Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
By Steve Adams | at
Click here to read a transcript of Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
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Msteele
You think other teams take notice when the Braves sign two players early on? Seems like so much chatter and teams are waiting for the domino effect. Who does it benefit? The team like the Braves or the team who waits and waits. Redsox waited forever to sign Martinez last year.
Phanatic 2022
JD wanted more money and kept waiting for someone else to bid
Msteele
Harper or macho wait like JD. I doubt. I think they sign within the same week.
MetsYankeesRedSox
Last year was a strange year in contracts. Almost felt like collusion in ways.
petfoodfella
It wasn’t collusion, it was owners becoming smarter to not paying for past performances, and players and agents unable to understand why that was.
Everything has a peak for pricing. From retail to MLB players. MLB just came closer to the “that’s enough” tier last year.
MetsYankeesRedSox
I’m good with it.
The acid test would be Harper & Machado this winter. I don’t see either getting long term contracts. Machados crappy attitude & Harper’s off year didn’t help either of them.
restingmitchface
You don’t see either one of them getting long term contracts? lmao
dimitrios in la
I’ll agree that Harper and Manny will get long-term deals but not in the vicinity of what has been proposed on MLBTR.
Jean Matrac
Another factor in it not being collusion is that 3 of the biggest spenders, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants, all severely limited their spending to get below the CBT threshold.
rocknwell
This is how I imagine it…
There is always So much speculation on how much players will demand, so teams try to hold their cards close and wait for someone else to tip their hand. So there’s this dance going on. Being the first could seem like a low-ball offer while the teams with the deepest pockets just wait out everyone in order to beat all offers. This could cause mid-level spenders to not even give chase to top tier talent simply because they could both seem like illegitimate suitors and they will get outbid, so they instead spend their time wading in the shallow end of the talent pool.
As a Cardinals fan, personally, after the Donaldson signing, I have a sense they will just sulk at the fact they missed out on the Donald again and just try to ho-hum their way through the offseason instead of really pushing for that impact player. But the big dawgs are all set to just wait around and will get what they always get: the best players at the highest prices.
Samuel
The dance this year is the Phillies……
I doubt any quality free agent wants to sign there. It looks like a total amateurish mess. Not something to be stuck in for years.
But players agents love the situation there. They’ll be planting stories and encouraging their clients to talk up the team. The “stupid money” comment from the owner brands them as the primary bidder to get players contracts to artificially high levels. For the agents – and Scott Boras is a master of this – the Phils will be used to try to scare a teams owner/front office into overpaying for a FA they like.
Two problems with the above……
1. The Phil’s are not the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc. The other teams are not afraid of them (Rizzo and the Nationals are not losing sleep over Harper and/or Machado going to Philly).
2. There are so many quality players good and better then the FA’s available in trade, that there is no reason to overpay.
RunDMC
Not many scenarios I’d say (over)pay Kimbrel – but a trade of Kyle Wright, Austin Riley, Drew Waters for a elite, controllable, young closer (Edwin Diaz) is one that I’d want to pay Kimbrel on. Closers are too easy to come by to trade 3 of your top-10 guys for, including 2 of your 3 top positional prospects. Kluber should get that deal, not a closer.
ripping and tearing
Agreed. I’d rather see them pay Kimbrel than acquire Diaz via trade.
chipper1965
You’re an idiot too
Knowthemarket
Umm..so akward but..your stupid is showing.
You give so little content I am not sure what your ignorance is. You think it won’t cost that for Diaz at this point or you think it’s a trade the Braves should make.
petfoodfella
If closers are too easy to come by, why would you overpay? If CK takes a hometown discount like Big Mac, sure, bring him back. But is he really worth that much of a yearly salary in a small market team like Atlanta?
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
I’d say yes if you believe in his stuff and his ability to stay healthy. That’d be the time to do it with the amount of youth and the lack of needs. The top end is relative compared to top end of other stars. They have an excess of young arms and positional talent in general.
Msteele
Anyone see the Braves trading for an ace? Or are they done in free agency and trades.
Honestly people and analysts always talking about trading their young arms and deep farm. What if they just keep and groom them to play in Atlanta. Hang up the phone unless it’s for Trout.
Samuel
I see them getting one of Cleveland’s top 3 starters. Probably Corey Kluber.
He’s never had a major physical problem. He’s due $15mm in 2019, $15.5 mm in 2020, and $16mm in 2021. Those are ridiculous numbers for a premier pitcher. Guys that can’t touch him are getting $20-25mm a year.
The Indians are right to expect numerous quality young players back. Atlanta has the prospects/young players. Both teams are asking around. But they appear to be the best fit for one another unless other teams overreach.
Knowthemarket
Numerous quality prospects for a no.3 pitcher?
therealryan
I’m sure you’re just a troll, but in what world is Corey Kluber a #3? It’s much more accurate to call him the #3 pitcher in all of MLB.
SoCalBrave
They’re not a fit, the Indians are not rebuilding, so they don’t need prospects, they also don’t need pitching. They need a MLB ready power hitting corner outfielder or infielder. Riley is still a year away, I doubt Camargo or Enciarte would interest them. We just don’t match up well with them on a trade.
Sky14
$300+ million for Rendon. Yikes. I thinks he’s a very good player but that seems way too steep.