MadThinker88

Yes the ChiSox had a winning record vs Cleveland in 2019 going 11-8. Cant argue that fact. In fact the 2019 ChiSox were the 1st AL Central club (since at least 2016) to win a season series vs Cleveland.

I think you always take the player in this case. If we are talking PTBNL or cash in this instance and it is a fringe player then the amount of money you would be getting back is also likely negligible. If the Brewers want an extra $25k right now they just throw a 10% sale up on their webstore, advertise it and it is done. In this case, if finding a guy who will contribute to the Major League roster isn't plausible ... then you find a guy who will aide one of your levels in a different way. As an example, if the Brewers are looking at the Low A Timber Rattlers roster and project they might be short 2B depth, instead of potentially moving one of your 3B/SS prospects over to play a different position for a half season (and not develop at the desired position) or bringing up your Rookie Ball 2B to play before he is ready ... you can grab an unspectacular 2B in this fashion that fills the need and allows your other guys to stick to their schedules, if that makes sense. The acquired 2B, as a PTBNL in this case, may never hit above .200 for the TRats and may be released mid season but, in this hypothetical, he has helped your organization by allowing other prospects to stay on schedule. I understand you are saying if the Brewers need a 2B to play in Appleton they can just sign one .. but unless the Padres are offering you enough money to cover the cost of signing one of these guys (which I'm assuming they are not) then you take the player. Completely agree & I like the way you laid out the reasoning. The sole caveat I would offer is if the 'cash' could be Int'l signing pool money. In that case you might grab the pool money as it could helping in signing multiple players or facilitate going over the normal pool amount & getting a real top flight signee or two.

Hader definitely hits it in yr 3 of Arb barring massive injury/ ineffectiveness. Heck Cody Allen had an Arb 3 number of $10.575 in 2018 (after prior arb years of $4.15 & $7.35). Another super/ Cy Young caliber yr in 2020 by Hader & getting real close to $9M in Arb 2 is not out of the question...

I believe teams have by rule 6 months to name the PTBNL and complete the deal. The item to remember with that is the player had to be eligible for being named as the PTBNL at the time of the deal originally being made.

Yep... I doubt he ever gets a HC slot again (except as an interim designation)...

Except Freddie wasn't the interim HC in 2018. Freddie was the interim OC & play-caller. 1st time regularly holding those roles in his life. The Interim HC was Greg Williams and he didn't receive an interview after that 5-3 finish.

I think you want to double check that. It depends on the level. From a 2005 NY Time article about minor league umpiring (and progressing to the majors) "Class AA, in fact, is viewed as the make-it-or-break-it level of pro baseball, for umpires as well as for players. It is the only level at which three-man umpiring crews are used. (The grades below, rookie leagues and A ball, use two-man crews; Class AAA and, of course, the majors, use four.)" I did a quick audit of regular season box scores from AAA & AA and found 3 man crews at both levels..

Yes JRam had a rough 12 month stretch (from later in 2018 into 2019). But if you dig into the numbers/ splits you can see he had turned it around in July & August before he broke his hamate bone in August. He still pushed himself to make it back in late Sept & went yard twice in the 1st game back. With more control (in comparison) & at a reasonable cost for that control, JRam would cost more in a deal to acquire than Lindor..

Yes 1B is a possibility. I could easily see Shaw being used as a wake up call for Vlad jr.. Vlad's overall D & his conditioning needs work. For the sake of the game I hope Vlad jr takes the entire game of baseball seriously (not just seeing & hitting the ball) because he might be one of the all time greats. If youth (ie lack of maturity) & lack of focus prevail, the Blue Jays have another option in Shaw to cover 3B.

Maybe in general.. There are a couple real strong teams in the conference..

Maybe in general.. There are a couple real strong teams in the conference..

I am curious -What do you define as overpay?? I feel 1 yr at $10M is out of MKEs range (even with MKE freeing up payroll space). IMHO the reasoning is a mix of the overall payroll being trimmed back some and the remaining budget being directed toward other pressing needs (3B & rotation)..

Dellin B is also seeking a 1 yr $10M make good deal (per mlbTR https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/latest-on-dellin-betances.html ) At that cost range, he is not headed to MKE..

Wise words to remember: Objects in the mirror are closer then they appear...

For some clarity. The Kluber option did not become something else with the move. It is still a team option. Yes his 2020 salary increased by $1M via an assignment clause but many other contracts have something similar (paid X in city where signed, gets an increase of A if dealt). That was the case here. The 'quirk' in the Kluber contract & his options had to do with if dealt before the end of the 2019 World Series. If he had been dealt earlier, the acquiring team had to either exercise both options or decline both options within 5 days of the 2019 WS ending. Cleveland (as the signing team) was the only club with the opportunity to accept one year & decline the next option (a year later). Now that Texas has acquired Kluber post decision-point I do not know if Teas has to make a decision quickly or if it is looked like any other team contract option (decided upon within 5 days of the next World Series conclusion)... We shall see.

Just somthing to consider... Mandy Bell @MandyBell02 · 8h For some perspective: Emmanuel Clase avg. fastball velocity in 2019: 99.2 mph Indians' bullpen avg. fastball velocity in 2019: 90.8 mph (lowest in MLB) No. of 98+ mph pitches for Clase: 238 No. of 98+ mph pitches for all Indians' pitchers: 12 (h/t @SlangsOnSports) Edit: I think those 12 were all by James Karinchak in Sept. Not completely sure...

Since you asked for it.... First off, let me put down this bottle of Jack. He can sit by our friends Johnnie Walker Black & Johnnie Walker Red. What an F'd up day... Ok. Some positive points from Cleveland's viewpoint. Clase is an interesting power arm and matching him with Brad Hand & James Karinchak forms an interesting back end of the bullpen for the Tribe. As I noted back on page 1 of this thread, I still think Cookie Carrasco will end up in the bullpen in a role similar to Josh Hader (when he 1st came up and in early 2018). Until Cookie goes to the pen, he is still in the rotation as the 3rd or 4th piece. Rotation wise the Tribe still has a full group and others for depth with more guys on the horizon. Pitching wise the Tribe is still in good shape. Not as dominant as they looked in the 2nd half of 2018 & going into 2019 but they are still in good shape. As for the other parts of trade..... this was why Jack & I had a long talk. Delino D Jr.. I have never been a fan of his. Heck I was yelling at DDjr during a game earlier this year & pointing out Sr was better. I also pointed out Sr had been dealt straight up for Pedro J Martinez... Obviously Jr is not in the same category.. I don't see DD Jr as a needed piece for the OF, especially with Zimmer & Naquin coming back from injury & Daniel Johnson ready to ascend from AAA. Maybe another move is coming with DDJr or another OF being involved. Headscratcher for me TBH.. Only 2 pieces for Kluber? I was really expecting more. Going back a year when Yan Gomes got dealt to Washington, the entire return package wasn't understood for a few days. I really hope that is the case here & a 3rd piece is discover heading back to Cleveland. Was this really the best offer for Kluber?? Really a head-scratching for me. Is Clase really that good that others could not match or exceed it?? For me I probably would have held onto Kluber and given him a chance to pitch & prove himself healthy & ready to go (then make a deal for more of a return). Other teams (like the Brewers) might be frustrated if Kluber proves himself healthy & effective in Texas during the early part of 2020.. Was this a true salary dump?? Maybe it was, but it makes little sense to look to dump more salary & then accept DD Jr back & help pay the $1M assignment bonus on the Kluber deal (with his being dealt). Besides thru other moves the Tribe had already reduced the payroll by over $30M from the start of the 2018 season... I really hope this is a primer for other moves to happen (either FA signing(s)/ trade for & take on contract(s)/ some significant contract extensions on existing players). Time will tell. Being in the AL Central helps Cleveland & the rotation & improved bullpen should help the Tribe contend again in the division even with ChiSox improving. Just like the ChiCubs/ Cards/ Reds & Brewers all have holes needing to be addressed, so to do the Twins/ Tribe & ChiSox. Its wrong to anoint or rule out any of those clubs yet. Impact to the Brewers - More pieces to help the rotation are leaving the market via teams not normally thought to be contending (Rangers/ Angels/ Blue Jays/ D'Backs). Now MKE, Minnie, ChiSox are continuing to seek out pitching with less & less available.. While I doubt Kluber would have been dealt to another AL Central team, the Brewers could have definitely been a trade partner.

You and me both (waiting to see the return)..... Other aspect will be question of Tribe reinvesting/ reallocating that money. IF Tribe is using the money to lock up younger players like Bieber/ Mercado/ others (an extension for Lindor is a pipe dream) is makes a lot of sense. Consider Kluber didn't pitch after May 1 & Tribe still won 93 games. Tribe still a rotation of Clevinger/ Bieber/ Carrasco/ Civale/ Plesac/ Plutko/ Jefy Rodriguez/ Logan Allen. All those guys started in the Majors last season so they still have rotation & depth. B4 anyone comments on counting on Carrasco to much with his medical issue IMHO I think it likely he departs the rotation & takes on multiple inning usage like Hader when Josh came up to the majors. Until then, he gets penciled into the rotation.

IF not stay away, approach with much caution and quadruple check every aspect of a trade proposal made by Cashman/ NYY

Always worried it would be (Larry) Walker, Texas Ranger

If the Astros were smart, they would flip Bregman & Correa, making Alex the regular SS. It might serve to keep Correa healthier in the long run (especially if Carlos is not traded)...

It was suggested Didi wanted the 1 yr deal to not only bet upon himself doing better as FA after 2202, but to also avoid the influx of Free Agent SS onto the market AFTER the 2021 season (Lindor/ C Seager/ C Correa).

The officiating last night was an embarrassment for the B1G. But don't fool yourself into thinking that is was all sided calls/ breaks. The drive for the missed FG was aided by 2 unsportsmanlike calls. They never showed what caused the flag on the kickoff so WI started at the 40. Neither side was flagged for holding during the 1st half. I know I saw at least 3 on OSU and another 5 on WI...

Noon Eastern show tomorrow (Sunday 12/8). They not only announce playoff teams but also New Year 6 bowls. Rest of bowl games get announced during course of sunday..

It was noted earlier this week on ESPN radio (& to a point on the TV shows) that Meatchicken has been out recruiting (by # of 5 stars & 4 stars since 2016) vs Ohio State. Bigger difference is the coaching & development of players while in school. In that area OSU is miles ahead of Meatchicken. I am NOT comparing that to WI but it does beg the question - regardless of the rankings, how well do the players develop (or not) while at WI???