2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[faldor]

Welp, that's that.

Oddly enough, not too disappointed with the Cards loss to the Sox.

They actually extended it one game more than I thought going in.

Would have loved to had the Cards at full strength throughout but that's baseball.

Never thought they'd get this far, thought the Pirates had a great shot in the first round.

Once that was done, I knew they'd beat the Dodgers.  The Cards had handled Kershaw historically and I figured the Dodgers would make mistakes both on the field and in the dugout that would be fatal.

The Cards are set up for the future big time, plenty of payroll flexibility and quality youngsters that can be used to acquire whatever's needed and/or take the places of veterans that won't be retained.

Major kudos to Ben Cherington for cleaning up the mess that Theo left, what a turnaround.

An amazing turnaround for sure.  It took me quite awhile to actually believe in this Red Sox team.  On paper, they really weren't anywhere close to the most talented team.  But they played way above their heads and got contributions from the entire roster.  It was a pleasure to watch all season long.  They could win it all again next season, or finish in last place in a tough AL East.  I don't foresee another 90+ loss season for some time though.  Conversely, the Cards seem to be setup nicely for the future.  That pitching staff should be good for years to come, and that team seems to always be among the top offensive clubs in the NL.  So lots to look forward to, for sure.

It was a strange series like you said.  Certainly sloppy at times.  Dominant pitching on both sides.  Strange calls and plays that you never see.  It had a little bit of everything, and obviously I enjoyed the hell out of the ride.

Word is the Sox really want to retain Stephen Drew, which is kind of surprising.  He was viewed as the prototypical one year stopgap.  Then it was supposed to be Bogaerts at SS and Middlebrooks at 3B.  IF they do retain Drew, that could signify them throwing in the towel on Middlebrooks.  He's got legit power but he's proven to be shaky in the field and he chases too many bad pitches.  As bad as Drew was offensively in the Series, he was such a better option than Will based on defense alone.  I'd gladly watch Drew go 1 for 13 and play stellar defense than Middlebrooks fail to field balls hit 10 inches to his right.  With that being said, he's still young, and can still improve.  But he may not be the can't miss prospect that you hear about every 15 minutes.  Plus they have another 3B prospect waiting in the wings (go figure). 

If Drew does leave Boston, and that's a distinct possibility.  I've heard many people say he'd be a perfect fit for St. Louis.  I'd have to agree.  And for all his shortcomings at the plate in the post season, he still was among the best offensive SS's in baseball during the REGULAR season.  That has to count for something.

[tim_m]

Sounds like they've got promising prospects to fill most holes they'll have.

We'll see, as we all know - "prospects" can become "suspects' very quickly.

The Cards off season will be intriguing, same for the Yanks.

What's the latest with the Bombers? Tim, pilf?

Well they resigned Jeter for 1 year 12 mill. Thats about it so far but they are reportedly interested in Ellsbury and Garza and possibly Stephen Drew.

I saw the Jeter thing, why did they give him 12 when the option called for 9.5?

I think Ellsbury would be outstanding there, I suspect he'll stay with Sox but he's going to get a lot of attention elsewhere.

Garza and Drew would be nice additions as well, shorter term higher AAV I'd expect.

Lotsa speculation from the STL media Beltran is on the Yanks radar as well (amongst many AL teams), he'd be a great fit there.

What's the pulse on Cano?

Last I heard they were 130 million apart - all hearsay of course.

If I'm the Yanks I only resign him at their price with little compromise, with the Dodgers/Angels out of the mix they'll likely be bidding against themselves.

If someone steps and gets goofy so be it, thanks and it's been nice knowing ya Robby.

They could remake their entire roster with the money he's looking for alone.

Extremely unlikely the Sox re-sign Ellsbury.  It's been expected for some time that this would be his last season in Boston.  I think the chances of him remaining improved slightly throughout the season, but not enough.  He's all but gone, unless he doesn't find the huge contract he's looking for, like Michael Bourn last year.  But he's not Michael Bourn, he's much better, so I don't think he'll have any problem.

The Sox in turn are reportedly very interested in Beltran.  I've also heard Stanton's name thrown around, but that's probably just wishful thinking.  He would cost A LOT.

As for the Yanks, I don't see how they could possibly sign both Cano AND Ellsbury.  It would be going against everything they've been saying and trying to do the last few years.  Two massive long term deals.  Don't see that happening.  One or the other, and I'd suspect it'd be Cano.  They still have Gardner who can play a respectable CF for MUCH less than Ellsbury will be getting paid.

I'd much prefer them stay with Gardner as well.

[pilferk]

It appears the Yankees are gonna make a substantial offer for Tanaka.

BIG posting fee (which doesn't count against their cap), then a decent sized offer to the player.

I think plan 189 might have gone out the window.  I actually think the Sox winning the WS might be the best thing for Yanks fans, in the long run...

Why do you say that?  Do you mean, they'll follow (in a sense) the model of not overpaying long term for free agents or are you referring to something else?

No, something else. Though I think that's the trend around the league, so I expect some of that, too.

But what I was referring to was that  I think seeing their rival win the ws will prevent them from executing plan 189. I think, instead, they reload. Reasonable contracts...with the exception of canos, but definitely through the 189 threshold.

[pilferk]

Sounds like they've got promising prospects to fill most holes they'll have.

We'll see, as we all know - "prospects" can become "suspects' very quickly.

The Cards off season will be intriguing, same for the Yanks.

What's the latest with the Bombers? Tim, pilf?

Well they resigned Jeter for 1 year 12 mill. Thats about it so far but they are reportedly interested in Ellsbury and Garza and possibly Stephen Drew.

I saw the Jeter thing, why did they give him 12 when the option called for 9.5?

I think Ellsbury would be outstanding there, I suspect he'll stay with Sox but he's going to get a lot of attention elsewhere.

Garza and Drew would be nice additions as well, shorter term higher AAV I'd expect.

Lotsa speculation from the STL media Beltran is on the Yanks radar as well (amongst many AL teams), he'd be a great fit there.

What's the pulse on Cano?

Last I heard they were 130 million apart - all hearsay of course.

If I'm the Yanks I only resign him at their price with little compromise, with the Dodgers/Angels out of the mix they'll likely be bidding against themselves.

If someone steps and gets goofy so be it, thanks and it's been nice knowing ya Robby.

They could remake their entire roster with the money he's looking for alone.

Extremely unlikely the Sox re-sign Ellsbury.  It's been expected for some time that this would be his last season in Boston.  I think the chances of him remaining improved slightly throughout the season, but not enough.  He's all but gone, unless he doesn't find the huge contract he's looking for, like Michael Bourn last year.  But he's not Michael Bourn, he's much better, so I don't think he'll have any problem.

The Sox in turn are reportedly very interested in Beltran.  I've also heard Stanton's name thrown around, but that's probably just wishful thinking.  He would cost A LOT.

As for the Yanks, I don't see how they could possibly sign both Cano AND Ellsbury.  It would be going against everything they've been saying and trying to do the last few years.  Two massive long term deals.  Don't see that happening.  One or the other, and I'd suspect it'd be Cano.  They still have Gardner who can play a respectable CF for MUCH less than Ellsbury will be getting paid.

I'd much prefer them stay with Gardner as well.

They will. I don't think they have any interest in ellsbury.

Beltran is a different story, though.  He would be a nice replacement for granderson. 

[tim_m]

Byrd to the Phils for 16 million.

[Falcon]

Good stuff on the Yanks from Yahoo's Jeff Passan:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fiscally-responsible--yankees-looking-to-add-three-major-free-agents-234213777.html

[Falcon]

Yanks and Cards talking Freese:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/source-yankees-discuss-potential-trade-cards-freese-article-1.1515663

I have no idea what the Cards would ask (or what the Yanks have) in return but it's a interesting scenario nonetheless.

[tim_m]

I saw that. He would be a good addition. I just don't want to give up too much to get him.

[tim_m]

Doesn't look like a deal between the Yanks and Cards for Freese is going to happen.

[Falcon]

Doesn't look like a deal between the Yanks and Cards for Freese is going to happen.

Yep, just saw this from Ken Rosenthal:

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal   
Source: Freese trade to #Yankees unlikely. Difficult for teams to find match. Yanks have little to offer #STLCards.

[tim_m]

I'm not sure what they'd be looking for but i guess not something we have.

[Falcon]

I'm not sure what they'd be looking for but i guess not something we have.

The Cards immediate needs are SS and to a lesser degree CF.

They're looking for a long term solution at SS and a short(er) term place holder type in CF.

They're in a position to listen on Freese but aren't in any hurry to move him either so it seems.

Logically speaking, he's probably worth more to the Cards than he may be on the trade market.

[Falcon]

Cano news from ESPN NY...

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/66941/source-cano-still-at-310m

[pilferk]

Cano news from ESPN NY...

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/66941/source-cano-still-at-310m

And God bless him...SOMEWHERE ELSE...if he can find someone willing to bite on that deal.

Also rumors he met with the Mets brass on Monday.

[Falcon]

Cano news from ESPN NY...

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/66941/source-cano-still-at-310m

And God bless him...SOMEWHERE ELSE...if he can find someone willing to bite on that deal.

Also rumors he met with the Mets brass on Monday.

Randy Levine fires back, good stuff.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/19/yankees-say-robinson-cano-has-to-get-a-little-more-realistic/

?We want Robbie back; we think Robbie is terrific,? Levine said Tuesday in a telephone conversation with ESPNNewYork.com. ?But we have no interest in doing any 10-year deals and no interest in paying $300 million to any player. Until he gets a little more realistic, we have nothing to talk about.?

[tim_m]

I'm with Randy on this.

[GeorgeSteele]

Cano news from ESPN NY...

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/66941/source-cano-still-at-310m

And God bless him...SOMEWHERE ELSE...if he can find someone willing to bite on that deal.

Also rumors he met with the Mets brass on Monday.

That did in fact happen.  Cano's team requested the meeting and Alderson went along with it, basically just to not burn any bridges.  Goes to show how clueless Cano's agents are if they think they can drive up the asking price by meeting with the Mets.

[GeorgeSteele]

Latest news on the A-Rod drama:  http://deadspin.com/a-rod-storms-out-of-hearing-says-mlb-is-full-of-shit-1468314996

His statement:

"I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails. I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the Players Association refused to order Selig to come in and face me.

"The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce."

Sounds like he's already resigned to a ruling in MLB's favor and is now preparing to challenge that ruling in court.

[pilferk]

I think we'll get to court filings BEFORE the ruling, actually.

And while he certainly didn't handle it well (or, maybe, he handled it exactly the way his lawyers planned...in a grand bit of theater), I don't disagree with his point.

If their defense is that Selig has it out for Arod, and that his rationale for the duration of the suspension is arbitrary and without merit, Selig sort of has to be there to explain his side.

His refusal to do so, IMHO...and the arbitrators ruling to allow that...sort of obliterates the objectivity of the process.

It's either a process meant to arbitrate grievances without bias...or it's not.

[Falcon]

In other news beyond ARod..

Mike Matheny gets extended through 2017..

Chris Carpenter has told the Cards he will officially retire.

Not unexpected, dude's been through hell and back and will go down as one of the best in Cards history.

He has been offered a undefined position in the organization, hopefully he'll remain in some capacity.