OT: MLB Discussion Thread Part III: Jeter announces retirement after 2014

[darko]

Yankees sign Matt Thornton. 2 yrs 7M

Not really a fan on Thornton but hope he does well. Drop in a velocity and that K-rate is plummeting. Then again we turned washed up Kerry Wood into a solid reliever so who knows.

 

[RGY]

I see the yankees re-signing Reynolds for 3B

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Not really a fan on Thornton but hope he does well. Drop in a velocity and that K-rate is plummeting. Then again we turned washed up Kerry Wood into a solid reliever so who knows.

Hes still good against lefties (.224 OBA) but the drop in Ks is a bit concerning

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Just to let everyone know, the Yankees could go huge on Tanaka (18-19m per) and still get under 189 if Arod suspension is upheld. without it being upheld (even reduced), its impossible for them to reach that goal

 

[RGY]

Just to let everyone know, the Yankees could go huge on Tanaka (18-19m per) and still get under 189 if Arod suspension is upheld. without it being upheld (even reduced), its impossible for them to reach that goal

I just dont see them sticking to the $189.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I just dont see them sticking to the $189.

I can, if they can nab Tanaka and still do it. it all again comes down to Arod, lol

 

[Zil]

Something interesting from WEEI/Baseball America Red Sox writer Alex Speier (came out during the Red Sox prospect chat, which is behind a paywall)

"Unless it's an impressive smokescreen, I don't believe the Sox will be in on Tanaka given their view of him (Ceiling of a No.3) and what they already have in their system."

- Alex Speier

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-boston-red-sox-top-10-prospects-chat-with-alex-speier/

If Tanaka turns out to be less than a frontline starter, then somebody is going to wind up with major buyer's remorse.

 

[Zil]

Did the Yankees seriously offer Choo $140 million after signing Ellsbury? Why would he turn that down?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/10-deg...iddle-of-the-free-agent-market-165809610.html

 

[RGY]

Did the Yankees seriously offer Choo $140 million after signing Ellsbury? Why would he turn that down?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/10-deg...iddle-of-the-free-agent-market-165809610.html

Stupid.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Seattle signed Cano's cousin who stinks at baseball, which is funny enough.

The kicker is that his name is Burt Reynolds.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Did the Yankees seriously offer Choo $140 million after signing Ellsbury? Why would he turn that down?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/10-deg...iddle-of-the-free-agent-market-165809610.html

wow, im glad he did! I like Choo but his splits scare the hell out of me, plus with Ells being strictly left handed, Beltran was the better play, switch hitter to give us right handed pop other than Soriano with Tex and Alex obviously being question marks

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Something interesting from WEEI/Baseball America Red Sox writer Alex Speier (came out during the Red Sox prospect chat, which is behind a paywall)

"Unless it's an impressive smokescreen, I don't believe the Sox will be in on Tanaka given their view of him (Ceiling of a No.3) and what they already have in their system."

- Alex Speier

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-boston-red-sox-top-10-prospects-chat-with-alex-speier/

If Tanaka turns out to be less than a frontline starter, then somebody is going to wind up with major buyer's remorse.

I think Tanaka will have a very hard transition into the MLB. From everything i've read and seen, 3 seems like an accurate ceiling.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I just dont see them sticking to the $189.

and after hearing about the Choo offer, you just may be right..

We offered Choo 7/140 after Ellsbury's 7/153, and the Yankees still said Cano's offer of 7/175M was still open.. That's even before pitching, and that's 468M of contracts the Yankees were willing to give out.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I think Tanaka will have a very hard transition into the MLB. From everything i've read and seen, 3 seems like an accurate ceiling.

He reminds me of a younger Kuroda who knows how to pitch. I don't think he's a #1, but definitely can be a #2 here. Even if his ERA tripled from Japan, that's still a 3.72 ERA which is #3 starter territory.

 

[Zil]

Looks like Tanaka's not coming.

"But on Thursday morning, several Japanese newspapers reported that the Eagles — who control the rights to Tanaka until the end of 2015 — would not permit major league teams to bid for him."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/s...t-be-let-go-reports-say.html?ref=sports&_r=1&

 

[Cliffy1814]

Looks like Tanaka's not coming.

"But on Thursday morning, several Japanese newspapers reported that the Eagles — who control the rights to Tanaka until the end of 2015 — would not permit major league teams to bid for him."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/s...t-be-let-go-reports-say.html?ref=sports&_r=1&

The Eagles are obviously upset about the new posting rules which max out at $20m to the team. Under the old system they would have likely tripled that. Good for them. As a Met fan and Yankee hater this is great news.
It will be difficult for the Yankees to make the playoffs with a rotation of:
Sabathia
Nova
Kuroda
Arroyo (insert any other average and soon to be overpaid starter here)
Phelps

 

[Zil]

The Eagles are obviously upset about the new posting rules which max out at $20m to the team. Under the old system they would have likely tripled that.

I honestly think the posting fee might have reached the $75-100 million range.

 

[egelband]

it's pretty poor, them not letting the guy go. i guess they'll force him to to stay and pitch about 450 innings...start him every other day...

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

God how can anyone root for the Yankees? haha

It's like rooting for Goldman Sachs. Gross...

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

no definitive word on Tanaka according to Heyman and multiple reports lol

 

[Zil]

God how can anyone root for the Yankees? haha

It's like rooting for Goldman Sachs. Gross...

Aren't you a Dodgers fan?

 

[AlternateSideParking]

No thanks on Tanaka. I'd rather roll the dice with phelps and Pineda.

The Yankees are automatically 5 wins better without Fart Face and Fat Slob.

 

[darko]

Aren't you a Dodgers fan?

If true, oh the irony.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Boras = magician 283M combined for 2 good (not great) outfielders with serious question marks this offseason

 

[Zil]

Boras = magician 283M combined for 2 good (not great) outfielders with serious question marks this offseason

Choo doesn't really have question marks. He's just not a well rounded player. He offers an extremely high amount of OBP and a decent amount of pop. He's always had pronounced splits (although his OBP against lefties was still .347, which is well above average) and his mediocre defense makes him best suited for a corner. Plus, he steals about 20 bases a year. I wouldn't have given him $130 million for his age 32 through 37 seasons, but Texas is going for it and their lineup does look pretty daunting now. It's hard to blame them, considering their sub-par offense probably cost them a playoff spot last season.

As for Ellsbury, the only question is if he will he have another freak injury. His disabled list history shouldn't really scare you, unless you expect him to collide with Adrian Beltre at full speed or have Reid Brignac land on his shoulder again. He's a very productive player when healthy, if not a superstar. The contract is questionable, but new research is finding that speed guys actually tend to age better than lumbering sluggers so you may not hate it as much as you think you will.