Non-NYM Off-Season News

[A Boy Named Seo]

5 years x $16M (average annual) for the 30-year old Fowler versus 7 x $23M for the 26-year old Heyward.

Their career OPS's are 107 and 108 respectively, but damn, who knows at this point? Fangraphs and Steamer projections predict a full role reversal for 2017 (Fowler down, Heyward up). I think I still might bet on Heyward, long term, but what the shit do I know.

[ashie62]

Danny Espinosa, you missed Winterfest.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/danny-espinosa-gets-traded-to-angels-after-skipping-nationals-winterfest/

[Frayed Knot]

Looks like closer Kensley Jansen (a five year contract) and 3B Justin Turner (4 years) are both headed back to the Dodgers.

The Marlins had been hot on the closer trail but have now missed out on all of the top ones [Jansen, Chapman, Melancon]. Brad Ziegler among the names with closing experience still out there.

[Lefty Specialist]

Boy, nobody wants to play for the Nats. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If only Donald Trump was equally adverse to going to Washington.

[Guest themetfairy]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: If only Donald Trump was equally adverse to going to Washington.

He is. That's why he'll be living in New York during his presidency.

[ashie62]

Rosenthal speculates Justin Turner has been offered 4/64.

Edited December 12, 2016 by Guest

[A Boy Named Seo]

Ashie62 wrote: rosenthal speculates Justin Turner has been offered 4/64.

What a turd Justin Turner was for us. Can't believe how good he's become.

[ashie62]

Ruben Tejada signs a minor league deal with the MFY's.

[Guest sharpie]

Yankees should pencil Ruben in as their leadoff hitter and everyday shortstop. Proved he can play in New York.

[MFS62]

Yahoo sports reporting that catcher Wellington Castillo has signed a one year deal with the O's.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Jimmy Rollins not yet ready to give up the dream signs a minor league deal with SFG
The just-turned 38 y/o JR didn't play after being released by the White Sox in June.

[ashie62]

MFS62 wrote: Yahoo sports reporting that catcher Wellington Castillo has signed a one year deal with the O's. Later

Beef Wellington day can't be far behind.

[ashie62]

Buchholz, FA to be, goes to Philly for a low level prospect.

[Chad ochoseis]

Edwin Encarnacion to the Tribe. 3 years. Some articles say $60M, others $65M.

Completely mediocre as a Red and then a star with the Jays. Either way, he's a definite improvement over Mike Napoli, who was the Indians' DH last season.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2016/12/cleveland_indians_edwin_encarn_1.html#incart_most-comments

[Lefty Specialist]

Encarnacion could have had 4/80 from the Blue Jays but said no. FA market doesn't always turn out the way you plan it, Edwin.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Justin Turner signs a $64M contract with LA. Good for him. Who would've thunk it? Not the Mets.

[fimg=444:2086zsym]https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/420/31475414010_a929383bc5_z.jpg[/fimg:2086zsym] [fimg=444:2086zsym]https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/579/31475413980_0368ef06e1_b.jpg[/fimg:2086zsym]

[Frayed Knot]

Drew Storen to the Reds on a one year deal (don't get too upset Met fans).
And (temporary) WS hero Rajai Davis goes back to Oakland where he played prior to his star turn in Cleveland.

[Edgy MD]

Well, he was never going to be the Mets' fifth outfielder anyway.

I'm thinking ... Colby Rasmus?

[Frayed Knot]

Brandon Phillips certainly seems to want no part of the NL East.
Sources are confirming that, back in November, Phillips invoked the No-Trade clause in his contract in order to block a deal to the Braves. Last winter he blocked one that would have sent him to the Nationals forcing them instead to settle for Daniel Murphy.

2017 will be the final year of his long-term deal with the Reds. You wonder if they'll start giving the majority of the playing time to Dilson Herrera in an attempt to get him to finally accept a deal come deadline time 2017 - although by that point the team probably won't save more than a few pennies of his contract as they'll likely have to eat most of whatever remains. He's still a decent player even if not quite what he was, but Cincy was a 94-loss team in 2016, don't figure to be a lot better this coming year, and will wind up with his N-T clause costing them most of $27 million (2016 + '17) while they try to rebuild.

[Edgy MD]

The Orioles send Yovani Gallardo to Seattle and get Seth Smith back in return to be their new rightfielder, which, I guess, takes them out of the GranderBruce market.

Maybe it adds them to the pitching market, however.

[Frayed Knot]

KC deals speedster (although sneaky-old at age 31 already!) Jarrod Dyson to the Mariners for SP/RP Nathan Karns

[DocTee]

Thereby removing Seattle, which had an OF-vacancy created by the trade of Seth Smith, from the Granderson-Bruce market.

[Edgy MD]

Quick! Call Kansas City!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Rumors from Florida are that Derek Jeter will soon be getting a wall too.
Initial reports are unclear if he will pay for his wall or if it's The City of
Tampa's responsibility to pay for his wall to keep Tampanians off his com-
pound. There are whispers that he may pay for the wall because he can't
wait any longer and then bill the city and make them pay for it or foot the
bill through some contrived tax or something.

Details will be available here as they become available.

[MFS62]

d'Kong76 wrote: Rumors from Florida are that Derek Jeter will soon be getting a wall too. Initial reports are unclear if he will pay for his wall or if it's The City of Tampa's responsibility to pay for his wall to keep Tampanians off his com- pound. There are whispers that he may pay for the wall because he can't wait any longer and then bill the city and make them pay for it or foot the bill through some contrived tax or something. Details will be available here as they become available.

Well done!
Later

[MFS62]

Hall of Famer Willie McCovey was among a number of persons who had their prison sentences commuted by President Obama:
http://fox8.com/2017/01/17/baseball-hall-of-famer-willie-mccovey-pardoned-by-obama/

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Unsigned players are attempting to grab the merry-go-round on its last spins prior to ST.
So in addition to the Chris Carter signing noted in the Yanqui thread, former NYM Joe Smith becomes a Blue Jay, and two-time Texas Ranger Mike Napoli [2011-2012, 2015] becomes a three-time Ranger. All on one-year deals.

[Lefty Specialist]

Anyone still hanging around at this point could be had for fairly cheap, I would think.

[Edgy MD]

2016 Mets Jon Niese and Kelly Johnson (both two-timers) still texting their agents every two hours.