2024-25 MLB off-season news and notes discussion thread

[Cas]

Why would he not want to go to Houston?

Maybe he doesn't want to live in Texas. Maybe he doesn't like their uniforms. Why knows?

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Why would he not want to go to Houston?

According to Derrick Goold and Katie Woo, seems like he's not totally against it, just doesn't want to do it NOW. I think he's waiting for Bregman and other shoes to drop to see if a team/city he likes more throws their hat in the ring and if they don't and the Astros are still interested he'll be fine with it later.

I think his fantasy is to go to the Dodgers but I don't see them giving up much or sending Muncy to the bench for him.

 

[MMC]

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Picture the Toronto Blue Jays keeping first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term. Trading shortstop Bo Bichette. Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

None of those outcomes is particularly likely. All, however, are in play, according to sources briefed on the Jays’ discussions.

The Jays are in talks with Guerrero about a long-term extension that would buy him out of his final year of arbitration and free agency. They are fielding interest in Bichette, who also is entering his walk year. And they are at least on the periphery of the Bregman sweepstakes, though other free agents, for now, appear better fits.

The perception within the industry remains that the Jays are desperate to do something big. Club president Mark Shapiro is in the final year of his contract. General manager Ross Atkins has just two years left. And the team is coming off a season in which it finished last in the AL East and won only 74 games.

Still, the Jays do not appear to be shopping Bichette. Executives from three rival clubs, granted anonymity for their candor, said the Jays are open to moving him, but only for a high price. Good luck, with Bichette coming off his down year, under club control for only one more season and set to earn $16.5 million in 2025.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

9 teams (ATL, CHC, HOU, LAD, NYM, NYY, PHI, SF, TEX) were over the luxury tax threshold this past season. That's a new record high (and almost a third of the league).

Record 9 MLB teams docked $311M in luxury tax

The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees were the highest penalized among the record nine teams to be over the MLB's luxury tax threshold for 2024.

www.espn.com

 

[John Price]

 

[MMC]

This would be such a good Angels offseason if we were willing to add another 50-60 million to the payroll instead of stopping right here

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Looking like the Braves and Jays have decided to hibernate this winter.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Looking like the Braves and Jays have decided to hibernate this winter.

Hey it’s cold up here man. Braves have no excuse though

 

[John Price]

I abhor seeing teams refuse to spend. The Nats and Lerners are very rich but refuse to spend on their team for a myriad of excuses. The fanbase is split on it and argues back and forth. Personally I think if you own a team you should spend as much as possible to compete. People like the Nuttings, Fishers, Shermans, Lerners et al who sit on their ASS all day without making the product on the field better, are part of the problem. To me that, and the skyrocketing contracts, are the biggest problems with this sport.

 

[eojsmada]

I abhor seeing teams refuse to spend. The Nats and Lerners are very rich but refuse to spend on their team for a myriad of excuses. The fanbase is split on it and argues back and forth. Personally I think if you own a team you should spend as much as possible to compete. People like the Nuttings, Fishers, Shermans, Lerners et al who sit on their ASS all day without making the product on the field better, are part of the problem. To me that, and the skyrocketing contracts, are the biggest problems with this sport.

That Bryant contract looking like Chris Davis's from a few years ago, just without the .160 BA

 

[SoupNazi]

That Bryant contract looking like Chris Davis's from a few years ago, just without the .160 BA

That Bryant contract was a joke before the ink was dry.

 

[Unholy Diver]

That Bryant contract was a joke before the ink was dry.

Yeah that was pretty clearly not going to turn out well

 

[spintheblackcircle]

You could make a hell of a team with everyone who passed in 2024, I can't imagine a better club from another year....and I am not THAT bored to check.

Rickey Henderson-LF
Pete Rose-2B
Willie Mays-CF
Orlando Cepeda-1B
Rocky Colavito-RF
Bill Melton-3B
Ed Ott-C
Bud Harrelson-SS

Rico Carty
Tony Scott
Jerry Grote
Ed Kranepool
Mike Cubbage
Don Wert

Luis Tiant
Fernando Valenzuala
Don Gullett
Ken Holtzman
Carl Erskine

Rudy May
Jose DeLeon
Doug Bird
Pat Zachary
Fritz Peterson
Joey Jay

Manager-Whitey Herzog

 

[GKJ]

That Bryant contract makes even less sense given how the Rockies spend. Don’t get what the play by either was.

 

[Unholy Diver]

That Bryant contract makes even less sense given how the Rockies spend. Don’t get what the play by either was.

maybe it is some elaborate money laundering scheme

 

[John Price]

 

[John Price]

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

They can still sign an extension beyond 2025, however this won't help quiet the sense of doom in Jays land.