2014-2015 MLB Offseason Moves Thread

[Riverbrian]

What an off season... My head is spinning.

 

3 teams with a glut of Outfielders now. SD LA and Boston.

 

More trades sure to come.

 

Wow... Simply Wow.

[JB_Iowa]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal  · 17m17 minutes ago 
Sources: David Ross to #Cubs, two years, $5M.

[JB_Iowa]

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale  · 47s48 seconds ago 
Justin Upton will stay in LF, Wil Myers in CF, and Matt Kemp in RF, #Padres manager Buddy Black says.

[kab21]

I don't have any issue with the Braves trade today.  A ton of upside in the guys acquired for a one-year rental.  The word is that the Giants would offer nearly as much individually for Chris Johnson with his control as for Upton on a one-year deal.

 

I think this offseason has really showed that the player with one year left isn't quite as valuable as once believed.

 

I think the one year left guys were traded for pretty decent packages.   Shelby Miller and Max Fried (TJ victim) are pretty good prospects/players.  Atlanta did fine except they just punted their season which could be frustrating for a fan.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal  · 17m17 minutes ago 

Sources: David Ross to #Cubs, two years, $5M.

oops - I spoke too soon on the 'David Ross to San Diego' Rumors - thanks for picking up the slack on that one JB!

 

Biggest names that are still looking for a deal: Max Scherzer, James Shields, Colby Rasmus.

 

Kenta Maeda was not posted by his Japanese team, so the 27 year old will stay in Japan for another season.

 

Korean SS Jung-ho Kang was posted by his team and there is a winning bidder. If the Korean team accepts the bid, Kang will have a 30 day window to sign a contract with the winning bidder.

[biggentleben]

I think the one year left guys were traded for pretty decent packages.   Shelby Miller and Max Fried (TJ victim) are pretty good prospects/players.  Atlanta did fine except they just punted their season which could be frustrating for a fan.

 

They had the second- or third-youngest roster in baseball in 2013, and they locked up some of the key guys on that team.  I honestly think the rotation will keep them in enough games to be as good as the drastically underperforming 2014 club, but unless there's a big bat coming in another move (which could be found simply by playing Evan Gattis 150 games in the outfield rather than 100 games behind the plate), I don't see much more than a .500 at best club.

[kab21]

They had the second- or third-youngest roster in baseball in 2013, and they locked up some of the key guys on that team.  I honestly think the rotation will keep them in enough games to be as good as the drastically underperforming 2014 club, but unless there's a big bat coming in another move (which could be found simply by playing Evan Gattis 150 games in the outfield rather than 100 games behind the plate), I don't see much more than a .500 at best club.

 

It doesn't matter how young a team is when you have the 2nd worst offense in the majors and you trade 2 of the 4 best bats (and Lastella).  This is an awful offense and it won't matter how good their pitching is. 

[biggentleben]

It doesn't matter how young a team is when you have the 2nd worst offense in the majors and you trade 2 of the 4 best bats (and Lastella).  This is an awful offense and it won't matter how good their pitching is. 

 

The exact same guys (replacing Uggla with LaStella) had a top-4 offense in baseball in 2013.  I'm not saying they're anywhere near an upper-echelon offense, but they should move more toward the middle of the pack with simple regression to the mean.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Kevin Slowey signs a minor league deal with Philadelphia.

[nicksaviking]

http://m.sports.naver.com/baseball/news/read.nhn?oid=109&aid=0002958267

 

After years of speculation and rumors, the Twins finally signed hack Hannahan.

[kab21]

The exact same guys (replacing Uggla with LaStella) had a top-4 offense in baseball in 2013.  I'm not saying they're anywhere near an upper-echelon offense, but they should move more toward the middle of the pack with simple regression to the mean.

 

Your lineup in order of effectiveness is Freeman, Gattis, Markakis, Johnson, Andrelton, 2Bman, crappy catcher, BJ

 

That offense will completely stink.  Regression to the mean doesn't mean anything when most of the team is gone.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Catcher Ryan Lavarnaway continues his North American tour, claimed by Orioles after being claimed then DFA'd by the Cubs, and after being claimed then DFA'd by the Dodgers, after being DFA'd by the Red Sox on November 25th.  

[JB_Iowa]

Delmon back w/Orioles for 1 yr. $2,25 mil + incentives up to 3,

 

A.J. signs w/Braves for 1 yr,

[biggentleben]

This is honestly the first move the Braves have made this offseason that I was all out on.  To stoop as low as AJ, they had to have struck out with their top 5+ options or felt desperate...or both.  He just doesn't fit the Braves whatsoever.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Also in former Twins news:

 

Jeff Manship signs a minor league deal with Cleveland;

 

and Jose Mijares signs a minor league deal with the Reds

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Dan Uggla is back in the NL East, signing a minor league deal with the Nationals.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Hiroki Kuroda is going back to Japan:

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/26/report-hiroki-kuroda-is-going-back-to-japan/

[biggentleben]

Fairly under the radar move, except that it's on a typical day off and there's no other news, so it got more run that it probably would have just a month ago...

 

Braves trade arby-eligible David Carpenter and lefty minor league reliever Chasen Shreve to the Yankees for lefty pitching prospect Manny Banuelos.

 

I'm not sure the Braves' plans for 2015, but they are stocking up some very high-upside arms for the near future with their moves this offseason with guys like Tyrell Jenkins, Max Fried, and now Banuelos.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

From last week:  The Pirates won the bidding for Jung-ho Kang and have a month to sign him to a contract. So far no deal has been announced.

[JB_Iowa]

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi  · 17m17 minutes ago 
Source: #WhiteSox and Emilio Bonifacio agree to one year, $4 million contract.

[JB_Iowa]

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale  · 12m12 minutes ago 
The #Phillies announce that they have signed Aaron Harang to a one-year, $5 million contract after winning 12 games a year ago with #Braves.

[jokin]

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi  · 17m17 minutes ago 

Source: #WhiteSox and Emilio Bonifacio agree to one year, $4 million contract.

 

Whities strike again.  $4M well-spent for 25th man MVP, CF insurance, as well as a capable replacement at 2nd should the young options for the position falter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi  · 17m17 minutes ago 

Source: #WhiteSox and Emilio Bonifacio agree to one year, $4 million contract.

Further breakdown: it's actually a $3 mil salary for Bonifacio in 2015, plus a $4 mil club option for 2016 (or $1 mil buyout).

[JB_Iowa]

Jon HeymanVerified account
‏@JonHeymanCBS   nick hundley signed with #rockies. 2 years, $6.25M. $3.1M in '15, $3.15M in '16.

 

Jon HeymanVerified account
‏@JonHeymanCBS   adam rosales signs with rangers, $900,000 for 2015.

 

Jon HeymanVerified account
‏@JonHeymanCBS   craig breslow $2M deal for 2015 with red sox official

[JB_Iowa]

Jon HeymanVerified account
‏@JonHeymanCBS   edinson volquez breakdown: $7.5M in '15, $9.5M in '16, $10M mutual option in '17 w/ $3M buyout. $20M guarantee. #royals

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS  · 9m9 minutes ago 
volquez doesnt have a no-trade clause but he is to receive 500K each time hes traded. plus he gets a suite on road. #royals

[jokin]

Whities strike again.  $4M well-spent for 25th man MVP, CF insurance, as well as a capable replacement at 2nd should the young options for the position falter.

 

Further breakdown: it's actually a $3 mil salary for Bonifacio in 2015, plus a $4 mil club option for 2016 (or $1 mil buyout).

 

So... even a better deal, w/ some added incentives for Bonifacio to produce.  The White Sox fill another bench/depth hole, plus.... they now have the luxury in the OF to possibly deal Viciedo and fill yet another hole.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

The White Sox have been trying to trade Viciedo ever since they added Melky Cabrera, no one has bit yet.

 

Bonifacio brings versatility, however I think Eduardo Escobar was a slightly better hitter last year, which isn't saying too much for Bonifacio.

 

I like this move for Chicago because I don't think Bonifacio is very good.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The White Sox have been trying to trade Viciedo ever since they added Melky Cabrera, no one has bit yet.

 

Bonifacio brings versatility, however I think Eduardo Escobar was a slightly better hitter last year, which isn't saying too much for Bonifacio.

 

I like this move for Chicago because I don't think Bonifacio is very good.

Escobar was the better hitter in 2014, and is probably the better shortstop, but Bonifacio at this price clearly improves the White Sox, no?  Even if it is mostly bench/depth?

 

He should actually be a good complement to Viciedo on the bench: one has power, the other has everything else.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Bonifacio is definitely an improvement over the 25th Man. I would have liked Bonifacio over Nuñez for the Twins, for instance.

 

It's possible that Bonifacio ends up the starting 2B for Chicago this season, which I guess could be better than the options they currently have. I don't think he's good enough with the bat to be a regular starter - his best role would be as a super sub, giving various starters days off throughout the year. It could be 100 games or more played, but all over the field.

 

It would be great if Escobar could handle an outfield corner, Super-sub would really be an ideal role for him given the log-jam in the Twins' infield right now. Being competent in the OF is really the best asset that Bonifacio brings to the table.

[jokin]

Bonifacio is definitely an improvement over the 25th Man. I would have liked Bonifacio over Nuñez for the Twins, for instance.

 

It's possible that Bonifacio ends up the starting 2B for Chicago this season, which I guess could be better than the options they currently have. I don't think he's good enough with the bat to be a regular starter - his best role would be as a super sub, giving various starters days off throughout the year. It could be 100 games or more played, but all over the field.

 

It would be great if Escobar could handle an outfield corner, Super-sub would really be an ideal role for him given the log-jam in the Twins' infield right now. Being competent in the OF is really the best asset that Bonifacio brings to the table.

Sadly, I agree with you on Boni over Nunez, the Twins missed a golden opportunity in the preseason, still a headscratcher to me why they didn't pull the trigger.

 

For the Whities, not only does signing Bonifacio give them a Top 25th Man roster spot/elite PR/defensive all-purpose role--- he gives the Sox an insurance policy at both 2nd and CF (Remember Eaton is an aggressive CF and spent time on the DL in 2014), meanwhile, buying time for one of the 2nd base prospects to get himself established enough to earn the job outright.  Good roster upgrade move, at a very low cost, while not blocking anyone in the process.