Postseason Happenings 2016

[moonslav59]

I do think there's going to be a focus on the set up men.

 

There has been an increasing focus on set up men for a few years now.

[Kimmi]

I do think there's going to be a focus on the set up men.

 

There has been an increasing focus on set up men for a few years now.

 

The Sox are reportedly the team showing the most interest in Holland. His price tag may get a little too pricey though, and I believe he also stated that he prefers to go to a team where he will be the closer.

[Spudboy]

I am not sure in which thread to mention this. Earlier I read on Barstool Sports ( not such a great source, I know ) that EE would be signing with the Astro's today. That it was pretty much a done deal.

 

Has anyone else heard anything about this?

[Kimmi]

I am not sure in which thread to mention this. Earlier I read on Barstool Sports ( not such a great source, I know ) that EE would be signing with the Astro's today. That it was pretty much a done deal.

 

Has anyone else heard anything about this?

 

I have heard rumors that the Astros are close to signing him. I don't know how reliable those sources are though.

 

If they're true, we should hear something today or tomorrow.

[Spudboy]

I have heard rumors that the Astros are close to signing him. I don't know how reliable those sources are though.

 

If they're true, we should hear something today or tomorrow.

 

If he won't be in Boston I'm glad that he won't be in Toronto or New York.

[Kimmi]

If he won't be in Boston I'm glad that he won't be in Toronto or New York.

 

Me too. I don't want the Sox to sign him because of the size of the contract that he'll likely get. That being the case, I'd much prefer that he sign with the Astros rather than an AL East team, especially the Yankees.

[mvp 78]

Annual: IT'S DECEMBER, WHY HAVEN'T THEY SIGNED ANYONE YET!!!!!! WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR?!?!?!?!

[moonslav59]

Word is the Sox are still in on Beltran, assuming the Astros sign EE not CB. There's also talk of Napoli returning.

 

There's no way EE is coming here, as I have said all along.

[harmony]

Annual: IT'S DECEMBER, WHY HAVEN'T THEY SIGNED ANYONE YET!!!!!! WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR?!?!?!?!

On the other end of the spectrum, how many November moves are too many?

 

Scroll down for a list of the Seattle Mariners' November moves, including five trades:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article117483458.html

 

The binge did not end with the month ... today's reports are that the Mariners will sign lefty reliever Marc Rzcepczynski:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article118223958.html

[moonslav59]

On the other end of the spectrum, how many November moves are too many?

 

Scroll down for a list of the Seattle Mariners' November moves, including five trades:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article117483458.html

 

The binge did not end with the month ... today's reports are that the Mariners will sign lefty reliever Marc Rzcepczynski:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article118223958.html

 

Overall, do you think the mariners are better for 2017 as a result of the recent deals?

 

Better long term?

[harmony]

Overall, do you think the mariners are better for 2017 as a result of the recent deals?

 

Better long term?

Yes and yes, although I am probably an optimist.

 

The Mariners have added Jean Segura, Danny Valencia, Carlos Ruiz and Mitch Haniger to a potent offense that this year trailed only the Red Sox in wRC+ (the M's have subtracted Adam Lind, Nori Aoki, Dae-ho Lee and Ketel Marte).

 

Pitching was the problem with this year's 86-win team and the team lacks rotation depth with the trade of Taijuan Walker. Should the Red Sox trim payroll with a trade of Clay Buchholz? At any rate, I expect the M's to be in the market for another starter or two to go with Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, Ariel Miranda and Nate Karns.

 

Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto left the Angel farm system barren but many attribute the demise to Halo owner Arte Moreno. Dipoto inherited a weak Seattle farm system that has probably improved since Dipoto's arrival in September 2015.

 

I'm bracing for regression from probably two of Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz, but I remain optimistic.

[mvp 78]

On the other end of the spectrum, how many November moves are too many?

 

Scroll down for a list of the Seattle Mariners' November moves, including five trades:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article117483458.html

 

The binge did not end with the month ... today's reports are that the Mariners will sign lefty reliever Marc Rzcepczynski:

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article118223958.html

 

My post was an ode to offseasons past. I don't care if the Sox aren't the first to jump in the pool. I'm not convinced they grab a high priced FA anyway.

[Bellhorn04]

My post was an ode to offseasons past.

 

Who can forget this one: 'Wake up, Ben!'

[moonslav59]

Yes and yes, although I am probably an optimist.

 

The Mariners have added Jean Segura, Danny Valencia, Carlos Ruiz and Mitch Haniger to a potent offense that this year trailed only the Red Sox in wRC+ (the M's have subtracted Adam Lind, Nori Aoki, Dae-ho Lee and Ketel Marte).

 

Pitching was the problem with this year's 86-win team and the team lacks rotation depth with the trade of Taijuan Walker. Should the Red Sox trim payroll with a trade of Clay Buchholz? At any rate, I expect the M's to be in the market for another starter or two to go with Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, Ariel Miranda and Nate Karns.

 

Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto left the Angel farm system barren but many attribute the demise to Halo owner Arte Moreno. Dipoto inherited a weak Seattle farm system that has probably improved since Dipoto's arrival in September 2015.

 

I'm bracing for regression from probably two of Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz, but I remain optimistic.

 

I adsmit I don't know much about some of the players lost and gained, but I think losing Walker might hurt more than you think. I think he was poised to have his best year in 2017 or 2018.

 

You better hope Segura's season was not a fluke. He was never that good before.

 

I like the Valencia pick-up. He could be a sleeper.

[moonslav59]

Should the Red Sox trim payroll with a trade of Clay Buchholz?

 

The only way I see us trading Buch is if we acquire another (hopefully better and/or more reliable) SP'er that costs less than $13.5M.

 

Valencia hits lefties very well, so he'd be a nice match with Shaw or Pablo at 3B. How about we send Pablo plus $40M of his $58M owed plus Buch for Valencia and a prospect?

[harmony]

I adsmit I don't know much about some of the players lost and gained, but I think losing Walker might hurt more than you think. I think he was poised to have his best year in 2017 or 2018.

 

You better hope Segura's season was not a fluke. He was never that good before.

 

I like the Valencia pick-up. He could be a sleeper.

Dipoto hopes Mitch Haniger, Dan Vogelbach and/or International League MVP Ben Gamel -- who all absolutely tore up Triple A pitching this year -- will break out in 2017.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=hanige001mit

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=vogelb000dan

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=gamel-001ben

 

Jean Segura is likely to regress but the Mariners go into the 2017 season with a 27-year-old shortstop who posted a higher 2016 fWAR than Xander Bogaerts ... at a less premium position nonetheless.

 

I hope Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte have successful careers, but I hope the same for Haniger and Segura.

[harmony]

Should the Red Sox trim payroll with a trade of Clay Buchholz?

 

The only way I see us trading Buch is if we acquire another (hopefully better and/or more reliable) SP'er that costs less than $13.5M.

 

Valencia hits lefties very well, so he'd be a nice match with Shaw or Pablo at 3B. How about we send Pablo plus $40M of his $58M owed plus Buch for Valencia and a prospect?

Adding a net $14+ million in annual salary for that return might cause a revolt in the Pacific Northwest. Clay Buchholz would not compensate for three years of Pablo Sandoval at $18 million over one year of Danny Valencia at a projected $5.3 million.

[moonslav59]

Adding a net $14+ million in annual salary for that return might cause a revolt in the Pacific Northwest. Clay Buchholz would not compensate for three years of Pablo Sandoval at $18 million over one year of Danny Valencia at a projected $5.3 million.

 

Buch would probably get $50M/3 on the open market- maybe more in a year with no good starters.

 

What if we paid $46M of the $58M owed? Pablo for $4M x 3.

[harmony]

Buch would probably get $50M/3 on the open market- maybe more in a year with no good starters.

 

What if we paid $46M of the $58M owed? Pablo for $4M x 3.

I suspect Seattle would prefer a hitter who posted a positive WAR in one of the last two years. Pablo Sandoval is a pariah whose now lefthanded bat would not play on a lefty-heavy Mariner club that traded for the righthanded bat of Danny Valencia.

 

I question whether Clay Buchholz would get three guaranteed years heading into his age 33 season coming off this year's disappointment.

[moonslav59]

I question whether Clay Buchholz would get three guaranteed years heading into his age 33 season coming off this year's disappointment.

 

Worse pitchers have gotten close to that, and this is a tight market for SP'ers.

[Eddy Ballgame]

I question whether Clay Buchholz would get three guaranteed years heading into his age 33 season coming off this year's disappointment.

 

Worse pitchers have gotten close to that, and this is a tight market for SP'ers.

 

Exactly. That's the thing. He's got "ace stuff" in arguably the worst free agent starting pitching market of all time. He doesn't have a lot of miles on him for a 33 year old and he might have matured a little. I could see him going to a place like San Diego, winning a Cy Young, while playing guitar in the gas lamp district on weekends once in a while.

 

My guess is the Sox will be listening if they get the right offer. I definitely don't see him in the bullpen if healthy.

[harmony]

Exactly. That's the thing. He's got "ace stuff" in arguably the worst free agent starting pitching market of all time. He doesn't have a lot of miles on him for a 33 year old and he might have matured a little. I could see him going to a place like San Diego, winning a Cy Young, while playing guitar in the gas lamp district on weekends once in a while.

 

My guess is the Sox will be listening if they get the right offer. I definitely don't see him in the bullpen if healthy.

I suspect the Red Sox will keep Clay Buchholz and hope his "ace stuff" surfaces for a chunk of the 2017 season. I'm still curious what the Sox would receive in an offseason trade of the righthander.

[moonslav59]

Exactly. That's the thing. He's got "ace stuff" in arguably the worst free agent starting pitching market of all time. He doesn't have a lot of miles on him for a 33 year old and he might have matured a little. I could see him going to a place like San Diego, winning a Cy Young, while playing guitar in the gas lamp district on weekends once in a while.

 

My guess is the Sox will be listening if they get the right offer. I definitely don't see him in the bullpen if healthy.

 

Yes, we can't afford Buch in the pen. We already have one $13M RP'er.

 

I always thought the idea of taking Buch's option and looking to trade him made sense. With the luxury limit so close, I think the odds have greatly improved Buch gets dealt.

[a700hitter]

I always thought the idea of taking Buch's option and looking to trade him made sense.

Me too. That is a no brainer.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, we can't afford Buch in the pen. We already have one $13M RP'er.

 

I always thought the idea of taking Buch's option and looking to trade him made sense. With the luxury limit so close, I think the odds have greatly improved Buch gets dealt.

 

It's certainly possible, but our lack of starting pitching depth would be a major problem.

[moonslav59]

It's certainly possible, but our lack of starting pitching depth would be a major problem.

 

We can trade for 6th starter or two who are paid far less than $13M.

[Bellhorn04]

We can trade for 6th starter or two who are paid far less than $13M.

 

Names?

[moonslav59]

Names?

 

Danny Duffy (more like a 3 starter)- last arb year

Matt Shoemaker (more like a 3 starter)

Yordano Ventura

Rubby de la Rosa

[Bellhorn04]

Danny Duffy (more like a 3 starter)- last arb year

Matt Shoemaker (more like a 3 starter)

Yordano Ventura

Rubby de la Rosa

 

And what would you expect to have to give up for them?

 

To get a guy like Duffy or Shoemaker you'd have to give up plenty.

 

I thought those were exactly the kind of trades for pitching that you don't like (Pomeranz).

[moonslav59]

And what would you expect to have to give up for them?

 

To get a guy like Duffy or Shoemaker you'd have to give up plenty.

 

I thought those were exactly the kind of trades for pitching that you don't like (Pomeranz).

 

1) It won't take an Espi type for a pitcher with one year vs 2.4 years of control.

2) We can get something good for Buch- maybe a 3Bman or 2 decent RP'ers.

3) with the money saved on Buch plus the $10M we already have, we can sign Beltran and stay below the limit.

 

So, trading Buch and then trading a blocked prospect like Swihart with maybe Hernandez, Owens & Hembree for Duffy would allow us to add Beltran, the two relievers we get for Buch plus Duffy.

 

Now, I'm not sure what Duffy will make in arb, so maybe he's not a good example, but you get my drift, right?

 

It would cost more for Shoemaker's 4 years of control, but I'm willing to give up more for 4 years of pre-prime years at a low cost. Pom was 2.3 years of essentially low cost, but not as low as Shoemaker will be for the next year or two (1st arb out of 4 coming up this winter).