The Brewers are “trying hard” to bring Avisail Garcia to Milwaukee, tweets The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Earlier, Jose F. Rivera of ESPN Deportes put the Brewers close to a deal with the Mato Sports Management client. Garcia would figure to be a good fit to share time in the outfield with the lefty-hitting Ben Gamel. Garcia has played mostly right field in his career, a few spot starts in left notwithstanding. If indeed he does sign with the Brewers, it could mean moving Christian Yelich back to left. Ryan Braun is also an option for the outfield, though as of right now he’s penciled in for the lion’s share of starts at first base.
- Having nabbed a couple of former New York athletes in Zack Wheeler and Didi Gregorius, the Phillies are near their spending limit for 2019. Together, Wheeler and Gregorius add $37.6MM to Philly’s luxury tax ledger for 2019. Estimates put the Phillies right up against the $208MM tax threshold, putting some added emphasis to any further moves made this winter. Still, execs from around the league believe they are open to further spending, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The Phillies will continue to look for “opportunistic” signings. It’s unlikely, then, that the Phillies would be in on Madison Bumgarner, given the league-wide interest in the lefty and the hefty contract he is likely to secure.
- Sneaking under the luxury tax remains a “realistic” goal for the Red Sox, per The Athletic’s Chad Jennings. The new regime led by Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom took a more egalitarian approach to the winter meetings than in recent years. Boston took the time to gauge the lay of the land rather than strike hard for a specific target. Moving all or most of the three-years, $96MM owed to David Price is still the quickest path to ducking the tax, but Bloom is resistant to making Price’s contract more palatable by attaching prospects. They are, however, willing to pay down Price’s contract to get it closer to $20MM per year rather than the current $32MM. Until Price does get moved, expect more of the same as the Red Sox will continue to work around the margins to tweak the roster.
If the Phillies stop here they never should have started. There are still too many holes to fill and as it stands, I can’t envision a scenario where they are better than the braves, Nats, and possibly the Mets unless multiple key players on all 3 teams get hurt.
Cause Harper sucks
This narrative is blatantly incorrect. Harper was a huge bright spot in 2019 and will likely continue to be.
Harper was a huge bright spot
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For $3330M, you should be an All-star. But he did play well, after the Phillies had fallen out of contention.
That seems like a lot of millions…
I joke, I know it was a typo, but you are right. I’m not sure why the love affair with Harper. He was compared with Trout early on! I guess people just can’t be objective when evaluating their own players…. love is blind
This narrative is old and boring. He is not Trout. Never was. Never will be. He is a solid all-star caliber outfielder. Put up solid numbers in 2019 for his first year on a new team. Hate on him all you want.
Maybe Phillies could trade Harper to Mets, Dodgers, or Angels
Not hating, seriously. Just tired of the opposing old, tired narrative of how great he is. He’s not. That’s called……. what was that term again? Oh, yeah, conversation. Point, counterpoint, you know?
But your reasoning for his production is “first year in a new team?” Uh, wow, for one of the highest paid players in baseball that’s pretty weak, my friend. Just own that he’s not as good as you all make him out to be. For reference, just look at DJ. New team, NY, tons of pressure, and performed wonderfully. Stop with the disingenuous statements and you won’t be called out.
What pressure was DJ under? He signed to be a utility player,Harper was a franchise changing contract.They’re not comparable.Expectations on Stanton would be comparable,not DJ.
@ Regi Green – Ugh, my point was it’s not a valid argument about his production and one I am certainly not making for Stanton. I’m not going down this rabbit hole of who is the better pressure comparison, but DJ was certainly under pressure to perform coming out of Colorado (“the effect”) and going to NY.
If it is a franchise-changing contract, as you say, then it proves my point… ever since his one good year his stats have been the same and project forward to lower slightly but stay the same for a couple years before tanking. His war, wrc+, avg, etc. don’t coincide with a franchise-changing player. Nitpick the response to an ancillary point, but research before you opine….and you’re right DJ is a way better player than Harper, good point.
If the Mets owner wasn’t more of a bloodsucker than Middleton yes they could deal Harper there.
Angels, Giants, Red Sox (after Mookie is gone), Dodgers even the Cardinals. If the media in Atlanta would stop kissing Greg Maffei’s cheeks the Braves have plenty of room for Harper’s contract and then the Braves have a trade chip.
Keep the Giants in mind both for Realmuto next winter and a Harper trade. Kapler loves both of them.
If Harper puts up the same numbers he put up in 2019 every year, I am very happy with him making around 25 a year. It depends on the team of course. This deal is leas crippling for a big market like Philly. The move just made sense to them and I think it worked in 2019. Will it work in the coming years? We will see.
Didn’t need to research anything,im comparing expectations of 1 guy signing a deal to be “the man”,to another signing a deal to be a utility infielder.
Nitpicking is finding that 1 value deal that became a bargain,and comparing it to a $330m deal.
It’s about performance, and the fact that you said you don’t need to research anything tells me al I need to know.
Again that was a response to an excuse that his performance was due to him changing teams. Statistics show that is not true and that is where the research comes in, regardless of who the comparable is. You made my same point by citing Stanton because his stats went down, so that excuse could be posited for him. With Harper it doesn’t work dude. Real, actual, statistic-based information.
@ Regi Green – It’s NOT about comparing the deals. Can you guys read? If not, I’ll sympathize because education is problematic in some areas. It’s about PERFORMANCE and DJ was not about contract, it was a name that came to mind because of the lame excuse that Harper underperformed because he switched teams. He was consistent and not great.
One last time, Harper is overpaid and overrated. He is not the exceptional player, statistically, that many make him out to be.
Stop taking things out of context. Read the whole thing if you’re going to opine and converse.
Show us on the doll where Bryce touched you.
Classy. Dork. And not funny considering the topic of choice. I’m sure your mom laughs at your jokes though.
DJ a better player than Harper? Lol. Just when you think you have read every stupid comment to ever come along, someone proves you wrong and tops it
Wait so you’re telling me last year Harper was better than DJ? Talk about stupid. If you want to get personal I will, but I’d prefer to keep it civil. Just state your point and move on. You keyboard warriors love to spew uneducated, unsubstantiated opinions and call the empirical data stupid; it speaks volumes about you. Plus, don’t “like” your own comments, it’s beneath you, maybe.
For the sake of you having even half your wits about you, DJ Bested Harper in the following categories:
WRC+
Avg
fWAR
Slug
BABIP
ISO
Learn how to read before you call other people stupid, ignoramus. Learn the game of baseball, and stop commenting from a position of clear bias when everybody can see clearly DJ was better than Harper. Please don’t reply, I can’t stand dumb people who try to insult someone with far more information. It’s idiots like you that make forums like this frustrating to read. Google is a good tool for information. Your welcome.
What do you mean for his first year on a new team. Last year was the best year Harper has put up since 2015 and therein lies the problem.He is a good not great offensive player and a mediocre defensive player.The major problem is he’s being paid like he’s one of the best players in baseball
Kapler will be gone from SF by then. I’ll give you Golden Gaters about two months (Tops!) before you get tired of his jibber-jabber and start calling for his scalp.
The Giants are gonna be bad this year, but Kapler at the helm will even make them worse. Total coconut IMHO.
1. You are throwing around comments like “DJ is awesome” and “Haper sucks”. Then you turn the tables and only look at one season. For Harper, it was a pretty typical year overall (defense was up, offense was down). For DJ it was a career year. You want to bet on DJ being superior next year – head to Vegas. Bookies will be drooling over the prospect of taking the other side of the bet.
2. Harper is a star. Dude just had a down year by your estimation. 4.6fWAR is worth approximately $40m in production. His AAV is $25m. When you sign one of the largest deals ever and have a “bad” year and still generate $15m in surplus value – wow.
Your comment is ridiculous.
Fans have a right to be disappointed
He signed for a huge amount of money
Because I feel it necessary that you’re aware, BABIP is never something you should consider. It’s literally the variable stat that people use typically when noting that a player will decline. Like LeMahieu. His BABIP was 50 points higher than the previous season. His ISO 39 points higher, slugging almost 100 points higher. If you look at his numbers, they are invariably going to dip closer to his career norm and nothing close to what he did last season. Another huge outlier. He hit .389 with RISP last year while hitting .278 the season prior. There really aren’t good arguments for DJ being a better player even for a season other than to say he had a flukey year.
Saying Bryce Harper was bad because of his contract negates the fact that he wasn’t actually bad. He hit for 35 HRs, 19 of them in the first half of the season. The difference in AVG, something that shouldn’t be measured in a power hitter was 17 points going from a .253 hitter to a .270 hitter. But the issue you really face is those numbers are down from what Harper normally does. So to say, oh this guy who was expected to carry the teams offense is worse because he didn’t perform as well as a leadoff hitter who had probably his second statistically best season that is a huge outlier from his normal production is a poor argument.
Mind you Harper and the offense was really little to do when it came to wins. One starter had an ERA under 4 and thst was a 3.87.
Yeah, for everyone that hates the Cole deal, man, Philly got sold a bag of chips with that dude – relative to the years & contract. He has one excellent year and his attitude sucks, which is why a pitcher (lol) almost choked him out in his own dugout. That’s the only time I ever like Papelbon!
Papelbon is known as one of the bigger jerks to play the game in recent memory himself. I’m not sure that helps make your point.
Okay, you got me on that one….. Harper’s contract sucks for his production and His attitude Maybe doesn’t suck, which is why he almost got pummeled by a pitcher. Brett Gardner almost matched Harper’s numbers last year; that’s kind of embarrassing for the Phillies. Or maybe not.
But contemplate it, and when you’re sure let me know.
What a garbage narrative. You’re basing this off of what exactly?
Sorry, but which narrative are you referring to? There were a bunch of replies in this thread. Presumably my initial, and if you look at years/AAV/total salary, I’m basing it on all that and him being a 4.5 war outfielder. And, Garder nearly matching him in all the categories that matter – WAR, avg, HRs, def, wrc+. Hope that helps. If it wasn’t mine, my bad.
Plus, he was like 42nd overall in war last year – that’s not exactly, you know, great.
@JDGoat – Nothing? Well your garbage narrative comment sure is a riveting, profound piece of work then. Good job!
Papelbon is the Phillies all time Saves leader.
You watch your mouth!
@ ForestCobra – I kindly retract my comment about my dear friend JP. Friends again?
I’d build a statue of Papelbon outside the ballpark facing in both directions with Paps grabbing himself.
Cinco-Ohcho was awesome!
You had me at statue – Can you free up one hand with him choking Harper???
You’re not wrong. I think they’re gambling on staying healthy because injuries destroyed them last year, but that’s a huge gamble. Also in some regards they are actually worse coming into 2020. Hernandez and Dickerson were two of the teams best hitters last year and they’re both gone.
It’s been way too long to continue with Hernandez. And there’s no consistent spot for Dickerson when McCutchen is healthy bc he’s not an everyday centerfield right. The issue in Philly is our management likes too talk that we’re willing to spend money, place one huge deal on the table with Harper, then let a Rendon sign elsewhere.
You’re not wrong about Hernandez and Dickerson, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Phillies offense will be worse without them. Dickerson in particular is a huge loss.
then let a Rendon sign elsewhere.
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You have Bohm coming up. You have to have a 6-year plan at all times. Maybe if you’re the Dodgers, you can have duplications. With as many holes as the Phillies have, you need to maximize your resources..
A healthy McCutchen replaces Dickerson,and Didi more than replaces Cesar.
I don’t know that Cutch guves you the same production that Dickerson did, but that’s the hope. DiDi is coming off an injury so the Phils are expecting a bounceback year, but Hernandez actually put up solid offensive stats last yead.
BOHM is a first baseman in MLB….defensively.
Bohm hit .269 at Reading (AA launching pad) at 23 years old.
I agree with you. Wheeler and Gregorios does not leap frog them in front of the competition.
You’re overestimating the Holes on the Phillies. Clearly after so many failed bullpen signings, they’re waiting to pounce on pen arms when the market slows to a crawl.
Realmuto
Hoskins
Segura
Didi
Kingery
Harper
Herrera
McCutchen
Jay Bruce
Haseley
Josh Harrison
Roman Quinn
Andrew Knapp
Alec Bohn (Minors)
Nola
Wheeler
Velasquez
Eflin
Pivetta
Arrietta
Spencer Howard
Adonis Medina
Enyel De Los Santos
Bullpen needs work & expect they’ll add another lefthanded starter in a trade. Tigers Daniel Norris, Cubs Jose Quintana, D’Backs Robbie Ray, Marlins Caleb Smith or Tigers Matt Boyd all make sense. But the team isn’t necessarily deep but it’s improved.
Your Phillies column hits all the possibilities. Why do we forget that in January 2014 that the Phillies scored a 2.4 billion Comcast TV deal with equity interest? The team let us know that when the time came in a few years it could buy the players necessary to build a championship when the moment arrived? Like the Dodgers! John Middleton revealed his 48% share in the Phillies in 2016. We perceived that with his billions added to the Comcast pot …damn the team is sitting pretty. And the years during the Phillies winning through 2011 sold out every night (257 games through 2012). All in all, an amazing war chest had been assembled in a big market town that supports all of its’ teams thick or thin. Four years later we have an owner who brought us Bryce Harper and a supporting cast that still just falls short. Why? Last season anyone that knows anything about baseball knows that in July there wasn’t enough money to grab two frontline pitchers to fill in what was needed. Why? The team had been in first place and the roster was crying for a little extra to sustain its place in the standings. Crickets instead, from ownership, front office and even the media that remained mostly quiet about the obvious! The Dodgers, best example of a team that consistently goes out and gets what they need from moment to moment. No promises…they just do it , like NIKE . We are now watching this dance play out again of adding a crumb here and a crumb there. Ugh. The Dodgers, again my best example of the opposite approach are scooping up whatever they need and perpetually in first place within striking distance of world championships. The Phillies approach to us fans is to make sure we know (or believe) that they are “in” on every single player out there. But that just isn’t the case. Integrity wise, who can say whether Matt called this team or that to ask about the availability of a certain player ? We know that there are at least 4 or 5 frontline pitchers available under age 30 that are ideal and necessary to fill this roster on December 15 2019. There are third basemen available which are desperately needed so that Kingery can play 2d base where he belongs. Kevin Pillar, a superb center fielder is available. Where is the money? Where is the kept promise to spend and finish the job of putting this team together? The ownership and front office speaks with forked tongue otherwise. The media ought to call them out!
N.L. East Pythagorean W-L Standings: 2019
Nationals 95-67, 873 Runs, 724 Runs Allowed
Braves 91-71, 855 Runs, 743 Runs Allowed
Mets 86-76, 791 Runs, 737 Runs Allowed
Phillies 79-83, 774 Runs, 794 Runs Allowed
Good luck to Girardi improving on this. Kapler was not the problem.
I concur with the above comments. Banking on health and for Wheeler to win more than 12 games is a stretch. They are a 3rd place team right now.
NL East has some of the worst pens in MLB in 2019, which wasn’t as much of a concern for WSH by getting Doolittle and the Hudson rental. That being said, PHI/WSH have done little to address those concerns with not much left on the free agent market.
If the cost for Price is 3/60, the White Sox should be all over that. Gives them a lefty, innings stability and if Price bounces back, a really solid #3 starter that they need badly.
I actually like this for a lot of teams!
I’d like to see the WS do a big deal like that. Shouldn’t have to give up much of anything if they’re willing to take on $16-19MM/yr.
$16M…$19M year? He makes $32Mper… the RS are not going to eat $12Mper year and then have to pay another starter $10M to take his place.. it’s not worth saving $2M unless the prospect”s” attached are quality ones.
It’s worth doing because it helps them get under the luxury tax. That saves them a bunch more than in your calculation.
TedYaz…
If the Sox don’t eat $12-$14MM/yr they won’t get rid of Price. Period.
If they ate $12m a year and signed another starter for 10m they’d save 10 m not 2 m.
They would save 20m dumping Price then pay out 20 to new SP, so they save 10.
They will if they attach someone like Benintendi to the trade and that’s what I think they’ll end up doing despite Blooms hesitancy
If David Price “bounces back” he would give the White Sox a solid #2 starter or even a co-ace in their rotation to pair with Lucas Giolito. As we post, only three starters are pretty much guaranteed spots in their opening day rotation, Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dylan Cease. Michael Kopech could be another provides he is fully recovered from his TJ surgery AND can show the command that he finally achieved two months prior to his procedure in September of 2018. Carlos Rodon is also rehabbing from his own TJ surgery which occurred this past May and is not expected to be available until sometime next summer.
The White Sox are also reportedly still monitoring/courting Madison Bumgarner, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dallas Keuchel after missing out on Zack Wheeler. Each of them could also provide the White Sox with a much needed southpaw veteran anchor for their primarily young and right-handed rotation.
Pitchers don’t generally “bounce back” at 35. Lust saying
Nah. A bum is still a bum, even at the “value” savings of $20mm. Go big or go home, better off sticking with a Nova for a lot less, and without the prospect of a diva disruption to the clubhouse. Might as well wait on the likes of Q, or a diminished Lester, each free agents a year from now.
I wonder what Price would get on the open market? Could he get 3/60M? It depends in what Bum, Ryu, and Kuechel bring. The Sox could get someone to take him if they eat 36 mil of that contract and not have to attach anyone to him for that price.
Disagree. Age, numbers make him worth about $16M. Don’t see him being moved unless Boston changes this stance.
That’s exactly right. The idea that a pitcher with his age and recent injury history is worth 20 mil per is absolutely nuts. Boston is either going to have to eat a lot more of the money or include a really good player with him to dump that contract.
If a team like the Dodgers can get Price at 3yr/$60m, they should jump all over it. That’s a pretty reasonable gamble on him. None of his injuries were serious and he has a lot left in the tank. A change of scenery could revive him too.
Bloom won’t attach a prospect or anyone on the 40. RS will eat 12 and expect a decent AA prospect in return
OK, so they’re keeping him, then.
On what basis can you say he has a lot left in his tank. He only threw 22 games last year and looked every bit of his 34 years.Do you have some inside information nobody else has.
Disagree. Age, numbers make him worth about $16M.
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A month ago, I had him at about $14M, and I’m a RS fan. But after the crazy money being handed out to SPs, he’s a lot higher than he use to be. I’d like to keep him until the ASB, to see if we are contending, but if his valuation gets north of $20M, a trade might work.
Paying Price’s salary down to $20M still leaves him overpriced, even without considering the trade return. They’ll either have to include another good player, pay down the salary further, or take on a bad contract in return.
Cole Hamels is getting 18 million. Granted it’s for one year but Price has a higher ceiling than Hamels in my opinion.
He would have been 3/39-3/42 in a longer deal. The Price is right at 3/48-3/54.
The 3/39-3/42 were for a longer deal for Hamels.
Yes, Mo4ever. Your hypothetical Hamels and Price numbers sound right to me, too.
Last year Hamels threw six more games than Price and had an era almost a half a run lower so exactly on what is your opinion based
With the signings of Jose Peraza and Martin Perez by the Red Sox, Roster Resource now projects the Red Sox payroll to be $237.5M in 2020 for CBA tax purposes. If the Red Sox intend to get under the $208M tax threshold they have to chop $30M from this payroll. That’s going to require more than just eating $10 to $12M of Price’s AAV salary and the $11M Jackie Bradley is expected to make via arbitration.
They should either bite the bullet and start a rebuild in earnest or screw the tax and go for it one last time with essentially the same roster as the 2018 WS Champs.
You’re right about not getting under the tax threshold with this. I’m thinking the easiest way to find a taker for Price is to eat salary and attach JDM.
The problem with that is sat they eat 10 mill the other team would still be on the hook for an additional 45 million dollars next year, Name the teams that could afford that
Yeah that Harper deal will not age well. He has always been a bigger story than an elite player, minus a season and a half or so of unbelievable stats. He is ego first, talent second, and effort last.
Give me a humble beast like Trout, and now Rendon, all day any day. Quiet leaders who don’t for the game and the fans and not ego. Not spotlight chasers. They won’t do a damn thing without pitching, but…
25 mil a year will not seem bad down the road. I do not consider Harper a top 5 player, but top 15 certainly. They way contracts keep going up, I don’t see the Harper deal being outrageous for a big market club. The key though is the Phillies have about a 5 year window to win-now with Harper in his prime.
In what world is Bryce Harper a top 15 player. He may be a top 15 outfielder but I’m not even sure about that
He’s not the same as the brash young 19-yr old he was. He IS definitely more mature now. Some people simply refuse adjust THEIR mindsets.
I’m not a huge Harper fan myself but was in town for the Nationals postseason-clinching series with the Phillies and thought Harper came across as more thoughtful and mature commenting on that week’s events than he probably would have even two or three years ago.
I don’t see why everyone is delusional enough to think anyone will touch Price without
A)The Red Sox eating enough $ to make it relatively negligible for them(especially after signing a “replacement”
B)Literally draining the farm.
C)Including Betts.
I think pretty much EVERYONE believes in A) so I don’t know what your point is.
I’d be fine with the Phillies trading Bohm for Kris Bryant. They are in win now mode, and he’s the same age as Harper, which means the Phillies would be getting him during his best years. Also you’d be keeping him away from the Nats and Braves. Seems like a logical move to me.
I don’t think the Cubs would do that straight up, but Phils should definitely consider it. I like Bohm’s bat, but I am not convinced he could play 3rd in the majors. He screams 1B/DH to me.
He screams 1B/DH to me.
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That’s the whole thing. If Bohm is a real 3B, I’d put him in the Phillies lineup in May. But if he is not, then the Phillies should move him tomorrow.
You’re beyond delusional if you think Bohm gets Bryant. In fact, Bryant isn’t going anywhere unless it’s a gross overpay.
Pitchers tend to experience declining production under seven-year contracts, especially when the contract is signed after the pitcher’s 30th birthday.
In his four seasons with the Red Sox, David Price has posted 10.6 fWAR, valued at $85 million, while being paid $121 million. Over the most recent three seasons Price has posted 6.2 fWAR, valued at $49.8 million.
As a point of reference, Rick Porcello, who is three years younger, recently signed a one-year, $10 million contract after posting the same 6.2 fWAR, valued at $49.8 million, over the past three seasons.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&…
Can we lose the paradigm that Bloom HAS to get under the tax? It simply isn’t true, as the Sox activity this week shows. Bloom spent 10M this week (wisely or not is TBD) and it hardly caused a ripple. Or, in other words, “We ain’t in Tampa anymore, Toto”.
Henry WANTS to get under the tax. But he also knows that in September, more people were watching the Animal Planet than NESN. And NESN is the primary profit center for Fenway Sports Group; it’s the only reason partner Tom Warner got involved in the first place.
They can afford a 225M payroll. Like some other teams, they can afford a 325M payroll, tax consequences included. You can realistically run that number to 400M.
The Sox HAVE to compete. With an empty system, Bloom might have to shuffle the deck (major league payroll), and he’s creative; he might be able to come in under 208M.
But he doesn’t HAVE to. And if he does, at the price of finishing 4th, he’ll be gone so fast you’ll forget he was ever there.
Boston Globe beat reporter Alex Speier outlined the up to $100 million in consequences if the Red Sox exceed the luxury tax threshold for the third straight year:
bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/12/10/here-what…
It’s not just the tax … it includes enhanced “draft/international penalties for signing free agents” and “less draft compensation for departing free agents.” The long-range impact could be crippling.
The Red Sox could go all-in in 2020 by adding a few pieces to a club that won 84 games this season or step back for a year with plans to reload in a big way thereafter.
I’m in favor of a reset. Too many folks are concerned only about 2020. I’d rather keep making value-added moves, and put more emphasis on the next 6 years than the next 6 months.
But there’s a lot more involved than the yearly accounting, isn’t there? Ed Muskie???????? My hero, back in the day….
If Henry/Warner see their baby, which they’ve taken from 700M in value to 3.5B in 17 years (and that’s assuming they tell the truth, which of course they don’t) start to hemorrhage, don’t you think they’ll react? And a couple of fourth place finishes will make the Sox an afterthought, especially considering the market (Pats, Bruins, Celts).
Unless I see some DRASTIC cost cutting (not just jettisoning flippin’ Sandy Leon) , I’m not seeing a new austerity. Not non-tendering JBJ and adding 2 “meh” guys for 10M aren’t moves teams that are drawing in the sails make.
That said, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Bloom get under the 208M. But again, it’s more “I’d really like to” than “You HAVE to”.
Sox finished last 3 or 4 times this century. Attendance/viewership did not fall through the floor. The fanbase is intense. It keeps going to games. If the Sox stick with getting under the luxury tax line of $208MM, they won’t feel it much in attendance/viewership. It’s a monopoly. Where else are New England baseball fans gonna go?
Agree in general, but MLB teams don’t live by raw attendance numbers alone. It’s less the fanny in the seat than it’s what (a) that fanny spends and (b) how much the team gets to keep of that money.
And they suffered during the Valentine debacle, e.g. Not that they went broke (you’re right; they can’t). But they likely made considerably less.
The difference between KC and Boston, for instance, is more than just attendance. Sure, the winning the Royals did increase their profits. But there just isn’t enough there, there to make a HUGE difference. Meanwhile, there isn’t much of a ceiling on the Sox’ earnings if they keep on winning.
Red Sox finish last then win championships. Best run organization in baseball. They understand it’s better to win 4 championships in 15 years and have a few down years than it is to “compete” every year and get 1 every 20 years. Oh and the “prospects” they have are legit major league players up and down their roster, not a bunch of over-hyped flame outs. Find the best team to root for, they’re in Boston.
Again, turning the point into an opportunity to attack. Can’t help yourself. You’re obsessed. You avoided the entire point of my remark to attack. My point is that the Sox fanbase will support the team no matter what. Soooo, the Sox CAN make moves to get under $208MM and survive with the fanbase. They only need to do it for one year to reset the tax. Then they can go back and spend big. And stop talking like you have vast experience in WS titles, with a grand total of 4 in over 100 years. I’ve seen 8 in my life, so I’m not so bothered by 2 in 20 years…
Heck yeah
Enough about Harper already! What is the take on brewers trying to sign Avisail Garcia. Seems to me that the brewers are not going into rebuild mode as some suggest if they are looking to make this type of signing. I like it because I feel Stearns is trying to add the best overall right hitting OF he can sign to the team. We definitely still need a few big bats. If he does sign García, is the next move to FINALLY add a front line starter?
What frontline starter is available?
And before you answer, take a moment to consider things like..oh I don’t know..if they might actually have even the slightest interest in playing for Milwaukee.
Also consider, before spouting “if the money is right, they’ll come to a contender,” that starters still care about W-L record, and they know Counsell isn’t big on letting his starters face a lineup the 3rd time around.
I mean, I’m all for improving the rotation, but we have to be realistic. Stearns, or Attanasio, aren’t big on handing out huge contracts. After Suppan, Garza and Kyle Lohse, Milwaukee may be a bit hesitant to sign free agent starters for big-ish money.
Counsell shouldn’t be big on letting starters face the third time of a batting order. 80% of pitchers routinely get knocked when they do face them for the third time. If you have a decent pen, better to go with the pen, one inning at a time.
Not disagreeing with anything you said, but Counsell seems to have a quicker hook than most managers. Even if the starter is rolling.
So, if these free agents want W’s, the most $ they can get, and a chance to pitch in October, Milwaukee just isn’t an ideal destination. And unless they drastically overpay, mid-tier starters aren’t likely to sign there either.
Wins are quite literally the most overrated stat line in pitching. Is a 15-7 pitcher with a 4+ ERA better than a 6-12 pitcher with a 3.3 or so ERA. Pitchers should be valued to stats they can control and not dependent on how bad the offense behind them is.
Wins are very much in the pitchers control and not at all overrated.
Again, not disagreeing. But do you think a starting pitcher prefers going to a club where he at least has a chance to go 6-7 if he’s dealing, or the one where he could just as likely get yanked in the 5th with 1 out because he gave up a single or walk, and the leadoff hitter is due up?
Whyhayzee
DeGrom says hello.
We’re already friends.
Really.Then I guess Jacob DeGrom has done something wrong the last two years. Two Cy Youngs a combined era a little over 2.00 and a 21-17 won loss record to show for it. Explain to me what Degrom didn’t do that would have gotten him more runs.Maybe hit better and field all 9 positionslike a gold glove defender
Jacob deGrom won the last two NL Cy Young Awards with win totals of 10 and 11, respectively. Tells you all you need to know about wins.
Besides, wins is a team stat not an individual stat.
Hail I agree with much of what you said other than the snarky parts. What I mean is that we need someone to put at the top of the rotation with Woodie. You mention the FA busts but you forgot about CC and Greinke. I’ll take Kuechel or Ryu on an affordable deal, but a trade for a good pitcher is probably more in line with stearns and attanasio approach. I optimistically believe they want to compete. Last year we were just ok with all the guys we lost. We will not be competitive without a better rotation. The pitchers who are now gone were not the solution. And guys we recently signed are just cheap additions to the back end. We need a solid guy at the top or we won’t contend. I hope it happens.
I believe Stearns and co are trying to compete also. As far as trades, I don’t believe we have the ammo (prospects) to make a significant upgrade. Possibly if Hader is swapped out, but then I think a third team may need to be involved which makes it even more complicated.
I didn’t forget about CC or Grienke, but because they were trades (and in CC’s case a rental) I didn’t include them here (also because as I said above, I don’t believe we have the ammo to pull that off right now.
I do apologize for the snarky tone. It wasn’t so much directed at you as it was my pent up frustration over seeing so many comments that imply a signing or trade is so simple (also the doofus who keeps insisting all the below average guys Stearns cut loose are actually above average talents).
Boston has prospects?
Lol… just a pinch!
“The Brewers are “trying hard” to bring Avisail Garcia to Milwaukee”
There is no __trying__ in baseball.
We know Stearns likes guys with “positional versatility. If the guy can play LF, RF and potentially even 1B it’s not hard to see why the like him. You could even see a lineup w Yelich, Braun, Garcia and even Gamel in it on the same day w Braun at 1B or Garcia.
I am betting they will start to go the Braun route with Cain sooner than later by giving him planned off days. The 2 will probably alternate those. It would not at all be a bad idea even if him or Braun never play 1B. You would have 5 OF. Right now you have 2 C, 2b and 2 as if you call Urias a SS. Unless I’m forgetting a utility guy.
I would hope they are going to find 2 the corner IF and a utility IF for the OD roster. W the 26 man roster, that gives them 12 position players w room for 14 P. Seems right to me.
Counsell should try to trade Tyrone Taylor & Payton Henry to the Pirates for Chad Kuhl and Kevin Kramer. The Pirates are going to need a back up at center field behind Reynolds when they trade Marte so they may be interested in Tyrone Taylor and Brewers also have Corey Ray who will be ready this year. Payton Henry is blocked by Narvaez & Feliciano while the Pirates need catching. Kevin Kramer is listed as a 3B but due to Hayes, he learned OF & 2B which offers position versatility but could hold the 3B spot down w/ Mathias/Urias until Urceg is MLB ready. Chad Kuhl looks promising and is similar to Lyles w/ 3 years of control left which the Brewers could see possibility to make Kuhl into a reliable #3-4 pitcher.
The Phillies portion of the article mentioned Wheeler and Didi. Why does almost every Phillies article on this site turn to Bryce Harper? Now I know why he was second in the majors in jersey sales last year – he is one popular dude. Even of they had Harper’s 27.5M to spend this year, they still wouldn’t have had enough to sign any of the three big free agents for 35 million plus and stay under the cap.
Give me a line up with eight Bryce Harpers in it and I’ll go to war with anybody. Totally absurd that this guy is not getting much love in the court of public opinion.
If Boston eats that kind of money, what kind of prospects would they get back? Price isn’t exactly a sure bet even at $20mm per.
As a Reds fan, I would be willing to send Bauer back but I wouldn’t want to send prospects. I would be willing to send prospects or Senzel if there was any way to pry Boegarts out of Boston, but that isn’t happening.
Do not part with Senzel. He’s gonna be mashing for the Reds for the next ten years. He’ll be the Reds best hitter this year.
I really hope you’re right, because he has had trouble staying on the field the last 2-3 years. I worry about that durability and figure why not sell high? I know there is a huge risk factor here, but if the Reds could somehow yank Bogaerts within the deal by sending out Senzel, I’d have trouble not exploring that at least. I totally agree w/you on his ability and what you said however. He just has to stay on the field to do it.
Philly was in 1st place in early June up until McCutchen’s injury. From their the wheels fell off.
Despite the overpay for Wheeler, adding him, Didi and McCutchen back to full strength the Phillies have to be a factor in the division. Other teams have made improvements too in that division. NL East is setting up to be very compelling.
As a Reds fan, I would be willing to send Bauer back but I wouldn’t want to send prospects. I would be willing to send prospects or Senzel if there was any way to pry Boegarts out of Boston, but that isn’t happening.
Boston chips in half of David prices salary. 48 million. Reds send Tyler Mahle Sal Romano and Freddy Galvis to Boston. Reds then get Trevor story from Colorado in a trade and sign Marcel Osuna as a free agent.
Is it really a big deal for a corner outfielder to play more left than right? I didn’t care when I was playing
For an established MLB player, I’m guessing the instincts you’ve gained regarding the flight of the ball (hook vs slice for instance), and playing balls off the wall (Particularly with goofy angles and “corners” in outfield gaps) can be tough.
Also, I think it would be difficult for a left handed thrower to run toward the left field line, make a play (catch), turn and throw it back in. Or a right handed thrower going towards the right field line…
A sad commentary on long tern big buck contracts.
When a team has to pay another team to take your mistake.
But it is what it is.
I’m okay with the Phillies signing Didi @ $14 million because it’s only for one year. He’s a better SS than Segura, and according to Joe Girardi, a solid clubhouse guy. If the shoulder is sound, he’ll be the most popular guy on the team this summer.
I’d really like to see Klentak find a taker for Segura. That guy really disappointed me last year. Was looking for a 20/20 season from him.
If I was the brewers GM, and hadn’t made the swap with SD for Urias, I’d swap you Arcia for Segura.
While Wheeler was certainly a necessary signing, he only gives them a second quality starter. One would think they have to be considering moving Segura for another SP. If not, they might still be scuffling to get to 85 wins.
trade for Wil Meyers and be done with it. First base solved,