mluebker

ChatGPT can be terrible with facts and has a tendency to hallucinate. But I figured that’s not much different than a lot of us who post here, so it might be interesting to see what it had to say.

Here's what ChatGPT has to say about players and players' guaranteed contracts if a team were to go bankrupt: ------------ If a Major League Baseball (MLB) team were to declare bankruptcy, the players and their contracts would be significantly impacted, though MLB and the legal system would work to minimize disruption to the league and its players. Here's an overview of what might happen: 1. Bankruptcy Filing and Team Operations Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Most teams would file under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which allows them to reorganize their finances while continuing operations. During this period, the team would still play games and honor contracts unless otherwise ruled by the court. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: If the financial situation is beyond repair, the team could face Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which involves liquidation of assets. In this scenario, the team's operations would likely cease, and the league would step in. 2. League Intervention MLB has a vested interest in maintaining the stability of its teams and overall league. If a team goes bankrupt, MLB would likely step in to manage operations, as it has done in the past (e.g., with the Montreal Expos in 2002, when MLB took control before the team's relocation and rebranding as the Washington Nationals). The league could provide financial support, search for new ownership, or take temporary control of the team. 3. Players' Contracts Guaranteed Contracts: MLB players' contracts are typically guaranteed, meaning that players are entitled to receive the agreed-upon salary regardless of the team's financial state. However, a bankruptcy court could potentially modify or reject some contracts as part of the restructuring process. Team Payroll: If the team cannot pay players due to cash flow issues, MLB or the league's emergency funds might cover payroll temporarily to ensure contracts are honored. Potential Sale: If the team is sold as part of the bankruptcy process, the new owner would inherit the players' contracts, unless specific terms are renegotiated during the sale. 4. Player Movement Free Agency or Waivers: In extreme cases, a bankruptcy court could allow the team to release players or restructure contracts to reduce liabilities. This could make some players free agents or subject to waivers. Trades or Transfers: To manage financial obligations, the team might trade high-salary players to other teams for financial relief. 5. Impact on Players Uncertainty: Players might face uncertainty about their future, including whether they will be traded, their contracts restructured, or their payments delayed. Legal Protections: The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) would likely intervene to ensure players' rights and salaries are protected throughout the bankruptcy process. 6. Historical Precedents Texas Rangers (2010): The Rangers filed for bankruptcy due to ownership debt but continued operations. MLB helped manage the team, and a sale was arranged to resolve the situation. Players' contracts were largely unaffected. Los Angeles Dodgers (2011): The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy during a dispute between ownership and MLB. The team continued to operate, and players' contracts were honored, with a sale eventually resolving the issues. In summary, while bankruptcy would create significant uncertainty and potential legal disputes, the league and MLBPA would work to protect players and their contracts. Ultimately, the goal would be to stabilize the team, maintain competitive balance, and ensure contractual obligations are met as much as possible.

I missed this when it came out, but I think it’s the best place to put him if the Twins want him in the line-up every day. Less risk of injury, no need for him to learn to consistently throw from third to first, and would give him a regular position and an opportunity to concentrate on offense and staying healthy. That also would leave third open. If only there were another current infielder on the roster who might be able to stay off the IL, on the field, and in the line-up if he could move there from a more strenuous middle-infield position.

I figured that, since it was fWAR. Was looking for a link.

Can you point me to the specific sources? The baseball-reference “2024 MLB Team Position Performance by Wins Above Average” chart seems to tell a different story. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/team_compare.cgi

I want him in the line-up and playing somewhere every day. But that seems increasingly unlikely at SS. As for who’d replace him at short, with the salary constraints the team likely faces, we’re going to be seeing a lot of players from St. Paul starting in various places for the Twins 2025, at least until someone buys the team and decides they want to win, not just make a profit.

I'd love to see one of you guys who likes juggling statistics calculate the overall performance the team got last year at CF, SS, and 3B when you combine the numbers of each of the three above with those of their replacements. I'm guessing the Twins are spending a lot at those positions for what averages out to be less-than-stellar stats overall.

That's a response based on the facts of how many games he's played and his overall reliability throughout his MLB career. If you can't count on him being in the line-up or in CF, then you can't count on him.

I keep hearing how Royce Lewis's defensive skills have declined and that he doesn't want to play 3rd or 2nd. So why not move him and the big bat over to first base and move injury-prone Correa to 3rd, a theoretically less-demanding position, where he'll have less ground to cover? Then move some combination of Julien, Miranda, Keaschall, and Lee into the SS/2B slots until someone better comes along? All among the Top 20.

Part-time player. "Next year" is always when he's going to play regularly and reach his potential.

Any conversation about Correa’s value to the team includes a qualifier like, “when he was on the field.” So I think it makes sense that he and a streaky guy like Miranda are side-by-side in these rankings. If a guy isn’t out there consistently or able to perform consistently, it’s gonna negatively effect his value to the team, even with peaks considered.

If they think his bat is worth keeping, put him at first base in 2025, where he’ll be less likely to get injured. If his offense ticks up and he can stay off the IL, offer him an extension. If not, offer him up for trade.

Baseball isn’t basketball and the Twin Cities aren’t Phoenix. They’ll need a whole new instruction manual to be successful MLB owners.

I’d be thrilled to see the Twins trade Correa, because it’s clear he’s never going to be a full-time shortstop. For $36 million, if he’s not in the line-up and on the field every day, that’s money out the window, To put it in perspective, that’s $1.1 million for every five games he sits. Since joining the Twins, he didn’t play shortstop in 136 games, across three seasons, To put that in perspective that’s more games than he played at short in any one of his three seasons in a Twins uniform. There’s no question he’s a huge asset to the team, both in the field and at the plate, when he’s able to play. But “when he’s able to play” is the problem. He’s been paid for three years, but only been able to play his position the equivalent of two. Someone else has had to pick up the slack at short for all those games. So yeah, it’s time to trade Correa to a team that can afford a part-time, all-star shortstop and find a solid, if unspectacular one who actually can play every day for a lot less money. Then they can use that money to balance out the rest of the team. BTW, I’d say the same about Byron Burton. For ten years we’ve been hearing that they’ve finally got his health issues figured out and next year will be his breakout season. And again a great ballplayer and asset to the team when he’s able can play. But only once in those 10 years has he even come close to playing a full season. If he wasn’t a fan favorite and hadn’t come up via the Twins’ system, he probably would have been gone years ago.

I hope I live long enough to see someone start a new league where they actually play baseball.

Spring training is a great place to test out the idea. Meanwhile, it might be good to stop thinking too hard about trading other relievers who have been at least moderately successful.

Time to move around the pieces they already have to fill positions next year. They can't afford to sign any free agents who'd make a serious difference.

I never understand the zeal to trade a quality reliever during the off-season because his performance MIGHT decline next year. The Twins are going to need a closer in 2025--why trade one away who's doing well, then have to go out and sign some other guy who MIGHT succeed in that role? The Twins always need pitching. How about keeping the guys who are doing well? Strategically, it seems like the mid-season trade deadline would be a better time to shop quality relievers around for a high return, anyway.

How about just moving him over to first base to plug that hole? I don’t get the enthusiasm for trading a guy who’s already performing well for a package of prospects that are a roll of the dice at best. He can hit. Keep him!

As long as the answer is, “Don’t trade him,” it sounds good to me.

Another reclamation project that didn't work out. Now all we need to do is find a team that wants a pitcher even the Twins don't want. That should be an easy sell.

It’s always,”when they've been healthy,” with the Twins. I keep trying to decide whether it’s a great strategy because some of their reclamation projects actually work out or they’re just cheap.

Castro is a solid utility guy. So rolling the dice on a possible upgrade there would be way down on my list of priorities. Instead, how about finding a full time center fielder and shortstop and seriously think about less physically demanding places where Buxton and Correa could play, that will put them at less risk for injury? When they’re healthy (and every conversation about them includes that phrase), they’re outstanding defenders and essential offense. The Twins need them on the field and in the lineup every day. If they stay in their current positions—two of the most physically demanding spots that don’t involve a mound or crouching behind home plate—the injuries will keep on coming and the time they spend on the IL will keep increasing, especially as they get older. Both have expensive long-term contracts with no-trade clauses. The Twins need them out there as often as possible. If that means having great defense in LF instead of center, why not?—especially if it puts less strain on Buxton’s fragile hip and knee. If that means putting Correa at 3B or 1B so he’s not pounding the daylights out of his plantar fasciitis every day, but still contributing on the field, that sounds good to me.

And if they stick with Buxton and Correa in those spots, they have them on the field for only about half a season each, with the same question of who plays in their places for the other half. Might as well take the defensive hit up the middle now, and hopefully mitigate the otherwise inevitable protracted IL stints. They’re going to need a regular, everyday shortstop sooner or later, because Correa is both getting older and demonstrating he can’t stay healthy enough to be that guy.

You’re right. Move Correa to third, Lewis to first, and find an affordable and reliable shortstop. They’re going to have to do that anyway, with Correa spending so much time on the IL, anyway. Unless they love paying him all that money for only playing half a season at short every year, maybe less as he gets older.