MLB 2019 thread

[MUBurrow]

Quite an incredible coincidence that the two big name pitchers who were both willing to sit out the first two and a half months of the season both decided to lower their price to the point of teams finally paying them on the exact same day.

Has nothing to do with the draft picks these two teams saved though.  Kuechel and Kimbrel both definitely lowered their prices today.  They finally gave in.

I agree on Kimbrel - he still got the most money of any 2018-2019 RP. Not sure I agree on Kuechel though. If you decide you're only willing to sign Kuechel for one year, and he's only worth the prorated QO, that draft pick is a bigger deal in the grand scheme of the transaction as a whole.  If you're chucking $40M+ at Kimbrel, meh, its not as big of a factor.

[GB Warrior]

As a Brewers fan, the Keuchel signing is worse for me, especially at one year. Feel like we have a better idea what to expect out of him, and while he's not the Cy Young Keuchel anymore, he could have been a stabilizing force for that staff.

[Cheeks]

The view through the nets is not an issue for me and I don't think it is for anyone.  I went to a game on Wednesday and was probably 10 feet from the net behind the dugout.  I was a guest of some in the industry.  When I go on my own, as I did two weeks earlier, I choose not to sit by the nets down the line.  I want that action. I like that the kids can get autographs before the game.  I like the players reaching over to play foul balls, etc.  It's one of the sports you can be part of the action and close to the players.

[JWags85]

The view through the nets is not an issue for me and I don't think it is for anyone.  I went to a game on Wednesday and was probably 10 feet from the net behind the dugout.  I was a guest of some in the industry.  When I go on my own, as I did two weeks earlier, I choose not to sit by the nets down the line.  I want that action. I like that the kids can get autographs before the game.  I like the players reaching over to play foul balls, etc.  It's one of the sports you can be part of the action and close to the players.

Phew.  Thanks for yet another illuminating entry in your continuing tired narrative

[Dish]

Giolito's next three starts are Yankees/Cubs/Red Sox. He's second in fWAR now for all MLB pitchers. His slash line against last 7 starts is absurd (.154/.200/.185).

His next 3 starts will help define his Cy Young run.

Amazing turnaround, he was arguably the worst starter in MLB last year. Talent was always there, dude has worked his tail off to get better.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

And Miller Park South is a complete dump. Difference is Brewers fans don't pretend that their stadium is the best stadium in baseball. They realize it's an average stadium that you can tailgate at.

Again, when was the last time you were at Wrigley? 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Does it not seem logical that him signing 2 days after the draft compensation was no longer tied to him indicated that the draft compensation being tied to him was an impediment to his free agency?

Somehow I don't feel as though I am out on a limb here.

"With the draft just a few days away, it's likely that free agents Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel will (finally) come off the board in the near future. Once the calendar flips from June 2 to June 3, clubs will no longer be forced to surrender a draft pick to sign either former All-Star."
from MLBTR. 
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/05/craig-kimbrel-rumors-braves-phillies-rays-twins.html

Obviously, the primary impediment to a deal with either hurler is money, but the loss of draft assets is absolutely baked into each team's calculus when it comes to deciding which free agents to target and how much to offer them. No team is going to pass on a free agent solely because of draft considerations, but the compensation system does create a potential barrier.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-the-mlb-draft-could-open-up-the-market-for-dallas-keuchel-and-craig-kimbrel/

Translation: Waiting until after the draft could be smart for the interested teams and for Keuchel and Kimbrel -- whose markets could get more competitive with the draft pick compensation and bonus pool money aspect removed from the equation.

https://www.sny.tv/yankees/news/why-free-agents-dallas-keuchel-and-craig-kimbrel-could-wait-until-after-june-5-to-sign/306716176

What we might have heard over the last few months is that teams are waiting until after the draft in June to sign Keuchel or Kimbrel so as to avoid losing a draft pick. Over the last decade, as the game has gotten younger and younger players have gotten cheaper relative to veterans, teams have placed greater emphasis on draft picks

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-team-by-team-draft-cost-of-signing-dallas-keuchel-or-craig-kimbrel/

Kimbrel went from no one wanting to sign him last week, to 4 or 5 teams making serious offers this week.  Pretty coincidental timing.

Of course the draft pick was a factor.  Please point out where I said it wasn't. 

When free agency started the main obstacle was the term and average annual value he demanded.  Of course as the season progressed and the draft was a month or two away the draft pick became more of a factor.  Pretty simple. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

bmg could have a straight up hd porn video of a chicago athlete banging a teammates wife, the wife and the teammate going through an ugly divorce, and hed still be claiming that unless you were in the room while it was being video taped theres no possible way you can prove that this wasnt some edited video and it really never happened.

he also thinks it was just coincidental timing that kimbrels price just happened to drop to where the cubs felt comfortable enough to sign him right when they could hang onto all their draft picks, and doesnt think kimbrels price had been at that point before teams would be able to hang onto their draft picks but teams didnt want to lose their draft picks so they didnt sign him.  because that would be very smart negotiations by a guy who was already willing to sit out 2 1/2 months of baseball.  "hey, right when you get a separate incentive to sign me now (dont have to lose your draft pick anymore) ill go ahead and cut my price in half for you!"

classic.

You might be the dumbest person on Scoop. Well, you or Wades, as he gives his stupidity a nice showcase below. 

Quite an incredible coincidence that the two big name pitchers who were both willing to sit out the first two and a half months of the season both decided to lower their price to the point of teams finally paying them on the exact same day.

Has nothing to do with the draft picks these two teams saved though.  Kuechel and Kimbrel both definitely lowered their prices today.  They finally gave in.

. 

Please point out where anyone said that draft pick compensation had absolutely nothing to do with the entire Kimbrel and Keuchel sagas. 

[#UnleashSean]

Amazing turnaround, he was arguably the worst starter in MLB last year. Talent was always there, dude has worked his tail off to get better.

Nah, that would be chatwood.

[wadesworld]

Big Papi shot in the leg and hospitalized in a burglary attempt.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Big Papi shot in the leg and hospitalized in a burglary attempt.

Shot in the back, but expected to live.

[JWags85]

Big Papi shot in the leg and hospitalized in a burglary attempt.

The security footage video of the shooting is circulating online.  No way was it a burglary attempt as originally reported.  It was either a failed hit due to a gunman with nerves or a lack of skill, or someone sending a message.  Dude brazenly walks up to him as he sits at an outdoor cafe and pulls the trigger without an interaction.

[PGsHeroes32]

If true that's horrible. Zobrist also took a leave in spring training but returned.  Why would he return once if this player was still on the team?  Definitely a possibility but still hard not to be skeptical. Without naming names, is the alleged player on the current active roster?

Regardless, he does seem like a good guy and Cubs fans love him. I hope he figures it out and does come back.

Yu Darvish

[Cheeks]

The security footage video of the shooting is circulating online.  No way was it a burglary attempt as originally reported.  It was either a failed hit due to a gunman with nerves or a lack of skill, or someone sending a message.  Dude brazenly walks up to him as he sits at an outdoor cafe and pulls the trigger without an interaction.

If a hit, why not shoot him in the head?  Weird.  Or maybe you are right, case of nerves.

[Dish]

I know the Sox said Eloy's homer was 462 feet, but having been to that ballpark my whole life, that had to be close to 500 feet. I've never seen a ball hit that far there.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I know the Sox said Eloy's homer was 462 feet, but having been to that ballpark my whole life, that had to be close to 500 feet. I've never seen a ball hit that far there.

That title belongs to future Hall of Famer Joe Borchard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG3osc8qUqA

[TallTitan34]

That title belongs to future Hall of Famer Joe Borchard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG3osc8qUqA

I don't know. Eloy's landed in about the same spot on the concourse but in center field.  I think I'm going to give Eloy's the distance nod.

[Dish]

Ahh, Borchard, still waiting for him to become something.

[CreightonWarrior]

How much longer are the brewers going to let Aguilar be a black hole in the lineup?

[wadesworld]

How much longer are the brewers going to let Aguilar be a black hole in the lineup?

Until the offense becomes any kind of problem.

In reality he's either come off the bench or not even appeared in 16 of the last 23 games.  Thames is going to be in there against righties most nights, Grandal will get a game or 2 at first here and there, and once Huira's able to come up without losing a year of control (not entirely sure when that is) Shaw, if still in the majors, will get some time at first too.

[MUBurrow]

In reality he's either come off the bench or not even appeared in 16 of the last 23 games.  Thames is going to be in there against righties most nights, Grandal will get a game or 2 at first here and there, and once Huira's able to come up without losing a year of control (not entirely sure when that is) Shaw, if still in the majors, will get some time at first too.

Yup, the bolded is why Hiura was sent back down when Shaw was healthy, imho, in hopes that Shaw finds his stroke.

[JWags85]

Ahh, Borchard, still waiting for him to become something.

Didn't he get like the second largest signing bonus in history or something, despite not being a top 10 pick?

[jsglow]

They're not DFAing Aguilar.  Zero chance at that unless there's a rash of unusual injuries.

[The Sultan]

Aguilar is making $600k.  Right now he's just a cheap bat off the bench.  He's hitting his arbitration years, at the age of 30, starting next year.  I doubt he will be on the team much after this year.

[Jockey]

Yup, the bolded is why Hiura was sent back down when Shaw was healthy, imho, in hopes that Shaw finds his stroke.

He was the one that didn't need to be exposed to waivers by being sent down.