MLB 2023/2024 Free Agency Thread

[wibadgers23]

38 minutes ago, DR28 said:

I guess Cubs have made a huge offer to Ohtani.

**** the ******** Cubs.

Gross.

[torts]

Ohtani is going to use that as leverage for more elsewhere I bet

[Fear The Chorizo]

Still seems as though it's LAD or Toronto for Ohtani based on the rumor mill, despite the Cubs making an offer.  If LAD makes an offer in the same realm as whatever the Cubs gave, tough to see him leaving LA since he's already established roots in that market with the Angels on the west coast.  I don't know why anyone would want to play in Toronto and have such a huge chunk of their salary go to Toronto/provincial income taxes, either - which are much higher than either CA or IL.

Who knows? Maybe the Cubs' offer is as insane as the one they gave Counsell to manage them.

Ohtani is, at this stage in his career (29 yrs old), a generational talent deserving of a mountain of $$ - but I don't think he's going to be a pitcher/DH longterm, he'll need to pick one of those options as he ages and stick with it to prolong his career.  That will wind up looking bad on whatever team's payroll he's on in his mid 30s making $50M a season to be their DH in a couple years

[tmwiese55]

1 hour ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Still seems as though it's LAD or Toronto for Ohtani based on the rumor mill, despite the Cubs making an offer.  If LAD makes an offer in the same realm as whatever the Cubs gave, tough to see him leaving LA since he's already established roots in that market with the Angels on the west coast.  I don't know why anyone would want to play in Toronto and have such a huge chunk of their salary go to Toronto/provincial income taxes, either - which are much higher than either CA or IL.

Who knows? Maybe the Cubs' offer is as insane as the one they gave Counsell to manage them.

Ohtani is, at this stage in his career (29 yrs old), a generational talent deserving of a mountain of $$ - but I don't think he's going to be a pitcher/DH longterm, he'll need to pick one of those options as he ages and stick with it to prolong his career.  That will wind up looking bad on whatever team's payroll he's on in his mid 30s making $50M a season to be their DH in a couple years

Generally agree and everything.   I'd just tweak that if he does give up pitching he'd probably want to play RF. At least if in the next few years, but yea once he gets to like 35/36 he might be too slow by then.   If I recall correctly, he initially wanted to play RF on his off days for LAA but they shot it down.  Ridiculous what this guy has done, too bad he had the two arm surgeries so we couldn't fully see it all.

[jerichoholicninja]

On 11/29/2023 at 5:43 PM, Brewcrew82 said:

Such a Stearns move. 

A long way to go in the offseason but so far Stearns with the Cohen credit card is no different than Stearns with his allowance from Mark. A lot of crappy bottom of the roster utility players and splurging on high risk, short term veterans.

[torts]

1 hour ago, jerichoholicninja said:

A long way to go in the offseason but so far Stearns with the Cohen credit card is no different than Stearns with his allowance from Mark. A lot of crappy bottom of the roster utility players and splurging on high risk, short term veterans.

Mets media / fans are going to love this approach 

[markedman5]

Such a shame

 

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, markedman5 said:

Such a shame

 

Boob saying the Cubs are out is the first time I’ve thought the Cubs might actually get Ohtani.

[wibadgers23]

Can cross off Devin Williams being traded to Baltimore.

 

[Matt Breen]

Eduardo Rodriguez to the Dbacks. 4-years/$80m.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/diamondbacks-agree-to-four-year-deal-with-eduardo-rodriguez.html

I like this for Milwaukee - if they want to deal Burnes. The more higher end arms that get picked up by clubs such as Arizona, the more value Burnes should have as a trade target.

[jay87shot]

The Reds signed Candelario 3/45. Really confusing unless they have huge trade for pitching with there infield surplus.

[SF70]

27 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

The Reds signed Candelario 3/45. Really confusing unless they have huge trade for pitching with there infield surplus.

Yeah, I think Krall will now deal from his ridiculous IF depth to add a Glasnow-Bieber-Cease, the one major weakness of that team — a veteran TOR starter to lead their young and talented rotation. Scary team.

[Underachiever]

Boy, I am so surprised Candelario got 3/45, especially from the Reds. I'm getting Moustakas vibes from this. Redszone is all over the map on it, but they all think that it means a trade for pitching is coming. 

[DR28]

11 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

Boy, I am so surprised Candelario got 3/45, especially from the Reds. I'm getting Moustakas vibes from this. Redszone is all over the map on it, but they all think that it means a trade for pitching is coming. 

Yep agreed, I can see them now giving Marte to Sox for Cease.

[jay87shot]

I could see them getting 2 of Beiber, Cease, Glasnow if they really wanted.

Marte and Lodolo for Cease

India and Williamson for Beiber/Glasnow

Cease, Beiber/Glasnow, Martinez, Greene, Abbott, Ashcraft is a crazy good rotation. There pen is solid and we know about the young bats.

I could be a remarkable division if the Cubs add a couple of the top free agents, the Cards will be better with the starters they have gotten, and even the Pirates announced they would be adding payroll. 

[wallus]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

The Reds signed Candelario 3/45. Really confusing unless they have huge trade for pitching with there infield surplus.

I like Candelario but not for that price. While this helps the Reds, it also hurts the Cubs so oh well.

[wibadgers23]

 

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

 

Hopefully Blue Jays or Giants land him but Dodgers feel like an inevitability. 

[DR28]

Finally! Get this **** done so the offseason can begin.

I'm going with Toronto, $625 million.

[TURBO]

Doesn't matter who gets him, they will regret it at some point. 

This is just ridiculous sick money.

He has to realize that the team that signs him will be seriously hampered in the future from signing other top free agents, thus, hurting his chances at a World Series Championship.

Serves him and the team right.

[tmwiese55]

15 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Doesn't matter who gets him, they will regret it at some point. 

This is just ridiculous sick money.

He has to realize that the team that signs him will be seriously hampered in the future from signing other top free agents, thus, hurting his chances at a World Series Championship.

Serves him and the team right.

Which is why he should pick LAD.  Its the one team that can pay him and still win.    ETA: well not 'one' but the one with the best chance

[DR28]

16 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

Which is why he should pick LAD.  Its the one team that can pay him and still win.    ETA: well not 'one' but the one with the best chance

Doesnt Toronto have oodles of money as well?? Otherwise, don't see why they would be in on Ohtani.

[tmwiese55]

3 minutes ago, DR28 said:

Doesnt Toronto have oodles of money as well?? Otherwise, don't see why they would be in on Ohtani.

Yea but will they have oodles enough to also pay Freeman/Betts level players over and over like LA?    Maybe, obviously I don't know but we also haven't really seen evidence of it over the years like we have in LA. And LA has consistently churned out young prospects into the system.    Top of my head I think people say Tor is a tough spot because of in general being in Canada but with it comes higher taxes.  How accurate that is IDK, especially if comped vs Cali/LA taxes but I would guess its true due to the healthcare there

[jerichoholicninja]

Mets sign Jorge Lopez. Does Stearns realize he left Milwaukee? He's giving out major league contracts to 4A players like they're going out of style.

[dlk9s]

Sources saying it's the Jays.

https://dodgersnation.com/shohei-ohtani-to-sign-with-toronto-blue-jays-over-los-angeles-dodgers-sources/2023/12/08/