2015-2016 Offseason Thread

[biggentleben]

 

Do you honestly think Gordon and Upton are that close offensively? Realistically, Gordon might hit .275 with 15 HR/60 RBI. Upton has potential to hit 30+ HRs depending on which stadium he lands.

(I know you already said Gordon doesn't hit HRs like Upton, but how do you think they are close offensively?)

 

Having watched Upton for a couple seasons quite closely with the Braves, the guy is massively streaky. I'd noticed it on my fantasy teams before, but I assumed that was simply the hypersensitivity to statistical sway in a short sample in fantasy sports, but it's no joke with JUp. He seriously will go in a funk where he cannot hit anything at all, and then he'll seemingly be the absolute rock star of the entire league for a couple weeks in a row. In the end, he puts up solid numbers overall, but he's like having Mitch Williams as your closer. Sure, the job gets done quite frequently, but you're usually sent to an early grave from the added stress to your heart that he brings to your team. The worst part is that now that he's getting truly big money, no manager in their right mind would sit him without an injury, no matter how bad his slump is.

[biggentleben]

Span signs with the Giants - 3/31. Good for him.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/giants-nearing-deal-with-denard-span.html

I think you missed it on the last page.

[gunnarthor]

 

I think you missed it on the last page.

Looks like I did (it's been a long day) ... now to find the delete button ...

[biggentleben]

Looks like I did (it's been a long day) ... now to find the delete button ...

Eh, no worries. He's going to get a ring, so might as well celebrate the move. I'm just glad he didn't end up on another NL East team or the Cardinals because I enjoy cheering for Span. I strongly wanted the Braves and Twins to match up on him when he was traded. Instead, they signed BJ Upton after the Twins insisted on JR Graham for Span. Just think of how different things could be right now!

[Vanimal46]

 

Pirates sign Neftali Feliz. With Feliz, Watson, and Melancon at the back of their bullpen, that's a shut-down grouping. I also really liked what Juan Nicasio did until he had some arm soreness that he tried to pitch through for the Dodgers in the bullpen last year. That bullpen could be sick.

Pittsburgh seems to have a good track record with reclamation projects. Feliz looked pretty bad last year in the SSS that I was able to watch him. If he turns it around and gets back to his sub-3 ERA self, that's going to be a scary back end of the bullpen. 

[big dog]

Drew Storen just traded to the Blue Jays for Ben Revere.

 

Wow, Revere/Hendricks/Valencia should invest in a city relocation real estate service with all the moving they've done lately.

[cmoss84]

Parra signs with the Rockies. Either they are about to trade someone or put the Cargo at 1st base.

[USAFChief]

 

Parra signs with the Rockies. Either they are about to trade someone or put the Cargo at 1st base.

Prediction:  CarGo plays for the StL Cardinals in 2016.

[kab21]

 

Parra signs with the Rockies. Either they are about to trade someone or put the Cargo at 1st base.

 

Nolasco, Milone and Stewart for Cargo.  Make it happen.

[bluechipper]

Chris Davis re-signs with the Orioles. 7 years $161M. That's a lot of money, but the O's had to do something offensively.

 

[bluechipper]

The Royals signed Ian Kennedy for 5 years $70M. What? A good strikeout rate, but a 4.28 ERA pitching in San Diego last year and giving up 31 HRs gets you $70 million I guess. Plus he costs a draft pick.

[bluechipper]

Justin Upton to the Tigers for 6 years and $132.75M. The Tigers have a great looking lineup.

 

It'll be nice to see all of this money they're spending result in a .500 team (I hope.)

[biggentleben]

 

Justin Upton to the Tigers for 6 years and $125M. The Tigers have a great looking lineup.

 

It'll be nice to see all of this money they're spending result in a .500 team (I hope.)

 

Not bad. I figured no one would get him for less than 5 years, but getting him at less than $21M per is not actually that bad of a contract.

[drjim]

Looks like 6/$22.5 a year.

 

I think he ends up being the best bat signed this winter. Kind of wish it wasn't to another team in the AL Central. I don't think it's enough, but I think it is the right move for the Tigers to push all in.

 

EDIT: 6/$132.75 with an opt out.

[bluechipper]

That looks like it will be a reasonable contract for a power hitter who is still in his twenties. That lineup looks great on paper, but it still all depends on how much Miguel Cabrera ages and if he can stay healthy.

[biggentleben]

 

Looks like 6/$22.5 a year.

 

I think he ends up being the best bat signed this winter. Kind of wish it wasn't to another team in the AL Central. I don't think it's enough, but I think it is the right move for the Tigers to push all in.

 

EDIT: 6/$132.75 with an opt out.

 

Still not a terrible deal.

 

My biggest issue with Justin will always be his streaks. He isn't a guy who goes .350 and then .250...he's a guy who goes .700 and then .070. It's incredible to ride when he's hot and an absolute black hole when he's not. If a team could ever get that leveled out, they'd have an MVP caliber player. Heck, the one season he was able to have a consistent season without the major dips, he arguably should have won the MVP award.

[DaveW]

Wow. Tigers could be a 100 win team next year if things break right. Or a 82 win team if things break wrong,

[Mike Sixel]

That is too much money for Davis. I don't get why teams keep blinking on stuff where they are the only bidder. I like the Upton deal much, much more.

 

The Royals just paid real money for Nolasco, imo. I don't get why teams spend $4-5MM less for a mediocre player, than they could have for a good/great player. 

[Mike Sixel]

Didn't realize that much of the Davis deal was deferred. Still don't like it, but that is party because they are paying a lot of money for a guy, but not putting much around him. I still think it is too much money, but it is also that they aren't doing enough to improve the team around him for it to likely matter that he is there.....

[Vanimal46]

 

The Royals just paid real money for Nolasco, imo. I don't get why teams spend $4-5MM less for a mediocre player, than they could have for a good/great player. 

The Kennedy signing is a real head-scratcher. They've done so well with developing prospects and trades the last couple of years that you forget this is still the same GM that gave Gil Meche 5/55 and Jose Guillen 3/36 in the past... 

[Willihammer]

Davis' deal has a lot of deferred money. Fangraphs wrote a piece on it.

Kinda wonder if the O's initial offer of 7/151, the one Boras scoffed at, also included deferred money.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think he ends up being the best bat signed this winter. Kind of wish it wasn't to another team in the AL Central. I don't think it's enough, but I think it is the right move for the Tigers to push all in.

Agreed, they needed another bat, and they got one (one that just turned 28 years old too).  Now they push Gose and Maybin into a competition for CF and 4th OF, which is as it should be.

 

Should be a decent lineup, and their two weakest links at the moment (3B Castellanos and DH Victor Martinez) both have some upside/bounceback potential, at least.

[cmoss84]

Has Detroit just passed KC? Maybe. They've spent more money-but I like their moves a lot more. Like I said before, I would much rather spend a few more million on Upton than Gordon (22 vs. 18/yr). Also like Zimmerman for 5 and 110 much more than Kenney at 5 and 70. Det. is going to be very good if Miggy/V-Mart/Verlander stay healthy. If not, a very expensive .500 team, but have to give them credit for trying before their window is up. Here's how I think the division will play out, but very even division!

DET

KC

MN

CLE

CHI

[biggentleben]

 

Has Detroit just passed KC? Maybe. They've spent more money-but I like their moves a lot more. Like I said before, I would much rather spend a few more million on Upton than Gordon (22 vs. 18/yr). Also like Zimmerman for 5 and 110 much more than Kenney at 5 and 70. Det. is going to be very good if Miggy/V-Mart/Verlander stay healthy. If not, a very expensive .500 team, but have to give them credit for trying before their window is up. Here's how I think the division will play out, but very even division!

DET

KC

MN

CLE

CHI

 

Like I mentioned to you then, though, it depends on how you make up your team. Upton's got some real deficiencies in the outfield, whereas that's Gordon's specialty. Upton's a guy who can sit in the middle of your lineup, whereas Gordon probably profiles better at the top or bottom of it. I said it'd certainly not be for less than 5 years on either Upton or Cespedes for that "few million more", so that part is also significant. I'm not saying it wasn't a good deal for Upton, but I think both were good deals for their teams.

[gunnarthor]

 

Has Detroit just passed KC? Maybe. They've spent more money-but I like their moves a lot more. Like I said before, I would much rather spend a few more million on Upton than Gordon (22 vs. 18/yr). Also like Zimmerman for 5 and 110 much more than Kenney at 5 and 70. Det. is going to be very good if Miggy/V-Mart/Verlander stay healthy. If not, a very expensive .500 team, but have to give them credit for trying before their window is up. Here's how I think the division will play out, but very even division!

DET

KC

MN

CLE

CHI

I agree with Schonfield's comment in his ESPN chat today - Detroit is going to be massively overrated going into the season.  They'll still finish 4th or 5th.  

[amjgt]

Detroit's payroll looking to clear $180M now.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Detroit's payroll looking to clear $180M now.

 

Yawn. You can't take it with you....and your heirs don't really need billions to survive. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I agree with Schonfield's comment in his ESPN chat today - Detroit is going to be massively overrated going into the season.  They'll still finish 4th or 5th.  

Who's doing the overrating?  Steamer (via Fangraphs) has them at 82 wins, and that's AFTER the Upton signing.  Previously they were at 79 wins.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I assume all these criticisms of the Kansas City Royals offseason moves come with a big, fat asterisk* next to them.

 

 

 

* cuz World Series and stuff

 

[DaveW]

I agree with Schonfield's comment in his ESPN chat today - Detroit is going to be massively overrated going into the season. They'll still finish 4th or 5th.

I will bet you any amount of money that Detroit doesn't finish 4th or 5th this year.