2023 Free Agents

[Oscars]

Hopefully they release him … into the Alaskan wilderness while wearing salmon-scented cologne and a suit made of bacon…

 

That made me lol

[a700hitter]

Bauer suspension reduce to time served.

 

Since we are the new Oakland Raiders: Devers for Bauer.

Has he been cleared criminally?

[moonslav59]

Has he been cleared criminally?

 

After a five-month review of pitcher Trevor Bauer’s criminal case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced Tuesday that it would not seek charges against the Dodgers pitcher.

 

“After a thorough review of all the available evidence, including the civil restraining order proceedings, witness statements and the physical evidence, the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” reads the D.A. office’s comments in its declination.

 

-Forbes

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2022/02/08/trevor-bauers-criminal-case-concludes-with-no-charges-filed-against-him-mlb-investigation-still-open/?sh=364ab0672bee

[Jasonbay44]

Deshaun Watson was also “cleared”. I wouldn’t want Watson on my team and don’t want Bauer in Boston

[moonslav59]

Deshaun Watson was also “cleared”. I wouldn’t want Watson on my team and don’t want Bauer in Boston

 

I don't either, but like Watson- someone will take Bauer.

[moonslav59]

Conforto to Giants at $36M/2.

 

Taylor Rogers to Giants at $33M/3.

 

Not quite the Correa money.

[a700hitter]

So what are Bloom’s options for a corner OF/bat? Are there any other late 30’s early 40’s options available? Maybe Nelson Cruz.

[moonslav59]

So what are Bloom’s options for a corner OF/bat? Are there any other late 30’s early 40’s options available? Maybe Nelson Cruz.

 

I think we are going with Yoshida in LF (Turner at DH), Kike in CF and Verdugo in RF with refsnyder at the 4th OF'er and possible platoon in RF with Dugo. Duran, and later Rafaela provide the minor league depth, like it or not.

 

Other RF options may have to be via trade.

 

Free Agents:

Adam Duvall

 

The highest rated players still unsigned according to MLBTR list:

23. Eovaldi SP

33. Profar LF

39. Chafin RP

40. Segura 2B

41. Wacha SP

48. Kluber SP

NR Andrus SS

NR Fulmer RP

NR Belt 1B

NR Cueto SP

NR Kimbrell RP

NR Mancini DH/LF/RF/1B

NR G Sanchez C

 

.

[moonslav59]

Jays acquire Daulton Varsho for Gurriel & Moreno.

[harmony]

Jays acquire Daulton Varsho for Gurriel & Moreno.

A trade for Daulton Varsho likely would have cost the Red Sox a top prospect such as Triston Casas, who is a month older than Gabriel Moreno, who plays a premium position.

 

Casas entered the 2022 season as the 17th-ranked prospect at Baseball America while Moreno entered the season as BA's seventh-ranked prospect. This year Casas posted 0.3 fWAR and 120 wRC+ in 27 MLB games while Moreno posted 0.7 fWAR and 113 wRC+ in 25 games.

 

Of course the Diamondbacks also got one year of established veteran Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the trade. Two years of Alex Verdugo might be a reasonable comp.

Edited December 24, 2022 by harmony

[moonslav59]

Phillies to sign Kimbrel.

[Larry Cook]

I think we are going with Yoshida in LF (Turner at DH), Kike in CF and Verdugo in RF with refsnyder at the 4th OF'er and possible platoon in RF with Dugo. Duran, and later Rafaela provide the minor league depth, like it or not.

 

Other RF options may have to be via trade.

 

Free Agents:

Adam Duvall

 

The highest rated players still unsigned according to MLBTR list:

23. Eovaldi SP

33. Profar LF

39. Chafin RP

40. Segura 2B

41. Wacha SP

48. Kluber SP

NR Andrus SS

NR Fulmer RP

NR Belt 1B

NR Cueto SP

NR Kimbrell RP

NR Mancini DH/LF/RF/1B

NR G Sanchez C

 

.

 

I would not mind if we resign wacha and/or eovaldi. I know Hang’em Chaim prefers two year deals and they are probably looking for a three year deal.

[Bellhorn04]

I would not mind if we resign wacha and/or eovaldi. I know Hang’em Chaim prefers two year deals and they are probably looking for a three year deal.

 

Hang'em prefers one year deals most of all.

[Larry Cook]

Hang'em prefers one year deals most of all.

 

Amen brother. I know Hang’em Chaim pitched Henry on a 5 year plan to sustained team success, but as we enter year 4, it is hard to see it becoming a reality.

[moonslav59]

Amen brother. I know Hang’em Chaim pitched Henry on a 5 year plan to sustained team success, but as we enter year 4, it is hard to see it becoming a reality.

 

Well, we haven't traded but one top 20 prospect (Aldo Ramirez) since the Beeks trade in the summer of 2018.

 

Before that, we had traded over 20 prospects and players who at, at one point or another, had been a top 20 prospect. That's quite a shift and not something anyone should have expected to see ML results in just 3 years. It's kind of a plus, we did see Whitlock and now are seeing Casas and Bello.

 

The farm may or may not produce as hoped, but not out of lack of effort and a focused priority.

[dgalehouse]

Five year plans are often just a hoax.

[Larry Cook]

Well, we haven't traded but one top 20 prospect (Aldo Ramirez) since the Beeks trade in the summer of 2018.

 

Before that, we had traded over 20 prospects and players who at, at one point or another, had been a top 20 prospect. That's quite a shift and not something anyone should have expected to see ML results in just 3 years. It's kind of a plus, we did see Whitlock and now are seeing Casas and Bello.

 

The farm may or may not produce as hoped, but not out of lack of effort and a focused priority.

 

Not much pitching in our minor league system,

[moonslav59]

Five year plans are often just a hoax.

 

How long should it take to complete two major aspects of a true rebuilding of the farm?

 

1. Acquiring high quality prospects via the draft, IFA and trades- rarely Rule 5.

 

2. Developing and waiting for them to mature once they reach the bigs?

 

Did anyone really expect to start seeing 1-3 meaningful prospects called up in 2-3 years and then see that become a steady flow?

 

Again, we saw only Houck do anything meaningful since Devers in 2017. You demand a budget slash of massive proportion and hand the GM top salaries like Sale and others like JD and Nate who were kind of up and down over the last 3 years.

 

Was the hoax the 5 year plan or some fans' belief we could possibly reach glory in 3 years?

 

I think you know my choice.

[moonslav59]

Not much pitching in our minor league system,

 

Well, Whitlock was acquired a couple years back and Bello just graduated. Those two alone, blow away any pair we've seen in a long time.

 

The top pitching prospects we have now may not wow anybody, but they might be better than we've seen in a long time:

 

6. Mata

8. Walter

10. Perales

12. Wikelman

13. Murphy

19. Rodriguez-Cruz

German, Kelly, Seabold, Drohan, Paez, Uberstine

Grads: Wink, Ort & Crawford

 

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

Five year plans are often just a hoax.

 

A five year plan might be acceptable for a team that's tanking like the Cubs or the Astros did. Or a small market team like Miami. But not for a team with such a high payroll every year.

[moonslav59]

A five year plan might be acceptable for a team that's tanking like the Cubs or the Astros did. Or a small market team like Miami. But not for a team with such a high payroll every year.

 

The problem with a 5 year plan that does not include losing in most of those 5 years is how to acquire top prospects.

 

It's not like the old days where good players fell in the draft due to "signability" issues.

 

Once you've established a strong farm, it's a little easier not needing to focus nearly everything on adding to it, but we've only just begun to arrive at that point, and maybe they still think a while more is needed- like the full 5 years- not 3.

[Hugh2]

The 3 year plan becomes a 5 year plan, and if that team stinks it will be a 10 year plan.

 

This is Blooms year, and I have to say at the very least I’m interested to see how this blows up in his face yet I’m leaving the door open to be surprised in 2023. This year will make it break Bloom.

[notin]

The 3 year plan becomes a 5 year plan, and if that team stinks it will be a 10 year plan.

 

This is Blooms year, and I have to say at the very least I’m interested to see how this blows up in his face yet I’m leaving the door open to be surprised in 2023. This year will make it break Bloom.

 

 

The big question is what determines “make” vs “break”…

[moonslav59]

The 3 year plan becomes a 5 year plan, and if that team stinks it will be a 10 year plan.

 

This is Blooms year, and I have to say at the very least I’m interested to see how this blows up in his face yet I’m leaving the door open to be surprised in 2023. This year will make it break Bloom.

 

In all honesty, how long did you think it would take to buck the trend of getting just Houck from the farm in a 5 year period?

 

Even if you build the farm from bottom 5 to top 5 in 3 years, you won't start seeing results for another 1-2 years, min.

 

Plus, we drafted HS players, mostly, so even 3 years is a stretch.

 

I thought we could look significantly better in 2023 than it appears we have set ourselves up to be, so I'm thrilled, either.

 

I did actually think we looked better, on paper, in March 2022 than I did in March 2021, so maybe I'll be fooled again.

[moonslav59]

Mets now have an issue with Correa's physical and are looking to adjust the contract's guaranteed money. Deal still "likely."

[Bellhorn04]

Mets now have an issue with Correa's physical and are looking to adjust the contract's guaranteed money. Deal still "likely."

 

They'll probably put some sort of medical clause in there, I'm sure they will strike a deal.

 

As 5 Gloves might say, maybe this shows the Mets believe there's a Sanity Clause.

[moonslav59]

What's the chances we sign just one from these 5: Kluber, Nate, Andrus, Segura or Fulmer?

 

To me, Kluber & Andrus changes the outlook of the team by enough to look like a clear improvement from 2022 and maybe even 2021.

[Hugh2]

What's the chances we sign just one from these 5: Kluber, Nate, Andrus, Segura or Fulmer?

 

To me, Kluber & Andrus changes the outlook of the team by enough to look like a clear improvement from 2022 and maybe even 2021.

 

I think it’s probable we sign one. Possible we sign two, but certainly not if we trade for a SS/SP

[moonslav59]

Remaining Unsigned Free Agents at positions we need or could upgrade:

 

Starting Pitchers

Chris Archer (34)

Kohei Arihara (30)

Dylan Bundy (30)

Johnny Cueto (37)

Zach Davies (30)

Danny Duffy (34)

Nathan Eovaldi (33)

Chi Chi Gonzalez (31)

Zack Greinke (39)

Rich Hill (43)

Drew Hutchison (32)

Dallas Keuchel (35)

Corey Kluber (37)

Chad Kuhl (30)

Wade Miley (36)

Mike Minor (35)

Michael Pineda (34)

Joe Ross (30)

Aaron Sanchez (30)

Anibal Sanchez (39)

Michael Wacha (31)

 

Shortstops

Elvis Andrus (34)

Alcides Escobar (36)

Marwin Gonzalez (34)

Didi Gregorius (33)

Jose Iglesias (33)

Andrelton Simmons (33)

Dee Strange-Gordon (35)

Jonathan Villar (32)

 

Second Basemen (Story to SS)

Hanser Alberto (30)

Robinson Cano (40)

Harold Castro (29)

Willi Castro (26)

Yu Chang (27)

Josh Harrison (35)

Cesar Hernandez (33)

Rougned Odor (29)

Chris Owings (31)

Jean Segura (33)

Andrelton Simmons (33)

Josh VanMeter (28)

Jonathan Villar (32)

Tyler Wade (28)

 

Center Fielders (Kike to 2B and Story to SS)

Greg Allen (30)

Albert Almora (29)

Jackie Bradley Jr. (33)

Lorenzo Cain (37)

Jonathan Davis (31)

Adam Duvall (34)

Adam Engel (31)

Guillermo Heredia (32)

Odubel Herrera (31)

Travis Jankowski (32)

Jake Marisnick (32)

Tyler Naquin (32)

Rafael Ortega (32)

Brett Phillips (29)

Kevin Pillar (34)

A.J. Pollock (35)

Magneuris Sierra (27)

 

Catchers

Jorge Alfaro (30)

Robinson Chirinos (38)

Sandy Leon (34)

Roberto Perez (34)

Kevin Plawecki (32)

Austin Romine (34)

Gary Sanchez (30)

Luis Torrens (27)

 

LH RP

Jose Alvarez (34)

Anthony Banda (29)

Zack Britton (35)

Andrew Chafin (33)

Aroldis Chapman (35)

Ross Detwiler (37)

Anthony Gose (32)

Brad Hand (33)

Jared Koenig (29)

Kirk McCarty (27)

T.J. McFarland (34)

Jake McGee (36)

Matt Moore (34)

Sean Newcomb (30)

Daniel Norris (30)

Dillon Peters (30)

Chasen Shreve (32)

Will Smith (33)

Justin Wilson (35)

Alex Young (29)

 

RH RP

Jacob Barnes (33)

Archie Bradley (30)

Jhoulys Chacin (35)

Steve Cishek (37)

Alex Colome (34)

Jharel Cotton (31)

Tyler Danish (28)

Tyler Duffey (32)

Jeurys Familia (33)

Michael Fulmer (30)

Ken Giles (31)

Chad Green (32)

Jandel Gustave (30)

Will Harris (38)

Heath Hembree (34)

Jeff Hoffman (30)

Tommy Hunter (36)

Luke Jackson (31)

Ian Kennedy (38)

Corey Knebel (30)

Dominic Leone (31)

Reyes Moronta (30)

Jimmy Nelson (34)

Darren O’Day (40)

Scott Oberg (31)

Wily Peralta (34)

Luis Perdomo (30)

David Phelps (36)

Alex Reyes (28)

Garrett Richards (35)

Hansel Robles (32)

Sergio Romo (40)

Hirokazu Sawamura (35)

Bryan Shaw (35)

Joe Smith (39)

Craig Stammen (39)

Jackson Stephens (29)

Hunter Strickland (34)

Touki Toussaint (27)

Luke Weaver (29)

Matt Wisler (30)

 

[redsoxrules]

Rich Hill and Nate off the list. That leaves Kluber.