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Free Agency 22

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Yes, and there are usually a few teams willing to spend incredibly on the possibility. Has Cleveland ever won a posting for a Japanese player?

Well we did sign Kobayashi when he was a free agent, but we have never tried to win a posting either...

Guardians need to make a splash in year one since we have to try and move the fan base away from "Dolan is cheap"... I doubt it would work, but giving extensions to players and posting Suzuki/signing a big name player, actually wouldn't be a bad idea to combat that. I mean we arent going to go get Bryant, but making a solid splash and gambling a bit is something we have to do once in awhile in my mind.

If I said we could get a .800 OPS player at age 26/27 for 65 over 5 years, I think no one would say no to that. I have a hunch he will play about that if he stays within himself and doesn't try to much...
 
Yes, and there are usually a few teams willing to spend incredibly on the possibility. Has Cleveland ever won a posting for a Japanese player?
Yes..

Tomo Ohka and Kazuhito Tadano.. One was a gay porn star.. too !!..
 
Well we did sign Kobayashi when he was a free agent, but we have never tried to win a posting either...

Guardians need to make a splash in year one since we have to try and move the fan base away from "Dolan is cheap"... I doubt it would work, but giving extensions to players and posting Suzuki/signing a big name player, actually wouldn't be a bad idea to combat that. I mean we arent going to go get Bryant, but making a solid splash and gambling a bit is something we have to do once in awhile in my mind.

If I said we could get a .800 OPS player at age 26/27 for 65 over 5 years, I think no one would say no to that. I have a hunch he will play about that if he stays within himself and doesn't try to much...
Do the Guardians really need to make a splash or do they need to stay the course? The course has been developing their own and making astute trades.

My pause with signing Suzuki is the fact that it's a gamble that his talent will transfer to MLB. Sure, he looks the part, but that in and of itself means little. If he struggles then the Guardians are crippled with that contract.
 
Do the Guardians really need to make a splash or do they need to stay the course? The course has been developing their own and making astute trades.

My pause with signing Suzuki is the fact that it's a gamble that his talent will transfer to MLB. Sure, he looks the part, but that in and of itself means little. If he struggles then the Guardians are crippled with that contract.

We could sign Bieber and he could be lost to Tommy John and out money as well... All contracts over a pre-arb/veterans minimum type are gambles. I just have a hunch he would be a mistake to lose for that price...
 
Do the Guardians really need to make a splash or do they need to stay the course? The course has been developing their own and making astute trades.

My pause with signing Suzuki is the fact that it's a gamble that his talent will transfer to MLB. Sure, he looks the part, but that in and of itself means little. If he struggles then the Guardians are crippled with that contract.
Stay the course.. as long as that course doesn't provide another example of crazy (doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results)..

The acquisition of players via clever and insightful drafting & development, signing & development of international free agents and astute trades are how this club wins... Suzuki is "sort of" an international not-free agent that only costs money. The Guardians are going to spend it anyway.. might as well spend on a contributor... If the player personnel group think Suzuki's the goods, they'll set a value on him.. and make an offer.. If the offer isn't the best.. you know the rest..

What has become somewhat of an issue.. is acquiring development.. followed by nothing.. 36 AB's.. and left unprotected.. brought up to the parent club for 14 games while getting 17 plate appearances.. Taking the value / hype of the prospect and just decimating it.. A few hang on long enough to matter.. but.. they require over the top talent..

Trades are my personal favorite path.. good trades.. Hopefully, the CBA gets done and we see some.. We'll see..
 
Issues with Suzuki.

1. Cleveland is not a market high profile Asian players get pushed to. There is a reason coastal teams have dominated those high profile signings. Some markets are told to not even bother with certain guys.

2. The recent flameouts of Tsutsugo and Akiyama are making a lot of teams seek more favorable deals for first time Asian players, Cleveland would definitely be one of those organizations should they ever find themselves bidding on someone from an Asian league.
 
Issues with Suzuki.

1. Cleveland is not a market high profile Asian players get pushed to. There is a reason coastal teams have dominated those high profile signings. Some markets are told to not even bother with certain guys.

2. The recent flameouts of Tsutsugo and Akiyama are making a lot of teams seek more favorable deals for first time Asian players, Cleveland would definitely be one of those organizations should they ever find themselves bidding on someone from an Asian league.

I actually didn't like either guy you mentioned, but you arent wrong since the success rate hasn't been as strong as teams would hope. That being said, Suzuki has better numbers (lower SO rate, higher BB rate, etc) than the names you mentioned. Both stats should help him translate better to the majors, but I understand both sides of the coin when it comes to this.

What price range do you think would be the max for the Guardians bid on him if they are interested?
 
We could sign Bieber and he could be lost to Tommy John and out money as well... All contracts over a pre-arb/veterans minimum type are gambles. I just have a hunch he would be a mistake to lose for that price...
Every player has injury risk. For this comparison to work you have to add the injury risk to the performance risk for Suzuki. Bieber has been a consistent performer so that risk is very limited in comparison. Unless he becomes available to Cleveland for the amount of money they are willing to spend on him then there is no reason to get involved in the Suzuki bidding process.
 
Free agency heating up, per Rich Passan tweet.

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