2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[Bellhorn04]

Correct. And they might have to "settle for" the league minimum salary, which is $300,000. I wish I were able to "settle for" that paltry sum my first year in my business. I have no idea how they could possibly hope to feed their family on a paltry $300,000 a year. Its a trade off: lack of mobility within your chosen profession in exchange for outrageous amounts of money to PLAY A GAME for a living.

 

I think the MLB minimum is more like $550,000. And it's totally fair, when you consider the amounts of money people are willing to pay to watch them play.

 

Remember, you don't make it to MLB unless you are one of the very best in the world at what you do. For each one that makes it there are plenty who don't quite get this far.

 

And remember, it's the entertainment business.

 

Like it or not, the top entertainers get paid a lot of money.

 

That's America, baby.

[FredLynn]

I think the MLB minimum is more like $550,000. And it's totally fair, when you consider the amounts of money people are willing to pay to watch them play.

 

Remember, you don't make it to MLB unless you are one of the very best in the world at what you do. For each one that makes it there are plenty who don't quite get this far.

 

And remember, it's the entertainment business.

 

Like it or not, the top entertainers get paid a lot of money.

 

That's America, baby.

 

I stand corrected: its not $300,000-its $545,000 for 2017 and more next year. Guess we will see these poor guys rummaging through the bins at Goodwill, what with that paltry sum.

Jeesh......G......R......E........E............D!

Its not guys earning reasonable amounts that I have a beef with: its jackasses like JD Martinez and his pal Borass who have been made a reasonable offer and who are holding out to try to rob the bank that I have a beef with. And Hosmer. Sure, negotiate for what is reasonable, but don't be an ass about it.

Edited February 4, 2018 by FredLynn

[harmony]

I stand corrected: its not $300,000-its $545,000 for 2017 and more next year. Guess we will see these poor guys rummaging through the bins at Goodwill, what with that paltry sum.

Jeesh......G......R......E........E............D!

Its not guys earning reasonable amounts that I have a beef with: its jackasses like JD Martinez and his pal Borass who have been made a reasonable offer and who are holding out to try to rob the bank that I have a beef with. And Hosmer. Sure, negotiate for what is reasonable, but don't be an ass about it.

Should that cut both ways?

 

While some fans get angry I suspect J.D. Martinez and Scott Boras are having cordial negotiations with several teams.

[Bellhorn04]

Should that cut both ways?

 

While some fans get angry I suspect J.D. Martinez and Scott Boras are having cordial negotiations with several teams.

 

Would you settle for 'cordial impasse in negotiations'?

[harmony]

Would you settle for 'cordial impasse in negotiations'?

Teams probably don't see an "impasse in negotiations" knowing that J.D. Martinez will sign at some point.

[notin]

Should that cut both ways?

 

While some fans get angry I suspect J.D. Martinez and Scott Boras are having cordial negotiations with several teams.

 

And getting an equal lack of progress in all of them.

 

At some point, it's his job to just pick an offer

[moonslav59]

I have no issue with JD seeking to make the most. Just because this off season is delayed doesn't mean JD is a jackass or greedy.

 

[harmony]

And getting an equal lack of progress in all of them.

 

At some point, it's his job to just pick an offer

For all we know J.D. Martinez may be far closer to signing today than he was a week ago.

 

And, of course, at some point Martinez will sign ... I don't see him sitting out the season or even Opening Day.

[harmony]

Hey DD? Time to move on!!

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/someone-should-take-a-chance-on-logan-morrison.html

A CBS Sportsline columnist suggests Todd Frazier for the Red Sox:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-todd-frazier-a-possible-target-for-the-yankees-also-makes-sense-for-the-red-sox/

[moonslav59]

A CBS Sportsline columnist suggests Todd Frazier for the Red Sox:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-todd-frazier-a-possible-target-for-the-yankees-also-makes-sense-for-the-red-sox/

 

Move Devers to 1B/DH and dump HRam on someone?

[harmony]

ESPN columnist Buster Olney poses Cold Stove questions for the players union:

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/18152/olney-is-the-union-ready-for-a-spring-training-showdown

[moonslav59]

ESPN columnist Buster Olney poses Cold Stove questions for the players union:

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/18152/olney-is-the-union-ready-for-a-spring-training-showdown

 

Buster Trollney

[Natick to NC]

Think I'd go for Lomo or Duda before Todd .I think after watching that soul crushing patriots loss ...lets blow over the Lux tax and get JD and Hosmer . Edited February 5, 2018 by Natick to NC

[harmony]

Think I'd go for Lomo or Duda before Todd .I think after watching that soul crushing patriots loss ...lets blow over the Lux tax and get JD and Hosmer .

For what it's worth, Steamer600, which assumes 600 plate appearances for each hitter, projects 2018 WAR of 2.4 for Todd Frazier, 1.8 for Lucas Duda and 1.3 for Logan Morrison:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=steamer600&team=0&lg=all&players=0&sort=27%2cd

 

... although the wRC+ projections are 101 for Frazier, 115 for Duda and 107 for Morrison.

[Natick to NC]

Steamer is not horrible ...I love the swing for Fenway and he's got to have a huge chip on his shoulder against NY .Hell why not platoon Devers and Mitch with Todd ? He's worth a solid 30 plus HR at Fenway and plays plus plus D .How much ? How Long ? I'd go 2 years but what's the AAV ? Frazier is interesting no doubt .Frazier and JD ? That would solve the HR Issue along with healthy Hanley ...still need to Make room for JD .Interesting week coming .Frazier for some reason is always on the outer edges of players for me ...but When he was in a cincy uni ??? Wow he looked great .Maybe Fenway makes him a superstar again. Edited February 5, 2018 by Natick to NC

[Larry Cook]

I do not think it is smart to platoon devers. First the kid needs to play and second we need to know he is a player!

 

He is never going to be more than “below average” as a defensive third baseman, so we have to know if the bat can carry him.

 

Ps: our pitchers are not going to be happy with our defense at short and third in 2018. So both kids need to have good years with the bats to offset their leaky defense.

[mvp 78]

I too would *checks notes* platoon our best returning OPS guy from last year. WTF?

[Bellhorn04]

I too would *checks notes* platoon our best returning OPS guy from last year. WTF?

 

There's always gonna be some crazy talk...it's part of the entertainment.

[mvp 78]

Devers vs LHP: 1.074 OPS

[mvp 78]

Years are also at issue for J.D. Martinez, Heyman explains. Red Sox president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski is not interested in offering more than five years, but Heyman suggests that agent Scott Boras could yet try to make his case at the ownership level. The “word is there are other five-year offers,” Heyman adds, though it remains hard to imagine which other reportedly interested club would be able to compete financially with the Sox for Martinez.

 

Lapdog Heyman back at it again.

 

Let's get this over with guys.

[mvp 78]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/someone-should-take-a-chance-on-logan-morrison.html

 

What does everyone think about LoMo? You could sign him for less money and less years than JD (projected 3/36).

 

Since the second half of 2016, when he slashed .244/.352/.526 over an admittedly small number of plate appearances (91), Morrison has been one of baseball’s most formidable hitters. He proved himself on a much grander scale last year, parlaying a personal-best walk rate (13.5 percent, compared to a 10.5 percent lifetime mark) and a career-high fly ball rate (46.2 percent, up from 37.5 percent) into a .246/.353/.516 line in 601 PAs. That output led to a 3.3 fWAR and a robust 130 wRC+, which ranked 30th among big league regulars, while he finished tied for seventh in home runs (38) and 10th in isolated power (.270).

 

Morrison’s 2017 production seemingly wasn’t just smoke and mirrors. According to Statcast, he ranked 26th in barrels per PA and 32nd in balls hit at least 95 mph. Thanks in part to his hard-hitting ability, Morrison ended the year with a .365 expected weighted on-base average that fell right in line with his real wOBA (.363). That xwOBA number placed 26th in the majors, tying him with superstar Kris Bryant and another Windy City standout, Jose Abreu. Adding to the intrigue, Morrison’s success came despite playing half his season at one of the majors’ least friendly venues for left-handed batters, according to Baseball Prospectus. And while many lefty hitters tend to fare poorly against same-handed pitchers, that hasn’t really been the case with Morrison. He posted an above-average 109 wRC+ versus southpaws in 2017 and has compiled a playable mark (95) during his career.

[moonslav59]

Morrison has been one of baseball’s most formidable hitters.

 

I'd like to sign LoMo, but he's only been "formidable" for 1 season and the last month of 2015.

[mvp 78]

If Pedroia is ahead of schedule, would it be a waste to sign Nunez?

[mvp 78]

Morrison has been one of baseball’s most formidable hitters.

 

I'd like to sign LoMo, but he's only been "formidable" for 1 season and the last month of 2015.

 

Bautista blossomed at the same age as LoMo. He then went on to mash for the next 5 years.

[mvp 78]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lomo-returns-rays-continue-opportunistic-offseason/

 

After a dreadful April, Morrison produced a 125 wRC+, .821 OPS and 14 homers over his next 86 games until he was shut down in September with a wrist injury.

 

2016 was a fairly solid year once he got going.

 

http://theprocessreport.net/tightening-up-with-logan-morrison/

 

This article makes the case that when LoMo doesn't swing at pitches outside the k zone, that he becomes a vastly better hitter.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9205&position=1B/OF#platediscipline

 

You can see by the numbers that he is steadily getting better at being more patient. This is a skill that a player can learn. I'm not sure it's simply a fluke.

[Bellhorn04]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lomo-returns-rays-continue-opportunistic-offseason/

 

After a dreadful April, Morrison produced a 125 wRC+, .821 OPS and 14 homers over his next 86 games until he was shut down in September with a wrist injury.

 

2016 was a fairly solid year once he got going.

 

http://theprocessreport.net/tightening-up-with-logan-morrison/

 

This article makes the case that when LoMo doesn't swing at pitches outside the k zone, that he becomes a vastly better hitter.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9205&position=1B/OF#platediscipline

 

You can see by the numbers that he is steadily getting better at being more patient. This is a skill that a player can learn. I'm not sure it's simply a fluke.

 

Makes you wonder why he hasn't been signed yet, since, supposedly, all the front offices are crawling with stat geeks now.

[mvp 78]

Makes you wonder why he hasn't been signed yet, since, supposedly, all the front offices are crawling with stat geeks now.

 

Collusion. Duh!

 

Honestly, there are so many unsigned players right now that could be had for decent contracts that it's weird that neither side has flinched.

[moonslav59]

Bautista blossomed at the same age as LoMo. He then went on to mash for the next 5 years.

 

Others had good years at his age, then returned to previous obscurity.

 

I wish we had signed LoMo over Moreland, and I'd still be okay with signing him now, but unless we can find someone to take $7-9M of HRam's contract, it might be too costly.

[harmony]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/someone-should-take-a-chance-on-logan-morrison.html

 

What does everyone think about LoMo? You could sign him for less money and less years than JD (projected 3/36).

On the topic of lapdogs, did Logan Morrison's agent write that piece for MLB Trade Rumors?

[mvp 78]

On the topic of lapdogs, did Logan Morrison's agent write that piece for MLB Trade Rumors?

 

No, but the author of the article is from Seattle.