2014 Offseason Thread

[a700hitter]

It's interesting that there hasn't been any buzz at all yet about offers to Scherzer or Shields.

Sometimes these agents wait for someone else to set the market and they think that the market will go up as the supply of pitchers gets smaller. This may not be a great strategy as the pool of big bank roll teams may be smaller than the pool of available FA pitchers. As the FAs sign with big market teams like the Cubs the competition for the remaining pitchers decreases instead of increases. Then if you take a team like the Yankees out of the mix and your market can start to collapse. If I was the agent of Shields or Scherzer, I would be looking to get my guy signed first.

[Palodios]

The Nats may be stacked, but reports say they are looking to buy a big arm then trade one of their own guys for a top prospect.

 

Same situation for Detroit and Price. Both of those buyers might not even reduce the number of aces available.

[Spudboy]

I still believe that Detroit can take Scherzer if they decide to pony up.

 

I never believe anything that the Yankees FO say in situations like this.

 

I do not see Scherzer coming to the Sox in any case.

[Bellhorn04]

Shields would make more sense. But of course we have no idea what the plan is.

[Palodios]

Yankee payroll has generally floated around 200-215 the last few years, topping out at 228 two years ago. They are currently around 210. I'm not so sure they are willing to go to 240 so quickly -- the reports have been saying they like the starting rotation options in 2015 better (as they should).

[jacksonianmarch]

Scherzer got the Lester contract as an offer from the Tigers prior to last season. They're gonna offer him big money. And how many time have the Yankees said they're out on someone only to swoop in and grab them?

[Palodios]

Scherzer got the Lester contract as an offer from the Tigers prior to last season. They're gonna offer him big money. And how many time have the Yankees said they're out on someone only to swoop in and grab them?

 

Honest question. Do you see them breaking 240-245 million a year to get Scherzer? The highest they have ever spent is 228 million, and the last two years were losing seasons with the current strategy. They have practically no money coming off the books for 2016, so they would be at 240-245 million before they even look at guys like Price, Zimmerman and Cueto.

 

They also have come this far without losing that early draft pick.

[BSN07]

I heard a report this morning that the President of the Yankees said they are out on Scherzer. If the Yankees are out and the Cubs have already blown there wad on Lester, that leaves the Dodgers and the Angels as the other big money teams. If they are not interested, he's ours if they want him. We can outbid the others.

 

The Nats have money and interest.

[BSN07]

WMB to Padres for Hanigan, almost done deal per mlbtr.

[Palodios]

Padres and Red Sox swapping WMB and Hannigan.

 

An extremely cheap, veteran catcher with very good OBP over his career. Seems like a sell low on WMV, but Hannigan fits a need here. It means we won't see Ross's .100 average here next year.

[BSN07]

Only way to get more for WMB was to let him rebuild value and that wasn't really gonna happen with the roster the way it is. He will get a shot in SD and wish him luck.

 

And wtf is going on in SD lol that team has insane RHH power potential. And IIRC they just moved the LF fences in.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dude, I'm with you. I'd like to make that pick and avoid another long term bear of a contract. Id rather see how we shape out and if our current strategy fails, go after Price or Cueto next yr

[mvp 78]

WMB to Padres for Hanigan, almost done deal per mlbtr.

 

The pitchers are going to love who they are throwing to this year.

[GomesBeard]

Thought they were looking for a LH-hitting catcher. Oh well, seems like a decent deal for WMB, as we need a veteran back-up catcher.

[BSN07]

Not many LHH C available really. Next best thing is a good defensive C with a good rep with P's.

[Palodios]

The Red Sox have shipped a lot of middling pieces. Wilson, Lavarnway, WMB, Rubby, Webster. Hopefully none of these guys come back to bite them.

[seabeachfred]

It's interesting that there hasn't been any buzz at all yet about offers to Scherzer or Shields.

 

And that has been both surprising and a little bizarre Bellhorn. I know Scherzer's asking price is ridiculous but then again hasn't some of the money expended for FA the past few years been in that ballpark? I haven't heard anything out here regarding Scherzer but don't count the Angels out. They had the best record in baseball this season and they were outed quickly in the playoffs, and I do know that owner Arte Moreno likes to make that big splash, and he is drooling for a WS Title. He could bite. And I never trust to Yankees in anything they say. It's like an itch for them to throw a ton of money for a FA and pay no heed to the problems that will come from it three or four years down the road.

 

We have the money to sign Scherzer. Why not go for it since we are farther away from getting Hamels now that we were two weeks ago. As long as Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is insisting on Betts and or Swihart in such a deal we should simply walk away from it until he lowers his demands.

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox have shipped a lot of middling pieces. Wilson, Lavarnway, WMB, Rubby, Webster. Hopefully none of these guys come back to bite them.

 

You can't keep everyone.

[mvp 78]

And that has been both surprising and a little bizarre Bellhorn. I know Scherzer's asking price is ridiculous but then again hasn't some of the money expended for FA the past few years been in that ballpark? I haven't heard anything out here regarding Scherzer but don't count the Angels out. They had the best record in baseball this season and they were outed quickly in the playoffs, and I do know that owner Arte Moreno likes to make that big splash, and he is drooling for a WS Title. He could bite. And I never trust to Yankees in anything they say. It's like an itch for them to throw a ton of money for a FA and pay no heed to the problems that will come from it three or four years down the road.

 

We have the money to sign Scherzer. Why not go for it since we are farther away from getting Hamels now that we were two weeks ago. As long as Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is insisting on Betts and or Swihart in such a deal we should simply walk away from it until he lowers his demands.

 

It's only money and they are flush with it.

[MJantomaso]

It's only money and they are flush with it.

 

Signing Sherzer for 180million pieces of paper...what a freaking steal!

 

If the Sox were to do that, I'm sure that would give us more leverage in a Hammels trade. (even though I wish to not trade for him)

[a700hitter]

Padres and Red Sox swapping WMB and Hannigan.

 

An extremely cheap, veteran catcher with very good OBP over his career. Seems like a sell low on WMV, but Hannigan fits a need here. It means we won't see Ross's .100 average here next year.

When I posted that it was time to leave Ross's Fossil buried, I was told that alternatives to a cheap .185 hitting fossil catcher were rare. No they weren't. And good riddance to that injury prone headcase Middlebrooks and his 30+ HR potential.

[sk7326]

When I posted that it was time to leave Ross's Fossil buried, I was told that alternatives to a cheap .185 hitting fossil catcher were rare. No they weren't. And good riddance to that injury prone headcase Middlebrooks and his 30+ HR potential.

 

Holy straw man - it wasn't that they were rare - it was just that it was not hurting them. In any case, they solved backup catcher by trading WMB, which by definition is more than what he should have fielded. WMB was tools without baseball skills and the victim of a front office in 2012 desperate to show something good.

[Spudboy]

I just heard that Ross is about to sign with the Padres.

 

Lol. Musical back-up catchers.

 

Best of luck to David Ross. He was a nice guy to have around even if he was a Mendoza type hitter.

[Spudboy]

Just took a peak at Ryan Hanigan's offensive numbers.

 

His production has tailed-off noticeably over the past two years. Don't know if injury has anything to do with that.

 

It seems that the more he plays, the more AB, the better he hits by a large margin. He is also accustomed to playing 80-110 games a year. So if Vasquez struggles badly or becomes injured, it seems that the Sox now have a decent back-up catcher.

 

Of course I could use a chart a la Jacko and tell you that he will have a 2010 year again and hit .300 !!!!

 

No offense, Doc.

[a700hitter]

Holy straw man - it wasn't that they were rare - it was just that it was not hurting them. In any case, they solved backup catcher by trading WMB, which by definition is more than what he should have fielded. WMB was tools without baseball skills and the victim of a front office in 2012 desperate to show something good.

How does a .180 bat not hurt your team. Check the other thread. I was being told that other cheap back up catchers were no better. Back up catchers usually have the longest resume of teams played for. They are always available and you can usually upgrade from a .180 stick.

[a700hitter]

How does a .180 bat not hurt your team. Check the other thread. I was being told that other cheap back up catchers were no better. Back up catchers usually have the longest resume of teams played for. They are always available and you can usually upgrade from a .180 stick.

Although looking at his numbers, Hanigan isn't an offensive monster.

[sk7326]

How does a .180 bat not hurt your team. Check the other thread. I was being told that other cheap back up catchers were no better. Back up catchers usually have the longest resume of teams played for. They are always available and you can usually upgrade from a .180 stick.

 

They were a dime a dozen - and Ross was familiar with this setting and a good receiver. Over the 40-50 starts he was going to get it's not a big deal. But those starts are going to Hanigan which is fine too. That they got a breathing human for Middlebrooks is impressive.

[seabeachfred]

Honest question. Do you see them breaking 240-245 million a year to get Scherzer? The highest they have ever spent is 228 million, and the last two years were losing seasons with the current strategy. They have practically no money coming off the books for 2016, so they would be at 240-245 million before they even look at guys like Price, Zimmerman and Cueto.

 

They also have come this far without losing that early draft pick.

 

Honest answer? YES!!!!!! The Yankees would spend themselves into a stupor to win another World Series and don't believe one damn word that comes out of their addled mouths. They'd be willing to go well over the luxury tax if it meant they had a chance at a WS Title. They are NOT out of the Scherzer derby in my opinion.......not by a long shot.

[wyo-sox]

They were a dime a dozen - and Ross was familiar with this setting and a good receiver. Over the 40-50 starts he was going to get it's not a big deal. But those starts are going to Hanigan which is fine too. That they got a breathing human for Middlebrooks is impressive.

 

Ha! That made me smile.

[a700hitter]

They were a dime a dozen - and Ross was familiar with this setting and a good receiver. Over the 40-50 starts he was going to get it's not a big deal. But those starts are going to Hanigan which is fine too. That they got a breathing human for Middlebrooks is impressive.

I prefer to get rid of automatic outs like Ross. As you said, backup catchers are a dime a dozen so why not try another one who might actually not be an automatic out?