Vanimal46

A 'commission' structure would in theory be the best way for the pays to get paid at the exact time they're producing. They would have to agree on a rate and create a structure that wouldnt affect the integrity of the game. As far as integrity, just as a pure hypothetical... CS: "Chris Sale, speaking." BB: "Hey it's Byron." CS: "I shouldn't be talking to an opponent on game day, but go on?" BB: "Hey man, I have 49 stolen bases right now. If I get 50, I make another $3.5 million. How about we make a deal here?" CS: "Give me $250,000 and you got a deal." BB: "Great! See you in the first inning!"

Maybe it's Jeremy Hellickson that's next to contact?

As a counterpoint, players assume all of the risk for the first 6 years of control. They have to hope they're performing well, and that they don't have a serious injury. Otherwise it all goes down hill from there as we've seen all too often.

Perhaps a salary floor that teams need to meet? Otherwise they don't get revenue sharing from the league.

Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports interviewed Kenley Jansen about this weird off-season. He really dove in on tanking in baseball, and believes there's only 6 teams in the NL that are actually trying to compete this season. Eric Hosmer also discussed how the integrity of the game is being compromised when good players remain unsigned 2-3 weeks into spring training. More at the link here. https://www.fanragsports.com/dodgers/heyman-jansen-worried-about-mlb-effort-imbalance/

I don't know if he has to take less years. If this off-season is a trend and not a mirage, front loading that SOB is the answer. From what I'm reading pundits in baseball are predicting next off-season will look more "normal" than this off-season. 3-4 years for Dozier is a no brainer. 5 I'd hesitate but still sign the dotted line. 6+ years is a no.

The videos are especially intriguing... I didn't realize how tall and lanky he is. It looks like he really gets the ball out quickly from his glove at SS. I also wonder if that leg kick is going to stay as he continues to develop?

Concur, bird. Except for very much rooting for him... Sorry. I admit he's the Danny Santana for me this year. I'm not going to be happy until he's totally out of the picture in this organization.

Jake Reed http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/596082.jpg Position: WR for the Minnesota Vikings AWESOME RP prospect we've heard about for 3 4 years B/T: R/R Height: 6'2" Weight: 190 lbs Birthday: September 29, 1992 AGE: 25 Drafted in the 5th round back in 2014 from Oregon Starting the year in AAA working high leverage innings and proving he deserves a 40 man roster spot. Does it feel hot in here? Or maybe I'm just feeling the HEAT from Jake Reed's fastball... Since I've been on this website, Reed has been a name thrown out there as a near-ready reinforcement for the big league club. Maybe the 2nd 3rd year is the charm for this former college starter. Reed unleashes a mid-90's fastball with movement, along with a slider that the New York Times states is "Devastating". 2017 was an interesting ride for Jake. After missing the first 6 weeks of the season with an elbow issue, and a brief rehab assignment in AA, he returned to Rochester where he continued what he does best. He finished 2017 with these stats: 27 appearances - 38 IP - 2-0 record - 2.13 ERA - 1.18 WHIP - 6 saves - 33 K - 17 BB - .211 BAA The weird thing about him in 2017 is he never pitched in back to back games. In fact, it appeared to be planned that he pitched once every 3-4 days. At the end of the season I wasn't sure if he would be added to the 40 man roster, and he didn't. With the additions of Addison Reed and Fernando Rodney, the path isn't as clear as it was last year to make an impact on the MLB team. However, an injury or 2, or just flat out dealing in AAA should help his case. Now, here are some fun videos! Here's a video of Reed uncorking some pitches during his rehab assignment in the GCL last season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtPQJ95_Tz8 Jake also got married over the off-season! https://twitter.com/JakeyReed5/status/949125393193213952 If you're a Twitter person, follow him here.

I'll keep the guy I had last year, Jake Reed.

Story in the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2018/03/05/nationals-first-round-pick-seth-romero-sent-home-for-violating-club-policies/?utm_term=.05072eb0d947

This is how Baddoo grades out on MLB.com's 2018 Preseason Top 30 Prospect list... Team Rank: #11 Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 40 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 ETA: 2020 Full scouting report on him and 29 other prospects here.

Akil Baddoo Position: OF B/T: L/L Height: 5'11" Weight: 185 lbs. (Yeah right!) Birthday: August 16, 1998 AGE: 19 Drafted in the 2nd round (74th overall) in 2016 He will be playing his first FULL professional season this year. Starting in Cedar Rapids, and hopefully ending the year in Fort Myers. Have you ever needed motivation to work out and get RIPPED?! Well, my friends, let me introduce you to Akil Baddoo, the winner of Twins' Daily's Short-Season Hitter of the Year in 2017. His instagram is loaded with pictures of him working out, and building himself for future success in baseball. His first taste of professional baseball didn't go as planned in 2016, where he only managed a .570 OPS in 127 PA. The second time was the charm for Akil, as he returned to the GCL in 2017 and made headlines with his speed and his bat! In 243 PA, he batted .323/.436/.527, 19 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, and 9-for-13 in stolen base attempts! The largest improvement for Baddoo from 2016 to 2017 was his K/BB ratio. In 2016, it looked like we had another Eddie Rosario on our hands, with 36 K's to go with only 18 walks. In 2017, we may have a LaMonte Wade on our hands, with 36 walks and 32 strikeouts. Baddoo played a majority of his games in CF, and he has the athleticism to play anywhere in the OF. And now, here's some fun videos! First, here's Baddoo starting the fireworks early on July 4th hitting a walk-off HR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RQDxu3WAzo And here's a video of him getting some work in the cages before heading down to Spring Training this year. If you're a Twitter person, follow him here

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is arbitration is generally not friendly to profiles like Buxton... That being someone who generates a majority of his value via fielding and speed. As an example, Kevin Pillar. He received $3.25 MM in his first arb season as a .700 OPS hitter and great fielder. Granted Buxton had 2.3 bWAR more than Pillar last year.

With the first pick in the 2018 AAP Draft, Vanimal selects.... Akil Baddoo - OF

The t-shirt trick worked! He only cried when he had to go outside last night... Now I have my sanity back.

It's fair to say you're not convinced of his bat. Hell, I'm not convinced either. It's hard to when he's only put things together for a couple of months. However, he provides soooo much value defensively that he's worth the money. Even if he never figures it out with the bat and he ends up a ~.700-.725 OPS player.

ROUND UP those cattle prospects! We're about to buy ourselves a bucking bull for the playoff rodeo!

Ever since I read this article on The Ringer, I'm cool with the idea of the team's best hitter batting leadoff. https://www.theringer.com/2017/3/31/16040426/2017-mlb-preview-leadoff-hitter-revolution-george-springer-kyle-schwarber-2e49f6ff7c58

Didn't he say in the past it was so he could see a good high fastball to pull right away?

Nicksaviking brings up a good point though. Can you just stash someone on the 60 day DL without a reasonable cause of injury? I mean, he's pitching now and supposedly healthy.

Boy, the depth is paper thin at C this year. Good thing Castro is durable.

2 years ago we opened a used car lot at the trade deadline. Last year the prizes could be yours, if the price is right. This year I'm shooting for the best one yet. Since the Twins will be buying that ace this year!

Ideally I'd love for him to sleep on the floor in my bedroom. The issue now is that's the only room in my apartment with carpet... So he's lost privilege to that room until he's fully potty trained. We're accident free for over 24 hours now!! He's 7 weeks old with a fearless, goofball personality. I can't wait to train and teach him, and have him as a lifelong companion.

Things would have to go very, very wrong to even consider trading Dozier. I'm not even thinking about another "total system failure" season. He's going to be on this team for the entire season.