2017-18 Offseason Non-Phillies News/Notes/Discussion

[zambonir]

Cesar's probably better, I don't know if he's more valuable (when you factor in age and salary he should be, but even in the data age GMs love a "name").

But mostly I think Gordon was only half the return in that trade, the allocations were at least an equal draw (if not more so). So while it does set a floor, I think it's a very low floor. Plus Gordon wasn't acquired to play 2B.

[Lawman]

Seattle wants the money.

[zambonir]

Rosenthal (presumably being fed by Stanton's agent) reporting that Stanton (for now at least) will refuse to go to SF or STL, he lays out the scenarios for Dodgers or Yankees trades (and Marlins taking back dead money if so).

Rosenthal: Updating the Giancarlo Stanton standoff, and it's...

[tom81]

It would make sense for the Phillies to take on some of that dead money from the Dodgers if they can get Yelich from the Marlins. I’d take back Gonzalez and Ryu to fill two short term needs for example and they are both FAs next year. If Gonzalez can’t cut it as backup 1B/LH pitch-hitter you cut him.

[Lawman]

Mike Fiers to Houston on a 1 year deal.

[Philsmania]

Mike Fiers to Houston on a 1 year deal.

The reports I'm reading are that he left Houston and signed with Detroit. If so, the Astros now have nothing to show for Domingo Santana as well as nothing to show for Josh Zeid and, presumably, Jon Singleton. That leaves what the Astros got for Jarred Cosart, which is not insignificant. Something could still come of the three minor leaguers they got for him and the competitive balance pick net them Daz Cameron who was part of the package that got them Verlander who, of course, helped them get a ring.

[Squire]

Ohtani signs with the L.A. Angels

[bkeich]

Ohtani signs with the L.A. Angels

That is shocking frankly. I thought for sure Seattle but maybe the Dodgers. I wonder how much they had to sell him on "we will keep Trout".

[Squire]

Time for the Angels to get serious about their pursuit of OBP Wunderkind Cesar Hernandez.

[baseballoldie]

yep - looks like the Angels will be going all in now and Eppler should have Moreno's ok to get whatever he needs. let's hope it means something of real value for the Phillies.

[zambonir]

I'm a little surprised by the Angels too but he did say he wanted a smaller market. Which Orange County most certainly is not, but in terms of media attention they are not the Dodgers (or the Giants), and it's a little easier to hide out in the suburbs than Hollywood or SF. Maybe there was also something to that rumor that he didn't want to follow in another Japanese star's footsteps (as far as Seattle).

[Philsmania]

I am surprised it's the Angels as well. On the one hand, I commend Ohtani for being a guy who's not all about money. He left a lot of money on the table to come to the US and he could have gotten higher bonuses elsewhere. On the other hand, though, I can't help but see a hint of flakiness to him in terms of the way he conducted this process and I have a hard time seeing what attributes the Angels have besides Mike Trout. Their farm system is one the game's worst and they're not that good a team right now (80-82 in 2017) and it's hard to see how Ohtani makes them all that much better by himself. The good part for the Angels is that if Ohtani turns out to be that darned good and, despite that, the Angels have to rebuild, he'll be a heck of a trading chip.

[andyb]

I am not sure Ohtani left money on the table by leaving Japan. He only made about $2.5 million in Japan and he is not yet a free agent there so he may well be better off here, especially if he can sign a new contract after a year. The whole Babe Ruth in the major leagues marketing angle is also probably lucrative for him if he wants it, both in Japan and the U.S.

He does not seem to care much about money, but he was also pretty limited in Japan.

[zambonir]

He left money on the table by not coming here at 25. Pretty sure that will still trump the first multi-year contract he signs as a controlled 25 year-old MLB player. But he's also getting the security of striking while he's hot, and relatively healthy.

I'm sure we will learn more about what the Angels pitched to him and it will make sense. The guy is repped by a huge multinational sports and entertainment agency so unless he didn't take their advice (maybe they wanted the Yankees!) I think everything was pretty carefully planned and thought over.

[julio]

Ohtani is not an American. Ergo... his sense of self-worth, and his place in society, are not defined by personal wealth. That's sometimes hard for Americans to grasp.

[andyb]

He left money on the table by not coming here at 25

The other side is that he is a serious injury risk if he plays 2-way for 2 more years getting paid modest money. He'll get $100 million next year, maybe more. And he probably signs a $100 million endorsement deal also. He'll be just fine making the major league minimum for a year.

[baseballoldie]

Angels already have precedence for signing large pre-arbitration contracts. Trout signed then record 1 year pre-arb deal for $1.0 million and then to 6 year $144 million deal the next year which would have been his 1st year of arbitration. Makes perfect sense that Ohtani would have some comfort level with the angels that he will be rewarded if he performs.

[tom81]

I think he really wanted a AL team so he could DH. I also think he wanted a west Coast team so he could get home easily and quickly. The Big “A” is 35 minutes from John Wayne Airport. There are some beautiful places out there, some close to the ocean if he likes that. It may be partly a lifestyle choice for him.

[zambonir]

No international flights from John Wayne though. But I suppose he and his people will be flying private anyway (or on helicopters to LAX).

I'm still curious how the DH thing will work. Supposedly the Giants proposed he would pitch one day and start in the OF one day and then presumably PH the others. Will he actually hit when he pitches in the AL (costing his team the DH late in the game)? If so would he start at DH more than one other time between starts, given the amount of work and workouts? Will be interesting.

[phillychuck]

MLB investigating the signing due to suspicion of under-the-table guarantees.