MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

2023 season results and award winners

Video wrap up of the 2023 season

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Yadier Molina retires

Cardinals legend and soon to be Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina has announced his retirement after the 2023 season. Molina played in 2,278 games over the course of a 20 year career with the Cardinals. Molina will retire with an even 2200 hits, a career .275 average, 171 homeruns, and 1,012 RBI's over his illustrious career.

Its going to be weird playing next season without Molina on the roster.

Thanks for the memories Yadi!

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals off-season outlook

The 2023 season ended ugly for the Cardinals. They looked primed to return to the postseason but things fell apart over the last 3 weeks of the season.

The primary focus will be re-signing their exclusive free agents. The list includes:

Jack Flaherty *
Harrison Bader*
Alex Reyes*
Paul DeJong*
Jake Odorizzi*
Victor Caratini*
Matthew Boyd
Phil Maton
Hansel Robles
Kirby Yates

* = Qualified

The top target will likely be Jack Flaherty, but his struggles in 2023 will cause the Cardinals to possibly take a pause as his asking price is top of the line. Alex Reyes and Paul DeJong figure to be key components the Cardinals will like to bring back and both have a fairly favorable asking price of the Cardinals. Harrison Bader is a fan favorite, but he was 2nd in the National League in strikeouts (142) and hit just .201 for the season. He bests fits as the lead off hitter for the Cardinals, but he swings and approaches at bats like a power hitter. His glove work is exceptional, but he's wanting to be paid, and I don't know the Cardinals will jump early to re-sign him but instead see what the open market holds.

I don't expect anyone else to receive an early signing period offer. Odorizzi maybe, but despite winning 15 games this year, he didn't win a game in the month of September or October, part his doing and part bullpen blowups.

The Cardinals will definitely be searching the starting pitching market and it could be deep depending on who re-signs and who hits the open market. They will also be looking for bullpen depth as they can't keep having back end troubles.

With Bader likely going to the open market, outfield will be an area the Cardinals search this offseason. Center field and possibly right (Carlson continues to struggle) could be positions of need.

Catcher will be the other position as the Cards gave Caratini a shot and it didn't work. Ivan Herrera will likely be one big league catcher when the season opens, so the Cards will need to find a counterpart, whether that be Caratini or someone else.

And expect the Cardinals to be active in the trade market as they have guys on the roster who are "blocked" and could use a fresh new start as an avenue to the big leagues. Outfield especially with Justin Williams, Justin Toerner, Nick Plummer, Magnerius Sierra, and Lane Thomas, although I don't expect Thomas to be moved as he's the in house favorite to replace Bader, if that comes to be.

Its going to be an interesting offseason for the Cardinals this year. Things to sort out, a roster to balance, and key decisions on its own free agents as they look to return to postseason play next October.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Wow CB thats quite the heartbreaking finish. Shades of the '18 Cubs losing back to back "play in games", if you will. Definitely frustrating, but also pretty cool to have a narrative like that play out in the game. Best of luck in the offseason

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Operation Sports mobile app

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Wow CB thats quite the heartbreaking finish. Shades of the '18 Cubs losing back to back "play in games", if you will. Definitely frustrating, but also pretty cool to have a narrative like that play out in the game. Best of luck in the offseason

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Operation Sports mobile app

It sucked lol

I played some GTA after it ended to relieve frustration


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals re-sign Alex Reyes to 2 year deal

The Cardinals and Alex Reyes have agreed to a 2 year $15MM deal with a player option for 2025.

Reyes won the National League Reliever of the Year award in 2022, but followed that up with an up and down 2023. In fact Reyes was removed from the closer role and then optioned to Memphis to find his stuff again. Reyes bounced back late in the season to show a lot of the same stuff he had in 2022.

The deal will give the Cardinals another year to see if Reyes is returning to form or he repeats 2022 and then Reyes can actually stick around one more year if he chooses if the landscape isn't favorable, or he can chase a bigger contract after the season should he repeat 2022.

Reyes is only 29 years old, so this contract will regardless allow him to cash in on a strong performance the next two seasons.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals re-sign Jack Flaherty to 8 year deal

The Cardinals and Jack Flaherty have agreed to an 8 year $244MM deal that will keep the right hander in a Cardinals uniform through the age of 35.

Flaherty had a down season in 2023, much like the entire staff, but has a proven track record of being one of the best starters in the game. The Cardinals used the contracts of similar starters to gauge just where to fall in line with their offer to Flaherty. It took him all of 24 hours to accept.

Now the Cardinals will look to build their staff around him. Big time free agent options are getting more and more slim as teams are re-signing their prime starters this offseason.

Cardinals re-sign Paul DeJong to a 5 year deal

The Cardinals and Paul DeJong agreed to a 5 year $87.5MM deal that will keep the 30 year old in St.Louis as their primary shortstop as his contact runs alongside that of Nolan Arenado and Tommy Edman, keeping the core infield in tact for the next few years. Paul Goldschmidt's contract ends after this year.

DeJong has turned into one of the best shortstops in baseball and has the power to be a middle of the order hitter. Many will argue he should've won the Gold Glove at SS this season, but was beat out by Robert Puason of the Brewers.

Thus far the Cardinals off-season is going according to plan. They have re-signed 3 of their 4 big exclusive free agents, with only Harrison Bader left, but its expected that he will hit the open market as the two sides are far apart at this point.

[marleyk]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

wi lyk

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

And there will be a Game 7.

After a two-run first, Max Fried settled in and followed with six shutout innings, and Ronald Acuna Jr. capped a six-run fourth with a grand slam as the Braves beat the Dodgers 7-3 in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Travis d'Arnaud, who had all of one hit in the NLDS, continued his hot hitting against the Dodgers with a two-run single and a solo homer.

Ian Anderson goes against Trevor Bauer in the deciding game at Truist Park.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

And there will be a Game 7.

After a two-run first, Max Fried settled in and followed with six shutout innings, and Ronald Acuna Jr. capped a six-run fourth with a grand slam as the Braves beat the Dodgers 7-3 in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Travis d'Arnaud, who had all of one hit in the NLDS, continued his hot hitting against the Dodgers with a two-run single and a solo homer.

Ian Anderson goes against Trevor Bauer in the deciding game at Truist Park.

Nothing is more dramatic than a Game 7.

Good luck!

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals make splash, sign Rafael Devers to 2 year deal

The Cardinals are getting off on a hot start this off-season as they have signed 27 year old Rafael Devers to a 2 year deal worth $18MM.

Devers didn't want a long term deal as he is hoping to continue to grow and get better and cash in when he's 28.

Devers is coming off a year where he was an all-star in the American League with the Red Sox. He hit .273 last year with 34 homeruns and 110 RBI's. The fact that his asking price was low is a steal for the Cardinals. Devers held offers from the Red Sox and Yankees for 4+ years at a value of $10M per year, but Devers chose to take the less money for less "control" with the ability to become a superstar and really cash in and get a long term contract.

Now, fans may be wondering where is Devers going to play? He played 3rd in Boston and we have Arenado. Well, Devers can also play first base and it appears the early offseason rumors will come to fruition as it looks as though the Cards will look to unload Goldschmidt's contract (one year $26M) and have Devers play first.

This signing gives the Cardinals a left handed power bat in the lineup that they have craved. Also, with it being two years, there is no rush to bring Luken Baker along quickly as he can now play a full season or two at Memphis and face better pitching and hopefully stay healthy.

This is a big time signing for the Cardinals. Yes, the movement of Goldy is sad, but its a necessary business, team move as Goldy faded down the stretch and saw his once .310 average drop into the .270s by season's end.

Now where will Goldschmidt go and what will be the return. We hear that the Cards have already been in contact with teams and have an offer they like, but wanted to ensure their plan of replacing Goldschmidt at first happened.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Other transactions around the league thus far

Dodgers re-signed Cody Bellinger to an 8 year $248MM deal

A's signed Shohei Ohtani to a 5 year $117MM deal

Reds signed Lucas Giolito to a 6 year $79.8MM deal

Dodgers re-signed Trevor Bauer to a 4 year $124MM deal

Red Sox traded Tommy Pham to Astros for prospect

Yankees acquired Kris Bryant from Padres for 3 prospects

Mets re-signed Dinelson Lamet to 5 year $94M deal

Marlins re-signed C Jorge Alfaro to a 4 year $32.3M deal

White Sox re-signed CP Liam Hendriks to 1 year $17.5M deal

Mets re-signed SP Jacob Degrom to a 1 year $31M deal

Red Sox exercised club option on SP Chris Sale

Twins exercised club option on 2B Jose Altuve. He also exercised his player option

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

The comeback is complete. The Braves are going to the World Series!

We beat the Dodgers 8-3 in Game 7 of the NLCS to complete the rally from down three games to one. We'll face the Yankees in the World Series. Game 1 is at Truist Park with Mike Soroka facing Gerrit Cole.

We were down 3-2 going to the 7th. Marcell Ozuna drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to tie the game. And NLCS MVP Joc Pederson followed with a two-run single to give us the lead.

The Dodgers put two on with two out off winning pitcher Tyler Matzek in the 8th, but Diego Castillo came in and struck out A.J. Pollack to get out of the jam.

Austin Riley, who entered the game in a double swith in the 3rd, gave us a bit of cushion with an RBI double in the bottom of the 8th. Ronald Acuna Jr., who had struck out his first four at-bats, homered to push the lead to five.

Travis d'Arnaud hit his fourth homer of the series to even the score at 1 in the second. Cody Bellinger quickly broke that tie with a two-run shot in the third.

This is the second time this century I've made it to the World Series. I lost to the Yankees in 7 on MLB 12, so I'm looking for a little payback now.

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

The Braves have decided to make a roster change prior to the World Series. With the Yankees having a heavy right-handed lineup, the Braves have added right-hander Felix Pena to the bullpen in place of lefty Sean Newcomb.

Pena was acquired in July from the Angels and had a 4.33 ERA between the Angels and Braves. He was not on the postseason roster for either the NLDS or NLCS.

Newcomb made just one appearance this postseason. In Game 1 of the NLCS, he allowed a three-run homer to Cody Bellinger in the 12th inning of the Dodgers 9-6 win.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

The comeback is complete. The Braves are going to the World Series!

We beat the Dodgers 8-3 in Game 7 of the NLCS to complete the rally from down three games to one. We'll face the Yankees in the World Series. Game 1 is at Truist Park with Mike Soroka facing Gerrit Cole.

We were down 3-2 going to the 7th. Marcell Ozuna drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to tie the game. And NLCS MVP Joc Pederson followed with a two-run single to give us the lead.

The Dodgers put two on with two out off winning pitcher Tyler Matzek in the 8th, but Diego Castillo came in and struck out A.J. Pollack to get out of the jam.

Austin Riley, who entered the game in a double swith in the 3rd, gave us a bit of cushion with an RBI double in the bottom of the 8th. Ronald Acuna Jr., who had struck out his first four at-bats, homered to push the lead to five.

Travis d'Arnaud hit his fourth homer of the series to even the score at 1 in the second. Cody Bellinger quickly broke that tie with a two-run shot in the third.

This is the second time this century I've made it to the World Series. I lost to the Yankees in 7 on MLB 12, so I'm looking for a little payback now.

Amazing comeback!!!

Good luck in the World Series!