I thought I'd get this going now (and pin it), even though we still have a few weeks to go. Please use this thread to track MLB NON-TWINS transactions. If you want to have a more in-depth discussion on a particular transaction, or major news, please start a separate thread. If you just want to make a few comments here there on the myriad of non-Twins MLB transactions, do so here. And as always, since this is the 'other baseball' forum, try to keep the Twins talk to the Twins talk forum. Difficult to do on a Twins site, and there will be no admonishment if it strays to that (wish the Twins had done this or glad they didn't do that), but try to keep focus on the 'other.'

 

Go!

5 years, $106mil for Justin Upton. I would want no part of that.

5 years, $106mil for Justin Upton. I would want no part of that.

I wouldn't be keen on that contract for my Twins, but it might be a reasonable deal for the Angels. He's been the Better Upton Brother, and at least it's not a laughable contract like Pujols's. The Angels have more wiggle room for dealing with dead money, if it eventually comes to that. And the "just for fun" through-age-29 comparison that b-r.com offers has names like Yaz, Reggie, and Beltre to consider (although his best comp of Ruben Sierra gives one pause). Justin might have enough staying power to make the contract OK for a team able to take the risk.

 

I wouldn't be keen on that contract for my Twins, but it might be a reasonable deal for the Angels. He's been the Better Upton Brother, and at least it's not a laughable contract like Pujols's. The Angels have more wiggle room for dealing with dead money, if it eventually comes to that. And the "just for fun" through-age-29 comparison that b-r.com offers has names like Yaz, Reggie, and Beltre to consider (although his best comp of Ruben Sierra gives one pause). Justin might have enough staying power to make the contract OK for a team able to take the risk.

 

That's fair. I was being Twins specific, and considering current assets/needs as well.

 

For a big market team like the Angels, with a certain window with Trout, makes sense to backload a contract for production in the immediate.

From today's KLaw chat:

 

Eric: Thoughts on J-Up’s 5-year deal with the Halos?

 

Keith Law: Love it for the Angels. Yes, he’s risky, lot of volatility in his performance, but he’s a potential 5-win player and still in his peak years. He was my #1 free agent going into the winter.

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/

From today's KLaw chat:

 

Eric: Thoughts on J-Up’s 5-year deal with the Halos?

 

Keith Law: Love it for the Angels. Yes, he’s risky, lot of volatility in his performance, but he’s a potential 5-win player and still in his peak years. He was my #1 free agent going into the winter.

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/

Interesting. It's rare that I wouldn't agree with Law.

Interesting. It's rare that I wouldn't agree with Law.

He's a very astute analyst.

 

He's a very astute analyst.

 

He'd be among the top 4-5 posters on this board.

Interesting. It's rare that I wouldn't agree with Law.

He's 29, just put up a 5.6 bWAR season, and signed a contract that is actually not much compared to the mega deals you are going to start seeing next year.

He only needs to put up 12 or 13 WAR over the 5 years for the contract to break even.

I don't see the downside that you're seeing.

 

He's 29, just put up a 5.6 bWAR season, and signed a contract that is actually not much compared to the mega deals you are going to start seeing next year.
He only needs to put up 12 or 13 WAR over the 5 years for the contract to break even.
I don't see the downside that you're seeing.

 

This (and 1b) is my least favorite profile to give big money to. A negative defender in LF coming off a monster season. I imagine he'll more or less keep his bb rate, but I think his k rate will nudge up, and he'll have to duplicate his career high SLG to maintain the same value.

 

I think he'll have a fine year or two (though would be pretty surprised if either is above 4 wins), but will really start falling off as the contract jumps up. And he did have a 2 WAR season just as recently as 2016, it wouldn't be a shocker if that is his best year going forward. This might work ok for the Angels, considering their specific window with Trout, but I would want the Twins to have no part of this.

 

I'll be interested to see how the other bats play out this offseason.

Carlos Beltran is riding into the sunset on top after a WS championship. 

 

During his 20 year career, he appeared in 9 All-Star games, hit 435 homers, stole 312 bases, and accumulated 69.8 WAR.

 

I remember thinking that the Royals were going to be pretty good back in the day when Beltran, Johnny Damon, and Jermaine Dye patrolled the OF. 

 

Carlos Beltran is riding into the sunset on top after a WS championship. 

 

During his 20 year career, he appeared in 9 All-Star games, hit 435 homers, stole 312 bases, and accumulated 69.8 WAR.

 

I remember thinking that the Royals were going to be pretty good back in the day when Beltran, Johnny Damon, and Jermaine Dye patrolled the OF. 

For me, he's a most deserving HOFer.

As a Braves fan, cannot be more pleased than I am with Alex Anthopoulos.

Edited November 14, 20179 yr by biggentleben

Texas signs Fister for 1 year at 4M.

 

Nice signing by Texas.  He provided 1.4 WAR in only 90 innings (15 starts, 3 relief appearances).

The hot stove is LUKEWARM at the moment... It was adorable to think the Giants may tear it all down and rebuild for a second. Instead, they're going all in figuring out a trade for Giancarlo Stanton. 

 

Per Jon Morosi on Twitter:

 

 

Giancarlo Stanton trade development: Source says #Marlins likely would accept offer of Panik, Beede and Shaw for Stanton alone -- if #SFGiants committed to paying at least $250 million of the $295 million left on Stanton’s contract. @MLB @MLBNetwork

 

2B Joe Panik, RHP prospect Tyler Beede, and OF prospect Chris Shaw.

 

Doesn't sound all that great, but the key is San Francisco being willing to take on most all of the $295 MM remaining on Stanton's contract. 

From yesterday's KLaw chat:

 

derek: If the Giants trade for Stanton, what’s a realistic return for the Marlins? And as a Giants fan, should I be terrified?

 

Keith Law: One rumor had the Giants taking the entire contract. That should terrify you. It could hamstring their team for a decade.

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/

This seems a dead and dull free agency period. Nothing happening.

This seems a dead and dull free agency period. Nothing happening.

Yes. Everyone's waiting for one particular thing to happen, and everyone (minus one or two) thinks they have a shot.

The Blue Jays acquired shortstop Aledmys Diaz from the Cardinals for OF prospect J.B. Woodman who was their #13 prospect before last season according to Fangraphs. 

Steal of a deal, esp. if Diaz rebounds

 

The Braves traded RHP Jim Johnson (former closer for them and the Orioles) for MiLB LHP Justin Kelly who is not a serious prospect

 

The Braves traded RHP Jim Johnson (former closer for them and the Orioles) for MiLB LHP Justin Kelly who is not a serious prospect

 

Braves also sent over a million in IFA funds as well.

Did anyone else catch this about Aaron Boone?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/al-central-notes-royals-boone-jackson-tribe-tigers.html

 

 

Did anyone else catch this about Aaron Boone?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/al-central-notes-royals-boone-jackson-tribe-tigers.html

 

Hmm. I wonder what role he would have served in the FO here? Also, why is Aaron Boone a hot name all of a sudden? 

Tigers will be signing Mike Fiers to a one year $6M. Not going to complain about this one as a Twins fan.

Stanton to the Yanks.

 

 

Going to be a monster team for years.

Neshek signed 2/17m deal with the Phillies. Heyman said he expects a run on relievers now.

 

Neshek signed 2/17m deal with the Phillies. Heyman said he expects a run on relievers now.

 

That's another one gone.....dominant against righties. Plenty left.....

Marlins fire sale continues. OF Marcell Ozuna will be traded to the Cardinals pending a physical. The return is not known at this time. Going off of their last trade, it's probably a C level prospect and a $500 gift card to Cheesecake Factory.

Marlins fire sale continues. OF Marcell Ozuna will be traded to the Cardinals pending a physical. The return is not known at this time. Going off of their last trade, it's probably a C level prospect and a $500 gift card to Cheesecake Factory.

Are the Marlins agreeing to chip in the tip to the waitstaff, or must the Cards pay that too?

 

Marlins fire sale continues. OF Marcell Ozuna will be traded to the Cardinals pending a physical. The return is not known at this time. Going off of their last trade, it's probably a C level prospect and a $500 gift card to Cheesecake Factory.

I think Jetes is thinking that if he can make the team bad enough, he's got a shot at cracking the starting lineup.