moonslav59

I'd still have preferred Moose at $6.5M x 1 over Moreland for 2 years. look, I'm not complaining. Moreland did what we signed him to do and allowed us to dump HRam (maybe the real reason all along). I'm extremely happy with what DD did.

Again, you miss the point (LOL, like that?) It's not just the tax, it's the contract plus the tax. While another team (under the limit) might sign a guy to $30M, we'd be paying (assuming it's over the $40M limit $30M + $15M (50% tax) +$3.6M (12% surtax). It's not just the $18.6M in taxes Henry pays the guy he signs after we're $40M over, it's the $30M contract as well. $30M more becomes $48.6M more. Is Betts worth $49M a year?

Nothing I said disputes any of this. In hindsight, one could argue DD jumped the gun on Moreland as the market fell on just about everyone not signed right away and after Hosmer. I realize nobody foresaw this, but GMs are routinely criticized for not foreseeing things.... like Ben not foreseeing the collapse of Pablito and HRam.

MLB reports... Eovaldi's right arm gets clean bill of health Nov. 15: While some front offices may be wary of free agent Nathan Eovaldi's health, especially after the right-hander just went through a taxing postseason, his doctor gave him a glowing review following a routine visit Tuesday. "To me, he's over Tommy John surgery and he's over revision Tommy John surgery," Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees' team physician who operated on Eovaldi's elbow and forearm in 2016, told NBC Sports Boston. "And I would consider him in the same category of somebody who has a healthy arm, and whatever worry I have about that player, I have the same or less for Nate." As Ahmad noted, Eovaldi has undergone two Tommy John surgeries during his career, the second one coming in 2016. This past season was his first since that second procedure, and he threw 111 innings during the regular season. Eovaldi possesses incredible velocity, averaging 97.2 mph with his four-seam fastball in the regular season and nearly 99 mph in the playoffs, getting it as high as 101.6 mph, per Statcast™, which puts extra stress on his arm. The 28-year-old was used in a variety of roles during the postseason, and he made three appearances in the span of four days during the World Series, the final one a 97-pitch outing on one day of rest. However, he appears to have come through no worse for the wear. "Sometimes subtle features can be picked up that the ligament's acting a little weak, like small bone spurs forming often can be a sign that the ligament is a little loose or acting weak," Ahmad said. "Bone spurs form to compensate. No bone spurs. And even coming off an extended postseason, he didn't have any muscle problems like muscle strain patterns. So essentially, his elbow checked out as well as it could be after having a second-time Tommy John surgery."

It was a lock all along. 28 out of 30 first place votes. The other two had him second (one for Trout & one for JD). Yelich won 29 out of 30 with one second.

There's no way, DD was thinking Moreland and nobody else. He wasn't going to start the season with the roster we had minus JD. If he thought we'd miss out on JD, he'd have gone large elsewhere. I really doubt the Moreland signing meant as much as some seem to think it did. I'm pretty sure about one thing: we don't win with just Moreland. Plus, we knew the Yanks and Dodgers weren't in on JD pretty early, so DD knew he could outbid anyone else.

Once the Lester re-signing was botched, the Lester>Cespedes>Porcello deal worked out fine, especially after the extension. I'd have rather had Lester, but within the context Ben was in, we came out alright. Here's a look at Lester and Porcello from 2015-2018. Remember, Lester is in the no-DH league. Innings Porcello 790 Lester 770 fWAR Lester 13.6 Porcello 11.7 ERA- Lester 81 Porcello 95 WHIP Lester 1.19 Porcello 1.23 Pay Lester: $95M/4 & still owed $60M/3 at ages 35-37. Porcello: $74M/4 & still owed $21M/1 at age 30.

You're losing me, Kimmi. Just killing me!

There was no rush, because there were no other bidders. DD was not going to let JD slip away- Moreland or no Moreland.

Let's see how Johnson does next year, then we can think about how to replace Porcello. $20M is a lot, but Porcello's innings pitched have a lot of value, even when he is kind of mediocre at times.

..and he started eating many innings at a very early age.

Yes, I did my study a few years ago, and I think I went back into the 80's or 70's. I was amazed at how many were known for being top defenders, however, most hit well, too.

Much is well hidden like most businesses do.

Careful! I almost busted my gut again!

I did some research one time, on all the WS ring winners and how so many had very good to great defensive 1Bmen. I think the position is under-rated defensively by many, and maybe myself included. I will say, I thought Pearce looked pretty dandy on defense for us, too.

1B certainly wasn't what it used to be. You'd think in the era of the HR, 1B would be loaded with big mashers all over the place, but this year was a down year at that position.

I think Henry might agree to send big for 2 more years (2019 & 2020), then he forces a re-set. Just my opinion- no evidence.

I was really hoping that between Chavis, Dalbec and Ockimey, we could find a capable 1Bman by the time Moreland's deal ran out. 2019 would be a good time for one to help as a platoon, but I don't see it happening.

We can probably keep Betts, Bogey & JBJ, but say good bye to Porcello (likely) and probably both Sale & JD (to opt out).

IMO, it's going to take massive spending. That's not impossible, but to me, I think we re-set the luxury tax after 2020, and if we do that, "finding ways" within the current system is going to be extremely difficult. Again, I'm not fretting or in despair. I love this team and am very happy with where we are going into next year, and I'm okay with a down year or two, because I know we will bounce back after re-setting the tax.

I choose to believe most players are good character guys and prefer to play on teams that support each other and do what is best for the team, even if it means sitting on the bench when maybe you think you should be playing. Like I said, I'm okay with Moreland, but I know we are losing a lot of comparative value at 1B- a position traditionally known for big offensive numbers. I get that his defense and clubhouse values offset much of that offensive loss, and I don't really view him as a net negative, but when you look at the fact that our nearest competitors will be trying to make major improvements this winter, I can't help but look at positions where we are weakest- not weak, but weakest. I don't want to mess with our catching duo, despite the .533 OPS. Maybe I'm wrong about this position, but I really value the intangibles Vaz & Leon bring to the team, the staff and the clubhouse/dugout. We can't afford to spend big at 2B, and with six guys who could help at 2B (Holt, Nunez, Pedey, Lin, Quiroz, Hernandez), I think we wait that position out, at least until mid-season. I look at 1B and think we could (not have to) better. Losing Pearce hurts. It looks, to me, like the easiest, least costly, everyday position to upgrade over the winter. We may not need to touch anything having to do with everyday players. I think we'll lead the league in runs next year, even without Pearce (and Kinsler).

I get that, and that's why I am a "cliff dweller." It's also why I think 2021 is ground zero. We can still be highly competitive in 2020 by adding guys like Eovaldi, Pearce and Nunez- after that we enter the great unknown.

There are good character guys who do better than Moreland, but has been a net plus at his salary. I've softened my stance on him a lot since last year. I guess it's hard for me to get past my idea that 1B should be a highly productive offensive position. With a pretty balanced line-up and team, it's okay, but I'd still like to see more. I'm hopeful our catching position can add 100+ points to their collective 2018 OPS of .533. Our .658 OPS at 2B may be improved upon as well, but I'm not counting on Pedey to do it. (I'm not giving up hope, either.) I'd say the 3B OPS of .711 should be the easiest to improve. I'm looking for Devers to bust out next year or 2020. I'm pretty sure we'll see a dip at another position or two, but we may see an even better offense next year, even if we don't bring back Pearce.

It is treated like it isn't part of this one.

Nope.