2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[Falcon]

Holy shit, an old fashion blockbuster.

Fielder for Kinsler sounds like it's a go.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24250972/fielder-for-kinsler-bloickbuster-is-on-the-table

[tim_m]

Texas will be regretting this for a LONG LONG time. Come playoffs Fielder can't hit a beach ball with a whiffle bat and he's not exactly a stellar defensive 1st basemen.

[Falcon]

Rangers getting 30 mil from the Tigers as well.

Tons of dough to spend and/or prospects to deal for whatever they need moving forward.

[tim_m]

The 30 million is nice. Do you know if they'll be paying for Fielders full contract or will Detroit be paying some of it. I still don't think its a good deal for the Rangers.

[Falcon]

The 30 million is nice. Do you know if they'll be paying for Fielders full contract or will Detroit be paying some of it. I still don't think its a good deal for the Rangers.

Detroit will be paying some of it, payments from the Tigers to the Rangers will start in 2016 per Bob Nightengale.

I think Fielder will do well in Texas, all those fly balls that died on the warning track at Comerica are in the second deck in Arlington.

The deal makes sense for both teams, frees up money for the Tigers to sign Scherzer and opens the door for Jurikson Profar in Texas.

I suspect Jay Z will be on the phone to Texas as well, Texas could move Andrus and the 115 million owed to him and have Profar step into his natural SS position leaving 2nd wide open for a big ticket free agent.

Dominoes will definitely fall, it'll be interesting to watch.

[pilferk]

There is a GREAT interview with Arod with Mike Francessa from yesterday that sheds some pretty significant light on, at least, Arod side.

If you are at all interested in the story, I'd encourage people to watch it. Here's a link to the first part.

http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31232519

FYI: The union actually supports Arods decision to walk out, as they feel Selig should testify.  So this isn't JUST an Arod tantrum.  There's lots of interesting tidbits in that interview.

[GeorgeSteele]

There is a GREAT interview with Arod with Mike Francessa from yesterday that sheds some pretty significant light on, at least, Arod side.

If you are at all interested in the story, I'd encourage people to watch it. Here's a link to the first part.

http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31232519

FYI: The union actually supports Arods decision to walk out, as they feel Selig should testify.  So this isn't JUST an Arod tantrum.  There's lots of interesting tidbits in that interview.

That's some great theatre right there.  But fair or not (and I think not), looks like it's over for him. 

Regarding the Fielder-Kinsler deal, this guy says that Texas did it to make room for Cano:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/42448/fielder-for-kinsler-cano-to-rangers-now?ex_cid=espnapi_public

[pilferk]

There is a GREAT interview with Arod with Mike Francessa from yesterday that sheds some pretty significant light on, at least, Arod side.

If you are at all interested in the story, I'd encourage people to watch it. Here's a link to the first part.

http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31232519

FYI: The union actually supports Arods decision to walk out, as they feel Selig should testify.  So this isn't JUST an Arod tantrum.  There's lots of interesting tidbits in that interview.

That's some great theatre right there.  But fair or not (and I think not), looks like it's over for him. 

Regarding the Fielder-Kinsler deal, this guy says that Texas did it to make room for Cano:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/42448/fielder-for-kinsler-cano-to-rangers-now?ex_cid=espnapi_public

There is definitely an aspect of Kabuki theater to it....and more and more I suspect his "reaction" yesterday was actually a coldly calculated tactic.  Because it pretty much makes his defense for him, in the court of public opinion: MLB ain't playing fair.

This chapter is probably over, unless MLB blinks in the game of chicken.

But...and I've thought this right from the get go...it's likely not "over over" until the Federal Courts get involved. They'll either take the case (and I think there is ample grounds for them to get involved, much like with the NFL and Bountygate) or not. If not, THEN it's over for him

If they do...well, we'll see. 

Here's the rub: MLB has had an antitrust exemption for a LONG time, and part of that exemption is based on the fairness of the arbitration process, and it's ability to resolve labor issues in a manner the courts, and the government, find acceptable. So...going to court could put that at risk.  And, quite frankly, if this is about Selig's legacy....that's not the one he's going to want to leave.

[tim_m]

union head Michael Weiner has passed away at  51. RIP fuck you cancer!

[Falcon]

The Cards and Angels finalize Bourjos for Freese.

Looks good on surface to me from a Cards standpoint.

They make one move and they improve themselves defensively at 3 positions, offensively at 2 positions, save $4 million and keep all their pitching.

[russkwtx]

The 30 million is nice. Do you know if they'll be paying for Fielders full contract or will Detroit be paying some of it. I still don't think its a good deal for the Rangers.

Detroit will be paying some of it, payments from the Tigers to the Rangers will start in 2016 per Bob Nightengale.

I think Fielder will do well in Texas, all those fly balls that died on the warning track at Comerica are in the second deck in Arlington.

The deal makes sense for both teams, frees up money for the Tigers to sign Scherzer and opens the door for Jurikson Profar in Texas.

I suspect Jay Z will be on the phone to Texas as well, Texas could move Andrus and the 115 million owed to him and have Profar step into his natural SS position leaving 2nd wide open for a big ticket free agent.

Dominoes will definitely fall, it'll be interesting to watch.

I partially agree. The Fielder trade for Texas is a definite win. No doubt. Kinsler is in decline, and the Rangers get big bucks back plus a hitter who will thrive with the short right field fence and a strong summer breeze blowing out most of the time. Plus, Fielder was going through a divorce and hopefully will be over that by next season. I expect him to return to the numbers he had in Milwaukee.

I disagree with the point about moving Andrus, who is only 24 and still has room to improve. To me, it makes no sense to trade him and then sign a free agent to take his spot. The Rangers still need an outfielder and a DH, so I think it makes more sense to keep the infield intact and work on the rest.

[Falcon]

I disagree with the point about moving Andrus, who is only 24 and still has room to improve. To me, it makes no sense to trade him and then sign a free agent to take his spot. The Rangers still need an outfielder and a DH, so I think it makes more sense to keep the infield intact and work on the rest.

I think it makes sense either way they want to go.

Trading Andrus frees up payroll to sign Cano and would bring an OF/DH (at least) in return.

If that's not a preferable direction, keep Andrus and install Profar as the everyday 2B and sign an OF/DH type in free agency.

Point being, Texas has options with added flexibility - and money to burn.

They're in a good spot.

[Falcon]

Tim, pilf - Yanks and McCann appear to be close:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/23/report-brian-mccann-on-verge-of-long-term-deal-with-yankees/

EDIT:

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has the deal north of 90 million.

[tim_m]

You beat me to it again! I don't know how you get your info so fast lol. I'm not too familiar with McCann. Good deal for the Yanks?

[tim_m]

Rosenthal now reporting its a done deal pending physical. Deal is 5 years 85 million with option for 6 which could bring it to a 100 million.

[Falcon]

You beat me to it again! I don't know how you get your info so fast lol. I'm not too familiar with McCann. Good deal for the Yanks?

It's a lot of $$$/years but ya, I think he'll be great for them.

Left handed hitting catchers with power are a helluva commodity and they just signed the best one out there.

McCann's a pissy SOB as well, he'll bring an edge to them they haven't had in a while.

 

[tim_m]

You beat me to it again! I don't know how you get your info so fast lol. I'm not too familiar with McCann. Good deal for the Yanks?

It's a lot of $$$/years but ya, I think he'll be great for them.

Left handed hitting catchers with power are a helluva commodity and they just signed the best one out there.

McCann's a pissy SOB as well, he'll bring an edge to them they haven't had in a while.

 

You mean like O'Neill type of intensity?

[Falcon]

You beat me to it again! I don't know how you get your info so fast lol. I'm not too familiar with McCann. Good deal for the Yanks?

It's a lot of $$$/years but ya, I think he'll be great for them.

Left handed hitting catchers with power are a helluva commodity and they just signed the best one out there.

McCann's a pissy SOB as well, he'll bring an edge to them they haven't had in a while.

 

You mean like O'Neill type of intensity?

McCann's more of an enforcer, a guy that will throw down at the first sign of perceived disrespect.

Check out the following, you'll get the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc9vMv4e-Vw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAxJunWPDdg

McCann's the guy everyone hates playing against but loves when he's on your team.

[tim_m]

Looks like my kinda guy.

[Falcon]

Cards and Jhonny Peralta on the verge of a deal as well it seems.

It was going to be him or Stephen Drew and they weren't going to wait or get in a Boras fueled bidding war for Drew so I'm happy SS is solved if true.

Improving the major league roster over the last couple of days while giving up none of their young pitching staff, not bad.