MLB hot stove discussion 2018/19 off season

[buckchuckler]

Bold strategy Cotton.

Yeah, making a one year, 12 million dollar commitment to a guy that has been the best postseason pitcher in a generation is not the sort move that would benefit a team that is close to winning on World Series and on a budget.

[MUBurrow]

Yeah, making a one year, 12 million dollar commitment to a guy that has been the best postseason pitcher in a generation is not the sort move that would benefit a team that is close to winning on World Series and on a budget.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/madison-bumgarner-wont-fetch-the-giants-that-much/

[MUBurrow]

Lotta smoke that Schoop gets non-tendered tomorrow.  Pretty interesting decision with good arguments on either side.  While frustrating, I think you let him go and sign one of the available FAs for cheaper $.

[GB Warrior]

I have to think the talk of Syndergaard getting traded is likely much ado about nothing, but if you can a deal headlined by Hiura, Peralta and a couple of high prospects not named Burnes or Woodruff, you make the choice to gut the farm*

*Unless there are grumblings of injury concerns

[CreightonWarrior]

I have to think the talk of Syndergaard getting traded is likely much ado about nothing, but if you can a deal headlined by Hiura, Peralta and a couple of high prospects not named Burnes or Woodruff, you make the choice to gut the farm*

*Unless there are grumblings of injury concerns

Syndergaard is a trade I can stomach a lot better. I think he's better than Bumgarner at this point and controllable for awhile.

[MUBurrow]

Syndergaard is a trade I can stomach a lot better. I think he's better than Bumgarner at this point and controllable for awhile.

I'm really curious what the return is if the Mets deal Syndergaard and the Indians follow through with dealing Kluber, Carrasco, or Bauer. Thor's got three Arb years left and made $3M last year. Kluber has 2 years $31M, Carrasco has 2 yrs $19M, and Bauer has two Arb years left and made $6.5M last year.  There are good arguments for any of the four of those guys being the most valuable (except maybe Carrasco, though he's probably the least risky in that he's neither the most expensive nor the most volatile (injuries/performance).

[buckchuckler]

Syndergaard is a trade I can stomach a lot better. I think he's better than Bumgarner at this point and controllable for awhile.

The years of control likely means that he costs a lot more.  Also the reports are that the Mets aren't just looking for prospect return, but for young major league players, so their ask would probably start with Woodruff or Burnes, and likely Hiura and Turang as well.

[MUBurrow]

The years of control likely means that he costs a lot more.  Also the reports are that the Mets aren't just looking for prospect return, but for young major league players, so their ask would probably start with Woodruff or Burnes, and likely Hiura and Turang as well.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but the Mets trading a bunch of prospects for Cano and Diaz, only to also trade away Syndergaard, suggests to me they don't trust Syndergaard's health.

[buckchuckler]

Wow, looks like the M's are kicking on 60 million for Cano, as well as taking on the contracts of Bruce and Swarzak.

[SaveOD238]

I have to think the talk of Syndergaard getting traded is likely much ado about nothing, but if you can a deal headlined by Hiura, Peralta and a couple of high prospects not named Burnes or Woodruff, you make the choice to gut the farm*

*Unless there are grumblings of injury concerns

I am not interested in any trade involving Keston Hiura.  Everyone else is fair game.  I gotta imagine that Keon Broxton or Corey Ray is probably the best bat available.

[buckchuckler]

I am not interested in any trade involving Keston Hiura.  Everyone else is fair game.  I gotta imagine that Keon Broxton or Corey Ray is probably the best bat available.

I guess you never know, but I wouldn't guess that would be near enough for Syndergaard.  Edwin Diaz looks likely to command 2 top 100 prospects.  Syndergaard with 3 years remaining, you would think the deal Sale would be the reference, and he commanded 2 top 15 prospects, and 2 more guys as well. 

Jose Quintana commanded the Cubs top hitting prospect as well as their top hitting prospect.

Really, if I am the Mets GM, I would start by asking for Hader and Hiura and two other prospects, obviously though Hader would be nearly untouchable.  But thinking you could get Thor with a package built around Keon Broxton seems unrealistic.  He is a guy that will be 29 next season and has a career OPS of .721

[Jockey]

Cubs tender a contract to Addison Russell.

Maybe they can trade and get Chapman back as well. Maybe hire Lenny Dykstra since they are short of coaches.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Cubs tender a contract to Addison Russell.

Maybe they can trade and get Chapman back as well. Maybe hire Lenny Dykstra since they are short of coaches.

Not a good look for the Cubs at all.

[DegenerateDish]

I like flipping Navarez when his value is high for a very solid reliever in Colome.

[MUBurrow]

Mariners havin themselves a good ol fashioned fire sale, aina?  Not a ton of pieces left, but Wade LeBlanc and Marco Gonzalez could really help some teams.  Mitch Haniger is pretty good. Healy and Seager can hit the ball real far, but have a ton of empty at bats.  Dee Gordon is going to be to them what Starlin Castro is to the Marlins. 

[BrewCity83]

The Mets want Major League bats.  For Syndergaard, would they consider a package of Schoop, Thames and Broxton or Santana?

[Lennys Tap]

I like flipping Navarez when his value is high for a very solid reliever in Colome.

Me too. Sox either have a reasonably priced closer for 3 years or someone to flip at the deadline for a guy who can hit a little but is pretty bad behind the plate.

[buckchuckler]

Me too. Sox either have a reasonably priced closer for 3 years or someone to flip at the deadline for a guy who can hit a little but is pretty bad behind the plate.

Yeah, nice return for him I think.  The pen is always an area of need.  I hope they have a plan to fill Avi's spot that is better than Delmonico.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Not a good look for the Cubs at all.

But will their fans give him a standing ovation?

[buckchuckler]

Brewers officially non-tender Schoop, Cedeno and Jennings.

[GB Warrior]

But will their fans give him a standing ovation?

 He's not white

[buckchuckler]

The Mets want Major League bats.  For Syndergaard, would they consider a package of Schoop, Thames and Broxton or Santana?

You can't get talent for scraps.  That wouldn't get you Jason Vargas. 

[MUBurrow]

Brewers officially non-tender Schoop, Cedeno and Jennings.

Probably the right call on Schoop. He was slated to earn $10M-ish in his last arb year. Keeping him would have been succumbing to the sunk cost fallacy as much as anything.  Higher floor 2B can be had this offseason for less money, and that's without considering the continuous flirtation with moving Shaw there. 

I haven't been following Brew Crew Ball or the other blogs lately, but I'm a little more surprised at Cedeno and Jennings. Both are in their 30s and are what they are, but they were only going to earn like $2.5M between them.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Cubs tender a contract to Addison Russell.

Maybe they can trade and get Chapman back as well. Maybe hire Lenny Dykstra since they are short of coaches.

Not a good look for the Cubs at all.

Did either of you read Epstein's statement on the decision? 

But will their fans give him a standing ovation?

No.

[GGGG]

Did either of you read Epstein's statement on the decision? 

Yeah.  It was PR schlock.  Seriously, "we want to be part of the solution?"