Non-NYM off-season moves

[smg58]

At $40M per, he's not opting out too soon.

Nick Pivetta got four years and $55M, with two opt-outs, from the Padres. His first year comes in at a $3M signing bonus and a $1M salary.

As long as he's at least adequate, it's a massive bargain for the Padres.

[Fman99]

Wow, Bregman got way more than Pete did.

[smg58]

He's nine months older than Alonso and has more than double the WAR (according to Fangraphs), so I get it.

It will be interesting to see if the Sox move Devers off third (where he's not very good) and bench/trade Casas or Yoshida, or whether they say "the hell with defense" and move Bregman to second and block Kristian Campbell, or move Campbell to the outfield or short and block one of their other prospects.

[Centerfield]

At $40M per, he's not opting out too soon.

Nick Pivetta got four years and $55M, with two opt-outs, from the Padres. His first year comes in at a $3M signing bonus and a $1M salary.

As long as he's at least adequate, it's a massive bargain for the Padres.

The Pivetta deal shows how cash-poor the Padres are this year. I think it signals that they might be more apt to move Cease than I thought.

[The Hot Corner]

Wow, Bregman didn't get the long-term deal he craved, but he got 3 years at an excessive rate and opt outs. I know he brings defensive value vs. Pete and is a better base runner, but that is a big jump over what Pete got. I think the Red Sox overpaid, particularly when arguably their best player already plays 3rd base. Reports say the Red Sox plan to try Bregman at second base.

[DocTee]

SS - Paul DeJong -- 31 y/o SS with pop (24 HRs in '24) and a glove but a sub-.300 career OBP. And, no, the Mets shouldn't sign him just so we won't have to face him.

PDJ to the Nats, one year, $1M. I'd have rather given that to him than face him 18 times this season.

[Gwreck]

Wow, Bregman didn't get the long-term deal he craved, but he got 3 years at an excessive rate and opt outs.

The Detroit Free Press reported that the Tigers offered six years, $171.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. And Bregman turned them down.

[The Hot Corner]

Wow, Bregman didn't get the long-term deal he craved, but he got 3 years at an excessive rate and opt outs.

The Detroit Free Press reported that the Tigers offered six years, $171.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. And Bregman turned them down.

Apparently he wanted the higher yearly (3/120 w/ opt outs) over the longer term (6/171.5 w/ opt outs). It generally comes down to the money. I still think the Red Sox overpaid, but I guess time will tell.

[Frayed Knot]

The now 40 y/o Justin Turner to the Cubs for one season.

With the Brewers and Cardinals both losing players and seemingly not spending much money this winter, and the Pirates and Reds both being the Pirates and the Reds.
It seems that the 3rd largest market Cubs with the goldmine that is Wrigley Field would be going all out to win the NLC. But apparently this was their backup plan for not getting Alex Bregman.

This, btw, was Turner's sixth time signing a FA contract. 3x with the Dodgers, then with the Red Sox in '23 and Toronto in '24

[Frayed Knot]

A couple of aging arms are trying to hang around for at least one more season

- Craig Kimbrel signs a minor league deal with the Braves, bringing the soon-to-be 37 y/o reliever back to the team that drafted him in the 3rd round way back in 2007 and for which he had his longest (5 years / 294 appearances) and most successful (1.43 ERA / 0.90 WHIP) tenure.
His second half in Baltimore last year was so brutal [.306 BAA / 978 OPS-A] that the playoff bound O's released him on September 24th rather than carry him into the WC round (which they'd go on to lose to KCR 2-0). This all, of course, means that he'll be lights out this season because the Braves.

- James 'The Big Maple' Paxton drags his 36 y/o butt to Arlington, Texas where the Rangers hope he'll provide some starting depth after he split 2024 between LAD and Boston [21 starts combined, 4.40 ERA / 1.45 WHIP]

[Frayed Knot]

With less than a week to go until Opening Day and coming off a decidedly subpar season in the Bronx [.233/.291/.356 / 13 HRs -- not exactly what one is looking for in a LF'er] the still just 28 y/o Alex Verdugo has finally hooked up with a team. With no ST to this point he'll start the season in the minors but he just signed a one year deal with the Braves. So, y'know, bounce back alert.
Not sure what this says about Atlanta's thoughts on Jarred Kelenic