Jakerocker

I think they are actively trying to shop him in deals. And this is sort of a bluff. "Oh look, he's in LF for us in a big series tonight, so we obviously trust him a lot, so you shouldn't hessitate about his defense guys!!" type of move. I also think the eye test played into it as well, albeit without the intended results. I think they sent him for the tests now, hoping his vision was below normal, so they could say "Ah there we go, we found the problem, should be a stud now" and see if they could capitalize on the enthusiasm going forward. You see it happen in fantasy baseball all the time, when you hear someone got laser surgery over the winter, and all of a sudden he starts popping up on sleeper lists because everyone associates a physical defect being fixed as an obvious step towards improving. If the results were bad, there would be optimism about the future, but not enough time between now and the deadline for this optimism to be proven wrong, thus pushing the other GM to take a leap of faith and maybe give up more than he was willing to do before he heard the news about the eye. Ofcourse, as everything else this year, it didn't work out. Obviously these are just my thoughts, could be true or could just be me over thinking it. However, if they are true, seems kind of amateurish of the organization.

I trade Beckett. While he hasn't been ace like, I'm sure a team in the NL would give up a decent prospect (just don't expect like Shelby Miller or Anthony Rendon) because he's signed not only through this year, but the next two years, albeit at a good piece of money. He gets out of the AL East and Fenway, and his stats improve (hello, AJ Burnett, and I think Beckett is a similar pitcher to Burnett, but more talented) and we get a decent prospect and most of the money out of the way. I say, throw in 3 million-4million, and that's a reasonable contract for Beckett in the NL. I would have said the Pirates were an excellent spot for him to land, but with Wandy Rodriguez on board, they might be out of money. I can see the Reds being an option, although forget about Billy Hamilton. Maybe Daniel Corcino for Beckett plus 4 million per the next two years of his salary? The Reds get another guy they can slot into the rotation of Cueto, Latos, Beckett, Bailey, and Arroyo. We get 11 million off the books, and a promising prospect that has a shot to be a No. 2 type starter. I see Corcino as similar to someone like Ivan Nova of the Yankees. I hold onto Lester, mainly because he's younger. I'd deal Crawford any chance I get and just get that contract off the books somehow. Wouldn't even ask for anything back if some team took most of that contract. Obviously the smaller pieces like Ross, Sweeny, Cook, and others should be available as long as someone can give us a halfway decent prospect.

You have to start him, sitting him not only ruins his confidence, but also lowers his trade value if we are trying to trade him in the first place. Might as well start, and hope he does well. I actually think he might pitch decently, JUST because no one expects it. Not saying, lets start a perfect game watch, but maybe 5 ip, 3 er kinda game.

I hate these kinds of deals. 1. They never amount to anything. 2. It's always for some RP that has ok stats, but no one really thinks he's going to be anything. But then you have all the people who look at the stats and go that you just got yourself the next Papelbon. 3. You resist at first, your mind says No way. He'd be lucky if he's not pitching me super size over medium at the local drive thru in 2 years. 4. But then you follow him, just to see. 5. Stats look good, throws 90 mph, but maybe that slider is just nasty. 6. Man, he can possibly be good. Do we have something? Should I release Cherrington from the trunk afterall? 7. He's getting called up, oh snap, here we go. Possible closer? Should I pick him up in a 12 teamer? . . . . After 5 appearances and an ERA over your BMI, you see him on the DFA list. Always set yourself up for disappointment, even though you knew this was the outcome from the start.

You have got to be kidding me. How the heck do the Dodgers get this guy for essentially a mid level prospect? Eovaldi basically is just a hard throwing prospect that nibbles all the time, and doesn't have any control over his secondary pitches at times. I think the NL West hid his ineptitude. And he nets them Hanley? No other team put anything better than this guy? He reminds me a lot of how Hagadone was viewed before we dealt him. That guy with high velocity, young, successful, but needs to find secondary pitches to really evolve. We know how that turned out for the Guardians. I find it appalling that we didn't offer a better prospect. He would've been perfect in Fenway, and for the time being atleast solved the SS problem. Hell, I don't even understand the fuss about the contract. If he was a free agent right now, I guarantee you, he'd make more money, for more years. I think it's a TERRIBLE deal by the Marlins, on par with when they gave away Miggy for Andrew and Maybin.