23 MLB Offseason News!

It's a done deal for Contreras..If the A's want a haul for Murphy, they better get busy... Otherwise we will buy a C from someone else..

Benway said:

He threw the book at 'em!

Sources: Judge, Yanks reach 9-year, $360M deal

Aaron Judge's bet on himself paid off in a big way, as he has agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract to remain with the Yankees, sources confirmed to ESPN.

www.espn.com

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Have to give mad props to the Guardians, they did all they could in their super double secret pursuit of Aaron I heard, but just couldn't overcome all those zeroes after the 300 that New York offered. It was close though. My sauces said the Gs: Offered him a statue, personal RF shipping container for his family on game days, even offered an in-service for Cleveland cops so Judges wife won't have to say 'do you know who I am?' when they accidentally pull her over for a suspected DUI. They even floated a rebrand to Judges after he retires.

Also heard the Gs pulled out all the stops on Mr and Mrs Judges' so-under-the-radar-its-like-it-didnt-happen visit, too: Did the drive through of Christmas lights at the zoo, showed them Bratenahl so they know where to live and avoid poor people, visited the giant stamp, took them on a golf cart ride around First Energy Stadium one night, got dinner at Mr Heroes, drove through Tremont to show them the fancy restaurants, etc. Heard they were left speechless.

Anyway, props to the FO for trying. Shows dedication. The silver lining is, Judge was so moved he even told the Gs he was signing elsewhere before telling anyone else so they could shift focus to Bell. Not a shabby consolation prize I must say.

Rule 5 results
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/2022-rule-5-draft-results.html

One of the more interesting FA outfielders is off the board - Masataka Yoshida signs a 5 year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

33Y0 said:

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WHAT

He's no Bonilla, but Manny still being paid $2m+ each of the next four years by the Red Sox. Which right now would be around the 7th-9th highest active player salary depending on arbitration figures for the Guardians. Manny's 8 year/$160m deal back from 2000 would still beat the Guardians highest contract ever... 22 years later.

Praise Jose Ramirez. The man deserves to NEVER be booed regardless of how his on field career plays out over the life of his contract.

Guys like Trea Turner and Bogaerts will be costing some team 35M when they're 40-41 years old.

Jose both took less money(by a TON) then he could have commanded but also took himself off a market that is giving out 9-11 years for position players who are already 30-31 years old.

MirORich said:

Praise Jose Ramirez. The man deserves to NEVER be booed regardless of how his on field career plays out over the life of his contract.

Guys like Trea Turner and Bogaerts will be costing some team 35M when they're 40-41 years old.

Jose both took less money(by a TON) then he could have commanded but also took himself off a market that is giving out 9-11 years for position players who are already 30-31 years old.

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No doubt. Without his desire to get a deal done, it never happens. Carlos Carrasco is another one in recent memory who signed a pretty team friendly deal as well. Both class acts.

Maybe Shane will follow suit... Maybe Mount St. Helen's will erupt Saturday...

Criznit said:

No doubt. Without his desire to get a deal done, it never happens. Carlos Carrasco is another one in recent memory who signed a pretty team friendly deal as well. Both class acts.

Maybe Shane will follow suit... Maybe Mount St. Helen's will erupt Saturday...

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I won't hold it against Shane when he doesn't. He's a Californian kid who happened to be drafted(out of his control) by Cleveland after a College career also in California. I have no doubt he's enjoyed his time in this organization, appreciates it, and will give his all for the duration of his time here.

I just don't see him breaking the mold and being the type of player to give the type of hometown discount required (perhaps ownership changes their approach but doubtful), especially when you look at some of the pitching deals in this offseason to far lesser pitchers.

Doesn't make him a bad guy but I'd be shocked(and would love to be) if he re-signed here. And I'm fine with that as far as how I rate him and how I rate the choices and approach of the Guardians organization.

MirORich said:

I won't hold it against Shane when he doesn't. He's a Californian kid who happened to be drafted(out of his control) by Cleveland after a College career also in California. I have no doubt he's enjoyed his time in this organization, appreciates it, and will give his all for the duration of this time here.

I just don't see him breaking the mold and being the type of player to give they type off hometown discount requires(perhaps ownership changes their approach but doubtful), especially when you look at some of the pitching deals in this offseason.

Doesn't make him a bad guy but I'd be shocked(and would love to be) if he re-signed here. And I'm fine with that as far as how I rate him and how I rate the choices and approach of the Guardians organization.

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I mean if we win the World Series in 2023, then we might be able to make a bit of a fair market run at him. But like you I definitely won't hold it against him when he doesn't sign an extension. It is his life.

Also agree the current cost of pitching makes an extension even with the 2 years of control cost prohibitive. He has never given me the impression he was/is interested in signing an extension here.

Don't fault him at all for wanting to bet on himself/pick where he wants to play if that's his decision. In fact, I respect it and like it from an attitude/personality perspective. Toughness maybe?

Compared to most other years, its been a very active early part of the off season.

The FAs are going off the board a lot sooner than usual.

What does this market mean when it comes to Cleveland pitchers' values? Does it make someone like Plesac more likely to be dealt or the return better? The contracts being handed out is mind blowing.

Criznit said:

I mean if we win the World Series in 2023, then we might be able to make a bit of a fair market run at him. But like you I definitely won't hold it against him when he doesn't sign an extension. It is his life.

Also agree the current cost of pitching makes an extension even with the 2 years of control cost prohibitive. He has never given me the impression he was/is interested in signing an extension here.

Don't fault him at all for wanting to bet on himself/pick where he wants to play if that's his decision. In fact, I respect it and like it from an attitude/personality perspective. Toughness maybe?

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I'd say the extend Bieber ship has sailed. It doesn't make much sense for Shane to extend now and it certainly isn't feasible for Cleveland to pay the kind of money he'll get in FA.

We've bandied about the idea of trading for Lopez. Well, good luck with that now. That MFer is gonna be expensive!