2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I'm still trying to figure out why the Pirates are so "motivated" to trade a guy who's supposedly a near ace with 2 years left of control.

Yeah, it's because a Fred Wilpon-type basically owns this team also.

I love this quote straight from Robert Nutting's Wiki page...

Due to Nutting's perceived perception of putting profits ahead of a competitive product on the field, he is often ranked in both the local press and nationally as one of the worst owners in sports.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Yeah, it's because a Fred Wilpon-type basically owns this team also.

I love this quote straight from Robert Nutting's Wiki page...

Lol that's exactly the quote I saw that told me what I needed to know. The Pirates sub does not like that guy at all. There's a thread where he was asked what they're going to do with the 50 million they're getting from the MLBAM payout and his response is: "I think we'll probably be patient. Patient, disciplined, focused, process driven - none of those are popular words, but those are the core building blocks to be successful."

Meanwhile they're shopping their best pitcher by a mile and have been shopping their star player who just named his kid after the city.

Must be nice being an owner.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

...
Gleyber is in a special position though because he's expected to be a pretty decent starter. So trading him would then involve having to find another 2nd baseman.
...

I think where Torres ends up playing will also be fascinating. Sir Didi has really established himself at SS in a way that most people didn't see coming. With Castro being dealt, it certainly does look like 2B (or 3B) could be Gleyber's fastest route to the show. Last year in the minors Torres had 10 starts at 2B, 15 starts at 3B, and 28 starts at SS--he's certainly being groomed to enter the Yankee infield somewhere. lol

With the arm injury, him debuting somewhere other than SS might have happened even if Didi wasn't going all Sir Didi in the Bronx.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I think you're experiencing confirmation bias here.

Ozzie Albies struggled in AAA but was still projected to put up more WAR over his first 6 seasons (according to Fangraphs' KATOH projections) than all but 7 other prospects in all of baseball as recently as last February, which includes Gleyber Torres. Most prospect lists before this past season also had Albies above Torres.
Fangraphs also had an article this past August with projections for Albies saying that he has a 1 in 4 chance of being a 20+ WAR player over the next 6 seasons, which would make him one of the best second basemen in baseball.

But other than that, Albies has a much lower ceiling than Torres or even Acuna because of his size and lack of power. Torres has been increasing his overall hit and power projections every year in scouts' eyes.

Hey, I'm a huge Albies fan and I think he's going to be a star. I get that his size is what keeps him from getting more pub, but I have heard more than one of the minor league analysts state that Albies will be a good player, not a great player.

I think Albies stats, especially his improvement at each level, stack up as well if not better than Torres. It's just odd to me that Torres has been anointed as a generational talent...

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Anthony Bass signs a minor league deal with the Cubs. World Series here we come! lol

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I think where Torres ends up playing will also be fascinating. Sir Didi has really established himself at SS in a way that most people didn't see coming. With Castro being dealt, it certainly does look like 2B (or 3B) could be Gleyber's fastest route to the show. Last year in the minors Torres had 10 starts at 2B, 15 starts at 3B, and 28 starts at SS--he's certainly being groomed to enter the Yankee infield somewhere. lol

With the arm injury, him debuting somewhere other than SS might have happened even if Didi wasn't going all Sir Didi in the Bronx.

Yeah Yankees fans have been trying to figure that out for a while. Now that Sir Didi has established himself, looks like short is locked up. Another one of our top prospects is a 3rd baseman, with a rocket arm and shaky glove. I read a report not long ago that said he might profile well in right field... I think we've got that covered though.

[Trapper700]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I agree. I never saw him as a budding star when he was in the Cubs' organization either. Yankees fans are a bit enraptured with Torres...but remember he was a guy they got in a package for a rental Aroldis Chapman. Meaning the Cubs' brass also didn't think he would be a future star. Theo doesn't make that move if he sees a bunch of ASG appearances in Torres' future. Would've traded Addison Russell instead.

Gleyber Torres is certainly a good talent and has a pretty high floor as a .270 hitter with 15-20 HR and slightly above average defense at SS. He's not a power hitter. He's not a savant with the bat who's gonna win batting titles. He doesn't have a cannon of an arm. He is not a burner. He's not a future Gold Glover at SS or even a guy that will definitely stick at SS after his arm injury. So, well-rounded regular most likely at SS is not a bad outcome, but it's the most likely outcome for Gleyber.

Great post. I mean, Torres was considered a really good prospect, but it was like he was traded to the Yankees and turned into the second coming of ARod (granted, his performance in the AFL drove a lot of the hype, IMO). No one ever knows with prospects, but he just strikes me as a solid, MLB starter/regular and not future MVP/AS.[/SPOILER]

It's almost like scouting reports and projections for baseball players and prospects can go down *or* up over the years as players gain strength and experience. But no, bias for Yankees' prospects is the only reason that Gleyber Torres is considered a top prospect in baseball.

With the arm injury, him debuting somewhere other than SS might have happened even if Didi wasn't going all Sir Didi in the Bronx.

His injury was to his non-throwing arm, so it shouldn't affect his arm strength (or defense) at all. Zack Cozart had the same injury in 2011 and still continued to play SS afterwards.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

His injury was to his non-throwing arm, so it shouldn't affect his arm strength (or defense) at all. Zack Cozart had the same injury in 2011 and still continued to play SS afterwards.

Good point. I forgot about that.

[countryboy]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Dodgers claim Henry Owens.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I think the hype for Torres is justified. You can never tell with prospects of course, but there is a reason he's one of the top prospects in baseball.

I don't know if he will ever be an MVP. That would be incredible. But given his skillset and quick adjustments and developing power it's fair to say he could be an all star and a franchise corner piece going forward.

That's all you can ask. The kid has a high ceiling. We will see. But there isn't much out there I'd trade him for. And certainly not for Cole.

Sent from my SM-J100VPP using Tapatalk

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I just watched MLB Network's top 50 plays from 2017 countdown...so much good baseball was had this past year. Can Spring Training 2018 get here ASAP, please!?

[countryboy]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I just watched MLB Network's top 50 plays from 2017 countdown...so much good baseball was had this past year. Can Spring Training 2018 get here ASAP, please!?

We are about 6 weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

I knew that Stanton had won the NL MVP, but I hadn't paid attention to the voting. I had no idea it was so close between him and Votto...he essentially won by 1 vote! I have no idea if that's the closest MVP voting ever (outside of the tie in 1979), but hard to get any closer.

[kenp86]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Boras and his clients need to get going lol tired of waiting. Think the GMs know his game now and arent bidding against themselves anymore

[ShowTyme15]

Re: 2017-2018 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Orioles are considering moving Zach Britton into the rotation once he comes back from his injury.