Click here to read the transcript of the first MLBTR live chat of 2024!
Headlines
- Braves Sign Reynaldo López, Aaron Bummer To New Contracts
- Robbie Ray Declines Opt-Out Clause In Giants Contract
- Ha-Seong Kim Declines Mutual Option With Padres; Wandy Peralta Declines Opt-Out
- Gerrit Cole Triggers Opt-Out In Deal With Yankees
- Cody Bellinger Exercises Player Option With Cubs For 2025 Season
- Yankees Decline Club Option On Anthony Rizzo
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Pretty sure there weren’t any questions about the Padres taken…there is nothing to talk about. Padres offseason has been a total dud.
I think they would have the opportunity to retool by offloading one of their heavy contracts. The only problem is that they gave out too many contracts with “no trade” clauses.
Michael King could turn out to be a phenomenal acquisition for one year of Soto too. And, that trade may bite the Yankees hard (although I was heavily in favor of acquiring Soto).
Clip – Happy New Year!
What’s the feeling about a Soto extension? Think it will happen, either before or after he becomes a free agent?
You too, FPG; hope it was a good one for you! Wish you and all the fellas in this site all the best this year! Look forward to chatting baseball with you guys until spikes hit the field.
Fellas? Come on Clipper, women love baseball too! I’m proof!
Happy New Year!
My apologies Agnes, fellettes as well! Happy New Year!
I’m wanting to see the Yankees and Soto go to arbitration. Soto’s ask will give the Yankees a good indication of whether he wants to stay.
Clipper has got to be thrilled with the outfield after last years suffering! Need to go get a glove first guy to supplement the group but looking pretty freakin good
Grish doesn’t solve that problem?
Totally forgot he was in that deal. Fits well.
Super thrilled Sodo… Man, of all the players in MLB, Soto is right at the top of that short list of offensive guys. I just hope Cashman makes a good pitching decision to supplement the newly formed OF. I know he will do something, just not sure it will be a good something.
But no doubt, our OF is looking exponentially better than last season’s.
So Clip, who is going to play CF everyday?
Judge until Dominguez returns, then Dominguez will take over. The benefit of getting Grisham is huge, so Judge can rest or DH.
I’m holding out hope for a Jordan Hicks signing. Alexis been high on that guy. Your thoughts?
Hicks is a head case. Stay far, far away. Think Carlos Martinez with better velocity.
So Judge in CF, Verdugo in RF, and Soto in LF?
How about sending Rizzo to the Brewers for a couple of lotto tickets and trying Soto at 1B? The guy is not going to stick in the OF. If the Yankees are considering re-signing him, they should consider figuring out his long term position.
Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about how poor his defense is. Honestly, if Stanton has another down year they should just cut him and allow Soto to just DH/1B.
For the OF, LF at Yankees Stadium is much more difficult, so Soto will be in RF, Verdugo in LF. The question for me is: what happens when Dominguez comes back and Judge goes back to RF? I wonder if the Yankees just assume Stanton will be on the IL by that point, then Soto can DH.
Sucks to hear that about Hicks…His stuff is incredible.
It does seem like the Yankees are planning as though Stanton may not be around. Maybe Cash’s comments were the start of an exit process. That would open a lot of possibilities.
Yeah, man. He has full no trade so he would have to e cut or traded to the Dodgers from what I’ve read. Cashman did walk some of those back, citing it was a contextual comment with no further implication; but one thing Cashman is: calculating. I don’t think that guy gets out of bed without planning exactly how he’s going to do it. I just wish he was better at it – lol.
For the record, I thought Cash’s statements were completely on point and justified. However, GM’s rarely say things like that, so I just wonder if there was an ulterior motive.
I think we’re in the same boat in hoping our respective front offices know what they’re doing, while ultimately knowing the job probably passed them by.
Yeah, I’m interested to see what the Cards do too. They have a very talented team overall. But, where do you think their biggest need is: the rotation? Seems their offense should be fine provided everyone stays healthy and performs to their numbers.
I am a bit surprised at Marmol. I’m not sure how you feel about him as manager, but it seems to me that it wasn’t a good decision as he reminds me a lot of Boone from what I’ve seen.
So I think their biggest need is POBO. Mo’s track record is undeniably strong. But he is such a control freak(like Cash).
The talented roster is stunted by a coaching staff that doesn’t serve the best interest of the players, but best interest of the front office.
I know that sounds paranoid but look at their coaching hires this offseason. You’re right about Marmol. He’s in over his head. But instead of surrounding him with veteran coaches who could help, they hire more guys with zero ML coaching experience. Mo doesn’t want any dissenting voices in the organization. No Shildt. No Yadi. It’s a pattern. The Cards need leadership. That’s the biggest need.
Sorry for the rant.
Wow, that sounds *exactly* like the Yankees and Cashman. And it is so frustrating because they counteract their own success because of their egos, man. I also don’t get the push for these new-age analytical hires with no ML experience. It’s stupid to me, particularly with a first-time manager. Sounds like we are in the same boat with no paddles….
Ego is the name of the game, man. I see a LOT of similarities between the Yankees and Cardinals situations.
There are some excellent people working in the Cardinals organization. Randy Flores is one of the best in the game. I’m sure the same is true of the Yankees.
But the guy in charge has gained the complete trust of the owner and he isn’t going to share his favored status. So he rules in his own self interest. There are no objections or checks and balances. Just the will of one megalomaniac.
Until that changes it will be hard to compete with these teams who have assembled a brain trust who work in concerted effort to further the interests of the team on the field.
Still won’t keep the Yankees out of dead last in the AL East.
Maybe offensively. Can’t wait to see Soto in RF, and Stanton in LF with either Judge or Verdugo in CF, (due to Injuries).
Cardinals are likely to go worst to first this year if the Cubs don’t make some significant improvements to their roster.
Cards have a really strong team that seems to be poorly managed but Arenado, Goldy, Noot, Walker (please let that guy dh) roll with Carlson and Donovan in the outfield. Their rotation however… I mean would they not have been better off signing Gray and Giolito? Their farm cannot be so thin they cannot run out a string of fifth starters.
Trying to join the chat to ask if the Jays will actually do something to change the team power bat and my question was never posted?
bluejays25, Are you sure?
bluejays25, It can take a few attempts before you get one answered. Lot’s of people in the chat firing off questions. Gotta keep at it!
Yes, I tried three times
I have the best luck with Steve and Anthony. I can’t get on the same wavelength as Mark. His “top pitchers” reply was good today though. Even though he left out Ryan. All time K’s leader. 7 No-Hitters. 19 One Hitters. Single season K record. Pitched in 4 different decades.. Easily in the top 10 most dominant ever. #1 for me.
So strange that Blake Snell has 2 more CY’s than Nolan Ryan!
Padrepapi, I agree!
Hey bluejay it takes a lot to get a Q answered sometimes. I usually get to 4-5 live chats a month. Tonight I asked 3 questions and got none answered. My record is 4 actually answered, but I go in expecting none, so when a blue highlighted Q does come up – success!
Plus we’re not dealing with bots and these guys may have a ton asked at once so they have to scan n scroll with the quickness.
Keep at it…
Appreciate your sharing your experience. First timer here 😉
Thank you for the clarification
Bauer continues to be persona non grata. Meanwhile unknown commodities get north of 300MM. SMH COLLUSION.
Tell us how you feel about Wander.
Sorry to say but Bauer is never pitching in the MLB again. He’s resorted to talking to NPB teams for a job in 2024.
Quite interesting that Bauer’s former UCLA teammate: Gerrit Cole, happens to be on a team that needs another frontline SP, after losing out on Yamamoto, and even then, they won’t go near him. If any player has the weight to go to the front office and give a reference for Bauer, it’s Cole, but I don’t think Gerrit could give him a good reference, imho.
I don’t think it’s collusion as much as he probably just can’t get enough good references for his next job.
They hate each other so it’s no wonder Cole isn’t interested in co-signing
Wander, guilty until found innocent
Wander was taken into custody today, so there’s some fire with that smoke.
Yes, and it was AFTER he was questioned by police. But we can’t talk about it, shhhhh
His arrest was for missing the first meeting, nothing more. Worth it if you don’t like your attorney.
Styme – let’s be accurate. They didn’t arrest him when he walked in the door “for missing the first meeting”. Rather, they arrested him AFTER a 3 hour “interview” which strongly suggests what he said was the reason they arrested him.
Misinformation and making up stuff doesn’t help your “support the abusers” campaign.
I seem him more as a nuclear reactor core, steadily sinking through the Earth.
**see**
So they can get an outrageous bail that will never be refunded. Part of the game. He will end up buying the witnesses. How does MLB handle its investigation in a foreign land?
Hmmm well, as for a friend of mine….
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
And sent me off to a foreign land
But so far Bauer is and remains toxic. Dodgers still paid him $20+ for 2023. Now he’s a FA.
Franco is on administrative leave and got his Rays and pre-arb bonus $. Checks don’t start coming in for a bit, so it remains to be seen about his ’24 $?
MLB has got to be ringing their hands on this one for sure…
He’ll be lucky to get a visa back into the country. So, he’ll be on the restricted list and won’t get paid.
Uncle George, why would he need a visa? He’s a US Citizen.
Wander, not Bauer.
Another talking head who parrots the mets aren’t trying to win this year lie
Why is it a lie. What have they done that would be looked at as trying to win?
I wonder if the Jays players will say something if no power bat is to join them?
Realizing there is still lots of time left, this off season is way too quiet in my opinion.
Any thoughts?
@bluejays25
That ship has sailed. The Jays blew their contention window and will probably be a 3rd/4th place team this year.
So agree
@bluejays25
Like you said, lots of time left and there are still good power bats out there.
We’ll see what happens If Jays can sign Rodriquez and he goes to the rotation. They should have have a starting pitcher to possibly move.
@OilCanLloyd
Last year the Jays cobbled together a bunch of #6 SP types to get them through games and in a lot of cases stretched 1 inning guys into multiple inning guys (Trevor Richards as an example). All is fine and well when your starter gives you 6 innings but there’s a problem when they are out there for less than 4. The Jays need a decent #6. If that’s Rodriquez, I’m good with that.
They may be hoping Guerrero is that power bat missing last year.
I’m pretty sure this is the first chat ever that I participated in, but he didn’t pick even one of my q’s. Not complaining; like I said, he almost always does. (I’m Markey Mark in his chats)…
I just voted for the White Sox because I figured nobody else would.
I don’t think the Braves are done
I think they are going to move some salary possibly Ozuna.
I think that opens up the DH spot for guys to get a little rest with half days, frees up some salary and possibly get a young piece.
I am interesting in hearin what Mariner fans think it would take to get Hancock. He is a local boy & AA loves getting local guys and signing them to extensions
Why would ATL take on dead contracts on wild cards only to shed salary of proven players like Ozuna? I’m not his biggest cheerleader, but he was MLB’s best DH not named Ohtani in 2023. And they’re going to get rid of that to possibly replace with d’Arnaud getting a few more ABs? What would they use that money on?
I can see them possibly adding a OF4 (possibly RH as insurance for Kelenic — Duvall would be ideal, but he’ll get starter money somewhere) to upgrade from Pillar.
IMHO, I cheer for Hancock b/c he’s a Bulldog, but I don’t think he’ll have as good of a MLB career as AJSS/Waldrep (UF Gator), when all is said and done. And considering ATL has mostly arms as prospect capital, they don’t make a good trade partner with SEA. ATL’s highest-rated position prospects both play some SS (Ambrosis Tavarez, Ignacio Alvarez) which we need in the near future to move on from Arcia.
Ozuna was good value for his $16M contract last year (3.3 bWAR, 133 OPS+, 40HR), and projects to be similar this year. No reason to move him. I think the Braves are done for this year, until the trade deadline.
Been seeing more chatter about AA trying to dip under the luxury tax threshold in 2025, and he’s set himself up well for that kind of effort.
I’ve noticed a pattern ever since they added the notification bell and the mute button.
Commenter predicts that a player or team will do something that they are obviously not going to do but they don’t have to officially make that decision for several months.
I reply to them saying that that’s not going to happen and ask why they even bother floating that nonsense on here.
Rather than admitting that they are wrong, they double down and often provide some flawed rationalization for why it will happen.
I say “Right. Let’s revisit this one in x months” and set a reminder using Reddit’s RemindMe bot for right after the “decision date” with the link to that article included.
The decision date comes and goes, the player/team does exactly what I said they were going to do, my reminder goes off, I go to the link, find that conversation, reply to commenter with “So much for your THEORY about that player/team doing that LOL.”
Commenter mutes me rather than admit they were wrong.
We all love when that happens to you.
Unless Keith’s arm heals up, the Tigers won’t have any of those prospects play 3B. Jung is below average and has no arm. Malloy should have his glove retired now. They are all Bats. Even Keith, if healthy, would be average at best, defensively. 3B is the hole that HARRIS built. When the best option is a McKinstry/Vierling platoon…
can you imagine the reaction of the Cubs fans if Belli walks out on stage at the upcoming Cubs Convention as the Cubs announce they have signed a free agent
Stop answering filler questions like that Taylor swift one.
STICK TO BASEBALL