2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by ThePreacher

The Cozart trade was fantastic.

I agree that Fletcher is better - they should trade LaStella while there is some value there.

I would guess that they would want to sign a lefty or two since Rendon and Simba are there at 3B & SS. Groundball rates go up when they have a softer throwing lefty like Ryu or Keuchel.

I truly believe if they left Fletcher at one position (hopefully 2nd, because there's nowhere else now) for the whole season that he'd hit .300. There's a power ceiling, probably 10 - 15 homers tops, but I'd be perfectly content if Simmons and Fletcher both hit .275 to .300 with great defense along with below-average power.

If they could get Ryu or Keuchel it would be a pretty good offseason, even though the Astros and A's are still stacked with talent. The A's crushing on a micro budget without blowing up the whole team is exceptional.

[ThePreacher]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

I truly believe if they left Fletcher at one position (hopefully 2nd, because there's nowhere else now) for the whole season that he'd hit .300. There's a power ceiling, probably 10 - 15 homers tops, but I'd be perfectly content if Simmons and Fletcher both hit .275 to .300 with great defense along with below-average power.

If they could get Ryu or Keuchel it would be a pretty good offseason, even though the Astros and A's are still stacked with talent. The A's crushing on a micro budget without blowing up the whole team is exceptional.

Yes! The job that Billy Beane has done in Oakland over the years is amazing. It's too bad that they have to play in such a dump. Was in Oakland for a game a couple years ago and it smelled like raw sewage. Come to find out, the sewage constantly backs up into the dugout and such.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by ThePreacher

Yes! The job that Billy Beane has done in Oakland over the years is amazing. It's too bad that they have to play in such a dump. Was in Oakland for a game a couple years ago and it smelled like raw sewage. Come to find out, the sewage constantly backs up into the dugout and such.

In Moneyball the film they briefly make fun of the sewage smell at 1:27:35 to 1:27:45

I've never seen a game there. I'd only want to go there if its packed, like a playoff game or something.

[BizCat]

What Billy does in Oakland is simply amazing. I'd love to see what he could do in a bigger market.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by BizCat

Monday: Stephen Strasburg gets $245 million from the Nationals.
Tuesday: Gerrit Cole gets $324 million from the Yankees.
Wednesday: Anthony Rendon gets $245 million from the Angels.

Over three days, Scott Boras negotiated $814 million worth of deals.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan)

Wow... I wonder how much he made just from those 3 deals.

Id guess 10% but in all honesty **** Scott Boras hes a cancer on Baseball

[MifuneFan]

I don't even want Cole on the Yanks after how he acted right after the WS.

Sad to see see Didi leave, but I wish him the best with the Phillies. He has to fill legendary shoes after Jeter retired, and while it was tough at first, he really handled himself perfectly in pinstripes, and was an absolute team player.

[BagheeraMcGee]

2-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber traded to the Rangers for OF Delino DeShields Jr. and P Emmanuel Clase.

I'm not too thrilled at all about DeShields, but Clase looks to be a stud. His fastball sits at 99-102, and he's only 21.

If he and James Karinchak pan out (97-99 with a sick 12-6 curve who had a brief call-up in September), that could develop into a ridiculous bullpen tandem in the future.

And now, of course, the Dolans can maybe afford to fly business class now that Kluber's $17.5 million is off the books, because we all know that money is not going back into the budget to re-sign Lindor.

[ctujackbauer]

Hyun Jin-Ryu, come on down!!! You're the next contestant on the Arte Moreno price is right!

(I just think it forces the Angels hand, have no idea if he'll sign here)

And how the heck is Bumgarner only 30? Seems like he's been in the league forever.

[ThePreacher]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

2-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber traded to the Rangers for OF Delino DeShields Jr. and P Emmanuel Clase.

I'm not too thrilled at all about DeShields, but Clase looks to be a stud. His fastball sits at 99-102, and he's only 21.

If he and James Karinchak pan out (97-99 with a sick 12-6 curve who had a brief call-up in September), that could develop into a ridiculous bullpen tandem in the future.

And now, of course, the Dolans can maybe afford to fly business class now that Kluber's $17.5 million is off the books, because we all know that money is not going back into the budget to re-sign Lindor.

DeShields is an average utility-like player. Of the “five tools” DeShields has one: speed. It seems as if Cleveland is resigned to not competing for a championship.

[ThePreacher]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

Hyun Jin-Ryu, come on down!!! You're the next contestant on the Arte Moreno price is right!

(I just think it forces the Angels hand, have no idea if he'll sign here)

And how the heck is Bumgarner only 30? Seems like he's been in the league forever.

Ryu or Keuchel. Neither moves the needle much. The Angels are in trouble without pitching. They praise Heaney, but he isn’t very good and is prone to injury. Add in suspicions about him and drug use since he was Skaggs’ best friend....ehhhh....

I think that they do sign one of the two lefties mentioned and see how the season shakes out. This might be a bridge year to truly competing next year in Anaheim.

[clarenceworley]

It's hard to say that getting paid $85 million is a raw deal but it sure feels that way with Mad Bum going to the D'Backs. The guy has won 3 World Series titles and can only manage that with $15 deferred. Shocked that Arte couldn't put up that cash. He sure as heck will not be able to take it with him.

[ThePreacher]

Originally Posted by clarenceworley

It's hard to say that getting paid $85 million is a raw deal but it sure feels that way with Mad Bum going to the D'Backs. The guy has won 3 World Series titles and can only manage that with $15 deferred. Shocked that Arte couldn't put up that cash. He sure as heck will not be able to take it with him.

I don't think Moreno likes Mad Bum. There's lots of chatter of the guy having some "racist" issues in how he reacts to certain players and Arte is definitely one not to chase a free agent like that.

[clarenceworley]

Strange to see the Nike swoosh on the front of Cole's pinstriped jersey at his introduction press conference. There goes all the tradition! I bet George would not have sold out.

[clarenceworley]

I just read that the Nike swoosh will be on all MLB jerseys as part of a 10 year contract that takes effect for the 2020 season. It's worth $1 billion.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/video/...rth-1-billion/

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Id guess 10% but in all honesty **** Scott Boras hes a cancer on Baseball

While Boras goes overboard at times, I can respect him keeping owners in check and not allowing them to pocket the ever increasing revenue all to themselves.

[ThePreacher]

Angels signed Teheran to a very nice low-risk/high-reward contract (1 year/$9 million).

He won't be an Ace or win a Cy Young, but he will eat up innings. I saw that he has pitched in more starts than just 3 other pitchers in his career and more innings than just 8 others. That will help the Angels...BIG TIME!

The good about Teheran boils down to this...he will give 175+ innings (which the Angels need). He isn't a clubhouse cancer. He stays out of trouble. He outproduces his salary.

The bad about him from what I observed in the handful of games I saw him pitch for Atlanta was that he likes to try to nibble on the corners - not paint them. Greg Maddux confidently painted them. Teheran doesn't have the "stuff" that great pitchers have, so he relies on "hoping" he nibbles enough of the corner of the plate to get some strikes called or to get hitters to chase.

Great signing. He at least gives the Angels a chance to win with their offense when he pitches.

[ThePreacher]

Originally Posted by clarenceworley

I just read that the Nike swoosh will be on all MLB jerseys as part of a 10 year contract that takes effect for the 2020 season. It's worth $1 billion.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/video/...rth-1-billion/

I am cool with Nike, I hate Fanatics. Fanatics has single handedly destroyed the merchandise for MLB.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't even want Cole on the Yanks after how he acted right after the WS.

Sad to see see Didi leave, but I wish him the best with the Phillies. He has to fill legendary shoes after Jeter retired, and while it was tough at first, he really handled himself perfectly in pinstripes, and was an absolute team player.

I’m glad to have Cole and it’s cool he still had that sign after the ‘01 series but I agree that what he said was pretty selfish. I wouldn’t be too concerned though but he may be a hit head.

As for Didi....I’ll miss him too ...and his awesome post-game emojis, but I guess the Yankees just didn’t want to risk him getting injured again. Jeter was just a kid when he started in ‘95 and Torres isn’t too far behind.

The Nike swoosh on the uniform should be on the sleeve but I guess this is their way of selling a lot of jerseys at a premium over the next decade.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by ThePreacher

Angels signed Teheran to a very nice low-risk/high-reward contract (1 year/$9 million).

He won't be an Ace or win a Cy Young, but he will eat up innings. I saw that he has pitched in more starts than just 3 other pitchers in his career and more innings than just 8 others. That will help the Angels...BIG TIME!

The good about Teheran boils down to this...he will give 175+ innings (which the Angels need). He isn't a clubhouse cancer. He stays out of trouble. He outproduces his salary.

The bad about him from what I observed in the handful of games I saw him pitch for Atlanta was that he likes to try to nibble on the corners - not paint them. Greg Maddux confidently painted them. Teheran doesn't have the "stuff" that great pitchers have, so he relies on "hoping" he nibbles enough of the corner of the plate to get some strikes called or to get hitters to chase.

Great signing. He at least gives the Angels a chance to win with their offense when he pitches.

Unfortunately he's not much more than a reliable 4th or 5th starter these days. His stuff just isn't swing-and-miss and often relies on the umpires granting him the corners. Whatever stuff he once had is mostly gone. There are days where he gets hit hard and can do nothing about it.

The upside is that he will make his starts and soak up innings. He's a good guy and quiet. I imagine he'll be a wandering vagabond the rest of his career, moving from team to team as a fifth starter each season. No one is stupid enough to give him multiple years.

[Samus Aran]

Hyun-Jin Ryu, 4 years, $80 million with the Blue Jays.