MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

[jcar0725]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Tyler O'Neill and Jordan Hicks to test free agency

The Cardinals primary focus this offseason was to resign Tyler O'Neill and Jordan Hicks during the exclusive negotiation period, but both players have decided to see what their value is on the open market.

The exclusive period ended without either player accepting the deal put forth by the Cardinals. Tyler O'Neill is seeking an AAV of $31M per year but the Cardinals didn't get close to that instead offering a 4 year $110M deal which is a $27.5M AAV. Jordan Hicks was seeking around $10M AAV but the Cardinals offered a 2 year $17M deal with a player option for the 2nd season.

Now the Cardinals must bid against the open market for the services of both players. Maybe the market will agree with the Cards, or it could force the Cardinals to decide if they want to stretch their dollars to re-sign both players.

The only players the Cardinals re-signed were RHP Alex Reyes and Michael Wacha.

Other Cardinals free agents who didn't receive contract offers:

RHP Giovanny Gallegos
RHP Hansel Robles
LHP Tyler Webb
IF Marwin Gonzalez
C Austin Nola

Let the free agency frenzy begin!

I love pitching with Jordan Hicks. I would pay the man

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Indians sign Juan Soto to 8 year deal

The Indians just signed OF Juan Soto to an 8 year $248MM deal.

Juan Soto who chose free agency instead of re-signing with the Nationals, was arguably the best free agent available on the market and his free agency period didn't last long.

The Indians who traded Eddie Rosario to the Phillies last year were looking for a replacement and I would say they found one.

Not sure if Soto will play LF or if he will DH in their lineup, but this is a big get for the Indians who look to return to competing for the AL Central with the White Sox and Twins.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign Sandy Alcantara to 5 year deal

The Cardinals made starting pitching top priority this offseason and they are off to a good start in addressing that area of need.

The Cardinals and RHP Sandy Alcantara have agreed to a 5 year/$50.5M deal. The 29 year old who was at one time in the Cardinals organization has spent the last 3 seasons in Boston where he totaled 34 wins over those 3 years and became a front end starter behind Chris Sale. Alcantara will join a rotation that currently has Jack Flaherty and Michael Wacha as locks, and includes Carlos Martinez and Dakota Hudson.

The last former Boston player the Cardinals signed in free agency worked out pretty well (Rafael Devers last year) so hopefully history will repeat itself.

The Cardinals will continue to address starting pitching this offseason as there is no shortage of arms available, but the Cardinals aren't looking to sign top dollar arms as they have Jack Flaherty locked as the ace of the staff.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals resign Tyler O'Neill to a 4 year deal

The Cardinals and Tyler O'Neill have agreed to a 4 year $112M deal that includes a player option for the 2028 season.

O'Neill hit .264 last year with 31 homeruns and 82 RBI's as he was a vital part to the club winning the division as he played both left and center field. He also stole a career high 13 bases last year and dropped his K% to 23.7%, the lowest of his career.

O'Neill will backfill the middle of the lineup as the Cardinals hope for similar production this year and hope that O'Neill, who has been injury prone, can play a full season without a trip to the IL.

Cardinals resign Jordan Hicks to a 2 year deal

The Cardinals and Jordan Hicks agreed to a 2 year $17M deal.

Hicks had the best year of his career last year after two seasons that saw him bounce between St.Louis and Memphis. Hicks pitched 73.1 IP, went 5-1 with 7 holds and an ERA of 2.58. He struck out 77 batters over those 73 innings.

Hicks will likely slide into the setup role this season with the Cardinals rebuilding their bullpen and pitching staff overall.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign Max Fried to 2 year deal

The Cardinals and Max Fried have agreed to a 2 year $39M deal with a player option for the 2nd year.

The 31 year old is coming off a season that saw him make 26 starts and go 7-6 with a 4.15 ERA. This was the second year in a row that Fried dealt with injuries.

The 2 year deal allows Fried to revalue himself and still collect a decent payday should he stay injury free. With the option next season, if he has a spectacular year, he can opt out and become a free agent to search for a bigger contract with a higher AAV.

Fried adds the left handed top of the rotation arm that the Cardinals have desperately have been searching for. With Fried added to the mix of Flaherty, Wacha, and Alcantara, the Cardinals are well on their way to their goal of rebuilding their rotation. They also have Carlos Martinez, Dakota Hudson, Levi Prater, and Matthew Liberatore on the roster they can turn to if need be.

[Itsma806]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

2022 Baltimore Orioles 07/04-07/07

Overall Record:49-33 (1st AL EAST)

Game Results
07/04
Orioles-2
Tigers-8

07/05
Orioles-5
Tigers-9

07/06
Orioles-0
Tigers-3

07/07
Orioles-2
Tigers-3

Orioles swept by Tigers
Miguel Cabrera must have felt like it was 2013 as he went eight for fifteen with two home runs and three RBIs in the Tigers four game sweep of the Orioles.

Cabrera's contributions assisted Detroit's sweep of the Orioles after just being swept by the same team just two weeks ago.

With the sweep, the Tigers have a five game winning streak. That streak is their longest of the season although the team is still eleven games below .500.

The Orioles maintain their lead in the AL East and currently sit 5.5 games over the 43-38 Yankees.

The Orioles will look to bounce back on the road with a three game series against the West leading Angles (49-34).

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign Diego Castillo to 2 year deal

The Cardinals and RHP Diego Castillo have agreed to a 2 year deal worth $14M, that includes a mutual option for the 2nd year.

The 31 year spent last year with the White Sox as the setup man for Liam Hendricks. He only appeared in 41 games last year due to injury but was effective when pitching earning 26 holds and pitching to a 2.15 ERA.

The role Castillo has with St.Louis isn't yet defined, but there is speculation that he could either be the closer or possibly even the setup man with Jordan Hicks being the 7th inning guy.

Time will tell on his role as the offseason plays out, but for now, Castillo is another big time get for the Cardinals who are hell bent on improving their pitching staff this winter.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Notable signings thus far in free agency

Cubs signed SP Mike Soroka to a 6 year/$135M contract

Dodgers signed RF Jordan Luplow to a 4 year/$46.8M contract

Diamondbacks signed LF Clint Frazier to a 3 year/$33.6M contract

Angels signed 2B Brandon Lowe to a 4 year/$56M contract

Red Sox signed SP Zach Davies to a 1 year/$5.8M contract

White Sox signed C Danny Jansen to a 4 year/$50.4M contract

Red Sox signed SP Zach Eflin to a 3 year/$29.7M contract

White Sox signed 2B Jeff McNeil to a 2 year/$19.8M contract

Braves signed 3B Yoan Moncada to a 9 year/$279M contract

Braves signed SP Freddy Peralta to a 5 year/$118.5M contract

Braves signed SP Joey Lucchesi to a 3 year/$38.4M contract

Padres signed 1B Renato Nunez to a 4 year/$35.6M contract

Diamondbacks signed 1B Pete Alonso to a 7 year/$131.6M contract

Astros signed SS J.P. Crawford to a 3 year/$37.5M contract

Cubs signed C Carson Kelly to a 5 year/$55.5M contract

Royals signed RP Giovanny Gallegos to a 2 year/$11.6M contact

Mets signed SP Chris Sale to a 1 year/$31M contract

Brewers signed SP John Means to a 4 year/$52.4M contract

Angels signed SP Corbin Burnes to a 4 year/$124M contract

Astros signed RP Lucas Sims to a 4 year/$22.8M contract

White Sox signed SP Chris Paddack to a 9 year/$279M contract

Reds signed 2B Gleybar Torres to a 8 year/$248M contract

Giants signed SP Shane Bieber to a 7 year/$205.8M contract

Trades thus far

Phillies Get:

SS Trevor Story

Rangers Get:

SP Mike Clevinger
RP James King


Cubs Get:

RF Nicholas Castellanos


Rockies Get:

C Miguel Amaya

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

CB, you're going to like Castillo in your bullpen.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

CB, you're going to like Castillo in your bullpen.

I hope so

We need depth badly


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals trade Carlos Martinez to the Blue Jays

The Cardinals and Blue Jays have agreed to a deal that will send Carlos Martinez to Toronto is exchange for RHP Yimi Garcia.

Martinez is in the final year of his contract and with the other acquisitions the Cardinals have made this offseason, Martinez became less likely to earn a rotation spot this year, especially after his collapse in the postseason last year.

Yimi Garcia comes to the Cardinals having recorded 21 holds for the Blue Jays last year over 72 innings pitched. His ERA was 2.75. He will be an extension to help get the ball the back end of the bullpen, especially with Giovanny Gallegos signing with the Royals this offseason.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals make several one year deals

The Cardinals have made several one year deals.

They are:

C - Austin Nola - $1.3M

3B - Patrick Wisdom - $1.5M

RP - Tyler Webb - $1.2M

RP - Hansel Robles - $1.2M

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign Lance Lynn to a one year deal

Cardinals and Lance Lynn have agreed to a one year $8MM deal.

The now 37 year old only pitched in 10 games last year for the White Sox before suffering a season ending elbow injury. But in those 10 starts he was 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 7 of those were quality starts.

Lynn, like Wacha, returns to the organization in which he broke into the majors. Lynn pitched with the Cardinals from 2011 thru 2017 full time before being moved to Texas in 2018.

Lynn will compete for one of the rotational spots and if he doesn't get that, I would expect he will go to the bullpen, providing his elbow injury isn't lingering and he returns to form.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals head to Spring Training with aspirations of returning to October

The Cardinals will head to Florida for Spring Training for the upcoming 2025 season as they look to repeat as divisional champions and return to October for another shot at getting back to the World Series.

The offseason should be considered a success by the organization and the fanbase, whom were a bit soured after last year's offseason. The Cardinals addressed pitching which was a big concern, especially starting pitching, and even plugged a hole or two throughout the organization by adding some quality depth. The Cardinals even opened their pocketbooks and resigned guys (Tyler O'Neill) to big contracts a season after doing the same thing last year. The Cards will spend $239M in contracts this season.

One would imagine the lineup is pretty much set, although Jasson Dominguez struggled to stay healthy last year and Magnerius Sierra had a good season filling in, so its possible that Sierra could take the everyday job if Dominguez struggles this spring. Other than that, it will primarily be setting the bench for the fielders.

The rotation is likely got 3 locked in with Jack Flaherty, Max Fried, and Sandy Alcantara. Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, Dakota Hudson, and Matthew Liberatore will likely battle for the other two spots. Wacha won 18 games last year and Lynn has been a solid starter, so it seems they would be the favorites heading to Florida.

The bullpen also seems much of a set piece, especially the back end. Diego Castillo, Roberto Osuna, and possibly Alex Reyes will compete for the closer role with the other two being 7th/8th inning guys. Daniel Norris is likely the left handed set up/8th inning arm. Jordan Hicks and Genesis Cabrera should be middle relief arms, so that leaves two spots, with one likely going to Yimi Garcia while the other will go to one of the starters who doesn't make the rotation, unless its Liberatore as the Cards are pretty much set on him starting in Memphis, which was the plan last year.

But as we all know, as Spring plays out, things happen that you don't expect and rosters never set up exactly as one predicts. Remember Adolis Garcia making the 26 man roster last year without expectation?

So sit back and enjoy Spring Training baseball as the 2025 Cardinals look to get into shape for the upcoming season, as they look to defend their Central Division crown.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 21 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals send Dakota Hudson to Mariners for OF Corey Ray

In what many around the organization felt was the inevitable ending to this relationship, the Cardinals have traded SP Dakota Hudson to the Mariners for OF Corey Ray.

A once highly touted prospect in the Cardinals organization, Dakota Hudson just hasn't panned out the way the Cardinals expected and frustration amongst him and the club finally boiled to the point that a move was necessary.

Hudson pitched to just 3 batters in 2023 before injuring his elbow that kept him out until the very end of the season. Last year, he was given a chance to be in the rotation, but struggled and bounced from starter to bullpen to Memphis. Thus far this Spring, Hudson has pitched 8 innings giving up 5 homeruns and a ballooned ERA over 15.

The Mariners actually approached the Cardinals during the offseason about acquiring Hudson, but the Cardinals wanted to hang on to him. Luckily for St.Louis, the Mariners were still willing to trade for Hudson by sending Corey Ray to St.Louis as they have a plethora of depth at the outfield position.

Corey Ray will come to St.Louis as a MLB caliber player that will start off the 40 man roster and in Memphis when the regular season gets going in about a week.

Best of luck to Dakota Hudson in Seattle. Maybe a change of scenery will help him become the front end starter the Cards had hoped for.