Non Mets Off Season News

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: 6 years, $206 million. That's just nuts.

Largest AAV (average annual value) contract in MLB history.
ZG turned 33 y/o in October (six days after being the LOSING pitcher in Game 5 vs NYM) so he'll pitch this contract at his age 33-38 seasons.

Edited December 5, 2015 by Guest

[Centerfield]

Things are finally moving now.

Hopefully the Cubs are done by signing Lackey.

[Edgy MD]

Don't like how that contract moves the bar, certainly.

[Edgy MD]

Don't like how that contract moves the bar, certainly.

One benefit to setting out early in the offseason marketplace is that you beat the tide.

[MFS62]

Our old pal Ollie Perez to the Nats.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

A Twins fan on Pelfrey's 2 year contract with the Tigers: Good that he's gone from the Twins and better that he remains in the AL Central. Ouch!

[batmagadanleadoff]

Greinke gets $33M/yr? Jeez, we better cherish this great Mets pitching staff while we got it because it ain't gonna last like Seaver and Koosman did.

[Frayed Knot]

Not $33/per, $34.33

Jeff Samardzija to the Giants for 5/$90

[Edgy MD]

Better play, San Francisco.

[Centerfield]

Really? How so?

Don't really know him well but those numbers look hardly like he is worth it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I mean, the market is what it is. But yeah, coming off the year he did, well, that's borderline shocking.

How long until the Dodgers' holiday panic-buy?

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Really? How so? Don't really know him well but those numbers look hardly like he is worth it.

I'm just terrified of $34 million dead wood.

That said, yeah, five years on Samadsfuivzja (or however it's spelled) isn't exactly a safe long-term investment. I withdraw the Giant complement.

[Centerfield]

Agreed. I think I'd rather go Bartolo Colon than Jeff Samardzja

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Or, say, Iwakuma. #Latethirtiescontrolpitchersarethenewmarketinefficiency

[Edgy MD]

Or Niese.

#beatyourfearoflongtermcommitementsbytradingforashorttimer

[Frayed Knot]

Obviously a smaller risk with the Samardzija deal even if it does come with a considerably smaller upside.
There have been high expectations for Sdzja ever since he was able to parlay his TE career at Notre Dame into a bigger than normal singing bonus for a 5th round draft pick, but he's yet to come within smelling distance of the kind of year Greinke had in 2015 and has had several of to date. Also not as big of an age gap as I would have guessed; Greinke is just 15 months older.


This all leaves the obviously guess that Cueto winds up with LA lest the Dodgers be left without a chair when all the music stops.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: Or Niese. #beatyourfearoflongtermcommitementsbytradingforashorttimer

I like your thinking, but I suspect that most contenders aren't thinking of this sort of cost-control while making improvements of this kind, and that other teams wouldn't part with young talent for it.

Certainly burnishes Batman's trade value, though, don't it?

[Frayed Knot]

Two of the big relievers available this off-season have signed.
Darren O'Day is returning to the Orioles - which is nice considering how some sources had him all but signed by the Nats. 4 years - $31 mil is the reported price
and one-time Phil Ryan Madson, who revived his career this past season after three missed years, heads to Oakland. 3 yrs/$22

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

$7M-plus per AND three-plus years? For MADSON, too? Jaysis.

[Edgy MD]

To make room for David Price, the Red Sox DFA Garin Cecchini. We're gettin' the family back together.

[Frayed Knot]

To make room for David Price, the Red Sox DFA Garin Cecchini. We're gettin' the family back together.

Despite being the lower draft pick (4th round 2010) Garin had been considered the better prospect coming through the minors. But he's also the older one and hasn't done well recently in either his (very) brief ML time or in his latest minor league season [.213/.286/.299 over 422 ABs at AAA Pawtucket] so the perceived futures market in Ga_in Cecchini prospects could well be in the process of reversing itself.

[Lefty Specialist]

Dodjas trade for Aroldis Chapman. Kenley Jansen liable to not be happy, but that's a fearsome 8th and 9th inning combo.

[Centerfield]

Joakim Soria to the Royals to aid a clearly needy bullpen. 3 year deal.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Dodjas trade for Aroldis Chapman. Kenley Jansen liable to not be happy, but that's a fearsome 8th and 9th inning combo.

This not only gives LA two closers but two closers entering the walk year of their contracts where one or both will have their save totals reduced and/or negated which will in turn reduce and/or negate their bargaining power next winter. And, yeah, just save totals alone shouldn't do that to a potential FA but you know it will.
Nice dilemma to toss in the lap of a rookie manager. At least it's not like end-of-game closers are known for being volatile hot-heads or anything.

[Edgy MD]

This trade is on hold as reports leak out of some very unsportsmanlike alleged conduct.

[Frayed Knot]

The Bosox become the latest team to jump on the trend of building a multiple bullpen attack by dealing away starter Wade Miley just one year after trading for him and signing him to a three-year extension.
The main bait coming back is Carson Smith, a 26 y/o side-winding righty who rung up 12 Ks and 6 Hits per/9 in his rookie year for Seattle.
This gives the Sox a 1-2-3 punch of Kimbrel, Uehara, and Smith in whichever combo they like.

[Frayed Knot]

Straight-up swap:
Cards deal Jon Jay to the Padres for Hugo Black

OK, just looking to see if anyone was paying attention, it's actually Jay for Jedd Gyorko

[HahnSolo]

Gyorko always struck me as a likely future Cardinal.

[Edgy MD]

Reds may end up totally hung out to dry trying to move Chapman while a scandal hangs over his head.

Who is also left totally holding the bag? Marc Anthony, that's who.

[Fman99]

Edgy MD wrote: Who is also left totally holding the bag? Marc Anthony, that's who.

That guy has held a TON of bags, I bet.