Tampa doesn't have three holes in its starting pitching, nor does it have obvious defensive holes. The Twins also have around 60-70 million in payroll space, just to get back to last year's total.
Also, Boston, despite printing cash is all in on sustainable winning being their new thing, despite actually, you know, being one of the best teams in baseball for a decade......we all know that's code for cost cutting, so Boston will be dealing.
If you don't add players, you aren't trying to win. Lots of teams folded their hands at the break. If that isn't clear, we are watching different worlds. This isn't my simple take, plenty of writers are pointing this out. I'm not making this stuff up.....
The 8 million is added to whatever else they can spend.......I'm not sure how that's debatable even. It frees up 8 million more dollars to spend. And probably 10 million next year.
My first prediction is that WA signs their two big possible FAs to extensions. My next is that Cole goes to LAA. The White Sox sign two good/medium staring pitchers fast in FA.
Please note.....WA spent a lot of money, made trades, and tried to win, even when it wasn't obvious they were playoff bound at the break....or the off season.....
Of course, the newest fielding stats take into account positioning..... And yes, defensive stats often fluctuate A LOT more than hitting ones, year to year......Rosario could be good again on D, but believing he was good last year is just denial.
Not exactly true. Altuve ran much further inside the line, and wasn't called out for interference because it was a good throw. I'd bet 10000000000000 dollars if we watched every RH runner trying to get to first on an infield hit we'd see them take the same line as Turner 80+% of the time.