MLB FA signings (non NYM variety) 2014-15

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

David Robertson bolts MFYs for Chisox 4/46. This is what I was saying about the Miller deal. Now the MFYs can slide him in as "closer" and save $2.5M a year vs. some peers plus they get a draft pick.

[Frayed Knot]

Or they slide Betances to the closer spot and have Miller set-up for him - something that would mean reducing the innings of their best pitcher from last year (Betances, who threw 90 in 2013) and upping Miller's who has averaged just 46/yr since 2010.
Either way they figure to have themselves a good one-two punch without the expense of Robertson and adding a much-needed pick, although I'm sure someone will bring up the caveat that both guys are still suspect as neither one has proven themselves as 'CLOSER'.

[Frayed Knot]

Meanwhile, in addition to Robertson, the White Sox have apparently have also landed Jeff Samardzija from the A's in a trade for three young players.

[Edgy MD]

And Jon Harper gets to write a stupid see-I-was-right! followup to his stupid column saying the Mets were wussies if they didn't sign Robertson.

[Frayed Knot]

Ervin Santana to the Twins for four years.

[Edgy MD]

Speaking of the Twins and Santana, any rumors of a landing place for Johan? Figure his next deal is almost certainly going to be of the minor league variety.

[Frayed Knot]

I actually saw a brief rumor a few days back about that Santana and ... the Twins!, but at the same time it sounded quite far from being a reality.

[Frayed Knot]

Melky Cabrera continues to put up some nice offensive numbers but, while doing so, will join his sixth club in seven years thanks to his new three year FA deal with the ChiSox

Starting with his 4th season in the Bronx in 2009, he went from the Yanx - Braves - Royals - Giants - Jays - and now White Sox. That includes two trades, one release, and now three FA deals.

[Vic Sage]

Between the Cubs and ChiSox, Chicago has been a hub of baseball activity this off-season.

[Frayed Knot]

The difference seems to be that the Cubs are doing so on the cusp of an upswing [61 wins in 2012, to 69, to 73] and what seems almost universally considered to be the strongest farm system in MLB right now; while the ChiSox, also off a 73 win season, seem to be doing all this adding with a hope that the additions will take a bad team and jump-start it to the top of their division.
That latter strategy rarely works. Plus, are a 35 y/o 1B (LaRoche), a closer, a one-year sorta-ace (Samardzija), and someone named Melky really the formula to long-term success?

[Vic Sage]

i said they were active, i didn't say they were smart.

[Frayed Knot]

Chase Headley looks like he'll stay with the Yanx for another four years.

[Frayed Knot]

Alex Rios to KC for one year




Also Brian Anderson goes to the Dodgers on a one-year deal at $10 million plus incentives.
Now I heard this yesterday and immediately had trouble remembering who Anderson even was. Turns out he's a soon-to-be 27 y/o LHP who was with Oakland for five season and then pitched in 2014 for Colorado. His career numbers are OK but nothing outstanding: 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHiP.

So why is he so anonymous? -- maybe because he's managed all of 81 starts (plus 11 relief appearances) over those six seasons with nearly 1/3 of them (30) coming as a rookie back in 2009. His start numbers have gone from 30 that first year, down to 19, then 13, 6, 5, and 8. The problem, needless to say, has been a string of injuries including TJ surgery in 2011 and other presumably unrelated ones since including a broken finger and back surgery.

So this, apparently, is what $10 mil buys you these days (and maybe more depending on the specifics of the incentives): a guy who's started 30 games over the last three seasons and has won all of 27 in his career (vs 32 losses). It's one of several examples I've noticed to indicate that, despite what seems to be repeated as if a universally agreed upon fact, Bartolo is hardly overpaid on his now one-year deal.

[Vic Sage]

yeah, agreed about Colon. 1yr/$11m is not bad at all for his performance last year and what he is likely to do again this year. Sure, at age 41 he may just fall apart, but so might any pitcher at any moment. I have no problems with his contract, and i'm not sure why other teams in need of an innings (and buffet) eating #3-#4 starter aren't offering a prospect for him. Or maybe they are but Sandy's just waiting for the teams looking for a rental in July for the stretch run. I'm more confident in him than i am in Gee.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: Chase Headley looks like he'll stay with the Yanx for another four years.

This sure seems like a Luis Castillo of a move.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

On the one hand the MFYs are doing very dumb things with Miller and Headley and on another they might be getting relative bargains if things go right for them.

Sandoval is the better player, younger, and with a better track record but is that a $40 million difference over the same term?

[A Boy Named Seo]

Michael Morse to the effing Marlins. Those punks better not win a GD wild card.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Eff Morse and eff the Marlins. I can see Dee Gordon becoming one of those irritating Juan Pierre types but that club don't scare me none.

[seawolf17]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Eff Morse and eff the Marlins. I can see Dee Gordon becoming one of those irritating Juan Pierre types but that club don't scare me none.

"I haunt your nightmares, Lunchy."

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: On the one hand the MFYs are doing very dumb things with Miller and Headley and on another they might be getting relative bargains if things go right for them.

Don't things almost always go right for them?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Chase Headley looks like he'll stay with the Yanx for another four years. This sure seems like a Luis Castillo of a move.

The thing about Headley is what an outlier 2012 was for him - specifically the power spike. He never hit more than 13 HRs in any season except for 2012 when he suddenly exploded for 31 in a pitcher friendly park and finished 5th in MVP with an AS appearance and Silver Slugger award.
Last year he had what seems like the usual jump in stats after getting traded to the Yanx in mid-season: up 33 points in BA, 85 in OBA, but unless that small sample size is a sign of things to come then, yeah, it does have a whiff of Castillo to it. The more interesting thing it that Cashman said, pre-signing, that if he did sign Headley it was to be the full-time 3B leaving ARod competing for DH ABs with the likes of Teixeira, Beltran, McCann and whoever, plus maybe the occasional 1B start - and is STILL signed for another three years!!

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I still want them to move A-Rod to SS, just to see hear the collective gasps from the Jeterites.

[Guest sharpie]

MFYs also sign ex-Met Chris Capuano.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LOL

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Re-up, isn't it? I remember him playing out the string with them last September.

[Frayed Knot]

Stephen Drew looks like he's returning to the Skanks

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LOLOLLOL

[G-Fafif]

Good move. Drew can show them his Ring and teach them how to Win.

[Edgy MD]

They seem very committed to bringing back the heart of last year's team.

[Frayed Knot]

One can't underestimate the nostalgia for the Healey/Drew/C.Young era, each added so many weeks of memories to Yanqui lore.