And the off season begins (2018-19)

[moonslav59]

MLB is constantly trying to achieve a semblance of competitive balance . The more you finish on top , the lower your draft picks. The more you spend , the higher the penalty taxes . Maybe the next step will be free beer and hot dogs for anyone buying a ticket to a Rays game. As a long time Sox fan , I just want to see us continue to succeed.

 

We all do. Probably the best way to keep winning is to keep your farm from being near the worst even for one year, but certainly not 2-3 years in a row.

 

We certainly won these rings by spending, but without some great homegrown talent mixed in, there would be zero rings. Every team we had from 2004, 2007. 2013 and 2018 all had several excellent players getting paid way below market value.

 

It's hard to win by only spending. Right now, we have Devers, Beni and Brasier who are pre-arb and looking very good, but we will need more like them starting real soon, and I hate to sound like a pessimist, because I love this team, but I don't see the next Devers or Beni in sight.

 

[moonslav59]

Players got hosed in the last agreement think there will be a battle this time, which should favor the big market teams.

 

To me, the biggest thing the players should push for is to increase the minimum wage and maybe increase the roster to 26 or 27 players. Only a select few benefit from the current system- the owners and the big stars. More players make less than $2-3M than mega deals. They should demand more for the guys who might only last a year or two in the bigs.

 

(I doubt they do this.)

 

 

 

[Fisk]

To me, the biggest thing the players should push for is to increase the minimum wage and maybe increase the roster to 26 or 27 players. Only a select few benefit from the current system- the owners and the big stars. More players make less than $2-3M than mega deals. They should demand more for the guys who might only last a year or two in the bigs.

 

(I doubt they do this

 

The system is set up for the stars. Another big problem is the young guys not making there money until the late 20s, and veterans being paid for there declining years.

[moonslav59]

The system is set up for the stars. Another big problem is the young guys not making there money until the late 20s, and veterans being paid for there declining years.

 

Yes, right. If the majority of the players banded together and demanded higher minimum wages and a better arb set-up rather than a much higher luxury tax limit, the owners would probably be okay with the deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

They wouldn’t. The owners are entirely happy with the arrangement on young talent. If there was a shortening of the arb process, more than half the league would be up in arms as the balance of power would once again shift to the big markets. Right now, we are in the age of player development and parity. The teams that can blow it up the fastest and develop from within will end up sustaining a winning window. Teams that spend huge may win, but end up with longer down phases as you’re paying more for the end of a career than for prime years. Decreasing rookie control would essentially eliminate the A’s, Royals, Twins, Rays, Marlins, Pirates, Reds, and Padres at the outset and seriously impact the mid market clubs from having any sort of window beyond a year or two.

[Fisk]

They wouldn’t. The owners are entirely happy with the arrangement on young talent. If there was a shortening of the arb process, more than half the league would be up in arms as the balance of power would once again shift to the big markets. Right now, we are in the age of player development and parity. The teams that can blow it up the fastest and develop from within will end up sustaining a winning window. Teams that spend huge may win, but end up with longer down phases as you’re paying more for the end of a career than for prime years. Decreasing rookie control would essentially eliminate the A’s, Royals, Twins, Rays, Marlins, Pirates, Reds, and Padres at the outset and seriously impact the mid market clubs from having any sort of window beyond a year or two.

Hence a battle is coming.

[Bellhorn04]

Of course, I would not want us to follow their model, although I wish we had some of their talent evaporators in our system.

 

'Talent evaporator' - I think that's how some people see DD. LOL

[Bellhorn04]

So true.

 

Some risks have not worked out... many have.

 

To me, DD's best deals have been very low risk ones:

 

The Eovaldi trade.

 

The Pearce trade.

 

The Nunez trade.

 

The Brasier signing.

 

 

 

So you're leaving out Chris Freakin' Sale and JD Freakin' Martinez because they don't fit into this category?

 

You've had a thousand posts about Sale and how much you loved the trade.

 

Now you're not even including it in DD's best deals because it wasn't one of the low risk ones.

 

Makes no sense.

 

Re-posting this for moon because I'm sure he missed it and the chance for a good argument.

[moonslav59]

Re-posting this for moon because I'm sure he missed it and the chance for a good argument.

 

In terms of all the low risk deals vs all high risk deals, I think DD has done better with the low risk ones.

 

Of course, I loved the Chris Sale deal better than any other deal. Yes, the JD trade worked like magic right off the bat. The Price deal looks better now than it did just before the 2018 playoffs. The Kimbrel & Pom deals are also in this group. IMO.

 

I'm guessing we put the Moreland, Pearce and Nunez signings into the low risk category, and maybe the Travis Shaw/ Dubon for Thornburg in there, too. I'm sure there are other not-so-good low risk deals and some so-so like A Reed, Abad, Fister, Kinsler, and others.

 

I didn't mean to imply DD has done poorly with his big signings; he's actually done very well, but I think he seems masterful at the mid range, under-the-radar deals, especially the mid season ones..

[kenmeister]

I can't believe how long this Eovaldi thing is taking. Offseasons are hard.

[cp176]

I can't believe how long this Eovaldi thing is taking. Offseasons are hard.

 

No news from DD often is good news.

[notin]

No news from DD often is good news.

 

I think a lot of teams are holding off moves until after the Rule 5 draft...

[Bellhorn04]

The big story is whether the monster auctions for Harper and Machado actually materialize as expected.

[notin]

The big story is whether the monster auctions for Harper and Machado actually materialize as expected.

 

The Phillies appear to have taken themselves out of the Machado Market.

 

I think it’s going to come down to the Yankees and the White Sox. Gee, I wonder who wins that bidding war...

[Fisk]

The Phillies appear to have taken themselves out of the Machado Market.

 

I think it’s going to come down to the Yankees and the White Sox. Gee, I wonder who wins that bidding war...

 

I would put the cardinals in it also.

[notin]

I would put the cardinals in it also.

 

Possible. They were prepared to take Stanton’s entire contract a year ago.

 

I would guess they’d be more interested in Harper considering their infield seems to be all set. But then I d doubt they pass on Machado simply to accommodate Jedd Gyorko and Paul DeJong...

[Fisk]

Possible. They were prepared to take Stanton’s entire contract a year ago.

 

I would guess they’d be more interested in Harper considering their infield seems to be all set. But then I d doubt they pass on Machado simply to accommodate Jedd Gyorko and Paul DeJong...

I’m pretty sure they wanted Donaldson.

[mvp 78]

To me, the biggest thing the players should push for is to increase the minimum wage and maybe increase the roster to 26 or 27 players. Only a select few benefit from the current system- the owners and the big stars. More players make less than $2-3M than mega deals. They should demand more for the guys who might only last a year or two in the bigs.

 

(I doubt they do this.)

 

Problem is that the union delegate from each team is most likely making about $5M and is looking out for himself rather than the lower earners.

[Kimmi]

Like it or don't like it , it is expensive ( and always getting more expensive ) to maintain a championship caliber team year after year . The top players get paid top dollar . Arbitration raises are costly . Free agents want big bucks and the security of long contracts . You can say no to all of them if you want . But it is very difficult for any team to stay on top by depending on the farm. The teams with the best players are the teams that win. Year in and year out , the top teams are usually the big spenders . You don't have to like it , but it is a fact of baseball life.

 

The importance of having a strong farm system...

[moonslav59]

Problem is that the union delegate from each team is most likely making about $5M and is looking out for himself rather than the lower earners.

 

I'm sure if the 15 lowest paid players made their demands, the rep would have to honor their position.

 

I think the owners would be okay with it, as long as their years of control does not change. Add more money to the bottom tiers and take from the top. Sounds good in theory, but making it happen will not be easy.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rumor that the Sox are intensifying their pursuit of Eovaldi. Sounds like a deal is close

[Bellhorn04]

Rumor that the Sox are intensifying their pursuit of Eovaldi. Sounds like a deal is close

 

I heard the first part, but not the second part.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rumor of a 4 yr $17 mil AAV or more negotiation

[Bellhorn04]

Rumor of a 4 yr $17 mil AAV or more negotiation

 

Very plausible numbers. The Corbin signing bumped his price about 2 mill a year, I think. LOL

[Kimmi]

rumor of a 4 yr $17 mil aav or more negotiation

 

ugh

[cp176]

Rumor of a 4 yr $17 mil AAV or more negotiation

 

Looks like it is getting close. I will be happy to have him back. We'll see what he can do.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports on Eovaldi...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/negotiations-between-red-sox-nathan-eovaldi-reportedly-intensifying.html

[Larry Cook]

Cardinals got a super sweet deal bagging Goldschmidt.

 

If we sign eovaldi that would be a huge win.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Cards gave up next to nothing. A backup catcher who cannot hit and a starter who has trouble with the strike zone. They’ve got Yadi for now and their rotation is 8 deep. They gave up nothing they will feel and got an MVP caliber bat for a season.

 

BTW, I expect Eovaldi to sign. If he’s healthy and the cutter works long term, he’ll be a good addition. He is one of the riskier options on the market, but with the sox Chief rivals being susceptible to power righties, it makes sense

[moonslav59]

I know it's just one year, but still....This is the best AZ could do?