MLB 2018 Season

[Jockey]

Really, children?

Trying to drive everyone away from this thread? Your goal is nearly accomplished.

[buckchuckler]

Indians reportedly probing the waters for Bryce Harper. Intriguing.

I am so interested in what Washington does in the next 18ish hours.  What they decide could really impact the races.

I am not interested in any of the other BS happening here.

[Jockey]

I am so interested in what Washington does in the next 18ish hours.  What they decide could really impact the races.

I am not interested in any of the other BS happening here.

Amen.


If they trade Harper, shouldn't they also try to trade Murphy and Zimmerman - two guys approaching their mid-thirties??

[buckchuckler]

Amen.


If they trade Harper, shouldn't they also try to trade Murphy and Zimmerman - two guys approaching their mid-thirties??

Murphy is a free agent after the season as well, along with at least Herrera and Madson.

[MUBurrow]

Is there be anything more Nationals than making it publicly known that Harper is available 18 hrs before the deadline, thereby damaging your relationship with him, your vets, and your fans while not allowing other teams time to put good packages together, and then not trading him anyway?

[TallTitan34]

I'd love to have Herrera, however, it sounds like they are asking for a package much larger than they paid to get him.

[buckchuckler]

I'd love to have Herrera, however, it sounds like they are asking for a package much larger than they paid to get him.

Shouldn't they?  He is basically the last high leverage reliever left ( doesn't seem like Iglesias is available) and there are still a lot of teams that need him. 

They'd be crazy to ask for less than they traded for him.

[mu03eng]

Isn't apologizing and showing through your actions that "you're not that person today" sufficient for forgiveness?

Absolutely, he's accomplished the first part, hasn't had sufficient time to accomplish the second.....so we can hold off on standing Os for a bit. If he actively demonstrates through word and deed that he's changed (part of that is outreach) then I'll do a standing O for him myself if required. Until such time, I'll sit quietly and wait.

[GGGG]

Absolutely, he's accomplished the first part, hasn't had sufficient time to accomplish the second.....so we can hold off on standing Os for a bit. If he actively demonstrates through word and deed that he's changed (part of that is outreach) then I'll do a standing O for him myself if required. Until such time, I'll sit quietly and wait.

Not just that, but consider Lenny's question: "Is there anyone, anywhere who hasn't said or done things as an adolescent or young adult that wouldn't prove embarrassing?"

That means that Hader basically did what most people do - realize that he said dumb things when he was young.  Is that standing ovation worthy even if he is showing that he's not that person today?  Or is that simply part of the process of growing up?

[Babybluejeans]

Is there be anything more Nationals than making it publicly known that Harper is available 18 hrs before the deadline, thereby damaging your relationship with him, your vets, and your fans while not allowing other teams time to put good packages together, and then not trading him anyway?

Harper's played like garbage this season. That's one of the big reasons why the Nats aren't in first. But they're only 5.5 back. Why not see if someone will make a silly offer and otherwise, call it a ploy to light a fire under the team? They need some kind of spark.

[TallTitan34]

Shouldn't they?  He is basically the last high leverage reliever left ( doesn't seem like Iglesias is available) and there are still a lot of teams that need him. 

They'd be crazy to ask for less than they traded for him.

Except when they traded for him, they were trading for 3.5 months of use.  Now a team will only get 2 months of use. 

[buckchuckler]

Except when they traded for him, they were trading for 3.5 months of use.  Now a team will only get 2 months of use.

True, but with teams being more desperate, and the supply being dried up, if they decide to trade, him, I can see them getting more.  Maybe they won't for the reason you mentioned, but if a team needs a late inning solution with WS experience, well, Herrera is pretty much the only option.

[wadesworld]

Not just that, but consider Lenny's question: "Is there anyone, anywhere who hasn't said or done things as an adolescent or young adult that wouldn't prove embarrassing?"

That means that Hader basically did what most people do - realize that he said dumb things when he was young.  Is that standing ovation worthy even if he is showing that he's not that person today?  Or is that simply part of the process of growing up?

It's part of the process of growing up, but 99.999% of people don't have to do it in the limelight of every American with a television.  He has only himself to blame, but everyone has done something stupid and faced consequences for it.  Not everyone has their stupid issues pop back up 7 years after you're out of high school for the world to see.

[mu03eng]

Not just that, but consider Lenny's question: "Is there anyone, anywhere who hasn't said or done things as an adolescent or young adult that wouldn't prove embarrassing?"

That means that Hader basically did what most people do - realize that he said dumb things when he was young.  Is that standing ovation worthy even if he is showing that he's not that person today?  Or is that simply part of the process of growing up?

I dunno, maybe I'm being naive but I don't think what Hader said was A) is common amongst youth to say out loud B) something youth 7 years ago were actively posting in a public forum. Now you can argue that I'm wrong because now there are at least 3 baseball players with the same issue, but I just don't think the level of vitriol is that common.

[GGGG]

I dunno, maybe I'm being naive but I don't think what Hader said was A) is common amongst youth to say out loud B) something youth 7 years ago were actively posting in a public forum. Now you can argue that I'm wrong because now there are at least 3 baseball players with the same issue, but I just don't think the level of vitriol is that common.

I do agree with you.

[4everwarriors]

Any y'all ever had a standin' O, hey?

[buckchuckler]

Thanks for being no fun at all Mr. Rizzo.

[MUBurrow]

Thanks for being no fun at all Mr. Rizzo.

Yeah - there doesn't seem to be much of a plan.

[buckchuckler]

Brewers appear to be one of the most serious contenders for Chris Archer. 

[wadesworld]

Brewers appear to be one of the most serious contenders for Chris Archer.

I would enjoy this, even moreso for next season than this.  If Nelson can get back to what he was last year heading into next season there's a lot to like about the Brewers going forward.

[MUBurrow]

Brewers appear to be one of the most serious contenders for Chris Archer.

I'm all in on this. As I see it, the Brewers will never be able to afford to pay a top-end starter in free agency. All of the homegrown guys that will contribute during this window are already in the system. So if you look at what you have and don't see a path to having 1-2 guys who can give you a full season of productivity, plus be a playoff workhorse, you gotta spend whatever you gotta spend to get those guys. Looking around the league, its Archer, the Mets kids, and that's probably about it.

[Lennys Tap]

That means that Hader basically did what most people do - realize that he said dumb things when he was young.  Is that standing ovation worthy even if he is showing that he's not that person today?  Or is that simply part of the process of growing up?

+1. I don't want the young man branded for life, but a standing O also is over the top.

[jsglow]

Brewers appear to be one of the most serious contenders for Chris Archer.

Seems not to be headed to Crew based on latest info according to JP Morosi.  3 hours.

[MerrittsMustache]

Seems not to be headed to Crew based on latest info according to JP Morosi.  3 hours.

Others are saying the Padres and Pirates are the front-runners. I also saw the Braves as the leader. Several reports also say that Archer isn't likely to go anywhere.

Gotta love trade deadline internet rumors!

[MerrittsMustache]

Thanks for being no fun at all Mr. Rizzo.

The Nats should get creative and go the Aroldis Chapman route. Send Harper to Oakland or Pittsburgh (or somewhere who's definitely not going to re-sign him) but assure him that you're getting 2-3 top prospects back and you have $250M earmarked for him this offseason. Harper gets a chance at a ring this season and then he's theoretically coming back to a better Nats team next season.

Sure, you run the risk of losing him but you're running that risk anyway. Worst-case, you end up with a couple highly-rated prospects.