Free Agency Frenzy March 2022

[G-Fafif]

The Marlins have snapped up Jorge Soler.

[bmfc1]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Is it at all possible that the Mets are done?? I hope not. Just a few years ago, I wanted good players at every position. Now they have good players, but I don't feel they are good enough, considering the moves the Braves and Phillies have made. I think it will take a Valentinian managerial effort to win with the current outfield. Adding Conforto would make me feel a lot better. Later

Post lock-out, I thought that they would (especially with SC's comment that it would be rude not to exceed the tax named after him):

1. Sign Kris Bryant

2. Trade for one of the Oakland starters

3. Sign a FA SP

4. Sign two LH RPs

5. Sign a FA OF



#1--no

#2--check

#3--no

#4--one out of two and it was Chasen Shreve.

#5--no, unless you count Travis Jankowski.



I'm not complaining--Billy got Max and Starling--but post-lockout it has been kinda quiet while ATL restocked (despite losing FF) and PHI got much better on offense. I think that Conforto would help.

[DocTee]

P

ost lock-out, I thought that they would (especially with SC's comment that it would be rude not to exceed the tax named after him): 5. Sign a FA OF #5--no, unless you count Travis Jankowski.

Marte and Canha don't count?



I still think this team needs work-- the rotation and BP are essentially all RH. And there's not enough at bats for Davis/McNeil/Escobar (a signing we did not need).

[G-Fafif]

Trevor Story sheds purple hosiery for Red Sox.



We also would have accepted Trevor Story's next chapter will be written in Boston.



(While the MFYs parenthetically grab Marwin Gonzalez.)

[Willets Point]

The Red Sox best players are a shortstop and third basemen. So is Story going to play second?

[Willets Point]

Also, I guess that makes prospect Jeter Downs highly tradable.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I wonder what the market is for Conforto at this point. We heard Philly as a possibility, but they must be done. Colorado must be done after Bryant. The Dodgers must be done. Atlanta must be done. Where could he be a fit?



He might be better taking a short contract with us if nothing else to reestablish his value and try again next year. With spring training underway, he's gotta feel the clock ticking.

[metsmarathon]

best for both sides would be to bring him back, presuming there'd been no burnt bridges. he makes our team that much better. even if adding him makes our lineup that much trickier to manage - but we'd have a hell of a bench, and plenty of backup in case cano isn't what he could, or should, be.



i'd still be inclined to offer him a 5x100 deal, similar to what the phils just gave castellanos. i'd bank more on conforto providing that value over the term of it, too.



but yeah, i don't see many other landing sports. maybe seattle...? though they just got winker, so who knows.

[bmfc1]

=DocTee post_id=87393 time=1647784425 user_id=85]
P

ost lock-out, I thought that they would (especially with SC's comment that it would be rude not to exceed the tax named after him): 5. Sign a FA OF #5--no, unless you count Travis Jankowski.

Marte and Canha don't count?



I still think this team needs work-- the rotation and BP are essentially all RH. And there's not enough at bats for Davis/McNeil/Escobar (a signing we did not need).

[bmfc1]

Fresh off his CPF TCD win, Albert Almora is headed to Cincinnati.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/reds-to-sign-albert-almora.htmlhttps://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/reds-to-sign-albert-almora.html

[G-Fafif]

Tommy Pham is Red in the hat, signing with Cincinnati.

[Edgy MD]

Man, maybe there's something wrong with Conforto's cologne.



The next-best outfielder on the market after him now is ... Brett Gardner?

[G-Fafif]

It took Pujols 11 years to return home. By that clock, we'll see Conforto in 2032.

[Edgy MD]

I dinna know I was supposed to consider him active.

[G-Fafif]

Albert says this year will be his last as a player.

[G-Fafif]

Chris Archer has joined the Twins, presumably making them triplets.

[G-Fafif]

Dodgers send A.J. Pollock to the White Sox and receive Craig Kimbrel in exchange.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Dodgers replace the departed Kenley Jansen and lose like their 11th best hitter. Good trade.

[Edgy MD]

Kimbrel is interesting. He was really bad for the Cubs for two seasons, and then untouchable this past season, before getting dealt to the Sox and reverting to stinky.



I guess the Dodgers have scouts and stuff, but it's quite possible that he's done.



Don't ask me to bet against him, though. Active leader in saves and ninth all-time.

[MFS62]

Albert says this year will be his last as a player.

Albert made a Newt Gingrich move. He announced he is divorcing his wife - days after she had brain surgery. (Guff post reprinted in Yahoo. I couldn't find the original):

https://news.yahoo.com/albert-pujols-says-hes-divorcing-154654189.html?fr=sycsrp_catchallhttps://news.yahoo.com/albert-pujols-says-hes-divorcing-154654189.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall



Later

[G-Fafif]

After the Mets passed, the Padres found a taker for Paddack and Pagan.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I am stunned that Opening Day is here and there are no takers for Conforto.

[bmfc1]

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=88542 time=1649340553 user_id=119]
I am stunned that Opening Day is here and there are no takers for Conforto.

[Edgy MD]

MLB artificially controlling the number of employers in the field also changes the calculus from what an employee in another industry might do in that.



There's no exciting new startup in the industry with a new business model and venture capital behind them who is going to offer Conforto profit sharing in exchange for coming on board and lending the new firm instant credibility.



If Conforto was an architect or an ad exec or a movie producer in a similar stage of his career, that might be exactly what he'd be doing.

[seawolf17]

I mean, Conforto could very easily sign with, for example, the Ducks or whatever, and keep playing in actual games. Guys get signed out of the Atlantic League all the time, and it's the best you'll get outside the affiliated minors.

[Edgy MD]

The Harv has signed a minor league deal with the Orioles.



I don't think any ruling was made as to a possible suspension, but maybe that's on the table now.

[Edgy MD]

Apparently, Freddie Freeman's teary trip to Atlanta has brought some buried feelings to the surface. Buster Olney is reporting that he has fired his representatives and is still pissed about how his free agency played out.



Not sure how that'll play with Dodger fans and teammates.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Not sure how that'll play with Dodger fans and teammates.

The fans will boo him until the seventh inning.

Then they'll leave.

Not sure what the players will do.

Later

[bmfc1]

FF needs to STFU. He will earn $162M in 6 years to play baseball in a world-class city at a time when [certain awful things are happening in America]. Enjoy LA, enjoy playing baseball on a great team, enjoy playing baseball, and stop your sobbing, you jackass.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure he's particularly talking, so much as Olney has gone to work and got himself the story through third-party sources.



I don't even think he's written it up as a story so far, just a tweet.

Apparently he was represented by a Microsoft spreadsheet application. Who knew?!