Baseball Hot Stove League 2016-2017 (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

Breaking news; the MFY's have signed the corpse of Matt Holliday............must be part of that youth movement I've been hearing so much about lately.......................but naturally he'll now be a shoe in for 74 home runs this year.

Why? This is the kind of move that makes me think Cashman is nuts! After making some good trade deadline trades to pick up a bunch of good prospects, he trades and cuts a bunch of over the hill or overpriced players, looking like he finally grasps the concept of developing young talent from the farm system, then signs a 36 year old off his worst season. Its a good thing I keep a good selection of Scotch and Irish Whiskey on hand!{sm2}

 

[Warrior]

That very well may be true Al, but I remember just a few short years ago the Blue Jays loaded up on every key free agent on the market it seemed and they fell flat on their face, being as good as Boston was last year I do not think that will happen to them in 2017 but crazier things can happen.

Good point, but the Red Sox are not loading up on free agents, they're making trades, BIG difference.

Have you seen Sales contract for the next three years?

About 9 million a year; are you kidding me, for talent like that?

It's one thing to sign free agents like the MFY's are famous for, throw dump trucks full of money around, big deal; it's another to have a pair and pull off a big trade.

Today on Boston sports talk radio, people are screaming that they gave up too much talent, namely Moncada, the kid they signed from Cuba.

Really? These are the same people two years ago who were screaming about a bunch of tomato can starters, four #3's in the rotation, no ace.

They now have THREE aces, they are stacked.

And again, the kid they got from the Brewers is already slotted in as the 8th inning guy and don't forget, Smith, the kid from Seattle who was lights out for them two years ago, is coming back after a season ending injury as the 7th inning guy, so the bullpen is stacked now too.

Yes, on PAPER, they are the clear cut pre season team to go to the WS from the AL; we'll see how it plays out, but I like their chances................

 

[Warrior]

Why? This is the kind of move that makes me think Cashman is nuts! After making some good trade deadline trades to pick up a bunch of good prospects, he trades and cuts a bunch of over the hill or overpriced players, looking like he finally grasps the concept of developing young talent from the farm system, then signs a 36 year old off his worst season. Its a good thing I keep a good selection of Scotch and Irish Whiskey on hand!{sm2}

It's like Brad said, it's a stop gap move, he's only on a one year deal.

Don't worry, the Yankees aren't going anywhere next year, they're trying the old fashioned route of developing young talent.

You know, like they did 25 years ago in the early 1990's.

Be patient; I know that's tough for a Yankee fan as youze guys think they should automatically win the WS every year, but try it on for size, you might like the way that line of thinking fits.

 

[Louis Badolato]

It's like Brad said, it's a stop gap move, he's only on a one year deal.

Don't worry, the Yankees aren't going anywhere next year, they're trying the old fashioned route of developing young talent.

You know, like they did 25 years ago in the early 1990's.

Be patient; I know that's tough for a Yankee fan as youze guys think they should automatically win the WS every year, but try it on for size, you might like the way that line of thinking fits.

I have no trouble being patient if the young prospects are getting a chance to develop. I don't want to see over the hill free agents occupying starting spots that should be occupied by prospects trying to prove themselves. I am thankful it is only a one year deal. The only money I want to see the Yankees spending on free agents is for starting pitching and a good closer.

 

[Warrior]

The only money I want to see the Yankees spending on free agents is for starting pitching and a good closer.

Ultimate irony; remember the three headed monster at the back end of the MFY bullpen everyone raved about? Well, they had a lights out closer and a lights out set up man, but they traded them both away, the stooge they kept isn't a closer come to find out.

You'd better hope the prospects they got in those deals pan out.

 

[jazzeum]

You can't do it all with rookies, who need seasoning. Holliday has been on winning teams his entire career and perhaps the thinking is that the newer players can learn something from him. Moreover, this is not a team ready to win now.

On the closers, I read somewhere that the Yankees had interest in both Chapman and the Dodgers' closer.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Ultimate irony; remember the three headed monster at the back end of the MFY bullpen everyone raved about? Well, they had a lights out closer and a lights out set up man, but they traded them both away, the stooge they kept isn't a closer come to find out.

You'd better hope the prospects they got in those deals pan out.

Aroldis Chapman was a free agent at the end of the season, and the Yankees can sign him back if they choose, so the prospects they got in that deal are gravy. Andrew Miller was signed for two years, but if even two of the prospects they got in these trades pan out as good major league players, it was a good trade. If one ends up a star, it was a great trade. Frankly, he was a great set up man, but you can always get a good setup man or two in free agency or from your farm system.

 

[Panzer ace]

Good point, but the Red Sox are not loading up on free agents, they're making trades, BIG difference.

Have you seen Sales contract for the next three years?

About 9 million a year; are you kidding me, for talent like that?

It's one thing to sign free agents like the MFY's are famous for, throw dump trucks full of money around, big deal; it's another to have a pair and pull off a big trade.

Today on Boston sports talk radio, people are screaming that they gave up too much talent, namely Moncada, the kid they signed from Cuba.

Really? These are the same people two years ago who were screaming about a bunch of tomato can starters, four #3's in the rotation, no ace.

They now have THREE aces, they are stacked.

And again, the kid they got from the Brewers is already slotted in as the 8th inning guy and don't forget, Smith, the kid from Seattle who was lights out for them two years ago, is coming back after a season ending injury as the 7th inning guy, so the bullpen is stacked now too.

Yes, on PAPER, they are the clear cut pre season team to go to the WS from the AL; we'll see how it plays out, but I like their chances................

No one will be screaming if those moves lead to a Red Sox World Series victory.

Then again they will have to beat the Giants in order to do that.

^&grin

 

[jazzeum]

I'm not sure I understand this Eaton move. I read that the Nats are still interested in McCutchen. However, they both play CF. Perhaps it spells the end for Werth.

 

[lancer]

I'm not sure I understand this Eaton move. I read that the Nats are still interested in McCutchen. However, they both play CF. Perhaps it spells the end for Werth.

Not sure about the Eaton move either, but it might be to put him in RF and move Harper to CF. It makes sense in terms of Eaton's defensive numbers which are bad in center and good in right. Why they are still after McCutchen is beyond me, although it could be to move Werth out. One thing for sure, Turner will be moving to SS, leaving Espinoza out in the cold. -- Al

 

[sammy719]

Aroldis Chapman was a free agent at the end of the season, and the Yankees can sign him back if they choose, so the prospects they got in that deal are gravy. Andrew Miller was signed for two years, but if even two of the prospects they got in these trades pan out as good major league players, it was a good trade. If one ends up a star, it was a great trade. Frankly, he was a great set up man, but you can always get a good setup man or two in free agency or from your farm system.

Looks like the Yanks got their man back for a cool 80 million....my God I only could dream of Angalos throwing around money like that.

 

[jazzeum]

Not sure about the Eaton move either, but it might be to put him in RF and move Harper to CF. It makes sense in terms of Eaton's defensive numbers which are bad in center and good in right. Why they are still after McCutchen is beyond me, although it could be to move Werth out. One thing for sure, Turner will be moving to SS, leaving Espinoza out in the cold. -- Al

It looks like McCutchen is staying with the Pirates so Eaton was probably Plan B.

 

[Warrior]

Looks like the Yanks got their man back for a cool 80 million....my God I only could dream of Angalos throwing around money like that.

The way Maddon overused him in the playoffs this year, his arm will fall off when he throws his first pitch in Spring training.

Once he loses a couple of MPH off of his fastball, adios..............................I'll take a closer with a cutter like Mo, a splitter like Kojo or a curveball like Kimbrel, a closer who throws gas is toast once the gas goes from high test to regular......................

 

[sammy719]

The way Maddon overused him in the playoffs this year, his arm will fall off when he throws his first pitch in Spring training.

Once he loses a couple of MPH off of his fastball, adios..............................I'll take a closer with a cutter like Mo, a splitter like Kojo or a curveball like Kimbrel, a closer who throws gas is toast once the gas goes from high test to regular......................

Chapman reminds me of another super fast ball pitcher the O's had back in the '90s named Armando Benitez, when he was good he was great, but when he struggled he was pitiful, you can only reach back for that 99-100 mph pitch before an arm runs out of gas, hopefully Chapman has a few other pitches in his bag of tricks to use.

 

[lancer]

Lots of local buzz that Rizzo way overpaid for Eaton. It sure didn't sound like a typical Rizzo deal, 3 top pitching prospects for 1 outfielder of average numbers. The key to this deal is that the Nats really wanted Turner at SS and the acquisition of Eaton allows this. 3 top pitching prospects is a steep price but odds are only one of them will pan out. If they all pan out, then Rizzo looks bad, but that is a future worry and the Nats want to win NOW. The window is getting narrower as Harper goes FA in 2 years. We'll see how it all works out, but I doubt Rizzo is done making changes yet. -- Al

 

[lancer]

The way Maddon overused him in the playoffs this year, his arm will fall off when he throws his first pitch in Spring training.

Once he loses a couple of MPH off of his fastball, adios..............................I'll take a closer with a cutter like Mo, a splitter like Kojo or a curveball like Kimbrel, a closer who throws gas is toast once the gas goes from high test to regular......................

Good points. The Nats learned this lesson with Papelbon and were forced to make a change mid-season. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I think Chapman will be just fine. Maddon had no choice because he had no faith in anyone else. It's not as if he had to go seven or eight every time he pitched.

There is also no comparison to Armando, who was a Met before he was an Oriole. Benitez was always on the edge of trouble whenever he pitched and he certainly didn't have Chapman's velocity. Benitez was a walking Rolaids problem for managers. Give me Chapman any day. Just thinking of Benitez pitching gives me the shakes.

 

[sammy719]

I think Chapman will be just fine. Maddon had no choice because he had no faith in anyone else. It's not as if he had to go seven or eight every time he pitched.

There is also no comparison to Armando, who was a Met before he was an Oriole. Benitez was always on the edge of trouble whenever he pitched and he certainly didn't have Chapman's velocity. Benitez was a walking Rolaids problem for managers. Give me Chapman any day. Just thinking of Benitez pitching gives me the shakes.

Benitez had a few good years with the O's but agreed he could turn the stomach on many a outings.

 

[lancer]

I think Chapman will be just fine. Maddon had no choice because he had no faith in anyone else. It's not as if he had to go seven or eight every time he pitched.

There is also no comparison to Armando, who was a Met before he was an Oriole. Benitez was always on the edge of trouble whenever he pitched and he certainly didn't have Chapman's velocity. Benitez was a walking Rolaids problem for managers. Give me Chapman any day. Just thinking of Benitez pitching gives me the shakes.

Brad, Benitez was an Oriole first. Broke in with them in '94 before going to the Mets in '99. Not that it really makes a difference, as he wasn't a real favorite with the O's anyway. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Al, you're right. It's still a nightmare! He helped cost the Mets the 2000 WS by not being able to get out Paul O'Neill. That idiot Timo Perez had a lot to do with it too but that AB against O'Neill stands out.