A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[Spudboy]

The only issue I have ever had with Canada and it's people is that they sell milk in plastic bags.

[Elktonnick]

No, but I think that Canadians are fair game.

 

They are a crazy bunch!

 

A Canadian diplomat once told me that the Canadian Foreign Ministry advised it citizens abroad to act as "Canadian as possible under the circumstances!" I think that says it all. For the record I love Canada. I will never forget how Canadian diplomats hid our people during the Iran hostage crisis. Besides how can anyone criticize a country that produced Bobby Orr.

[Bellhorn04]

It is a country made up of defeated loyalists to the crown, defeated French, draft dodgers and other assorted losers that can’t get American citizenship or access to our borders.

 

edit: in the inevitable case that this will offend the humorless, I just want to go on record that I was kidding. I have nothing against Canada or Canadians despite their annoying accent.

 

Annoying accent, eh?

[a700hitter]

Annoying accent, eh?

it isn’t often that a Brooklyn-ite makes fun of someone’s accent. LOL!

[Bellhorn04]

Take it for what it's worth, but I think my city of Halifax is probably the most American-like city in Canada. We're sort of like a shrunken-down version of Boston. As far as baseball loyalty is concerned, I'm quite sure the Red Sox are #1 here, with the Blue Jays and Yankees in a battle for #2.

[Spudboy]

I have not been to Halifax since 1985 or so. But I liked it a bunch back then.

[notin]

Annoying accent, eh?

 

So I take it you actually know all the words to the Canadian national anthem and not just up to "all thy sons' command" like the rest of us who got bored at that part of hockey games?

[Bellhorn04]

So I take it you actually know all the words to the Canadian national anthem and not just up to "all thy sons' command" like the rest of us who got bored at that part of hockey games?

 

Our anthem is very boring.

[Kimmi]

A Canadian diplomat once told me that the Canadian Foreign Ministry advised it citizens abroad to act as "Canadian as possible under the circumstances!" I think that says it all. For the record I love Canada. I will never forget how Canadian diplomats hid our people during the Iran hostage crisis. Besides how can anyone criticize a country that produced Bobby Orr.

 

I have nothing against the fine country of Canada, nor its fine citizens.

 

I was just messing around with Bellhorn, but I do think they're a crazy bunch! Anyone who spends as much time curling as they do must be a crazy bunch.

[harmony]

Take it for what it's worth, but I think my city of Halifax is probably the most American-like city in Canada. We're sort of like a shrunken-down version of Boston. As far as baseball loyalty is concerned, I'm quite sure the Red Sox are #1 here, with the Blue Jays and Yankees in a battle for #2.

When Toronto plays in Seattle the Blue Jay fans are louder than the Mariner fans (and may come close to outnumbering the local fans).

[harmony]

The current MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement no longer permits a team to exclude for luxury tax calculations the AAV salary of a player who has been outrighted off the 40-man roster:

 

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/01/boston_red_soxs_rusney_castill_13.html#incart_river_index

 

... although Rusney Castillo's status is not affected because he was outrighted before ratification of the new CBA. However, if Castillo is called up and then outrighted, his salary counts through 2020.

[moonslav59]

The current MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement no longer permits a team to exclude for luxury tax calculations the AAV salary of a player who has been outrighted off the 40-man roster:

 

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/01/boston_red_soxs_rusney_castill_13.html#incart_river_index

 

... although Rusney Castillo's status is not affected because he was outrighted before ratification of the new CBA. However, if Castillo is called up and then outrighted, his salary counts through 2020.

 

Yes, and this is the reason he will never be called up. He'd have to be tearing up AAA to even consider a call-up.

[Spudboy]

I have nothing against the fine country of Canada, nor its fine citizens.

 

I was just messing around with Bellhorn, but I do think they're a crazy bunch! Anyone who spends as much time curling as they do must be a crazy bunch.

 

But they do have poutine.

 

That counts for a lot.

[Kimmi]

Yes, and this is the reason he will never be called up. He'd have to be tearing up AAA to even consider a call-up.

 

If the Sox sign JD, that makes his chances of being called up even less likely, although they are very slim to begin with. The Sox should just go ahead and trade him for whatever they can get, even if they have to eat a good chunk of his salary.

 

Thanks Ben!

[Kimmi]

But they do have poutine.

 

That counts for a lot.

 

I have never had poutine, although I do like french fries, with or without gravy.

[OH FOY]

Our anthem is the most beautiful in the World, still brings tears to my eyes. Take it from a Vietnam Vet.

[moonslav59]

If the Sox sign JD, that makes his chances of being called up even less likely, although they are very slim to begin with. The Sox should just go ahead and trade him for whatever they can get, even if they have to eat a good chunk of his salary.

 

Thanks Ben!

 

I agree.

 

How about....

 

Castillo ($37.8M/3 remaining)

Leon (~$3M arb + 2 more arbs)

Holt (~2M arb + 1 more arb)

Swihart (4 arbs)

Groome

$8M cash spread out over 4 years

 

for

 

Prado $28.5M/2 ($13.3M luxury)

JT Realmuto (~$4M arb + 2 more arbs)

 

[notin]

I think the Marlins would just assume have Prado than pay all of those deals.

 

Realmuto to will get them a haul and the Sox don't need a catcher. But I wonder what the price might be for Dan Straily and Derek Dietrich...

Edited January 7, 2018 by notin

[a700hitter]

I agree.

 

How about....

 

Castillo ($37.8M/3 remaining)

Leon (~$3M arb + 2 more arbs)

Holt (~2M arb + 1 more arb)

Swihart (4 arbs)

Groome

$8M cash spread out over 4 years

 

for

 

Prado $28.5M/2 ($13.3M luxury)

JT Realmuto (~$4M arb + 2 more arbs)

 

What about Vasquez for Reamulto straight up?

[notin]

What about Vasquez for Reamulto straight up?

 

Whats in that deal for Miami? More years of the lesser player?

[a700hitter]

Whats in that deal for Miami? More years of the lesser player?

Vasquez is the superior defender. He showed solid offensive performance and yes more years. Miami is in a full rebuild mode. More controllable years is a good thing. Plus, Reamilto wants out. Maybe sweeten the pot with an A ball prospect. Edited January 7, 2018 by a700hitter

[jacksonianmarch]

That's not gonna happen. Realmuto is a 3+ WAR catcher with power and good defense. The Marlins are going to want a 2-3 prospect package with one prospect being MLB ready. They don't want a limited ceiling defensive catcher

[moonslav59]

That's not gonna happen. Realmuto is a 3+ WAR catcher with power and good defense. The Marlins are going to want a 2-3 prospect package with one prospect being MLB ready. They don't want a limited ceiling defensive catcher

 

Why would they care about ML ready prospects? They'd prefer lower prospects with higher ceilings, like Groome.

 

They also need capable low cost players to fill roster spots- like Castillo, Holt & Swihart.

 

I agree, they'd want another prospect- maybe like Brannen or Danny Diaz.

[jacksonianmarch]

No, they don't. They want at least one big league ready guy. Look at the Ozuna deal. The headliner will be their starting CFer this year. The Stanton deal was different due to the money involved. Also, you need to stop pumping Groome as a trade chip. You're stuck with him until he progresses further in the system unless you want to give him away. Yes, his stuff is electric, but the off the field stuff plus his health and command make him a lottery ticket at this point. If he gets through this year healthy without any off the field garbage and he locates, then you have something to trade (although you probably would want to hold him at that point)

[notin]

That's not gonna happen. Realmuto is a 3+ WAR catcher with power and good defense. The Marlins are going to want a 2-3 prospect package with one prospect being MLB ready. They don't want a limited ceiling defensive catcher

 

MLB ready prospects? Like the ones they got for Stanton?

[moonslav59]

No, they don't. They want at least one big league ready guy. Look at the Ozuna deal. The headliner will be their starting CFer this year. The Stanton deal was different due to the money involved. Also, you need to stop pumping Groome as a trade chip. You're stuck with him until he progresses further in the system unless you want to give him away. Yes, his stuff is electric, but the off the field stuff plus his health and command make him a lottery ticket at this point. If he gets through this year healthy without any off the field garbage and he locates, then you have something to trade (although you probably would want to hold him at that point)

 

We got Pom for Espinoza. I think top single A prospects might have more value than you give them.

 

A team like Miami, that is looking at noit competing for 3-5 years may very well prefer several farther away prospects over fewer ML ready ones.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports....

 

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the Sox “are not looking to move” Blake Swihart, despite trade interest from other teams. The last two seasons were essentially a writeoff for Swihart, due to defensive issues behind the plate and ankle injuries that limited him to just 91 minor league games and 25 MLB games in 2016-17. Still, the Sox haven’t given up on the former top prospect, with Dombrowski noting that Swihart’s positional versatility has helped add to his value for the team. While Dombrowski noted that “you could never say you would not move him or anyone else,” Swihart is “still part of our plans….Sometimes you get stuck with players who are out of options. In this case, because of his flexibility, I think we’ve got a little better chance of getting through it.”

[notin]

Of course no mention was made of what was offered for Swihart. As I would guess many GMs viewed him as a high ceiling flier, I doubt any of the offers were all that eye-popping...

[moonslav59]

Of course no mention was made of what was offered for Swihart. As I would guess many GMs viewed him as a high ceiling flier, I doubt any of the offers were all that eye-popping...

 

No, but it does go to show that some GMs, not just ours, do still think he has a high ceiling possibility.

[harmony]

No, but it does go to show that some GMs, not just ours, do still think he has a high ceiling possibility.

Or at the league minimum Blake Swihart could be a backup catcher with upside.