Non-Twins Off-season news, tidbits and transactions

[ashbury]

We had a thread for items around the baseball world that were worth sharing but not worth a thread of their own. Now that the 2018 season is over, I'll start this new one for the off-season.

[Vanimal46]

 

Maybe a sign of things to come with fringy type FAs. Low salary with a ton of incentives cooked into the contract.

[Vanimal46]

I know it's not exactly new in MLB to have incentive-laden contracts but perhaps we'll see an uptick in these type of contracts.

 

It's the closest we can get to paying for current performance instead of past results.

[Vanimal46]

 

If we want Keuchel, it'll cost us a draft pick now.

[Guest]

 

  On 10/29/2018 at 9:46 PM, Vanimal46 said:

I know it's not exactly new in MLB to have incentive-laden contracts but perhaps we'll see an uptick in these type of contracts.

It's the closest we can get to paying for current performance instead of past results.

I hope so. I tend to think a guy SHOULD be paid for how he's performing now. The flip side of that, of course, is that young players should also get paid for how they're performing in the present, rather than having their pay artificially restricted.

 

I know that a lot of veteran players won't like this trend (since they've been expecting to get big contracts after their arbitration years end), but it might be the way those players avoid losing their jobs to young (cheap) players. 

 

If it does become a real trend, it will be interesting to see if it also becomes an issue of some contention in the next CBA.

[Mr. Brooks]

  On 10/29/2018 at 10:16 PM, SD Buhr said:

I hope so. I tend to think a guy SHOULD be paid for how he's performing now. The flip side of that, of course, is that young players should also get paid for how they're performing in the present, rather than having their pay artificially restricted.

 

I know that a lot of veteran players won't like this trend (since they've been expecting to get big contracts after their arbitration years end), but it might be the way those players avoid losing their jobs to young (cheap) players.

 

If it does become a real trend, it will be interesting to see if it also becomes an issue of some contention in the next CBA.

It would have to be, if they want to push it further than games/innings. I could be misinformed, but I believe the current CBA prevents bonuses for performance, outside of games/innings and awards.

[Vanimal46]

Realmuto's agent was on MLB Network Radio today. You'll be SHOCKED to learn Realmuto will not sign an extension and asks to be traded.

 

I think this is for real this time. Someone will get a great catcher for a minimum of 2 seasons.

[biggentleben]

 

  On 10/29/2018 at 9:44 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Maybe a sign of things to come with fringy type FAs. Low salary with a ton of incentives cooked into the contract.

 

Or a guy willing to structure things to deal with injury concerns in order to finish his career with the same team he began it with...Adam's expressed that many times over. He's incredibly loyal and essentially was doing this, considering a return to the Braves as the team that drafted him, or retiring.

 

In other words, I wouldn't count on this as an indication of anything to come.

[biggentleben]

 

  On 10/29/2018 at 10:32 PM, Mr. Brooks said:

It would have to be, if they want to push it further than games/innings. I could be misinformed, but I believe the current CBA prevents bonuses for performance, outside of games/innings and awards.

 

Postseason things are allowed in there as well (bonus if the team makes the postseason, bonus if player plays in postseason, bonus if pitcher makes postseason start), but basically anything that says "hitting .320 will get you $3M more than hitting .300" is not allowed.

[biggentleben]

 

  On 10/31/2018 at 3:18 AM, Vanimal46 said:

Realmuto's agent was on MLB Network Radio today. You'll be SHOCKED to learn Realmuto will not sign an extension and asks to be traded.

I think this is for real this time. Someone will get a great catcher for a minimum of 2 seasons.

 

He'll do well for Washington next year, and they're going to be a much better team by not having Bryce in 2019.

[Vanimal46]

  On 11/1/2018 at 3:52 PM, biggentleben said:

He'll do well for Washington next year, and they're going to be a much better team by not having Bryce in 2019.

You think they will trade him within the division? Who do you think Washington will have to part with to make the deal?

[biggentleben]

 

  On 11/1/2018 at 3:57 PM, Vanimal46 said:

You think they will trade him within the division? Who do you think Washington will have to part with to make the deal?

 

The guy they were willing to move in the summer but that the Marlins wouldn't accept as a headliner, Carter Kieboom. He's moved up to a top 25-30 prospect in all the game, and the Nats have some very high-upside guys lower in their system with some solid pitching scattered throughout to make a package quite feasible.

[USAFChief]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-free-agency-athletics-exercise-option-on-fernando-rodney-who-could-be-baseballs-oldest-player-in-2019/

 

Oakland picks up the FRE's 2019 option.

[Mike Sixel]

 

  On 11/1/2018 at 3:52 PM, biggentleben said:

He'll do well for Washington next year, and they're going to be a much better team by not having Bryce in 2019.

 

They might be better, but it won't because they lose a great player.....

[biggentleben]

 

  On 11/1/2018 at 11:42 PM, Mike Sixel said:

They might be better, but it won't because they lose a great player.....

 

Not the point I made at all.

 

Choosing to direct the funds that would go to Bryce would be better utilized across the roster. The team panicked on Strasburg and certainly the payroll now regrets it. They paid a premium for him.

[Mike Sixel]

 

  On 11/2/2018 at 5:50 PM, biggentleben said:

Not the point I made at all.

 

Choosing to direct the funds that would go to Bryce would be better utilized across the roster. The team panicked on Strasburg and certainly the payroll now regrets it. They paid a premium for him.

 

Not sure how they replace Strasburg.....their big mistake was resting him the first year when they were great. You never know if you'll have that chance again....

 

but, ya, I clearly read that wrong.....

[Mike Sixel]

Kershaw off the market, with an extension of three years, at $93MM for the next three years....giving him a sizable raise for the next two years, and a new, third, year on his old deal.

[TheLeviathan]

Cleveland telling teams they are selling off veterans like Kluber according to Olney.

[Otto von Ballpark]

  On 11/3/2018 at 1:32 AM, TheLeviathan said:

Cleveland telling teams they are selling off veterans like Kluber according to Olney.

"will listen to trade offers"

 

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1058421239704887299

 

I imagine they would be looking for quite a haul on Kluber and Carrasco -- new cheaper talent to quickly complement Lindor and Ramirez.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

In my opinion, that makes no sense. That somehow Kluber or Carrasco might be traded. They still have fairly friendly deals in my estimation, and for the most part aren't in line for any big salary increases (though Klubers goes up 6+ mil in 2019 -- and he's worth every penny).

 

My guess: saying Kluber or Carrasco are on the trading block is Cleveland's (cheap?) way of fishing for phone calls for the other guys.

[old nurse]

 

[Mr. Brooks]

  On 11/3/2018 at 2:16 AM, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

In my opinion, that makes no sense. That somehow Kluber or Carrasco might be traded. They still have fairly friendly deals in my estimation, and for the most part aren't in line for any big salary increases (though Klubers goes up 6+ mil in 2019 -- and he's worth every penny).

 

My guess: saying Kluber or Carrasco are on the trading block is Cleveland's (cheap?) way of fishing for phone calls for the other guys.

Not sure I agree. I think the economy has been slow to recover in Cleveland, and their revenue probably can't support the projected $135 million payroll.

[Vanimal46]

Sigh... Take a stand, Theo.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/cubs-still-deciding-addison-russells-fate.html

[nicksaviking]

  On 11/5/2018 at 1:08 AM, Vanimal46 said:

Sigh... Take a stand, Theo. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/cubs-still-deciding-addison-russells-fate.html

I’m sure it will be a coincidence that the speech about morality given from the high horse will happen after they find a trade partner.

 

Those things take awhile to proofread after all.

[Squirrel]

  On 11/5/2018 at 1:08 AM, Vanimal46 said:

Sigh... Take a stand, Theo. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/cubs-still-deciding-addison-russells-fate.html

Yeah, I’ll take Machado’s immaturity over that.

[Vanimal46]

[Vanimal46]

  On 11/5/2018 at 1:50 AM, Carole Keller said:

Yeah, I’ll take Machado’s immaturity over that.

Absolutely. Some things never change though. From that blurb Theo said someone has to take a stand against players who abuse women. Yet here we are, a month later and he's back peddling. All because Russell has some talent.

[Mike Sixel]

Fangraphs has its top 50 FA list up, and also a free agent tracker. 

 

As for the Cubs......I remain disappointed in how talent and money are more important to many in this country than other, more important, things.

[Vanimal46]

 

The White Sox see an opening to be competitive again.

[nicksaviking]

 

  On 11/5/2018 at 4:45 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Fangraphs has its top 50 FA list up, and also a free agent tracker. 

 

As for the Cubs......I remain disappointed in how talent and money are more important to many in this country than other, more important, things.

 

I don't think it's just this country. Seems to me professional soccer players get into all kinds of trouble as well and their behavior is overlooked if not sometimes celebrated.