MLB 2023-2024 Offseason

[Lennys Tap]

This move reminds me of what Stearns did several years ago (2016 or 2017 maybe?) when he signed a few discounted veterans late in the free agent season and then traded them off for prospects in July.

Is 7m for Sanchez a discount?

[cheebs09]

Is 7m for Sanchez a discount?

I think so. Being only a 1 year deal most likely means it's pretty low risk.

[GB Warrior]

Is 7m for Sanchez a discount?

Mark isn't spending the money on a soccer team; let's not look a gift horse in the mouth

[Jockey]

Keith Law has the brewers as the #2 farm system in baseball, behind only the Orioles.

[Uncle Rico]

Keith Law has the brewers as the #2 farm system in baseball, behind only the Orioles.

Will be watching how the pitchers develop.  Have infielders galore.

[Jockey]

Will be watching how the pitchers develop.  Have infielders galore.

Hall, Gasser, and Misiorowski could all become stars - or they could just become #4 or #5 starters. One or two could even end up in the pen.

Bad news is that all 5 Central teams are in the top half of farm systems right now.

[Uncle Rico]

Hall, Gasser, and Misiorowski could all become stars - or they could just become #4 or #5 starters. One or two could even end up in the pen.

Bad news is that all 5 Central teams are in the top half of farm systems right now.

I trust them to develop arms

[wadesworld]

Woody back on a 2 year deal is nice. I’d imagine it can’t be very big money. High upside, but shoulder injuries are definitely the worst injuries for pitchers.

[tower912]

Tell me about Hiura and Canha.   

[wadesworld]

Tell me about Hiura and Canha.

Hiura was awesome until the Brewers tried to change his launch angle and now he can’t hit anything at the major league level. He’s a 4A player. Rakes in the minors. Ks and roll over grounders in the majors. Rickie Weeks 2.0.

[Jockey]

Dominic Smith. David Peralta. 

Cubs not letting Sox corner the market on mediocrity.

Yesterday, Ricketts said they haven’t started negotiations with Bellinger.

Has anyone checked the water in Chicago?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Hiura was awesome until the Brewers tried to change his launch angle and now he can’t hit anything at the major league level. He’s a 4A player. Rakes in the minors. Ks and roll over grounders in the majors. Rickie Weeks 2.0.

Did he stop hitting cause the Brewers changed his swing? Or did MLB pitching just figure him out.

[JWags85]

Anyone ever been to Spring Training in Clearwater?

Never been big into Spring Training, but seeing as the Phillies are less than 15 min away, I was considering heading over the once or twice.  It will be cooler when my son is a bit older and able to appreciate it, but still interesting

[MUBurrow]

Anyone ever been to Spring Training in Clearwater?

Never been big into Spring Training, but seeing as the Phillies are less than 15 min away, I was considering heading over the once or twice.  It will be cooler when my son is a bit older and able to appreciate it, but still interesting

I’m interested to hear opinions on the Grapefruit League too. I’ve been to ST in AZ, and while cool one thing I didn’t expect is how far the stadiums are from each other. Doing multiple games per day requires a DD or similar transportation arrangements (full disclosure I was there for a bachelor party).

[MUBurrow]

Tell me about Hiura and Canha.

Canha and Urshela are a fun little combo. The ceilings aren’t super high but they get on base, don’t hurt you, and should improve the lineup around Greene and Torkelson.

[tower912]

Canha and Urshela are a fun little combo. The ceilings aren’t super high but they get on base, don’t hurt you, and should improve the lineup around Greene and Torkelson.

Detroit has made a number of subtle, low risk, high reward moves.   Canha, Hiura,  Urshela, Maeda, Flaherty, Chafin, Shelby Miller.    To my eyes, it looks like they think they can win the AL Central.   I don't see how it is possibly enough to go further, but that would be a nice start.   

[Jockey]

Canha and Urshela are a fun little combo. The ceilings aren’t super high but they get on base, don’t hurt you, and should improve the lineup around Greene and Torkelson.

None of their other teams (8 of them) thought they were worthwhile to keep.

[MUBurrow]

None of their other teams (8 of them) thought they were worthwhile to keep.

Canha is on an $11.5M exercised team option that Det deemed to have enough surplus value to also offer a minor league arm for the right to exercise it, so that’s pretty valuable.

I agree that Urshela seemed to have little to no market, though. That surprised me, he’s still pretty young and has had some success, but it’s also not a sexy profile so I get why teams would rather devote their $1 million flyers on bullpen arms or elsewhere

[Lennys Tap]

None of their other teams (8 of them) thought they were worthwhile to keep.

I like Maeda, if healthy he could be a big boost to their rotation. Anyone but the White Sox could win that division.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Bellinger back to the Cubs. 3/80 with opt -outs after year 1 and 2.

Hoyer wins the staring contest. Great deal for the Cubs and could still work out really well for Bellinger if he performs.

[Lennys Tap]

Bellinger back to the Cubs. 3/80 with opt -outs after year 1 and 2.

Hoyer wins the staring contest. Great deal for the Cubs and could still work out really well for Bellinger if he performs.

Boras tries to get teams to bid against themselves, often successfully. Not this time.

[JWags85]

Bellinger back to the Cubs. 3/80 with opt -outs after year 1 and 2.

Hoyer wins the staring contest. Great deal for the Cubs and could still work out really well for Bellinger if he performs.

Really good deal all around.

Bellinger is kind of a crazy situation.  Won an NL MVP 4 years, severly regressed/got hurt.  Now gets a change of scenery and wins Comeback Player of the Year in a really productive year where he hit a career high in average. But what's crazy is that he's only 28

[MUBurrow]

Bellinger is kind of a crazy situation.  Won an NL MVP 4 years, severly regressed/got hurt.  Now gets a change of scenery and wins Comeback Player of the Year in a really productive year where he hit a career high in average. But what's crazy is that he's only 28

Yep - I think teams were really spooked by his batted ball profile last year.  Despite his success, a look under the hood suggests he wasn't really squaring up or hitting the ball very hard.  He's giving new-Yelich and Benintendi blender vibes right now, which while useful, is tough to commit to long term.

[The Lens]

I’m interested to hear opinions on the Grapefruit League too. I’ve been to ST in AZ, and while cool one thing I didn’t expect is how far the stadiums are from each other. Doing multiple games per day requires a DD or similar transportation arrangements (full disclosure I was there for a bachelor party).

AZ is much more compact than the Grapefruit League.   Much more distance in Florida.

[Jockey]

Yep - I think teams were really spooked by his batted ball profile last year.  Despite his success, a look under the hood suggests he wasn't really squaring up or hitting the ball very hard.  He's giving new-Yelich and Benintendi blender vibes right now, which while useful, is tough to commit to long term.

I get your point (and you are 100% correct on Bellinger) but Yelich hits the ball much harder than Bellinger or Benintendi. In fact, I think Yelich squares up and hits the ball harder than anyone on the Brewers' roster. A better Brewer comparison  for Belly would be Adames.

Yelich's salary is in line with comparable outfielders - it's not an awful contract. Not great for the Brewers, but not terrible.