moonslav59

I always think that, but it hardly ever happens. I think every team is looking at some sort of roster crunch. Of course the real bad teams might view our borderline players as better than their 39 or 40th players, but I would not claim our bottom of the 40 man roster is much better than average. Ideally, we'd make a couple 3 for 1 trades, which would allow us to protect everyone with a significant chance of being Rule 5 selected or claimed, if we DFA them as well as having room for a few FAs and players like Locastro- as there may be more out there, like him, to be plucked from the waiver wire. Waiver deals are some of Bloom's better deals (Arroyo, Valdez, Shaw, Iggy...)

I have made the point that we have way fewer slots to fill, this winter vs last, and we have Rule 5 players to add and maybe Casas and Seabold adding something to the 2022 26 man roster, but I can't see us signing or trading for less than 3-4 significant players to the 26. Then, we may also add some minor league depth that requires 40 man roster inclusion.

On a team with so few good pitching prospects, Bello is one of the best. To me, he's the flip side of Crawford. He's good enough to keep, for sure, and the question is mostly about will other teams take him- knowing he likely will not pitch much at all in the bigs in 2022.

A guy with an improving K rate of 10.2 (A+)> 11.9 (AA)> 12.5 (AAA) would likely be taken by someone willing to lose chump change, if he fails. The only issue, to me, is if Bloom likes him better than others fighting for the 40th slot and in danger of being selected or claimed off waivers. I'm pretty certain Crawford will be picked, if left unprotected.

Come on, Bell! All bloom needs to do is find 12 more Whitlocks, this winter! Then spend $100M on everyday players.

Yes, and one year commitments are much easier to handle, if they don't work out. Like Richards and Kluber. To me the debate is about the one year QO vs a longer term deal.- perhaps at a slightly lower AAV.

Bello is 150% protected. I could see Crawford being put in the "nearly certain" category, and I have not "committed" to anything more than 4 (3 without Crawford), but I'm pretty certain we go 5-6. What happened to your Jimenez band wagon?

Not really. It was that COVID taxi squad thingy. I think.

You were making strong cases for Jimenez, and now you are trying to say only 3 will be protected? (Maybe 4?)

Honestly, I'm not sure what much of this means. ERod is far from mediocre. He hasn't won because of exceptional run support. He actually won, this year, with the highest BAbip of any starter on the team. As for the $100M, that's the fantasy part. If Bloom is given half of that much to spend, I'll be shocked. As for "no imagination," I did a similar all out spending scenario, myself but called it something like "fantasy."

If nobody claims Cottam, we can keep him, anyway. We can also DFA Plawecki and have the same amount of catchers on the roster (4).

This is not the fantasy thread.

He said "no." Sounds like he's over him.

Dodgers pay Joe Kelly $4M as buy out for $12M option. Not surprising.

Losing a second round pick and a little money from the pool is not all that big a deal when compared to gaining a player worthy of a QO, especially the Correas and Semiens.

CWS exercise $16M option on Kimbrel. Does this help set the market for top FA RP'ers?

Good point. All the more reason to do our best to keep ERod, although, if we give the QO, he declines and signs elsewhere, we'd get a pick for losing him and then losing our 2nd pick by signing a FA with a QO would be a wash. I found this... Competitive Balance Tax Payors: Dodgers, Padres If either of these teams signs a qualified free agent from another team, it must forfeit its second-highest and fifth-highest pick in the 2022 draft. The team will also have its international signing bonus pool reduced by $1MM. Both teams could plausibly sign a qualified free agent, though the Dodgers have significantly more payroll space. Revenue Sharing Recipients: Brewers, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Marlins, Mariners, Orioles, Pirates, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Tigers, Twins These 13 teams received revenue sharing and did not exceed the competitive balance tax. If one of these teams signs a qualified free agent, it forfeits its third-highest pick. These teams face the smallest draft pick penalty. Of this group, the Mariners and Tigers seem to be the most likely to sign a qualified free agent, but others like the Twins and Marlins are possible. All Other Teams: Angels, Astros, Athletics, Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox, Yankees These 15 remaining teams would forfeit their second-highest pick and and have their international signing bonus pool reduced by $500K. The penalty is something of a middle ground. The Mets are of particular note: due to their failure to sign Kumar Rocker, they pick at both #11 and #14 in 2022, making that #14 pick subject to forfeiture. What happens if a team signs two qualified free agents? The CBA calls for forfeiture of the next highest available draft pick. For example, if a team has already lost its second and fifth-highest picks and it signs a second qualified free agent, it would lose its third and sixth-highest picks. So as in the past, if you’ve already signed one qualified free agent, the draft pick cost to sign another is reduced.

I see 4 as certain: Bello Downs Crawford Winckowski 2 as near certain: Feltman Santos Maybe 3+ as possibilities: Jimenez Ward Cottam (non-tender Plawecki?)

There were a few posters who wanted Duran called up much earlier than he was, and when confronted with the possibility he'd be riding the bench instead of playing every game in AAA, they said they still wanted him on the 26, with comments like, "How can it hurt?" Maybe the word "fantasize" is hyperbolic, but some were fine with him as the 4th OF'er much earlier than he became the 4th OF'er.

Almost certainly 4-5, which will take up the departing FA slots. It's clear some players will be traded or DFA'd to make room for the Rule 5's, next FAs and guys like Lacastro- assuming he, himself, does not get DFA'd before the winter is over.

Theo has spoken of veering off that track while with the Sox, too.

We will have 5-6 Rule 5’s to add, soon.

News on the CBA... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/mlbpa-makes-second-core-economics-proposal-to-mlb.html

Yes, and the courts make the call. Guilty or innocent. Ball or strike.

Where would we be without them?