jacksonianmarch

It will go to an arbiter. Listen, he sought outside medical treatment and then rehabbed away from the team. He was not given permission for either. When you are on a big contract like this one, you jump when they tell you to jump. These contracts are typically iron clad in terms of your responsibilities, but usually arbiters side with the employee over the employer. This is the Yanks' attempt to get out from under the financial obligation. I do not think they will be successful, but it is at least a reasonable argument.

It’s not a cheapskate issue. It’s a job. If your job required you to work and show up and you don’t show up, what will happen?

Torres is also 22 and like Devers, may end up seeing a big improvement once he gets acclimated. Torres hasn't been the regular SS yet. He will be in 2020

MLB doesn't want to institute a cap because the MLBPA would require a floor. MLBPA won't require a floor knowing that MLB will institute a cap to do so. It's cat and mouse.

yet he gladly handed Torres to us. Epstein's loyalty is to his team, that's it

Rehabbing players are expected to do at least a portion of their rehab with the team so they can check on progress. Ellsbury effectively just went home and went AWOL during his "rehab". I agree with the Yanks on this one. If under contract and getting paid $25 mil a year, you jump when they tell you to

Now this is just dumb. Andujar has been working on his defense constantly and since being cleared to throw, has been at their tampa complex gearing up for the season. The idea that he isn't working is preposterous. The possibility that his issues aren't correctable is there, though

Now that is hyperbole and you know it.

Where you better hope a major contender lost their stud OFer in year. That is the only way the sox get a better return at the deadline vs now. That is why Machado returned so much, Seager went down. But still, Machado's return was more about volume than substance. Bloom isn't the kind of guy to make that type of deal and just get a huge load of prospects with one of them being top 100. I will tell you this, if Mookie gets dealt, sox fans will be entirely displeased with the return immediately. This is the Bloom way. Returns are never flashy

Yankee fans are going to enjoy 2020 regardless. We are squarely in our window right now. The sox window has passed. Let's put it this way, I sincerely hope Mookie is patrolling RF for the sox in 2020. That means Bloom couldn't make his magic happen in a trade and the sox are going to either pay through the nose for him for the next decade or lose him for nothing

Also, Bloom is not a blow it up and get a ton of prospects kind of guy. Most of the deals that he made with established big leaguers involved major league talent coming back plus prospects. None of his deals were check marked in his favor at the time of the deal, but a lot of them ended up being that way. Look at his most recent stunner Archer for Glasnow and Meadows. Glasnow had been labeled a bust with the pirates. He was unable to stay healthy once he reached the bigs and then couldn't get anyone out when he was on the roster. Rays sprinkle some magic on him and he doesn't stay healthy, but he becomes incredibly effective and was solid in the POs. He should be fully healthy into 2020. Meadows was a highly rated prospect who had stalled at the upper levels of the Pirates system. He goes to TB, they make some adjustments and all of a sudden he is an all star. At the time, the deal looked terrible for the Rays. Stalled hitter and poorly performing frequently injured pitcher. Now, Archer has melted down in Pitt and the Rays have two all stars on the cheap.

Then you risk losing Mookie for a 4th round pick. If you get under the LT, then you get a supp pick in the 30s. So many things need to go right for the sox to be world series contenders and so many things would have to go wrong on the Yankee and TB side that 2020 looks like a sox wash. If 2020 looked like a banner year, then you hang onto Mookie with both hands and enjoy the ride. Instead, by not dealing him, you risk losing him for what amounts to nothing in a season where you're not really expected to be great. You maximize your return for him. The other thing you need to keep in mind is the receiving team's LT status. The value in a player's full year is the comp pick, but the comp pick isn't going to be as useful if the team receiving him is going to be over the lux tax.

Maybe he should give some back for being such a wimp. I hated this signing and am just glad there is only one more year on the books

He has a built in excuse, though. DD laid waste to the farm and signed guys past their prime for many years to come. I think Bloom is the right guy, but I also think the finances are going to be far more important than they have ever been. Remember, this guy operated in a FO role in potentially the most financially restricted franchise in baseball history and he made it work. Management coming to him and setting a budget is nothing new to him

That's correct, and the winter meetings haven't started. I am really perplexed by the mixed messages, though. Sam Kennedy coming out and saying getting under the LT was a goal but not a mandate is absolutely a cover to keep the MLBPA happy. But then the sox go and tender JBJ, who is not worth the arb number he is gonna get and his projected price is the exact amount the sox are over the LT by. Really confusing stuff here. Yes, I think the sox deal JBJ, but I also think the sox might need to eat some money to get the best return. Usually that isn't an issue, but when the sox are striving to get under the LT, this makes no sense

For a team like the sox entering a down phase and now shedding payroll, it makes little sense for them to devalue their most precious asset. Devers' proving able to play 3b is just as big as his bat coming of age. He has become a player capable of handling a premium position while also providing premium offensive capability. Also, don't discount the idea of a Devers deal after this season. Devers' 2019 was so good that a repeat performance in 2020 will put him in rarified air in terms of first arb total. He may end up in the Betts category around $10 mil. As he gets more expensive, he will be worth less. My guess is that Bloom is trying to sign him to a deal now and, if unsuccessful, will have his finger on the trigger for a deal. 3 years of arb control of an early 20s superstar 3b will be pretty valuable. With your GM being Bloom, everyone is in play to deal

I am surprised at the glacial pace of the sox' offseason, to be totally honest. Bloom is the kind of guy who thinks outside the box, but in this case the box is pretty clear. You gotta shed payroll. He hasn't done any payroll shedding to this point and has filled none of his openings on the market. The sox tendered Bradley, so they are stuck with him for now unless someone thinks he is a bargain as a rental at around $11-$13 mil, hint he is not. Based on the numbers, the sox are a JBJ over the first line, meaning they need to shed about $11 mil to get under the LT. If the plan is to get under by moving Bradley, then they need to get a prospect and not an MLBer in return or they will jump over the mark again. If the plan is to move Betts, then they're gonna be able to take big leaguers on, but they will also need to lower the asking price

May isn’t going anywhere. He’s pretty much locked into their rotation. You’re not getting Smith either, he’s gonna be their opening day catcher. Joc is on the block, but he’s another one year rental, so it wouldn’t make much sense unless you’re trying to build a Delmon Young tree (possible).

Are you FsB with a second username?

Thing is, we don’t need to deal Andujar. If we want him to work on 3rd, he’s got options remaining. If we want his bat in the lineup, we’ve got COF, 1b, 3b and DH at bats for him. If we want to move him, we will get something good. I don’t deal Andujar for a one year rental. I’d rather buff his stock and move him for someone special or keep him. I have said before that we need a leader in our rotation. We have enough talent in that rotation. Nobody has more raw talent than Sevy. Paxton is close. German has incredible talent. Tanaka has been a post season ace. Happ has proven previously and at the end of the year that he can survive as a 5. The problem is, we need a leader. We need a CC circa 2009. We need a guy who is going to be the face of the rotation. THAT is how you reinforce this team and win a World Series. That is all we need. We’ve got tons of offensive talent. We’ve got a bullpen that can win games on its own at times. We just need a guy to hand the ball to on opening day to show this team the way to do it. I don’t want a Jon Gray if that’s the only addition. I don’t want a Zach Wheeler if that’s the only addition. I need an ace. Give me Stras. Give me Cole. Heck, maybe even some MadBum love would help. But don’t give me a guy who cannot do it. We need someone more than just a has been ace like CC was. We need someone to count on in the ace role

True, but there is a lot of tread on those tires and he looked done last year. Stuff was worse than usual, couldn't find his breaking ball. Nobody is going to guarantee him much coming off the year he had

It won't be that large in terms of guarantees. Maybe with incentives it will reach $11 mil, who knows. My bet for Porcello is a $5 mil contract with a bunch of escalators for games started or innings pitched

Theo's overpay broke a 108 year curse. The Cubs will take that overpay every day and twice on sunday to finally see a title.

Maybe, but enough people will see his upside and his need to leave the Yankee trainers and medical staff to take a flier on him. I actually think the Marlins or Orioles would be a great landing place for him

Gray reminds me of Paxton. Elite stuff with intermittent performance concerns and health issues. He is a tantalizing talent, but doesn't see the field enough either due to performance or injury to harness the ceiling. Also, I don't like the idea of dealing Andujar for a rental as Gray is a FA after 2020