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Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Frayed Knot Nov 28 2017 10:39 PM

Doug Fister, 33 y/o RHP, 1 year plus option for '19 with Texas

Frayed Knot Dec 01 2017 08:03 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

C Welington Castillo -- ex of the Cubs, Mariners, Snakes and, most recently, the Orioles -- to the ChiSox on a two year deal And on the other side of Chicago: LHR Dario Alvarez, a Met for about 20 minutes (OK it was 10 appearances across parts of 2014 & 2015) inks a one year deal with the Cubs

Frayed Knot Dec 08 2017 12:18 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

RHP Tyler Chatwood to the Cubs on a three year deal for "around $40 million". Chatwood seemed like one of those guys who just emerged so I had no idea he was a FA. But it turns out that he's been in the majors since 2011 and with Colorado since 2012. But he was only a part-timer for a while and then missed all of 2015 so it kind of was just in 2016 that he started attracting notice [12-9; 3.87]. HIs 2017 wasn't as good but apparently clubs are intrigued by his 'secondary metrics' plus the prospect of the soon to be 28 y/o getting out of Cape Coors.

smg58 Dec 08 2017 01:26 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Chatwood has never pitched more than 158 innings, which makes this a fairly big gamble.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 11 2017 08:51 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Weird market. Chatwood's a spin-rate darling, but... multi-year deal @ $13m AAV? I guess it's good to be a FA starter this offseason.

smg58 Dec 11 2017 01:26 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Which is all the justification for tendering contracts to Harvey and Wheeler that you need.

bmfc1 Dec 13 2017 02:53 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 13 2017 11:33 AM

Bryan Shaw, not to the Mets but to the Rockies. Damn those big-city teams!

Ceetar Dec 13 2017 03:24 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Bryan Shaw isn't particularly much of anything.

Centerfield Dec 13 2017 05:58 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Ceetar wrote: Bryan Shaw isn't particularly much of anything. I hate to break this to you, but neither are the Mets.

Ceetar Dec 13 2017 02:14 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: Ceetar wrote: Bryan Shaw isn't particularly much of anything. I hate to break this to you, but neither are the Mets. they're a better team than Shaw is a reliever. And Shaw doesn't particularly push the needle much on the first part.

41Forever Dec 13 2017 02:18 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: Ceetar wrote: Bryan Shaw isn't particularly much of anything. I hate to break this to you, but neither are the Mets. I would disagree on that one. Mets are a good team with a season devastated by injuries as opposed to a bad team that lacks talent.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 13 2017 02:19 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I think they're a "good" team but I have my doubts about whether they're a "good enough" team.

41Forever Dec 13 2017 02:30 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think they're a "good" team but I have my doubts about whether they're a "good enough" team. Not disagreeing on that one! Definitely places to upgrade.

Vic Sage Dec 13 2017 03:00 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

As it's turning out, ALL the deals at the Winter 2017/18 meetings aree "non-NYM FA deals"

smg58 Dec 13 2017 04:09 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Still plenty of relievers on the market. Shaw's price got too high. Morrow's deal (with the Cubs) wasn't cheap either. I fell a small amount of regret over Mike Minor, but he may have gone with the team that was willing to start him anyway.

Ashie62 Dec 13 2017 05:01 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Shaw is a Rockie at 27 million for three years. Fairly priced for an elite 8th inning guy by me.. I have seen speculation that Sandy has been talking to Fernando Rodney's peoples fwiw.

A Boy Named Seo Dec 13 2017 05:05 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Not Rodney. Please no Rodney.

Ashie62 Dec 13 2017 05:19 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I feel your pain. A Rodney signing would not surprise me in any way.

MFS62 Dec 14 2017 02:40 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Joe Smith signs with the Astros - 2 years. Sigh. OE, saw that FK had already noted this in the Winter meetings thread. Later

Ashie62 Dec 14 2017 04:41 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic confirms that the Angels' acquisition of Ian Kinsler from the Tigers is a done deal. According to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers will receive right-hander Wilkel Hernandez and outfielder Troy Montgomery in return. Neither of them are top prospects, so this was mostly about shedding Kinsler's $10 million salary for 2018. In the end, Kinsler waived his no-trade clause to go to the Angels. The 35-year-old is coming off a down season where he batted just .236/.313/.412 with 22 homers over 139 games, but he's still a strong defender and gives the Angels a sizable upgrade at second base. The Angels apparently might not be done, as they also hope to make a move for a third baseman.

smg58 Dec 15 2017 07:10 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

They aren't done; they just signed Zack Cozart to play third for three years and $38M.

smg58 Dec 15 2017 07:14 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Carlos Santana goes to the Phillies for 3 years and $60 million. Even if I was looking for a first baseman, that's about 15 million more than I'd have offered.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 15 2017 07:16 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I figure the Phillies must see us vulnerable enough to overcome, and Marlins and Braves irrelevant for the time being, and so all they need is a shaky year from Washington and KAPOW!

Edgy MD Dec 15 2017 07:44 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

The Phillies got very little production out of first and third last year. They kind of had to fill one of those blanks in. Cosart was on my short list of possible Mets infielders. I was leery his sudden and dramatic bump in OBP last year might reverse itself. And I wasn't sure he'd be willing to move off short, but there he is, going to play third in Anaheim.

Centerfield Dec 15 2017 08:45 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

smg58 wrote: They aren't done; they just signed Zack Cozart to play third for three years and $38M. This seems pretty reasonable. Is Cozart older? I would have been ok with getting Cozart for 3B and moving Asdrubal to 2B. Plus you could slide Cozart to SS if Rosario stumbles and that would make space for Florvera.

Ashie62 Dec 15 2017 10:44 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

This is getting frustrating. I'm getting like "Pull the trigger Sandy." It don't come easy.

Edgy MD Dec 15 2017 11:07 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Don't get exorcised. It's like this every offseason until it isn't.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 01:13 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Except for the times nothing happens.

Ashie62 Dec 16 2017 11:51 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I would just like to see the oye vey taken away.

Lefty Specialist Dec 16 2017 12:54 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: Don't get exorcised. It's like this every offseason until it isn't. Yeah, but I kind of have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that they're not going to do much and just magically hope that the pitching will be fabulous because they hired a pitching coach as manager.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 01:15 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

And the feeling is justified. Every indication they’ve been sending out suggests this. At least in Callaway they have a “plan” to fix the pitching. They don’t even pretend to want to improve the offense. Everything we have heard so far isn’t even anywhere near enough to offset what we traded away. And I call bullshit on Sandy playing things close to the vest. The man telegraphs everything. Western Union, as Keith says. A few years ago the buzz was it would be Cuddyer then dick. And that’s what it was. The next year it was Zobrist or dick. And the only thing that saved that was the Cespedes market cratering and Yo coming back to them. And last year he was very positive about bringing back Yo, and that’s what he did. He was public about needing to trade Bruce and he tried desperately to do so. The idea of Sandy being covert and close to the vest is a myth.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 01:18 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Lefty Specialist wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Don't get exorcised. It's like this every offseason until it isn't. Yeah, but I kind of have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that they're not going to do much and just magically hope that the pitching will be fabulous because they hired a pitching coach as manager. I think it takes just as much magic to believe in transactions.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 01:26 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Don't get exorcised. It's like this every offseason until it isn't. Yeah, but I kind of have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that they're not going to do much and just magically hope that the pitching will be fabulous because they hired a pitching coach as manager. I think it takes just as much magic to believe in transactions. That’s silly and dismissive. If you want a great team, get great players. Hiring a pitching coach is not a realistic path to success. If that were true, the great players would be cheap and Mickey Callaway would cost a hundred million dollars.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 01:31 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: That’s silly and dismissive. It's certainly not meant as such. It's just as legitimate, and my point of view, that if you want a truly great team, build one from the ground up, and don't believe that that you have to rebuild every offseason. Transactions take a team south just as often as they take a team north, and in the case of the Mets, moreso.

d'Kong76 Dec 16 2017 01:32 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

My magic is 'when everyone doesn't want Walker for four years we'll get him for two.' Merry Christmas!

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 01:47 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: Centerfield wrote: That’s silly and dismissive. It's certainly not meant as such. It's just as legitimate, and my point of view, that if you want a truly great team, build one from the ground up, and don't believe that that you have to rebuild every offseason. Transactions take a team south just as often as they take a team north, and in the case of the Mets, moreso. Building a great team is not picking between buying free agents and building one from the ground up. It's both. The Mets have done the "building" part. They have seven home grown starting pitchers. A home grown closer. Several home grown RP options. They have home grown position players at 1B, SS, C, RF and also currently at CF and 2B. They should be supplementing that core now. Free agent transactions can certainly take you north. A bad free agent signing can take you south, only because it saps money that would have been spent elsewhere. But a free agent signing cannot take you south if you otherwise don't spend the money. We are not arguing over who to spend on, it's whether to spend. And if the choices are spend, or not spend, choosing to spend literally cannot make you worse. If the Mets had two options right now, spend nothing, or re-sign Jason Bay, today, to his contract over again, re-signing Jason Bay cannot make the Mets any worse. And sure, you can talk about how a bad deal keeps us off the board next year. That's bullshit. There is no indication things will be any different next year, than this year, or years past.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 01:51 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

And you know full well that bringing in players is far more likely to improve a team than changing a pitching coach. Teams bringing in great players go from middle of the pack to division winners all the time. The other scenario has never happened. Ever.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 01:53 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I didn't endorse winning by changing a pitching coach. I endorsed winning by building an organization.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 01:54 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Teams bringing in great players go from middle of the pack to division winners all the time. The other scenario has never happened. Ever. I'm not sure what the other scenario is. But teams thinking they are bringing in great players go to south all the time. Not never.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 02:00 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: We are not arguing over who to spend on, it's whether to spend. That's certainly not what I'm arguing about. I disagreed that the team isn't going to do anything this offseason. They are. And I disagreed that they are relying on magic. I don't think disagreeing with that is silly and I don't know why you want to throw down over that. I wasn't even addressing it to you.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 02:43 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I’m not throwing down. Just disagreeing. Sorry about the tone. You said that it always feels like they will do something but they always end up doing something. That’s not true. Sometimes they do nothing. Then you equated transactions to being the equivalent of bringing in a pitching coach. That’s also not true and you know that. I realize free agents can fall short of expectations but they cannot make a team worse than doing nothing. Let me illustrate. Giving $5 million to Lincecum right now is foolish. That money is better spent on someone else. But if the choices are $5 million for Timmy, or $5 million to Fred’s boat payment, then you pick the $5 million on Timmy. Lincecum will probably give you nothing, but he can’t make you worse. You cut him if he stinks. But Tim gives you a much better chance at contributing than Fred’s boat. And this is my point. Bad free agent signings are bad because they prevent you from getting better players. But if the choice is bad free agents versus not spending at all and not investing elsewhere , you pick bad free agents.

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 03:34 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: I’m not throwing down. Just disagreeing. Sorry about the tone. Thanks indeed. Centerfield wrote: You said that it always feels like they will do something but they always end up doing something. That’s not true. Sometimes they do nothing. Which offseason are you referring to? Last year they handed out the third-most money. Centerfield wrote: Then you equated transactions to being the equivalent of bringing in a pitching coach. That’s also not true and you know that. I certainly didn't mean to do that. I think it's untrue that the team is banking on a pitching coach and hoping for magic. I think we all know that. If they've not done a lot of transactions (and that will likely change at least somewhat), it's far more true to say they are banking on Yoenis Cespedes to produce more than 1.5 WAR and Noah Syndergaard to produce more than 1.4 fWAR, and so on. Centerfield wrote: I realize free agents can fall short of expectations but they cannot make a team worse than doing nothing. Well, I promise you I don't endorse doing nothing. But what signing a free agent can do is compromise your ability to do the next, smarter thing. So I'll endorse some free agents, but not others. I don't endorse going aggressively after Todd Frazier (for instance), certainly. And if an aggressive pitch at him is currently the best option, I endorse looking for the next thing. I want spending, but deliberate and thoughtful spending. That's why my interest is far bigger for the annual productivity that the Reds get out of Joey Votto's contract, over the eyepopping but unstable production the Marlins have gotten out of Giancarlo Stanton's. He may be the MVP now, but he's far more likely (than some) to turn into a white elephant. And that hurts a team who is looking for next year's MVP. Spend!

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 04:09 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

From the other thread. John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Plus, and this is just my own theory I tell myself, but I think its clear the problem with the ownership isn't that they're evil but that they're stupid, and the main stupid guy is 81 years old. Yeah. And I'm thankful Sandy's smarter, though he's got his share of misses. And if Fred's restraints are Sandy's challenges, I'm certainly going to root for the latter to remain and do his best work within those restraints.

Centerfield Dec 16 2017 04:15 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I think I was mainly referring to the Michael Cuddyer offseason where they didn’t do nearly enough. After clarification I think I largely agree with you. So I guess at the end, this is the order: 1. Spend wisely (meaning money you choose not to spend is set aside for reinvestment) 2. Spend foolishly 3. Don’t spend at all

Ashie62 Dec 16 2017 04:35 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: Centerfield wrote: We are not arguing over who to spend on, it's whether to spend. That's certainly not what I'm arguing about. I disagreed that the team isn't going to do anything this offseason. They are. And I disagreed that they are relying on magic. I don't think disagreeing with that is silly and I don't know why you want to throw down over that. I wasn't even addressing it to you. Look, it takes savvy building, money, a lotta luck (and some magic) to get er done. I dont see much yet. My best guess is the Mets lost bucco money in 2017 and we are now lean. Sandy will try and we shall see. It hurts to see other teams get their xmas gifts while we wait. Patience is a virtue that I struggle with. Be well.

Ceetar Dec 16 2017 06:14 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: I think I was mainly referring to the Michael Cuddyer offseason where they didn’t do nearly enough. After clarification I think I largely agree with you. So I guess at the end, this is the order: 1. Spend wisely (meaning money you choose not to spend is set aside for reinvestment) 2. Spend foolishly 3. Don’t spend at all you mean the...the offseason prior to the 2015 season? that one? They've been linked to roughly every second baseman. Some good, some meh, but it'd be surprising if they didn't get one. If the Mets were okay with a budget just under the luxury tax I don't think they'd just give Walker the 4 years because that's what he's asking for initially when there are so many other guys available too. The other things they need are 1. a top flight catcher (not easy or necessarily available) 2. a good hitting CFer. Cain maybe, but there aren't a lot of these either, if they're serious about real defense. And nimmo and Lagares aren't worthless. 3. a backup first baseman that has flexibility elsewhere. For better or worse, they're going to give Rosario and Smith their reps, something most Mets fans begged for last year (and we wouldn't be much more informed if they'd each gotten another 100pa) These were high rated prospects and even if their promotion docked the system, we haven't actually reaped the rewards yet. So the guy they sign for this role is tricky..is he going to play 1B a lot or a little? is he going to be a 'veteran' that expects 500 pa or a role player that's fine filling in? Or is it just Wilmer Flores?

Edgy MD Dec 16 2017 07:32 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

I think Nimmo can be that good-hitting centerfielder, given a chance and a philosophically sound set of marching orders. If they land somebody with a good chance to be an all star, good, but otherwise, I like him. They need outfielders, certainly, but a righthanded guy of the Hairston or Byrd variety wouldn't kill me. Somebody who can get regular or semi-regular time until Conforto is healthy, and then mix in as a versatile sub. Injuries kick in, and that guy is suddenly overexposed, so they probably need to be ready to deal in-season to fill a gap, which they haven't done in a while. They ride out crises, or find reserves on the cheap (waiver wire or a PTBNL trade or something), or (worst of all) rush players back from injury.

Edgy MD Dec 17 2017 05:56 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Tom F. Koehler to the Dodgers on a one-year deal.

Ashie62 Dec 17 2017 03:42 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: From the other thread. John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Plus, and this is just my own theory I tell myself, but I think its clear the problem with the ownership isn't that they're evil but that they're stupid, and the main stupid guy is 81 years old. Yeah. And I'm thankful Sandy's smarter, though he's got his share of misses. And if Fred's restraints are Sandy's challenges, I'm certainly going to root for the latter to remain and do his best work within those restraints. I would agree and would say that yes, Sandy has had his misses, but tries and will continue to do the best he can with what he has to work with. I very well understand it will rattle our nerves at times. Fred Wilpon, for me its' a matter of having compassion for someone whose brain and body may very well be boggled.

d'Kong76 Dec 17 2017 07:09 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Ashie62 wrote: Fred Wilpon, for me its' a matter of having compassion for someone whose brain and body may very well be boggled. Compassion for his boggled mind? He should have some compassion for us and sell an office building and put the proceeds into his baseball team. Boggled? Bah.

Ashie62 Dec 17 2017 09:33 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

d'Kong76 wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Fred Wilpon, for me its' a matter of having compassion for someone whose brain and body may very well be boggled. Compassion for his boggled mind? He should have some compassion for us and sell an office building and put the proceeds into his baseball team. Boggled? Bah. Yeah, I went pollyanna on that one. lol

d'Kong76 Dec 17 2017 09:48 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

It happens.

seawolf17 Dec 18 2017 01:35 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Edgy MD wrote: Tom F. Koehler to the Dodgers on a one-year deal. Brandon Morrow: average starter for years. Signs with Dodgers at 32 after the Blue Jays switch him to the bullpen; throws 43 bullpen innings in 2017 to a 2.06 ERA. Tom Koehler: average starter for years. Signs with Dodgers after the Blue Jays switch him to the bullpen; turns 32 in June.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 18 2017 06:50 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Different guys, though. The issue with Morrow was never stuff or pitching acumen-- it's been staying hale. The odd dominant outing aside, Koehler's been workmanlike at best and never nearly as K-happy as Morrow, and, well... he pitches about as well as he was educated.

seawolf17 Dec 18 2017 11:57 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

(I know all of this. I like nudging you all as much as you like nudging me.)

Ashie62 Dec 19 2017 12:26 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

We appreciate it. Yelich expressed his winter of discontent as a Marlin. Also catcher J.T.R It would be redundant to get him, but the kid is a natural.

Ceetar Dec 19 2017 03:03 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

seawolf17 wrote: (I know all of this. I like nudging you all as much as you like nudging me.) So you're saying this odd obsession with these guys isn't going to end shortly? ;-)

A Boy Named Seo Dec 19 2017 09:21 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Giving $5 million to Lincecum right now is foolish. That money is better spent on someone else. But if the choices are $5 million for Timmy, or $5 million to Fred’s boat payment, then you pick the $5 million on Timmy. MAYBE IT'S NOT FOOLISH http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/12/19/263767180

smg58 Dec 21 2017 12:50 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Matt Adams to the Nationals for 1 year and 4 million. A good deal for the Nats, unfortunately. Yonder Alonso gets two years and 16 million from the Indians. Carlos Santana should be extra nice to his agent this Christmas.

Ceetar Dec 21 2017 02:27 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

smg58 wrote: Matt Adams to the Nationals for 1 year and 4 million. A good deal for the Nats, unfortunately. A neutral deal for the Nats. he's younger than Adam Lind but he's basically Adam Lind, slightly cheaper. This doesn't make the Nationals better in any way, though it didn't stop hack Joel Sherman from skewering the Mets for it.

Edgy MD Dec 21 2017 02:56 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Lind gives you a little more OBP and a little more outfield versatility. Adams had a great half season for Atlanta, but on a one-year dealio, I'll take Lind's modest track record, older though he may be.

MFS62 Dec 21 2017 03:46 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Alonso to the Indians. https://247sports.com/tu/MjM1MTI2OHRpbnkyNDc= Later

smg58 Dec 21 2017 04:17 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Ceetar wrote: smg58 wrote: Matt Adams to the Nationals for 1 year and 4 million. A good deal for the Nats, unfortunately. A neutral deal for the Nats. he's younger than Adam Lind but he's basically Adam Lind, slightly cheaper. This doesn't make the Nationals better in any way, though it didn't stop hack Joel Sherman from skewering the Mets for it. Adams is a better fielder than Lind, in addition to being younger and cheaper. It fully replaces a valuable player from last year's team without hurting their ability to make other moves. As for skewering the Mets... it's not about money, at that price. Making room on the 25 for two left-handed first basemen is difficult. You could demote Smith, but (a) I'm convinced that Las Vegas is part of the problem where developing hitters is concerned, (b) he's not going to have a .218 BABIP again, and (c) at some point you have show confidence in your young guys to play through initial struggles, otherwise you never develop anybody.

Frayed Knot Dec 21 2017 08:59 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

The Nationals are essentially just cycling through backup 1B-men while they fret about needing one full-time if/when Ryan Zimmerman falls off. Tyler Moore gives way to Clint Robinson who was followed by Lind who now gives way to Adams. Sort of the same-ish player each time. Only Robinson stuck around for more than a year and he wasn't nearly as good second go-around. With guys like that, if they have a good season they try to cash in elsewhere and if not then you don't really want them back anyway.

bmfc1 Dec 29 2017 04:12 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Wade Davis to the Rockies. Another big market free agent signing.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 29 2017 04:31 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

He was probably attracted by their superior school system.

Centerfield Dec 29 2017 08:30 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

They signed Brian Shaw as well. You never know how a pitcher will react to Colorado, but that sounds like it could be a very good pen.

Centerfield Dec 29 2017 11:49 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

And I would have done this deal. Davis is tremendous and a difference maker in the pen. I’m guessing they’ll have to shell out even more than this if they want to keep Familia next year.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 20 2018 08:38 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Dyson to Arizona for 2/$7.5M. I feel a little like this would have been preferable to the Jay Bruce thing.

Frayed Knot Feb 20 2018 08:15 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Really? A speed guy who'll turn 34 during the season (Aug), who's never been a full-timer (<400 PA each year), who carries sub-Duda-esque numbers vs LHPs (63 OPS+), and gets on base at a rate just a hair above Bruce but with about 2% of the power (12 career HRs)?

Centerfield Feb 20 2018 08:33 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

JD Martinez to Boston. 5 years, $110. Front loaded, so he makes $25 per for the first 2 years. Opt outs after years 2 and 3. Very reasonable contract. Should have been all over this.

Vic Sage Feb 20 2018 08:40 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Centerfield wrote: JD Martinez to Boston. 5 years, $110. Front loaded, so he makes $25 per for the first 2 years. Opt outs after years 2 and 3. Very reasonable contract. Should have been all over this. Well, offering that deal to him would have meant not pursuing Bruce. Which is fine, but then Bruce signs elsewhere and, when Martinez signs up for that deal with Boston, we're left with... what... Dyson? So, we'd have to have paid substantially more than that to get Martinez away from an AL playoff team like BoSox, where he can win and DH.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 20 2018 09:02 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Yeah, Bruce was the bird in the hand. I don't object to the way they played that.

Centerfield Feb 20 2018 11:14 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Understood that timing is a factor, but at that price point, I would have liked for the Mets to be in on it. If it didn't work out, there are still productive hitters available. Logan Morrison played some OF I think. Carlos Gonzalez is a reclamation project. You could sign Duda/Morrison for 1B, then sign Cargo as your reclamation. And Jay Bruce might still be available if the Mets didn't take him off the board. Or you go with what you have and get Arrieta.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 21 2018 07:01 AM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Frayed Knot wrote: Really? A speed guy who'll turn 34 during the season (Aug), who's never been a full-timer (<400 PA each year), who carries sub-Duda-esque numbers vs LHPs (63 OPS+), and gets on base at a rate just a hair above Bruce but with about 2% of the power (12 career HRs)? The defense is, like, factor-of-ten better, and plays at three positions. The speed makes him a weapon on the basepaths, and he's shown just enough with the bat to make him about a 2.5- win guy in part-time duty over the past five seasons. His ability to hit righties (.267/.332/.392 career... and better in recent years) might have played very well in a platoon with Johnny Lags. And he ended up being about a quarter of the AAV price, with one less year.

Edgy MD Feb 21 2018 02:47 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Dyson? I'm reluctant to buy that line. The guy who has never gotten more than 400 plate appearances isn't a good bet to suddenly improve if given a bigger workload at 33. If anything, he'd just depress opportunities for Nimmo. Matt den Dekker with a big league track record and a big league price tag. That's not nothing, but it's not something I want to bank on.

Lefty Specialist Feb 21 2018 03:07 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Could they have done better if you replay the offseason? Maybe. But you couldn't be sure that FA's would have such a tough time getting offers. We're a week into spring training and Cobb/Arietta/Lynn are still sitting out there, and Martinez and Hosmer just signed. If you could have predicted that in October, I'd like to get stock tips from you. While I'm not high on Vargas, at least they finally admitted that you can't wish for perfect health from the 'Big Five'. And with the Frazier signing they finally admitted that David Wright is never coming back in any significant capacity. Those two things could have hamstrung their thinking, but didn't. Is it enough to snag a wild card? Dunno. But Dyson wouldn't have been a difference maker, especially since Conforto will miss a chunk of time to start the year.

Edgy MD Feb 21 2018 03:28 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

There's an unfortunate and unintended product of the collective bargaining system. It used to be that multiple classes of free agent signings would lead to multiple levels of compensation awarded from the signing teams to the forsaken teams. By freeing up the lesser classes of free agents from that seemingly onerous drag on their bargaining leverage, the idea was to make them more sign-able. But the problem is that they are more sign-able relative to the top class, the only class that is any longer tied to compensation. Freeing up the secondary classes isn't helping them so much as hurting the top classes. Anyway, that's how I'm seeing the unintended market effect play out.

Nymr83 Feb 21 2018 10:10 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

That may be part of it. To me, the #1 issue is the Florida fire sale that essentially replaced a big free agent acquisition for 3 teams. After that, the number of teams tanking and not interested in expensive upgrades is #2. #3 is the luxury tax - not the fact that it exists, bit the strucutre - by getting under for one year the league's two biggest spenders are setting themselves up for several years of paying a lower multiple on going over - which they fully intend to do next year for Harper, Machado, anf Donaldson.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 21 2018 11:10 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

That's a good point. The Tampa Fake Rays are also screwing up the game for everyone.

sharpie Feb 21 2018 11:45 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

Well they did just sign our old friend Carlos Gomez.

Edgy MD Feb 21 2018 11:46 PM Re: Winter 2017/18 non-NYM FA Deals

The Pirates: also tearing down the engine this winter.