Non-NYM Off-Season News

[Frayed Knot]

Jon Jay to the Cubs on a one year deal - a sign that Dexter Fowler is not likely to return.

[Guest cooby]

I have a stamp with him on it

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wonder if the Mets might be more willing to consider Fowler if a new CBA goes into effect that would prevent them from losing a draft pick. I'm guessing not, because I suspect the issue is more with the budget than with the draft pick, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Frayed Knot]

Braves continue to create an entirely new stop-gap pitching staff as they send three prospects to the Cardinals for LHP Jamie Garcia

Garcia, 30, has been real good at times [3rd in ROY 2010; 2.43 ERA in 2015] but also erratic and/or injured in others [just 16 starts total in 2013 + 2014; a 4.67 ERA this past year]. Like other recent additions Bartolo & RAD, Garcia is signed thru 2017 only.
John Gant, former NYM draft pick who went to the Braves in the 2015 edition of the 'Let's Make a Kelly Johnson Deal', is one of the three going to StL.
Also headed that way is A-level 2B Luke (younger son of Lenny) Dykstra, and AAA-level RHP Chris Ellis

[Edgy MD]

The Braves just sent Rob Whalen—the other half of that package they got in the Johnson/Uribe deal—to Seattle.

If not for Bartolo Colón, I'd think they were deliberately shedding guys with Mets taint. Maybe the Mets can convince them to send back Akeel Morris.

[Lefty Specialist]

Edgy MD wrote: If not for Bartolo Colón, I'd think they were deliberately shedding guys with Mets taint.

What am I, chopped liver?

[ashie62]

Per Rosenthal Carlos Beltran to the Astros for $16 million and a no trade clause.

[Guest sharpie]

Astros fans used to boo Beltran because he left them after his amazing playoff series to join the Mets

[Frayed Knot]

sharpie wrote: Astros fans used to boo Beltran because he left them after his amazing playoff series to join the Mets

Yup, there were some pretty harsh feelings there for a while. Some fans felt he misled the Astros while having no intention of ever staying there, plus there's the whole big/small market animosity thing (particularly with NYC) that was big at the time. But I'm sure they'll get over it if he has one more decent year in him.

I'm kind of shocked at the size of the price tag, particularly for a team with some good young OF'ers already on their roster and two of their three catchers (Brian McCann, Evan Gattis) being prime candidates for DH much of the time. They may dangle one of their young OFs (Springer?) for pitching help (Sale?).

And we'll play them this year remember (in Houston Sept 1-3).

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: sharpie wrote: Astros fans used to boo Beltran because he left them after his amazing playoff series to join the Mets Yup, there were some pretty harsh feelings there for a while. Some fans felt he misled the Astros while having no intention of ever staying there, plus there's the whole big/small market animosity thing (particularly with NYC) that was big at the time. But I'm sure they'll get over it if he has one more decent year in him. I'm kind of shocked at the size of the price tag, particularly for a team with some good young OF'ers already on their roster and two of their three catchers (Brian McCann, Evan Gattis) being prime candidates for DH much of the time. They may dangle one of their young OFs (Springer?) for pitching help (Sale?). And we'll play them this year remember (in Houston Sept 1-3).

I was thinking that $16 million seemed like a lot for him at this stage of his career. Then again, we have Neil Walker for $17 million.

[Frayed Knot]

Walker's not a 40 y/o DH

[Frayed Knot]

Matt Holliday to the Yanx to be primary DH for the upcoming year.
So no more DH-by-commitee as ARod, Teix, Beltran, and McCann have all been disappeared since the middle of last season (although they're still paying full freight on ARod and part of McCann's).
Turns 37 in January. Got 426 PA w/Cards last year (he essentially missed the final six weeks) and just 277 the year before.
Winds up slightly cheaper ($13 mil) than the $16 mil Beltran got.

[Centerfield]

I think $13 million and $16 million are what Bruce and Granderson are making. It's like a law that all outfielders have to make one of these two salaries.

You know, except Yo.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFYs could probably have used Bruce. He'd hit 30 easily in that little league park.

[Frayed Knot]

Mark Melancon to the Giants on a reported four-year deal (pending physical yadda yadda)

Versatile utility man Steve Pearce does the AL East shuffle by going from the O's to the Jays

[A Boy Named Seo]

Frayed Knot wrote: Mark Melancon to the Giants on a reported four-year deal (pending physical yadda yadda) Versatile utility man Steve Pearce does the AL East shuffle by going from the O's to the Jays

I was kinda hoping the Nats would empty their wallet on Melancon. Hope they're not like "eff it, Chris Sale".

[Frayed Knot]

Well the Nats are going to need some kind of closer so it's not strictly an either/or thing of Sale [u:2383w8yh]Or[/u:2383w8yh] a guy for the back end of the pen.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Melancon's deal was reportedly for $62M.

What the hell will Chapman get?

[Edgy MD]

Something like what Jansen will get, minus a little for the baggage he brings, I think.

[Edgy MD]

Pittsburgh has re-signed Wade LeBlanc, who they strangely traded for late (September 13) but then proceeded to use only out of the bullpen, despite his history as a starter. He pitched well for them but by that point, it was too late for them to dig out of their hole, as they were five games behind the Mets in the Wild Card race with two teams to leapfrog to get there. And of course, he was ineligible for any playoff action that they theoretically might have magically attained.

Wade LeBlanc fascinates me, because every time I hear his name, I get the idea that somebody's talking about an oily politician whose whole organization is just a thing veneer of respectability spread over a horrifying and barely hidden agenda of potentially violent white nationalism.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The name makes me think he might be Joey Tribbiani's cousin.

[Centerfield]

It's looking like Sale to the Nats. And they hold on to Tera Turner. Hard to imagine these Nats are going to get even better. Fuck.

[Edgy MD]

Buzz is coming out of National Harbor (BUZZ!) that Gio Gonzalez is bound for the Yankees.

[Frayed Knot]

Hmmmmm, I would have thought that a logical move had they landed Sale but curious otherwise as it leaves the Nats w/o a LH starter: Scherzer, Strasburg, Roark, Ross and presumably Giolito

[Vic Sage]

Centerfield wrote: It's looking like Sale to the Nats. And they hold on to Tera Turner. Hard to imagine these Nats are going to get even better. Fuck.

Nope. It's Sale to Boston for minor league pitchers Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz, outfielder Luis Basabe and Moncada, the third baseman that is at or near the top of most people's best prospect in baseball list.

[Edgy MD]

Hmmmmm, I would have thought that a logical move had they landed Sale but curious otherwise as it leaves the Nats w/o a LH starter: Scherzer, Strasburg, Roark, Ross and presumably Giolito

Yeah, that buzz might have had more substance before the Sale-to-Boston deal, but only surfaced after.

[MFS62]

Vic Sage wrote: ...Moncada, the third baseman that is at or near the top of most people's best prospect in baseball list.

The ChiSox already have Lawrie at second and Frazier at third in, IIRC, the last year or two of his contract. Maybe they'll keep him until they think Mondaca is ready. If they think the kid is ready, would they entertain an offer for Frazier? We may know by the middle of the year, or sooner. Keep an eye on this one.

Later

[ashie62]

Frazier may be headed to the Dodgers per the interweb.

[Frayed Knot]

The BoSox capped their Thornburg/Sale afternoon by signing Mitch Moreland to a one year deal.
Moreland, who won two Gold Gloves as a 1B with the Rangers, will apparently play there full-time in Boston moving former [crossout]SS[/crossout], [crossout]3B[/crossout], [crossout]LF[/crossout], [crossout]1B[/crossout] Hanley Ramirez to the Papi-replacing DH slot.

[Zvon]

Wilson Ramos to the AL. Niiiiiiice. He was a pain. I recall many times wishing we had a catcher like him. Dunno if he's past his prime. Ended '16 with a bad injury (ACL torn). Glad if he's going anywhere that's not us, it's out of the N.L.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-hot-stove-signings-rays-wilson-ramos-reportedly-agree-on-two-year-deal/

Centerfield wrote: It's looking like Sale to the Nats. And they hold on to Tera Turner. Hard to imagine these Nats are going to get even better. Fuck.

Of course they'd hold on to Turner. But no Sale. Gio would make a perfect Yankee. He's seems like such a doosh.
Who's the Nats catcher in '17?