2019-2020 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes Discussion

[andyb]

Stark on the Winter Meetings and ideas to improve it:

Stark: 11 ideas to liven up the winter meetings

Some of these are good ideas. The rule 5 to kick off the meetings should be a no-brainer because it would give teams certainty on the number of available roster spots. Then he wants both a trade deadline at the meetings and then free agent signings to kick off right after that. It would certainly be interesting and force moves earlier in the offseason.

In general the goal to concentrate activities in the Winter Meetings is good. Like the NFL draft and the kickoff of free agency in one exciting week. Stuff I don't like are things like his proposed draft lottery that would give more chances to non-playoff teams that win more. It sounds like it would end tanking but in reality it would just help rich teams that just miss the playoffs. If they want to avoid tanking they can do it with revenue sharing and salary minimums. In other words, take some inequality out of the system. The draft is not a big enough thing to tank for anyway. Teams tank when they make trades to get prospects, not iffier draft choices.

[Squire]

Woah. RHP Stephen Strasburg re-signs with the Nationals for 7 years/245 million (35 AAV)

[Philsmania]

Cole's market has just been set. And, if reports that the Nationals have conceded that they cannot afford both Strasburg and Rendon are true, Rendon won't be going back to DC. It will also be interesting to see if the Nationals' strategy--perhaps gamble--of putting all their financial eggs in the pitching basket pays off again like it did last year when they bowed out of keeping Harper and spent big on Corbin.

[zambonir]

Doesn't look like we actually need a free agent signing deadline this year. Cole's probably done before Christmas (if not this week). Donaldson/Rendon might take longer (I believe that's a repeat of the Machado/Harper agent rivalry).

But anyway... Rendon's probably on the market.

[fish]

Woah. RHP Stephen Strasburg re-signs with the Nationals for 7 years/245 million (35 AAV)

Holllly crow. Well, as much as they needed one of either Cole or Strasburg, that's too much risk to go in on. I would have done that deal for Cole, but now his deal is going to go through the roof.

[andyb]

This probably means Cole gets 8 years and more than the $35 AAV which is $280 million. The eventual contract could approach $300 million for 8 years ($37.5 million AAV). Sounds like the Yankees to me.

[zambonir]

Seems that everyone (Philly media/phans include) who thought the Phillies overpaid for Wheeler were wrong. They and Wheeler's agent had a solid read on the market. The only question is whether Wheeler actually is the third or fourth best-available pitcher, rather than the worst-case, where he's not much better than Gibson. But that's what they were buying.

Dodgers and Angels could still be in the mix for Cole. Angels seem like the team that would pay it, whereas Cashman/Friedman might walk away (though I gather the Dodgers have very little money on the books after this year).

[andyb]

The market does seem to be correcting itself, at least on the top end. WAR has never been NOT worth the $9 million or so that is advertised. It was the market itself that was a bit distorted the past couple of years when teams made irrational decisions to not spend money when they had the revenues to do so.

Wheeler was market-value in a market that seems closer to normal now. We probably think we need to get 12-13 WAR for that contract to be worth it. That means Wheeler needs to be close to a 3 WAR pitcher assuming he loses one year on average for injury. That is something he has done the last 2 years so it is a fair bet that he can keep doing it (or give us 2 good years over 3 WAR, a couple of years at 2 WAR, and 1 bad year).

[zambonir]

Boras's man on Twitter has spoken

Jon Heyman on Twitter

[andyb]

And a free rule 5 preview. Phillies pick 15th though 3 teams ahead of them are at the 40-man limit. I could probably argue that someone like Joe Barlow has the raw stuff where he is worth a look as the last man in the bullpen. He has missed bats everywhere but in AAA last year. He is probably better than Stock though with the disadvantage of having to stick in the majors all year.

Here are 13 names to watch ahead of the Rule 5 Draft

[mdougherty12]

The Angels dump the last year of Zack Cosart's contract to the Giants, sending last year's 15th draft pick Will Wilson:

Giants Acquire Zack Cozart

[zambonir]

Future Dodgers on Twitter

David Roth on Twitter

[nycphils]

Cole to the Yanks, 9 YEARS, $324 MILLION

[baseballoldie]

Cole to the Yankees for $324 million 9 years per John Heyman - Wow.

[Dirk41]

Going to be weird when they lose the division to the Rays.

[nycphils]

Angels, a bit screwed. Will probably have to over pay for one or two of Bumgarner, Ryu and Keuchel, because it really gets grim from there. Wheeler deal looking smarter now.

[Philsmania]

Angels sign Rendon

Angels To Sign Anthony Rendon

[Squire]

Angels get Rendon for 7/245. Another 35 AAV contract

[Dirk41]

Did they need offense?

[mdougherty12]

Did they need offense?

Starting pitching is probably the more pressing need for the Angels, but their offense wasn't particularly good in 2019 either.