MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals fire Oliver Marmol

The Cardinals have fired manager Oliver Marmol. Marmol had one year left on his 3 year contract ($2.7M), but after missing the postseason the past two years, the organization believes that a change is necessary. Marmol went 169-155 in his two years as manager. Many will argue that injuries played a key part into last year's struggles, and while true, they don't excuse the meltdown in 2022 when the team folded in September and missed the playoffs and this year after battling back, just completely folding in August and September and missing the playoffs a second straight year. Add to that, the clubhouse isn't as supportive these days of Marmol as they were when he was first hired and its probably the best choice for everyone to part ways and in a sense start over.

Thus far no one else on the staff has been relieved of their duties and no replacement has been hired obviously.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals hire Joe Girardi as their next manager

The Cardinals have a new manager for the 2nd time in 3 years. The Cardinals have signed Joe Girardi to a 4 year $16MM deal. Girardi will take over for Oliver Marmol who was fired after just 2 seasons at the helm. Marmol took over for Mike Schildt whom the organization relived of duties even though he was successful due to vision differences.

Girardi will bring managerial experience to a club that who's last two managers were first time managers. Girardi won the World Series with the Yankees and was at the helm of the Phillies before his contract expired after last year and wasn't renewed.

There seems to be optimism back in the clubhouse as well, and the organization is hopeful this hiring will help sway the likes of Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes to resign with the club after it was made known they werent' happy with Marmol as the skipper and the direction of the team.

Cardinals exercise team option on Kwang Hyun Kim

The Cardinals have exercised their team option on LHP Kwang Hyun Kim. The 35 year old exercised his player option shortly after the hiring of Joe Girardi as manager and the Cards wasted no time following suit.

Kim went 5-9 last year with a 2.91 ERA working both as a starter and out of the bullpen. He will again provide experience and hopefully consistency for the pitching staff that currently is looking for an identity with Flaherty having not re-signed and looking more and more as though he's going to explore the open market.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals whiff on exclusive free agent period; Flaherty, Reyes, others hit open market

The turmoil of the offseason ramps up for the Cardinals and its fan base as the exclusive negotiation period has come and gone, and the Cardinals didn't get anyone to re-sign. Jack Flaherty, Alex Reyes, Tyler O'Neill, Jordan Hicks, and Miles Mikolas were all offered contracts but instead chose to hit the open market to test the waters. The only deal made during this period was the exercising of contract options for Kwang Hyun Kim.

The rest of the Cardinals free agents were expected to let hit the open market, so no surprises there. Its possible we see a few get an offer (Paul DeJong, Andrew Knizner) but the rest are expected to be looking for new homes this winter.

Very nervous time as the Cardinals were hoping the change of manager would persuade Flaherty, Reyes, and O'Neill to re-sign as all three weren't pleased with Marmol, but all 3 decided to see what else is out there.

Only good news for Cardinals fans, and the organization, is the free agent pool is deep this winter, especially in starting pitching, so if by chance Flaherty decides elsewhere, the Cardinals have other options to go after.

Welcome to free agency

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Exclusive Free Agent Signings

Here are some of the deals that took place during the exclusive negotiating period:

Yankees re-signed LHP Aroldis Chapman to a 1 year $2.9MM deal
Cubs re-signed SP Sonny Gray to a 2 year $20.4M deal
Mets re-signed SP Chris Bassitt to a 1 year $12.8M deal
Mets re-signed SP Jacob deGrom to a 1 year $32.6M deal
Cubs re-signed SP Kyle Hendricks to a 2 year $22.6M deal
Mets re-signed RHP Seth Lugo to a 1 year $4.3M deal
Guardians re-signed 3B Jose Ramirez to a 7 year $191.1M deal
Dodgers re-signed SP Trevor Bauer to a 3 year $57.9M deal
Red Sox re-signed RP Matt Barnes to a 2 year $15.3M deal
Giants re-signed SP Carlos Rodon to a 6 year $134.4M deal

Mets acquired RP Chad Green from the Yankees for RP Corey Knebel and SP Carmen Rocha
Mariners acquired 1B Trey Mancini from the Red Sox for LF Connie Karlic

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals re-sign Tyler O'Neill and Alex Reyes

The Cardinals have secured 2 of their big 4 free agents with Tyler O'Neill and Alex Reyes agreeing to deals.

Tyler O'Neill agreed to a one year $12M deal. He was supposed to be in arbitration this year, but qualified as a Super Two and became a free agent after last season. O'Neill won his 2nd gold glove in 3 years, led the NL in homeruns with 41 and drove in 102 RBIs while hitting a respectable .268 for the season.

Alex Reyes agreed to a 2 year/$21.0M deal. Reyes was as solid as they come in the bullpen last year for the Cardinals and struck out 98 batters in 74 innings of work, his highest workload of his career. Hopefully the bullpen will be better this year to take some of the work off his shoulders, but its good to know he has the ability to handle it if needed.

As expected the Cardinals are in a free agency war for Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks. Signing both of these players would be a huge boost to the Cardinals roster and help them plan out the rest of their signings, so hopefully they both sign and soon.

Tigers sign Shohei Ohtani to 8 year deal

The Tigers surprised everyone by winning the AL Central last year and reaching the ALCS, and they have surprised baseball again by signing the most coveted free agent on the market.

The Tigers and SP/DH/OF Shohei Ohtani have agreed to an 8 year/$232.8M deal. Ohtani will join a pitching staff that isn't full of household names, at least not yet, but that were one of the best staffs in baseball last year. Ohtani started 33 games for the Angels last year and carried a 9-12 record with a 4.09 ERA and 219 strikeouts. At the plate he was better with a slash line of .267/.377/.578 hitting 34 homeruns and 30 doubles.

The first marquee free agent signing of the offseason and it belongs to the Tigers who landed the most prized free agent available.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign RHP Ryan Tepera to one year deal

The Cardinals have landed their first non-Cardinal free agent this winter by signing RHP Ryan Tepera to a one year $4.4M deal. The 36 year old pitched with the Angels last year and had a 2.19 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 37 innings of work.

Tepera will be expected to add consistency to a bullpen that struggled at times last year, especially down the stretch and saw the Cardinals invest in the waiver market heavily for help.

Tepera will join Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos as the only guaranteed bullpen arms thus far, although the Cardinals aren't finished by a long shot shopping in this department this winter.

Mets acquire Salvador Perez from Royals

The Mets continue to be active and add valuable pieces to their team for the 2024 season. The Mets and Royals struck a deal that will send C Salvador Perez from the Royals to the Mets in exchange for SP Ethan Small and CF Starling Marte.

This deal now gives the Mets the offensive backstop they were looking for this winter and he joins the likes of RHP Chad Green as outside pieces being brought in. The Mets seem to be going all in on 2024.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals re-sign Jack Flaherty to 8 year deal

The Cardinals got their man! The Cardinals and Jack Flaherty agreed to an 8 year/$280M deal. The most prized free agent for the Cardinals was one of their own and things got dicey when he decided to hit the open market. But after a few weeks and receiving other teams offers (Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, D'Backs, & Phillies), Jack decided to return to the only team he's known, the St.Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals now have their biggest expenditure off the market and can now focus on how to approach the rest of the starting pitching market knowing they don't need an ace.

With Kwang Hyun Kim coming back, Dakota Hudson under control thru arbitration and Miles Mikolas re-signed (1yr/$7M), the Cardinals can put together their pitching staff by addressing both back end rotation pieces and depth.

Feels so good to have Flaherty back on the roster and locked up for a considerable amount of time.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

I’m so jealous I’m reading these and you guys having all this fun. I’m keep restarting and can’t find a team i gel with.

[reyes the roof]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

I made it to the all star break, sitting at 63-35 and an 8.5 game lead over Atlanta. Lindor has been my best player by far, hitting .301 with 28 HRs and 71 RBIs, Marte has had a good year too hitting .294 with17 HRs and 56 RBIs. I just can’t seem to get Alonso going, he’s hitting .233 with 19 HRs and 40 RBIs. I’ve got Carassco and Dom Smith on the trading block, not expecting to get anything big back but I just want to clear payroll and get under budget.

A couple weird things going on around the league, the Orioles are clingion to their AL East lead currently tied with the Yankees at 47-51 and Adam Wainwright is having a historically bad season with a 3-16 record at the break

[Legaci3]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Dont know if this the wrong place to ask this so if it is I can delete and go where directed. what scouting and draft strategies do you guys have? Thanks in advance for the help!

[jcar0725]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

I’m so jealous I’m reading these and you guys having all this fun. I’m keep restarting and can’t find a team i gel with.

How far do you get before restarting?

Sent from my thoughts

[jcar0725]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Dont know if this the wrong place to ask this so if it is I can delete and go where directed. what scouting and draft strategies do you guys have? Thanks in advance for the help!

I spend a lot of money on scouts.

Spend the first few weeks or month discovering a couple positions of need.

Spend the rest of the time scouting those guys that were discovered.

I've also drafted guys that I didn't scout that ended up being great draft picks.

Sent from my thoughts

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals re-sign Jordan Hicks

The Cardinals have re-signed RHP Jordan Hicks to a one year $8M deal.

The 27 year old Hicks was 2-6 last year with a 3.96 ERA and WHIP of 1.32 over 52.1 innings of work. Like the rest of the bullpen, Hicks was inconsistent at times and struggled in the back half of the season. But he still possesses electric stuff and can be a viable piece in the bullpen and even develop into the 8th inning guy or potentially closer. For now, if on the big league roster, he'll be expected to be a 6th/7th inning guy to get the ball to Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos at the back end.

Mariners acquire Willson Contreras from Brewers for Eugenio Suarez and Cal Raleigh

The Mariners and Brewers have struck a deal that will send C Willson Contreras from the Brewers to the Mariners in exchange for 3B/IF Eugenio Suarez and C Cal Raleigh.

The Mariners are dealing away Suarez who led the AL in homeruns last year but was feast or famine at the dish hitting just .224. They are getting though one of the better all around catchers in the game in Contreras who will hopefully help their young pitching staff put it together and get the team into the postseason. Contreras helped the Brewers staff pitch to the World Series last year.

The Brewers are getting Cal Raleigh who is a replacement for Contreras but more notably getting Suarez who will hopefully help a team that lacked power production in 2023. Suarez is a decent defender but his pop at the plate is the big draw here for the Brewers. If he can be a more consistent hitter, better average, then the Brewers could very well be on their way to a 3rd straight NL Central division title and deep run in October baseball.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cardinals sign Jake Odorizzi and Luis Castillo

The Cardinals have added to their starting pitching staff by inking deals with RHP Luis Castillo and RHP Jake Odorizzi.


Luis Castillo signed a 3 year/$43.5M deal. The 31 year old was 11-10 for the Reds last season with a 2.71 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18. He had 19 quality starts in his 31 starts last year.


Jake Odorizzi signed a 3 year/$31.5M deal. The 34 year old was 14-7 last season with the Astros and pitched to a 2.72 ERA with a WHIP of 1.13. Like Castillo, Odorizzi made 31 starts last season with 18 of those being quality starts.


Both deals give the Cardinals a chance to let their depth at the minor league levels have more time to develop as guys like Jake Woodford never took the next step like the organization thought. This will allow guys like Woodford to not press to get major league ready and have another year, or two, to prove to the organization that they can reach the major league levels.

[DarthRambo]

Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread

Dont know if this the wrong place to ask this so if it is I can delete and go where directed. what scouting and draft strategies do you guys have? Thanks in advance for the help!

Trying something different this year. 30 team control and scouting on manual for all 30, but not scouting a single player. Going to draft completely blind. And yes, I will draft for the cpu teams as well. Won't take long drafting blind lol

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