Notebook: Closer Leaving the Fish

I couldn’t figure out why the ball kept getting bigger....

Then it hit me.

Dodgers win World Series again. Champs until someone beats them, just like Bucs (and Lightning in hickey) again in football=rinse and repeat.

I'm hopeful the Twins are going to sign Mike Foltynewicz to a two-way contract with incentives.  I think Johnson could help him find his 2018 form and he could be a sneaky good signing.

I'm hopeful the Twins are going to sign Mike Foltynewicz to a two-way contract with incentives.  I think Johnson could help him find his 2018 form and he could be a sneaky good signing.

He signed with TEX.

I don't get the Benintendi deal at all. He only has two years left so I don't know why the Royals wanted him, do they expect to compete this year?

 

Also, he's been average at best the past two years and really he's only been an ordinary corner OF his entire career outside of one 3 month stretch in 2018. It's not like his 6.6M arbitration figure is a steal either. The Marlins just signed Adam Duvall for 2M and the Cubs signed Jake Marisnick for 1.5M.

i think the Royals are adding some players to raise their floor so their young talent doesn't just experience constant losing at the MLB level. They may not be ready to compete during benintendi's contract, but they've got the payroll room and then they can use the space to get a better player at the end of it. might help them win a few more games and keep their fans engaged?

With my crystal ball turned up to maxi-vision I am seeing the Dodgers winning the world series in 7 games over the underdog Minnesota Twins.  But you never know with the Twins.  Possible upset here.

The Twins appear to be done with big ticket signings, so that would likely rule out a Jake Odorizzi reunion. Darren Wolfson's KSTP had Minnesota with an offer out to a starter however.

The language Falvey used in that clip definitely suggests that they're done with big signings, but it's a little vague and slippery in a sports executive way. Maybe I'm projecting my own take onto that, but it feels like there's no point to bringing in a starter who isn't either at Odorizzi/Paxton's level or available on a minor-league deal. With spring training so close and given the Twins' penchant for the late offseason strike, I still wonder whether Odo and/or Paxton might be the starter with an active offer.

I'm surprised that noone signed Kintzler before. He doesn't strike out everyone but he is a proven reliever with save experience. A good signing by the Phils. KC and the Angels are my surprise picks in the AL to move up and contend. The Royals need for their young, talented staff to come through. Not signing Odo would be a mistake if the Twins pass on him. At least see if he'll take a deal with incentives. If healthy, he will win. I hope we sign him but, if not, at least get another starter if Hill hasn't signed yet. I'd love Paxton but he's out of our price range.