MLB 2023/2024 Free Agency Thread

[torts]

1 hour ago, DR28 said:

Guess better than what they had last year?? Either way, still wish we were more active in FA.

It's like... 2 days into free agency.  How impatient are you?!  Lol

[Jastro]

The "top" FA shortstop is off the board.... 

[brewers888]

1 hour ago, SF70 said:

The team likely believes they can win the central with Burnes-Adames. If they get a return that blows the comp pick/pool money AND Burnes potential Brewers performance out of the water, they likely take it.

It would very likely have to include player/players ready to help the big-club in ‘24, imo, or they hold and give this team’s tremendous amateur draft department the pick and the money. Same with Adames.

The only argument for keeping Burnes and going for it is if they were willing to actually spend some money and add to this roster and we all know this ownership is far more likely to dumpster dive for guys like Bauers than add any real difference makers. With this likely being the case this isn't a championship roster so only getting a draft pick for someone like Burnes is a terrible outcome.

[DR28]

1 hour ago, torts said:

It's like... 2 days into free agency.  How impatient are you?!  Lol

Lol, very....................

[SF70]

19 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

The only argument for keeping Burnes and going for it is if they were willing to actually spend some money and add to this roster and we all know this ownership is far more likely to dumpster dive for guys like Bauers than add any real difference makers. With this likely being the case this isn't a championship roster so only getting a draft pick for someone like Burnes is a terrible outcome.

Championship roster?

You mean like the ‘23 Braves or Dodgers?

This team can win the central in ‘24 as is and once in, have as good a chance as anyone because — baseball.

2 TOR starters, the best bullpen in baseball, Mitchell back, sophomore improvement, Chourio & Black = definite contender. 

I’m excited about 4 picks of the top 40ish and $14M in pool money in the ‘25 draft, and I think the team is as well if it means another central title.

 

[Thurston Fluff]

46 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

The only argument for keeping Burnes and going for it is if they were willing to actually spend some money and add to this roster and we all know this ownership is far more likely to dumpster dive for guys like Bauers than add any real difference makers. With this likely being the case this isn't a championship roster so only getting a draft pick for someone like Burnes is a terrible outcome.

If last postseason didn't dispel your notion of what constitutes a championship roster I don't know what to say.

[brewers888]

1 minute ago, Thurston Fluff said:

If last postseason didn't dispel your notion of what constitutes a championship roster I don't know what to say.

The Rangers actually have a great roster so no that argument makes no sense.

[BrewerFan]

7 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

The Rangers actually have a great roster so no that argument makes no sense.

Ok...I'll hold your hand as we walk you through this.

And WHO did they play in the WS? Was it the team that was compared to the '27 Yankees? The powerhouse Dodgers? Or was it the team that won 84 games, swept the Dodgers and finished ONE spot ahead of the Brewers and their..."dumpster" lineup in runs scored?

[jay87shot]

The cards signed Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Not the guys Cards fans invisioned I would guess, maybe Lynn still has some upside. 

Braves signed Reynaldo Lopez 3/30, Lopez has been solid but not elite.It should show solid reliever values still if we want to trade a reliever.

If we keep Burnes and Adames (others) we still need some middle of the order bats to be a contender. Yeli and Contraras are solid but more 1/2 hitters. The Dbacks had Walker, Gurriel, Marte, and Carroll to provide consistentcy for their playoff run. Our lineup doesn't have enough depth unless we get huge improvement from our young guys. To me it would be better to get some good young upside bats for Burnes and Adames then lean on our pitching department to develop or have a few reclamation projects to make a workable rotation. Not to mention using some of the saved money on short term vets.

I have way more faith in piecing together pitching and putting our resources into offense.  Our organization has been so terrible in developing bats through the system it is really sad.

[wiguy94]

18 hours ago, jay87shot said:

The cards signed Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Not the guys Cards fans invisioned I would guess, maybe Lynn still has some upside. 

Braves signed Reynaldo Lopez 3/30, Lopez has been solid but not elite.It should show solid reliever values still if we want to trade a reliever.

If we keep Burnes and Adames (others) we still need some middle of the order bats to be a contender. Yeli and Contraras are solid but more 1/2 hitters. The Dbacks had Walker, Gurriel, Marte, and Carroll to provide consistentcy for their playoff run. Our lineup doesn't have enough depth unless we get huge improvement from our young guys. To me it would be better to get some good young upside bats for Burnes and Adames then lean on our pitching department to develop or have a few reclamation projects to make a workable rotation. Not to mention using some of the saved money on short term vets.

I have way more faith in piecing together pitching and putting our resources into offense.  Our organization has been so terrible in developing bats through the system it is really sad.

Braves have said they plan to stretch Lopez out and that he will be a guy who goes back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. Based on that I don't think it will have any impact on the RP FA market or trade market.

[Jastro]

 

[DR28]

Cardinals get Sonny Gray.

[SF70]

1 hour ago, DR28 said:

Cardinals get Sonny Gray.

Interesting rotation taking shape with that team.  36-36-35-34 are today’s ages of their starters. They really need to trade for Glasnow in their attempt to go for it 1 more year before they rebuild. 

Then they need to add starter depth and 3-4 bullpen arms. If they can accomplish that they could get their pitching to near average, maybe a smidgen above with some luck on the health front.

[torts]

$75 mil over 3 years

[wibadgers23]

$25 million per for Gray.

 

[Redd Vencher]

1 hour ago, SF70 said:

Interesting rotation taking shape with that team.  36-36-35-34 are today’s ages of their starters. They really need to trade for Glasnow in their attempt to go for it 1 more year before they rebuild. 

Then they need to add starter depth and 3-4 bullpen arms. If they can accomplish that they could get their pitching to near average, maybe a smidgen above with some luck on the health front.

They still have their garbage defense to worry about in trying to make this work.

[Thurston Fluff]

26 minutes ago, Redd Vencher said:

They still have their garbage defense to worry about in trying to make this work.

Maybe their plan is to only allow grounders to third.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

1 hour ago, SF70 said:

Interesting rotation taking shape with that team.  36-36-35-34 are today’s ages of their starters. They really need to trade for Glasnow in their attempt to go for it 1 more year before they rebuild. 

Then they need to add starter depth and 3-4 bullpen arms. If they can accomplish that they could get their pitching to near average, maybe a smidgen above with some luck on the health front.

They could get lucky on the health front, but depending on predominantly old starters has never been a recipe for success in that area. And with Arenado entering his age 33 season, Goldschmidt 36, and Contreras turning 32 in May, that team is pretty long-in-the-tooth through the lineup as well. And considering how terrible they were this year, they have a major hill to climb to get back to relevancy again.  

[torts]

That's not a contract that will see its end in st Louis.  He will be traded before the end of the third year.

[Matt Breen]

I've always liked Gray, but that being said, the Cardinals just don't look that good. Bullpen was junk last year, and the rotation is pretty 'meh' - which isn't a great combination. Some guys are getting older, and the defense is not that good.

I guess they could have a bunch of rebound players and the bullpen (which is always volatile) steps up. 

They'll need a lot to go right next year to make the playoffs.

[Redd Vencher]

44 minutes ago, Thurston Fluff said:

Maybe their plan is to only allow grounders to third.

Jokes aside. Someone hasn't seen Arenado's defensive metrics from last year. Not that he was bad compared to the position as a whole, but bad for his career production there.

[Matt Breen]

Dodgers are resigning OF Jason Hayward to a 1-year deal. 

I don't really care about this, but it made me think about the man's career. I remember his rookie year - and was blown away. The guy looked like he was going to be a superstar. He was just 20 years old, and hit .277 with a .393 OBP, and 18 HRs. He had a cannon for an arm and played fabulous defense. He made the all-star game as a rookie and had a bWAR of 6.4. I figured he'd only get better.

But his rookie year was the pinnacle of Heyward's career. He had some really good seasons - solid offense and outstanding defense making him a very valuable player (he averaged around 5.0 WAR his first six years). But he never really topped that first campaign (OPS, OPS+, walks - all career bests). And then his deal with the Cubs just saw him fall off a cliff at the age of 26. 

I think the red flag from the start was his weakness against left handers. That first year it wasn't bad - but it got worse. For his career his OPS vs lefties is .644 vs .787 vs right handers.

Still, the guy has 40+ WAR for his career - so pretty impressive. 

[tmwiese55]

1 hour ago, reillymcshane said:

I've always liked Gray, but that being said, the Cardinals just don't look that good. Bullpen was junk last year, and the rotation is pretty 'meh' - which isn't a great combination. Some guys are getting older, and the defense is not that good.

I guess they could have a bunch of rebound players and the bullpen (which is always volatile) steps up. 

They'll need a lot to go right next year to make the playoffs.

Yea Gray is someone I've always liked and generally he's produced well when not hurt the last few years.  But 25 mil per year for ages 34-37 is a risky proposition.

Also, as it relates to us.  Woodruff had to love seeing this deal and probably hurts our chances of a cheap 2 year deal with a team option that some have kicked around here as a hope. 

[TURBO]

53 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

 

Also, as it relates to us.  Woodruff had to love seeing this deal and probably hurts our chances of a cheap 2 year deal with a team option that some have kicked around here as a hope. 

hmmm, trying to see how this makes any difference in the Woodruff situation, please explain.

[owbc]

2 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

They could get lucky on the health front, but depending on predominantly old starters has never been a recipe for success in that area. And with Arenado entering his age 33 season, Goldschmidt 36, and Contreras turning 32 in May, that team is pretty long-in-the-tooth through the lineup as well. And considering how terrible they were this year, they have a major hill to climb to get back to relevancy again.  

They certainly seem to think they can make a playoff run in 2024 and they have made themselves quite a bit better. They added a couple wins simply from Wainwright not being on the 2024 roster and now they've added a Cy Young caliber arm in Gray. Lynn remains a bit of a head scratcher for me.

I tend to agree that the hill remains steep, I wonder if they are still operating under the assumption that the devil magic can somehow turn back the clock on these aging arms. I operate under the assumption that without Yadi around they can expect these guys to keep getting worse. 

On the flip side, they could just be positioning themselves to get their season ticket holders to renew before selling most of the roster at the end of July.