. Skaggs walked a lot of guys and gave up a bunch of long balls. Not a great combo for a starter. Both could be nice players when they mature, but Trumbo is already a solid player with a skill Arizona needs (power). Bradley is a top 10 prospect across the board. Overall, I'd say the deal was a good one for the Angels, but I don't see Arizona getting fleeced here. It's doubtful Eaton or Skaggs would have played a meaningful role on their team for the next few years.

[Chief Rum]

I'm as big a fan of Trumbo as anyone and I am sorry to see him go.

That said, Arles, you'll need to remove the DBack glasses on this one. Trumbo took a marked step back this past season, with his worst AVG, OPS and OPS+ yet. He only achieved career highs in HRs and RBIs because he had the most ABs of his career. Trumbo is a subpar runner at best, and is atrocious defensively everywhere except first base, which he won't play for the DBacks.

He is a very streaky hitter as well, and when he goes into a funk it is fittingly Grand Canyon sized. He hasn't shown much ability to adjust, and you have to be concerned that his OPS drop this season is less about a bad season and more about the league adjusting to him and him not adjusting very well back.

And, like I said, this is coming from a fan who actually likes Trumbo quite a bit.

You'll love the power when you get it, but he will frustrate you far more often.

[oykib]

There's going to be a ban on Home plate collisions next year, it seems like.

[Lathum]

Bartolo Colon are you fucking kidding me.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Bartolo Colon are you fucking kidding me.

I hate this deal for the mets... but only because I want them to continue to be a joke of a franchise.


cant fathom why it would be bad to pay very little to a durable pitcher to bridge innings until your young pitchers were ready.

I think Harvey should be the opening day starter!

[ISiddiqui]

Claphamsa is right. This is a decent deal. Cheap for an innings workhouse.

[cartman]

The Rangers took Russell Wilson (yes, THAT Russell Wilson) in the Rule 5 draft. At least he has something to fall back on if that whole quarterbacking thing doesn't work out.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I'm as big a fan of Trumbo as anyone and I am sorry to see him go.

That said, Arles, you'll need to remove the DBack glasses on this one. Trumbo took a marked step back this past season, with his worst AVG, OPS and OPS+ yet. He only achieved career highs in HRs and RBIs because he had the most ABs of his career. Trumbo is a subpar runner at best, and is atrocious defensively everywhere except first base, which he won't play for the DBacks.

He is a very streaky hitter as well, and when he goes into a funk it is fittingly Grand Canyon sized. He hasn't shown much ability to adjust, and you have to be concerned that his OPS drop this season is less about a bad season and more about the league adjusting to him and him not adjusting very well back.

And, like I said, this is coming from a fan who actually likes Trumbo quite a bit.

You'll love the power when you get it, but he will frustrate you far more often.

I think the side of the Dbacks is higher on Trumbo than they should be. But, I also think the Angels side is higher on Eaton/Skaggs than is warranted. There's a tendency in deals to take the side of the cheaper/higher upside potential in trades. And, there's no doubt that is the Angels end in this trade. However, after watching Eaton and Skaggs for 2+ seasons, I don't see either as being a big loss when it comes to the major league roster the next few seasons. Trumbo isn't a world beater, but I think he is (will be) a better pro than either Eaton or Skaggs for the next 2-3 seasons. So, from that perspective, I think it's a solid deal for Arizona. In other words, I think swapping Eaton and Skaggs for Trumbo+FA guys/other prospects will result in more wins for Arizona than keeping those two and not having Trumbo.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by cartman

The Rangers took Russell Wilson (yes, THAT Russell Wilson) in the Rule 5 draft. At least he has something to fall back on if that whole quarterbacking thing doesn't work out.

As the reports out of Seattle go, supposedly the Rangers want him to come in and talk to the team during spring training. Wilson has already asked if he'd be able to take BP and grounders while he's there. If I were ever in his position, I'd probably do the same, lol.

[jbergey22]

Phillies with another big signing, lol.... Roberto Hernandez

Yankees offering Omar Infante a contract 3yrs/24 million. Yankees turned down the Phillips/Gardner trade.

Giants signing Mike Morse.

Twins looking for a 3rd free agent starting pitcher. Last I heard it was Arroyo.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Arles

Young is going the wrong way and 30+ years old. Trumbo's gotten better over the last 2 seasons, is 27 and entering his prime. Young has been like this:
2010 - .257/.341/.452
2011 - .236/.331/.420
2012 - .231/.311/.434
2013 - .200/.280/.379

Heck, with that logic, why not sign Eric Byrnes? His career numbers are .258/.320/.439


Skaggs is never going to be better than a No. 3 with his control issues. Eaton is a poor man's Geraldo Parra with more speed, less bat and injury concerns. What are you losing by letting either go? Skaggs has struggled lately and was going to lost value each season he didn't make the rotation. Eaton was their 4th OF and not hard to replace with Pollack and Parra already better than him. Trumbo is no great prize, but he has had three straight seasons with 29+ HR and is just 27. It's not like AZ gave up a ton to get him - neither were even top 5 prospects in the organization.


Both are better prospects than Skaggs or Eaton - esp Bradley. Eaton looked great in hitter-friendly Reno, but couldn't hit .260 with no pop in the majors. Skaggs walked a lot of guys and gave up a bunch of long balls. Not a great combo for a starter. Both could be nice players when they mature, but Trumbo is already a solid player with a skill Arizona needs (power). Bradley is a top 10 prospect across the board. Overall, I'd say the deal was a good one for the Angels, but I don't see Arizona getting fleeced here. It's doubtful Eaton or Skaggs would have played a meaningful role on their team for the next few years.

The only real problem I see in this trade for the Diamondbacks is where they plan on playing Trumbo. I think I would have rather had a hitter from the left handed side of the plate(to protect Goldy better) and play better corner OF defense. I guess I wasnt impressed with Eaton but I thought Skaggs showed flashes of talent.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Travis

As the reports out of Seattle go, supposedly the Rangers want him to come in and talk to the team during spring training. Wilson has already asked if he'd be able to take BP and grounders while he's there. If I were ever in his position, I'd probably do the same, lol.

Remember that this is why he left NC State - O'Brien wanted him to concentrate on football, Russell wanted to play baseball. So he transferred to Wisconsin, where I believe he concentrated on football after all.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Claphamsa is right. This is a decent deal. Cheap for an innings workhouse.

Disagree big time.

First off, when did 20 million become cheap? I would rather use that money to bolster the bullpen.

Colon is 40 and overweight coming off a PED suspension so he won't have the drugs to fight off injury/ help recovery. History shows older guys tank once they come off the PEDs and suffer tons of injuries.

I think this turns into a mess.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Disagree big time.

First off, when did 20 million become cheap? I would rather use that money to bolster the bullpen.

Colon is 40 and overweight coming off a PED suspension so he won't have the drugs to fight off injury/ help recovery. History shows older guys tank once they come off the PEDs and suffer tons of injuries.

I think this turns into a mess.

The money situation confuses me this year as well. I am having a hard time understanding how much money is being given to mediocre players.

As far as Colon I think I agree. A signing like that should be for a team that really think they are a World Series contender and need to fill a hole. I think if I was someone like the Mets Id be looking at younger options that can possibly stick around for awhile. Not sure what a 40 year old ticking time bomb is going to really do for them.

[JPhillips]

I don't mind the Colon signing for this year, but I hate the second year.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Lathum

First off, when did 20 million become cheap?

$10mil a year is fairly cheap for a veteran starter. Has been for a little bit.

[jbergey22]

I believe it was 20 years ago where Kirby Puckett was the first 3 million/per player. If we continue at this rate midlin pitchers will be making 30 million/per in another 20 years.

[ISiddiqui]

Which is fine considering how much baseball rakes in profits compared to 20 years ago.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

The money situation confuses me this year as well. I am having a hard time understanding how much money is being given to mediocre players.

As far as Colon I think I agree. A signing like that should be for a team that really think they are a World Series contender and need to fill a hole. I think if I was someone like the Mets Id be looking at younger options that can possibly stick around for awhile. Not sure what a 40 year old ticking time bomb is going to really do for them.

I see this as the opposite, they know they wont be competitive next year, and they need someone who can soak up innings...

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

I see this as the opposite, they know they wont be competitive next year, and they need someone who can soak up innings...

That is fair. Teams need inning eaters especially with a young staff.

I think having an open spot in the rotation can help you build up a pitchers trade value or gives you the opportunity to see more players. Or sometimes it can prove to you that you have nothing(like the Twins last year) and force you to move forward with different planning.

Each has a benefit. I guess I am not sure what the Mets goals are for this year.

[Lathum]

This just stinks of the same cycle the Mets were in during the early- mid 2000s. Overpaying for past their prime all stars. Mo Vaughn, Glavine, KRod, etc...

They are actually doing a good job developing young talent, I don't want to see them go away from that.

[Logan]

As said, you still need someone to take the ball every 5th day, and as long as he doesn't crash, he should be outperforming his salary. I believe Oakland was an even easier park to pitch in than Citi but then you have AL to NL which should offset that.

As for the length...the simple answer is that reportedly he could have signed with multiple teams for one year, and had some smaller money over two years being offered by some also. This team has to overpay a bit.

As long as Sandy is sticking with these short term deals, I don't mind it very much.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Bartolo is a short contract for not a ton of money. Your complaints would be right if you signed one of the bigger boys. This is a drop in the pond.

The money is different, folks. Average pitcher will get 10m a year now (Feldman for instance). Mets just signed a guy who was a CY Young candidate for short money and short time. Great signing.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Bartolo is a short contract for not a ton of money. Your complaints would be right if you signed one of the bigger boys. This is a drop in the pond.

The money is different, folks. Average pitcher will get 10m a year now (Feldman for instance). Mets just signed a guy who was a CY Young candidate for short money and short time. Great signing.

I can't count anything he did while on PEDs. When guys come off those they crash and burn. I really hope I am wrong.

I still say the money would have been better spend on bringing in some bullpen help.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Bartolo is a short contract for not a ton of money. Your complaints would be right if you signed one of the bigger boys. This is a drop in the pond.

The money is different, folks. Average pitcher will get 10m a year now (Feldman for instance). Mets just signed a guy who was a CY Young candidate for short money and short time. Great signing.

Well the thing is he is 40. If he was 31-32 you can probably expect a similar pitcher. When a player turns 40 that cliff is coming very soon. Even the great Mariano Rivera showed some human characteristics once he turned 40.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Originally Posted by Lathum

When guys come off those they crash and burn.

Not sure this has been proven, really, beyond innuendo.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Arles

I think the side of the Dbacks is higher on Trumbo than they should be. But, I also think the Angels side is higher on Eaton/Skaggs than is warranted. There's a tendency in deals to take the side of the cheaper/higher upside potential in trades. And, there's no doubt that is the Angels end in this trade. However, after watching Eaton and Skaggs for 2+ seasons, I don't see either as being a big loss when it comes to the major league roster the next few seasons. Trumbo isn't a world beater, but I think he is (will be) a better pro than either Eaton or Skaggs for the next 2-3 seasons. So, from that perspective, I think it's a solid deal for Arizona. In other words, I think swapping Eaton and Skaggs for Trumbo+FA guys/other prospects will result in more wins for Arizona than keeping those two and not having Trumbo.

I think there is a very good chance that over the next three years Trumbo will be more productive than Skaggs or Eaton, but that makes sense given that Trumbo is already a finished product in his prime.

Just to be sure, from your perspective, you're seeing Eaton and Skaggs leave, but actually, as this was a three team deal, Eaton went to the ChiSox (Angels got CF covered for, hopefully, the next 10-20 years ), and the Angels got Santiago from Chicago.

Getting both Santiago, a fairly solid back of the rotation type; Skaggs, a potential #3 or so; and freeing up $4 M to make a run at another top end pitcher like Garza or Tanaka is a pretty good result for the Angels, especially dealing from strength (we have lots of power already and enough slow 1B/OF types).

[RomaGoth]

Ortiz: Yankees weren’t offering Cano ‘what he deserved’ | New York Post

Why doesn't he shut the fuck up already. Even if I was a Sox fan I would hate Ortiz, what a jackass. Didn't get what he deserved? I guess the next contract offer from the Yankees should have included a small planet in a nearby solar system.

[cartman]

Don't give Boras any ideas.

[sterlingice]

Omar Infante to the Royals for 4/$30M. If you squint hard enough, it almost looks like a major league lineup:

RF Aoki
2B Infante
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
LF Gordon
C Perez
3B Moustakas
CF Cain
SS Escobar

Unfortunately, the rotation looks like this:
Shields
Vargas
Guthrie
uh (Davis/Hochevar/someone else?)
um (Duffy/Ventura/Zimmer?)

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Ortiz: Yankees weren’t offering Cano ‘what he deserved’ | New York Post

Why doesn't he shut the fuck up already. Even if I was a Sox fan I would hate Ortiz, what a jackass. Didn't get what he deserved? I guess the next contract offer from the Yankees should have included a small planet in a nearby solar system.

LOL. Calm down.

[tarcone]

Cardinals sign 2B Mark Ellis to a one year deal.
He has been signed to mentor Wong and play against lefties.
Good signing.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Omar Infante to the Royals for 4/$30M. If you squint hard enough, it almost looks like a major league lineup:

RF Aoki
2B Infante
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
LF Gordon
C Perez
3B Moustakas
CF Cain
SS Escobar

Great lineup if the bottom 3 guys in the order can start finding their potential. I think Salvy improves to the point he is a consistent All-Star starting next year.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Great lineup if the bottom 3 guys in the order can start finding their potential. I think Salvy improves to the point he is a consistent All-Star starting next year.

A few years ago, the bottom three you mentioned would have been players the Royals would have been using as cornerstones of our lineup. Nice that those three with very good potential are the bottom three in our lineup. That bodes well to be sure.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well here's a move sure to fire up the fan base

Braves agree to one-year deal with Floyd | www.ajc.com

That's Gavin Floyd - he of the recent TJ surgery - not Cliff Floyd or Sleepy Floyd.

[Butter]

Thought it might be Cliff Floyd for just a moment, but he's gotta be what, 45 by now?

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Thought it might be Cliff Floyd for just a moment, but he's gotta be what, 45 by now?

41

[Subby]

Mike Trout and the $400 million question
By Buster Olney

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/bust...y/post?id=4107

If you think salaries are crazy now, just wait until Mike Trout's first long-term deal.
During the winter meetings last week, general managers rotated through the ESPN workroom to answer thematic questions. Their responses are used going into and coming out of commercials during "Baseball Tonight," and one of the questions posed was: Who is the best player in the game?

I was unable to eavesdrop on all the answers given to Jennifer Chafitz, the producer in charge of that project, but the GMs I did hear stepped around that question -- maybe out of respect for their own players, and maybe to honor the general MLB rule that you shouldn't speak about another team's player.

If you gave the GMs truth serum, their answer would be unanimous, or almost unanimous, because the vast majority of executives view Mike Trout as the best player in the game -- and not by a small margin.

He is 22 years old as he wakes up today, at the outset of his career, and over the past two seasons, he has reached base 564 times. How does that stack up? Zachary Jones of ESPN Research dug this out for me:

Most times on base 2012-2013
Mike Trout: 564
Miguel Cabrera: 562
Shin-Soo Choo: 556
Prince Fielder: 542
Andrew McCutchen: 541
Joey Votto: 541

And here is how Trout stacks up in a few other key stats over the past two seasons.

Runs: First (238)
Extra-base hits: Sixth (140)
Stolen bases: Second (82)
WAR: First (20.1)

As you'll note, the stats mentioned above are all counting stats, and Trout's standing is all the more impressive when you consider that he didn't get called up until four weeks into the 2012 season. In terms of WAR, the No. 2 player is Robinson Cano, a full 4 WAR (16.1) behind Trout.

And in the divisional era (since 1969), just two players have had a higher two-year WAR than Trout.

Barry Bonds: 23.7 (2001-02)
Barry Bonds: 21.0 (2002-03)
Joe Morgan: 20.6 (1975-76)

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that Trout is fast approaching that time when he will be in position to wreck the Angels in arbitration, setting new records, given that his case argument will be: He is doing stuff that no player in the history of baseball has ever done before.

The Angels have three distinct paths to take with Trout:

1. They could trade him -- but let's dismiss that, because owner Arte Moreno is a smart guy and can draw upon the 1919 Red Sox's decision to swap Babe Ruth as an example of what not to do with an all-time great talent.

2. They go year to year with him on his contract decision, protecting themselves against the possibility that he gets hurt or regresses -- but also risking the very real chance that his arbitration cases will net $15 million to $30 million or more before he reaches free agency and sets up the craziest bidding war in the history of free agency. (For the record, he will be eligible for arbitation for the first time next winter.)

3. They could sign him to a long-term deal.

If the Angels go this route, of course, they can assume that signing him will cost a lot more than the $180 million that Moreno spent to buy the team a decade ago.

I asked a long-time agent who does not represent Trout what he might ask for in a negotiation for a multiyear deal, and he paused for a few moments, like someone savoring a good piece of steak.

"Why not do something that's never been done before?" he asked rhetorically.

What do you mean?

"Twelve years, $400 million."

No player has ever signed a contract guaranteeing $300 million. If what the agent suggests actually happened, Trout would simply skip over the hundreds-of-millions figure that starts with a "3" and just go right to the "4."

It seems insane. But it also seems possible, given that all of the usual negotiating rules for agents don't apply to Trout.

Sometimes, a team will give a young player a long-term deal gambling that they will continue to develop into a high-level player. This is what happened when the Rays signed Evan Longoria and what the Rockies did with Troy Tulowitzki.

But Trout alters that equation because he already is the best player in the game. He already is doing things that no other player has ever done. He has been in the big leagues only two years and 70 days, and has yet to accrue enough service time to qualify for arbitration -- but once he does that, he's in line to be paid over the top of any scale.

There's really no reason for Trout's agent, Craig Landis, to allow the Angels to buy out one or two of the free-agent seasons given that Trout might be making $15 million or more by the 2015 season, through arbitration. Trout really is in position to go one of two routes:

1. He could go through his arbitration year to year, setting records, and then become a free agent at age 26. If healthy -- and the chance of injury is his primary risk -- he may well wreck Alex Rodriguez's record for a contract of $275 million.

2. He could ask the Angels for the type of record-setting, $400 million-ish deal to sign now. In other words, something that has never been done before.

He is in a position with an absurd amount of leverage, in position to make an absurd amount of money. He figures to become the first player in history to sign a deal for more than $30 million annually.

The Angels have to keep that in mind as they plan out their future, and prepare budgets that are already becoming cramped under the confines of the $189 million luxury tax threshold, because of the forthcoming obligations to Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, this is what they already have on the books going into seasons beyond 2014:

2015: $117 million
2016: $112 million
2017: $58.4 million

All of that before they pay Trout -- who is seemingly destined to become the highest-paid player ever -- a single dime.

Everything that the Angels do should be informed by the reality that Trout will be making $30-plus million a year in the not-too-distant future. They need to start carving out that room ASAP. Yes, Matt Garza would make a lot of sense for them in 2014, to augment a rotation that should already be improved by the addition of Hector Santiago and (perhaps) Tyler Skaggs.

But if signing Garza requires a long-term, big-money deal, the Angels might be better suited taking somebody else on a shorter, cheaper deal, like a Bronson Arroyo.

One executive mused last year that the best thing about working for the Angels would be knowing that you could watch Trout every day in his career. There will be a day soon that Moreno and the Angels will be paying handsomely for that privilege.

Around the league

• John Axford is on the verge of signing with the Cleveland Indians; it appears he will be their closer, writes Paul Hoynes.

With Axford coming off the board for Cleveland, Grant Balfour could land with the Orioles, Joaquin Benoit with the Padres and Fernando Rodney with Seattle in this closers' game of musical chairs.

• Mark Ellis signed with the Cardinals, seemingly a great piece of depth for them, someone who will fit perfectly into their culture. Ellis could complement Kolten Wong at second base, or challenge him for the full-time job, writes Derrick Goold.

• The Yankees have no intention of trading Brett Gardner, says team president Randy Levine.

Moves, deals and decisions

1. David Ortiz doesn't want to wait for an extension.

2. The Cubs have targeted Jonathan Sanchez, writes Mark Gonzales.

AL East

• The Yankees' second base options are dwindling daily.

• Jacoby Ellsbury is not likely to be a Bronx bust this year, writes John Tomase.

• Will Middlebrooks needs more plate discipline, writes Brian MacPherson.

AL Central

• Robin Ventura is recharged.

AL West

• The Rangers have not been wild shoppers, writes Jeff Wilson.

NL East

• The Marlins realize that trading Logan Morrison is a big gamble.

NL Central

• Chris Stewart is happy to be with the Pirates.

• Charlie Morton explains his multiyear deal with the Pirates.

NL West

• Carlos Gonzalez is excited about shifting to center field, writes Patrick Saunders.

Other stuff

• Ryan Freel was suffering from CTE when he took his own life.

• An actor hates to see Turner Field go, writes Jennifer Brett.

And today will be better than yesterday.

[Butter]

Can't figure out if the Yankees are just hardballing the Reds over Phillips, or if they legitimately don't want to make a deal. First, you had the leak about the proposed straight up Phillips-for-Gardner trade that the Yankees nixed, news of which was supposedly leaked by the Yankees... now you have this no-trade-of-Brett-Gardner proclamation.

[Buccaneer]

That wall of text is so Subby-like.

[Arles]

Odd trade for Arizona (Matt Davison for Addison Reed). Much like with Eaton and Skaggs, maybe Arizona didn't see a future for Davidson. I'm not a fan of this move:

Addison Reed of Chicago White Sox traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for Matt Davidson - ESPN Chicago

[DaddyTorgo]

$400m? Good luck with that.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

$400m? Good luck with that.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...3528/index.htm

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah - I probably should have said "$400m? That's insane!" because I'm sure we'll somehow get to that point.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Just the point being that 20 years ago people were aghast at someone getting half what roughly average players get today. People keep looking at the money and getting worked up when it is natural not even considering the additional money coming into the game - which SHOULD go to the players. Everyone gets so worked up about players making more but the owners, many of whom are terrible, are making even more off this than the players.

[BillJasper]

Angels should strike a deal now along the lines of 11 years/$320 million.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

Just the point being that 20 years ago people were aghast at someone getting half what roughly average players get today. People keep looking at the money and getting worked up when it is natural not even considering the additional money coming into the game - which SHOULD go to the players. Everyone gets so worked up about players making more but the owners, many of whom are terrible, are making even more off this than the players.

That's very true. That's a lot of money and a long time commitment to one player though.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...3528/index.htm

I love Al Rosen's reaction to the $7 million/year deal

"I've said for years that we're headed for Armageddon," says Al Rosen, G.M. of the San Francisco Giants. "But now we're past the gates. To the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—Famine, Pestilence, Death and War—we have added a fifth: Unmitigated Greed. It's going to do us all in. I can't see baseball surviving this."

I wish GMs still talked like that.