Non-NYM off-season moves

[bmfc1]

The Dodgers can't stop, won't stop as they add Kirby Yates to the bullpen. LAD could split into an "A" and a "B" team and the "B" team could beat a lot of other teams.

[smg58]

Is it weird that we spent $750M on a guy this offseason but I feel like another team is making a mockery of free agency?

[smg58]

Having said that, I cannot fathom that the Dodgers really still have so much more available spending money than literally any other team that nobody in need of a relief pitcher -- last I checked, there were 30 teams who could use an upgrade in their pen -- will get in their way. At some point you have to ask these other teams if they're more interested in winning, or whining.

[MFS62]

Time for MLB to whack LA for some sort of inverse competitive balance penalty.



Meanwhile, LA saw they needed to upgrade their bullpen, so they've been buying relievers like candy bars.

The Mets got, Soto, but that can be considered a little better than a wash with the loss of Alonso. So, where else have they gotten substantially better on offense?

IMO they still need another reliable run producer.



Later

[Edgy MD]

Competitive balance rules do not need to be expanded. They need to be done away with.



If you want teams more motivated to win, threaten them with relegation.

[smg58]

But they've already relegated themselves. Hell, Carl Pohlad was the wealthiest owner in the league pre-Cohen, and he was willing to have the Twins contracted.



It's past the point where the Dodgers could simply have made this much more money than any of these other teams. People off the coasts still go to games.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Competitive balance rules do not need to be expanded. They need to be done away with. If you want teams more motivated to win, threaten them with relegation.

Agreed. no team should ever be able to claim poverty.

I would put in a salary floor and make it a requirement for each team to spend at least when they make from the national media revenue and memorabilia royalties on player salaries. If they don't, they lose either international signing money, a draft pick, or a combination thereof.



Later

[Edgy MD]

There already is a salary floor.



In a competitive industry, such devices should not be necessary.

[Benjamin Grimm]

These artificial constraints are in place because of the desire for teams in places like Pittsburgh and Cincinnati (and others, of course, I'm just limiting myself to two examples here) to be able to compete with New York and Los Angeles.



In an entirely free market, I expect that the Pirates and the Reds would relocate to areas where they're currently not allowed to go because of territorial restrictions. The Reds could move to L.A. and the Pirates to the Meadowlands.



I'm not saying that's good or bad. I'm not sure what my feelings are here. But that's probably how it would play out. I guess I do think that large metropolitan areas should be able to have multiple teams. Atlanta can probably handle another team. There's room in Philadelphia for the A's to return. I'm not sure I like the idea of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati losing their teams.

[Centerfield]

I haven't thought this through completely, but I was thinking of a revenue sharing plan. But instead of rewarding the teams with the least revenue, reward the teams that finish in the middle of the pack.



So of the 30 teams, 12 make the playoffs. Teams that finish 13-18 get the majority of revenue sharing. Basically, incentivize the owners to win with money.



(you'd think the owners would already be incentivized to win, but that's part of the issue)

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: In an entirely free market, I expect that the Pirates and the Reds would relocate to areas where they're currently not allowed to go because of territorial restrictions. The Reds could move to L.A. and the Pirates to the Meadowlands.

Or ... somebody else can set up shop in the Meadowlands or Los Angeles, watering down the competitive advantage of the artificial market exclusivity the teams in those regions enjoy, allowing the Pirates and the Reds to be rewarded right where they are if they manage and market their resources wisely. Baseball should be about competition, not competitive balance.



But creating increasingly arcane generations of anti-market rules to attempt to balance out the original arcane anti-market rule is maddening.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: In an entirely free market, I expect that the Pirates and the Reds would relocate to ....

What are you considering to be an entirely free market? Because in a truly free market, not only would teams be free to relocate to wherever they choose, but players not under contract would be free to negotiate their next contract with whatever team they choose. There'd be no restrictions on free agency and no amateur drafts. Even minor leaguers would be free to switch organizations after their current contracts expire. Some regulation is needed. A team shouldn't be allowed to just up and move to France or Africa because of the travel burden it would impose on the other teams.

[Benjamin Grimm]

True. I wasn't thinking about the restrictions on players in this example, just on the restrictions on teams and markets.

[MFS62]

This politician is saying the LA deferment contracts are costing the state money:

(LA Times via Yahoo )

https://www.yahoo.com/news/shaikin-state-senator-tried-curb-130028837.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/shaikin-state-senator-tried-curb-130028837.html



Interesting.

Later

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Guardians sign Paul Sewald

[Fman99]

Trevor Bauer headed back to Japan, presumably a more tolerant place for guys who want to smack you in the face with their genitals.

[metirish]

Jake Flaherty to Detroit for two years and $35 million, opt out after year one , $25 million in year one , year two has a guarantee of $10 million, but can get as high as $20 with 15 starts



Source, Passan

[smg58]

The Tigers did a good job of waiting out the sellers' market.

[metirish]

Carlos Carrasco to the MFY , per Jack Curry , minor league deal

[Frayed Knot]

FAs still out there. Not suggesting any of these as NYM-targets, just saying that they're 'Name' players still unsigned with ~ one week until P&C.



3B - Alex Bregman -- like Pete, Bregman (31 next month) is a Boras guy who likely thought the offers would be more forthcoming this winter

SP - Nick Pivetta -- clubs seem unwilling to pony up for a 32 y/o pitcher w/compensation attached

RP - David Robertson -- coming off a solid year tho turns 40 in April

LF - Alex Verdugo -- lousy year for the Yanx in '24 (not a 'True Yankee' then) but was above average in the four previous seasons and still under 30 (29 in May)

SS - Paul DeJong -- 31 y/o SS with pop (24 HRs in '24) and a glove but a sub-.300 career OBP. And, no, the Mets shouldn't sign him just so we won't have to face him.





Pivetta and Bregman have the QO-rejection compensation tagged to them.

[Centerfield]

Robertson's asking price must be fairly high. I would have preferred him over Stanek.

[smg58]

I think they've all reached the point where they should take what they can get. But who knows?

[Lefty Specialist]

I think Bregman's in 'take the short-term deal and opt out next winter' territory.

[Frayed Knot]

- Alex Bregman said to be down to the Red Sox, Tigers, or Cubs as "multi-year deals" have been offered by each.



- Clayton Kershaw re-ups with the Dodgers. Wasn't sure that was going to happen this winter and, considering it's "Pending a physical", it still might not.

He last topped 30 starts/2000 IP in 2015 and pitched just 30 innings in 2024. It'll be his 18th season with LAD for the 37 y/o (in March) if this goes through.



- Kenley Jansen to the Angels on a one year deal

[metirish]

Bregman to Boston for three years and $120 million, with opt outs , Passan

[smg58]

At $40M per, he's not opting out too soon.



Nick Pivetta got four years and $55M, with two opt-outs, from the Padres. His first year comes in at a $3M signing bonus and a $1M salary.



As long as he's at least adequate, it's a massive bargain for the Padres.

Edited February 13, 2025 by Guest

[Fman99]

Wow, Bregman got way more than Pete did.

[smg58]

He's nine months older than Alonso and has more than double the WAR (according to Fangraphs), so I get it.



It will be interesting to see if the Sox move Devers off third (where he's not very good) and bench/trade Casas or Yoshida, or whether they say "the hell with defense" and move Bregman to second and block Kristian Campbell, or move Campbell to the outfield or short and block one of their other prospects.

[Centerfield]

=smg58 post_id=185152 time=1739450374 user_id=62]
At $40M per, he's not opting out too soon.



Nick Pivetta got four years and $55M, with two opt-outs, from the Padres. His first year comes in at a $3M signing bonus and a $1M salary.



As long as he's at least adequate, it's a massive bargain for the Padres.

[The Hot Corner]

Wow, Bregman didn't get the long-term deal he craved, but he got 3 years at an excessive rate and opt outs. I know he brings defensive value vs. Pete and is a better base runner, but that is a big jump over what Pete got. I think the Red Sox overpaid, particularly when arguably their best player already plays 3rd base. Reports say the Red Sox plan to try Bregman at second base.