Division Opponents in 2014-2015 Offseason

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I also think Stanton hasta be on the juice.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: He's worthy. And he's also a good defender and won't lose as much value as say A-Rod, via defense, at the tail end of that contract. somewhat stationary/aging outfielders aren't as big an impediment as stationary SS or even 3B. I'll disagree here. A poor fielding shortstop has as much value as a solid fielding first baseman or left fielder --- and much more than a poor-fielding one --- and can certainly slide to another position.

well, this gets into nitty gritty stuff, but I still think WAR and various defensive measures are overvaluing defense in general and the difference between SS and OF specifically. Only 2 SS had lower DEF (which is adjusted to position) on fangraphs than Stanton last year. So that agrees with you, i'm just a little skeptical. It's why I'm skeptical of using Flores at SS (though if you're going to give me the likely much better hitter Hanley Ramirez there, I'm much more convinceable)

But that's not quite what I meant, I mean that I think the defensive tools needed to play the outfield degrade less and slower than those at SS. That Stanton's defensive value is a more stable commodity than A-Rod's was.

And yes, moving is always possible, particularly for these types of guys. A-Rod, Stanton, etc are all excellent athletes that you'd expect to prevail wherever you put them.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I also think Stanton hasta be on the juice.

Well hell, he's passing the tests, so good for him. It'd be nice to know what type of long term damage the juice might or might not be doing though, in terms of valuation.

[Frayed Knot]

On the Nats and the recent departure of LaRoche: that team is the subject of an increasing amount of rumors and they could wind up being surprisingly active this winter for a front-running squad that seemingly has most of their lineup set.

Their biggest problem is that they�re looking at a bunch of FAs after 2015, namely the pitching half of their Zimmermann twins, plus starter Doug Fister, reliever Tyler Clippard, SS Ian Desmond, and CF Denard Span. Zimmermann in particular is the subject of a lot of talk and it seems increasingly possible that they'll start the season without either him or Fister and that they�ll listen to offers on Desmond as well.

Now one would assume that they�ll need to be blown away on any of these guys and aren�t simply in dump mode. But it is kind of an acknowledgement by them that, after 280 wins over the last three seasons yet not a single playoff round victory to show for it, the window is starting to close on this group (Strasburg & catcher Ramos can go FA the year after next). So they figure that, rather than seeing them turn, Philly-like, into an old-timers convention all at once, it�s better to start re-tooling on the fly even if it means getting rid of players still in their prime while the team is in the midst of riding high.

As for what they�d be looking for: a middle infielder (more than one if Desmond goes) ML-ready pitching to replace whatever they�re giving up, plus young catchers and/or OFs for the future.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Gammo said they may also be the next stop for Max Scherzer.

[Frayed Knot]

Which would certainly give them the freedom to move one of their current hurlers in order to restock elsewhere.
In fact, if they sign him (or Lester) they'd pretty much have to deal one of their incumbents.

[Frayed Knot]

Marlins acquire RHP Aaron Crow from KC in exchange for minor league pitchers Brian Flynn and Reid Redman.
Crow, 28, who had twice been a 1st round draft pick (10th by Nats in 2008 but didn't sign, then 12th by Royals in '09), was relieving with KC but could be tried as a starter.

[Frayed Knot]

They were to both be in Atlanta's starting rotation last season, but a second Tommy John surgery for each knocked Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy out for the year and now out of a contract as both were non-tendered by the Braves today. They can still re-sign with Atlanta (or with anyone else) but this gets the Braves out of the arbitration process and any guarantees that come with it.
Medlen had been one of only two pitchers -- Clayton Kershaw was the other -- to compile a sub-2.50 ERA over a 40 start stretch from mid-2012 through the end of 2013

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Braves sign Markakis. Weird.

4 years $44 million.i didn't realize he was a Georgia boy but he is. So he's the new RF; step down from Heyward but perhaps not a big one.

They also signed erstwhile closer Jim Johnson to a 1 year deal.

[Frayed Knot]

Long Island boy by birth actually (Glen Cove) but, yeah, Georgia for both HS and college. Went to HS in the next county outside the future Braves home of Cobb County.
There was long the feeling in Baltimore that O's owner Peter Angelos was determined to always hang onto Markakis on account of them both being Greek, but I guess even those kinds of connections have their breaking point.

[Edgy MD]

Too bad. Markakis was quite the Camden Yards folk hero.

No me gusto Cobb County. I'm sure they have plenty of perfectly nice people, but they sure seem to lead the nation in political resolutions enacted behind closed doors.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hel' me out, guysh... am I drunk, or ish dat, ish dat... well, daaaaas jus' a lotta outfeelers dey got out dere, innit?

[Frayed Knot]

Well for the moment anyway he merely replaces Heyward in RF so they've got the same number of OFs they had last year.
The logjam comes if/when they try to shoe-horn Evan Gattis into LF at which point they'll have to deal away an Upton or two.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Markakis is a good hitter and maybe a bit underrated but his deal makes Cuddyer's look all the better.

[Lefty Specialist]

Hm. Don't see how this offseason has made the Braves any better, and has arguably made them worse. Gattis in LF will be an adventure.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: The logjam comes if/when they try to shoe-horn Evan Gattis into LF at which point they'll have to deal away an Upton or two.

From the NY Post:

The Braves have already received attractive trade proposals for outfielder Justin Upton, With several free agents off the board, a deal could come together soon, per Joel Sherman, possibly during the upcoming Winter Meetings. The team�s addition of free agent Nick Markakis would appear to increase the odds of the club dealing Upton and/or Evan Gattis, though its final course remains unclear.

If there's going to be a bunch of Uptons available out there, I'd still take Kate.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

MFS62 wrote: If there's going to be a bunch of Uptons available out there, I'd still take Kate. Later

Can she play short? She could probably out-hit Tejada, and if she couldn't, well, who would notice?

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: [braves] also signed erstwhile closer Jim Johnson to a 1 year deal.

It took me half a day to realize that this was the ex-Baltimore closer rather than former Marlin starter Josh Johnson.

[Guest d'Kong76]

This is odd...

CBS wrote: Newly-acquired Braves outfielder Nick Markakis is leaning toward opting for surgery to repair a bulging disc in his neck, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Braves were aware of the injury, and prior to signing Markakis to a four-year, $44 million deal, members of the front office viewed a report from an independent specialist who evaluated him in the offseason. If Markakis opts for surgery, he will need approximately 12 weeks of recovery and should be on track to be ready come opening day.

[batmagadanleadoff]

This one was on the money:

Here's the Baseball Prospectus entry from its 2014 annual on Marlins phenom Jose Fernandez, released just before last season began:

As Sam Miller wrote on Baseball Prospectus ... "a team that won 31 percent of its games with any other starter won 64 percent of its games when Fernandez started. When he was on the mound, a 110-loss team became a 100-win team." Brought up to the majors after not throwing a pitch above Single-A (and few even at that level), Fernandez arrived packing a 99 mph four-seamer and two plus off-speed offerings. He showed the ability to absolutely dominate - in consecutive starts around the trade deadline, he struck out a total of 27 and walked one, with 40 swinging strikes - and the ability to avoid big innings, allowing more than three runs in just three starts. He had a 1.50 ERA in his final 18 starts, and the second best ERA+ in history by a starter younger than 21. That sick anxiety you have about him getting injured because every pitcher does? We all have it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jason Werth sentenced to 10 days in the slammer for driving his Porsche 100 mph on the Beltway.

[Edgy MD]

The interesting part of it to me is that Mr. Check-Out-My-Man-of-Substance-Beard-Don't-I-Look-Like-I-Chop-Wood-Like-My-Grandfather is tooling around in a Porsche.

[Ceetar]

I want to know why the cop thought a Porsche driving fast (and one who complied instantly with the sirens) necessitated taking out his gun.

[bmfc1]

Big brain Rizzo is trying to balance winning in 2015 with all the FA's that they will have in the near future:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2014/12/04/how-would-washington-nationals-signal-theyre-all-in-for-2015-by-doing-very-little/

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ceetar wrote: I want to know why the cop thought a Porsche driving fast (and one who complied instantly with the sirens) necessitated taking out his gun.

In all fairness to the cop, with that beard, it's REALLY hard to tell whether Werth is black or not.

And I'm with Edge. Whither the platinum-rimmed F-150, Grizz?

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Hel' me out, guysh... am I drunk, or ish dat, ish dat... well, daaaaas jus' a lotta outfeelers dey got out dere, innit?

And they've just added another one, signing 25 y/o Cuban OF Dian Toscano to a major league contract.

[Edgy MD]

He's just what this world needs.

[youtube:2m59b006]XjnNERIy0HI[/youtube:2m59b006]

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

yknow those guitars that are like double guitars?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Dian Toscano? That's the one where they take the beefsteak, flambee it, compare it to Andruw Jones unfavorably, make subtly racist remarks about it when it underperforms, and then add some basil and parmesan and the neverending salad bowl besides, right?

[Frayed Knot]

Nats deal away LHP Ross Detwiler to Texas for a pair of A-ball minor leaguers.
Detwiler was a one-time top draft pick (6th overall, 2007) who seemed to be on his way after decent seasons in 2012-13, but then was nudged to bullpen by Tanner Roark
and eventually left off the playoff roster in 2014.

[Edgy MD]

#6 overall dudes. Barry Bonds was one, Derek Jeter was one, and Zach Greinke was one too. But the Mets have never struck on a #6. The big sixes from Mets history: Geoff Goetz (1997), Tim McMannon (1982, January edition), and Butch Benton (1975). WtF is Tim McMannon?

They've had modest production out of overall #6's that other teams have drafted who have eventually come to the Mets (Gary Sheffield [1986], Kevin McReynolds [1981], Kelvin Chapman [1977]) but not always (McKay Christensen [1994]), Tom Grieve [1966]). Here's hoping Zach Wheeler (2009) is part of the former group, only better.

That #6 position is probably kinda tricky. You fool yourself into thinking that drafting there is high enough to put you mostly-can't-miss category. but you still have to be smart. More of those sixes were fumbled away than would seem to be healthy.

Still though, Barry Bonds.