Offseason Rumors

[macbdog]

How many teams can actually afford that? Especially with those deals already out there.

From an article by Mark Townsend:

"One thing we know for sure: The Dodgers do have the money. But several other big market teams will be on the hunt for starting pitching as well. Heyman notes the Giants, Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees, Tigers, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Rangers as potential suitors. Teams like the Diamondbacks, Phillies, Marlins and Braves could also be aggressive in the market."

Greinke is opting out of a deal that would have paid him 23, 24, and 24 million per. A few more million per year shouldn't be hard for them to either match, or, the Dodgers can simply turn around and hand that freed up 23 million to a David Price or Jhonny Cueto. That is just the Dodgers- the Yankees desperately need starting pitching and the Cubs will also need to add to their rotation plus they are saving a boatload with all the young hitters they have. Lots of teams can afford to pay a starter 150% of what Tristan Thompson wants without having to turn a fan base against said player.

 

[Steve_424]

I predict Grienke will stay in Los Angeles, David Price will reunite with Joe Maddon in Chicago, and Johnny Cueto goes to Boston.

 

[Ohio]

So same shit, different offseason basically.

(With regards to top tier free agents only ever signing with a small handful of franchises).

Blah.

 

[elcheato]

I'm curious to see what happens with Chris Davis. Not convinced the Orioles will pony up the cash, but I also have no idea who else would be in the running. Seattle?

 

[AZ_]

People think Davis could get upwards of $100M, which is hilarious to me.

 

[BimboColesHair]

People think Davis could get upwards of $100M, which is hilarious to me.

Speaking of Oriole FAs, how much do you think Wei-Yin Chen is looking at?

 

[AZ_]

Speaking of Oriole FAs, how much do you think Wei-Yin Chen is looking at?

Wouldn't be surprised to see 3-4 years and $35-45M going his way.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Wouldn't be surprised to see 3-4 years and $35-45M going his way.

I'd love that if we traded away a starter for a bat...

 

[Steve_424]

So same shit, different offseason basically.

(With regards to top tier free agents only ever signing with a small handful of franchises).

Blah.

As far as free agency goes, sure. But you don't build a champion through free agency. The four remaining teams are proof of that.

 

[Ohio]

As far as free agency goes, sure. But you don't build a champion through free agency. The four remaining teams are proof of that.

But they did make trades for big time players with big contracts.

 

[Steve_424]

But they did make trades for big time players with big contracts.

I'm just saying, while adding Cueto or Price in free agency would certainly boost the Red Sox or Cubs, it won't beat building a championship roster from top to bottom.

 

[elcheato]

I'm just saying, while adding Cueto or Price in free agency would certainly boost the Red Sox or Cubs, it won't beat building a championship roster from top to bottom.

The Cubs already have built a contender. Adding a front of the rotation starter isn't suddenly going to make them a non-contender.

 

[Binkster]

People think Davis could get upwards of $100M, which is hilarious to me.

I still can't get that 2014 season out of my head. Worries me that he will have a Ryan Howard type fall at some point.

 

[Walter White]

So what do you guys (the Indians) need? I'm not completely familiar with your team, but it seems like you already have some good pitchers, and that is pretty crucial for the success of a team. Maybe a closer?

Do you just need some more bats and OF addition? I want to see you guys do well because I like it when teams that have struggled do well. It looks like you have had some really good seasons even relatively recently. But it can turn around fast. Royals have some talent, but other teams have way more. I swear 90% of the Royals success is because of chemistry and they execute a playstyle so well.

Hopefully this is the era where the small market teams take over.

 

[Derek]

So what do you guys (the Indians) need? I'm not completely familiar with your team, but it seems like you already have some good pitchers, and that is pretty crucial for the success of a team. Maybe a closer?

Do you just need some more bats and OF addition? I want to see you guys do well because I like it when teams that have struggled do well. It looks like you have had some really good seasons even relatively recently. But it can turn around fast. Royals have some talent, but other teams have way more. I swear 90% of the Royals success is because of chemistry and they execute a playstyle so well.

Hopefully this is the era where the small market teams take over.

Only pitching we truly need to add is a couple lefty relievers. I can't imagine us being comfortable heading into the season with Crockett and Soto as our only options. The rest of the staff is pretty much set unless we deal one of them for a bat. Allen, Shaw, McAllister, and Manship provide very good RH relief at the back end, and our SP options speak for themselves.

I would have to think that either bringing back Raburn or finding a RH bat to platoon with Chisenhall in RF is a priority, as is finding a CF to push Almonte to the bench. 3B should be a priority to upgrade, and that probably leaves room for a DH/1B candidate. I assume Jose Ramirez is the leading candidate to take on Aviles's role as utility infielder.

25 man:
Kluber
Carrasco
Salazar
Bauer
Tomlin
Armstrong
Adams
Manship
Shaw
McAllister
Allen
LH (Crockett)
LH (Soto)
Gomes
Perez
Santana
Kipnis
Lindor
3B (Urshela)
Ramirez
Brantley
CF/DH
Almonte
Chisenhall
RH (Raburn)

This is also assuming we keep 13 arms, which Tito has shown he likes to do. Armstrong and Adams would be the most likely candidates for demotion should we open up a 13th spot for a hitter, which would likely be either a CF to replace Almonte as starter or a DH/1B-type.