2019-2020 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes Discussion

[Philsmania]

Like the 2017 Astros title, is the 2018 Red Sox title also possibly tainted?

Boston Red Sox accused of illegal sign-stealing in 2018 - HardballTalk | NBC...

[andyb]

Cost of a win estimated at about $9.1 million in free agency this winter. Was $9.3 million in 2018, dropped to $7.8 million in 2019 and back up over $9 million this year. Note these costs are still not increasing at the rate of baseball revenues but they seem to have rebounded from the de facto collusion we had last offseason.

The Cost of a Win in Free Agency in 2020

[mdougherty12]

Statcast-based defensive metrics now available for infielders, too:

A new way to measure MLB's best infield defenders

[andyb]

Didi grades really poorly in this new metric where he was pretty neutral on the other ones.

[nycphils]

Awesome...suspect the Yankees knew that.

[zambonir]

Boy, it really doesn't like him, not in 2018 either. But they weren't really signing him for defense. He may or may not be better than Segura (even if this metric doesn't say so) but they want those 30 HRs and .800 OPS. Or so they hope.

[allentown]

I still think this signing was a sop to a new manager who saw him as a plus clubhouse presence and a friendly, familiar face. A one year deal is a plus and certainly will encourage the best Gregorius has left In him, but that also makes it a very short-term fix. Probably not the best use of those $, but not over-priced for what Gregorius brings. I've leaned negative on this signing, because I want Kingery to be a 2B, not moved all over the field or out of position like a utility guy -- let him focus on his offense.

[allentown]

He was -0.1 dWAR from Baseball Reference last season, which is just below replacement level, not average. You have to go back 5 years for BR to give him a d-WAR above 0.9 (at +1.5, this was the only dWAR above 0.9 in his career). In 2018, his dWAR was +0.7. Over 9 seasons, Simmons dWAR ranges +2.0 to +5.5.

[andyb]

That is replacement level defense. Combined with above average offense it is acceptable. And his UZR was slightly positive last year. I don't know what to make of his defense yet. I think Segura clearly has lost range and is not a good SS any more. DIdi I am less sure about. I am OK with replacement level defense if he hits. All these defensive stats are a work in progress with all the shifts and positioning as well.

[zambonir]

Somewhat a sop to the manager but it also turned out to be the only spot where they could affordably upgrade the offense. Assuming it works.

[andyb]

In an odd way to release trade news, the Cards are getting Matthew Liberatore from the Rays, likely for one of their major league outfielders. Usually we hear about the major league player first and sort out the prospect return later.

Cardinals Acquire Matt Liberatore

[Philsmania]

A three-team trade in the works?

[zambonir]

Assets could always be flipped but I think it is done.

Jeff Passan on Twitter

[Squire]

If you are of the view that TINSSAAPP, then there is a lot to like in this deal for the Rays. Martinez is a good DH candidate, Arozarena is 24 and has hit consistently since signing and they moved up a full round in what's viewed as a very good draft. I very much admire the Tampa front office. I wish their fanbase was more appreciative.

[andyb]

I think their fan base does appreciate them. There are just nowhere near enough of them. The Rays have certainly pivoted from the days where they would have 6 first round picks and used most of them on below slot signings to save money. That was the A's strategy too. Now the Rays sign as much high return talent as they can, amassing compensation and competitive balance picks. Liberatore was a great pick but probably tough to sign since he was a talented kid who dropped. They actually got him for a slightly below-slot bonus which surprised me at the time.

Their strategy now is to get this high end talent. Let them have a couple of good years in the low minors to enhance their value. And then think of flipping them to help the major league roster. Arozarena certainly can hit (though he was old for AAA for a top prospect last year, partially getting a late start from Cuba. I think he is more solid than great as a prospect though. He can play for the minimum for 3 years and they get an extra DH and that is worth them trading a top 50 prospect (rated around where Howard is). It is just a fascinating high-risk strategy that often does not work (Souza), but works enough to make it viable.

[fish]

Their strategy now is to get this high end talent.

I think i'm just as jealous that they are actively implementing a clear strategy to build and improve their roster as I am at how successful they are at doing it. I'd be pretty miffed at trading Libertore and the catcher, but they are doing what they need to do to stay in it.

[zambonir]

If you've ever been to a Rays game you can't really blame the fans for not showing up. I won't say it's a shame because I'm not a fan of public financing and the whole Florida baseball thing in general seems flawed (for a variety of reasons), but they have just never been able to have a good product, even when they had good teams. And now it's probably worse than ever because there's no indication they'll be around in the future (even if it's 50-50).

What's dispiriting is they seem to have a limitless amount of front office talent, now moved on to LA and Boston, and we didn't get any of it. Instead we got to have Chuck Lamar!

I think the big difference between the Rays and the Phillies, and the Astros and the Phillies (whatever you may think of the Astros now), is that their ownership group had a true facility with business, and also analytics (from finance and logistics not sports). Ours is just wealthy.

[baseballoldie]

Saw this comment in the mlbtraderumors.com article about Brett Gardner resigning with the Yankees:

"Gardner is one of only five players drafted by the Yankees to collect 1,000 hits in pinstripes, joining Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Thurman Munson and Don Mattingly."

Amazing to think in the 50 some years of the draft, the Yankees have only drafted, developed and retained 5 players that garnered more than 1,000 hits with their club. Drafting players ain't as easy as some seem to think it is.

[zambonir]

Well, Bernie Williams was an international signing. So was Cano. I bet if you played this game for every team there still wouldn't be that long a list, just because trades happen (like, even Willie Randolph and Graig Nettles weren't drafted by the Yankees) and then of course free agency started. In the Yankees case they were just always looking for the greener, more expensive grass, and have always been in a position to do so.

[Lucky_Beagle]

at least play the game for the Phillies as a comparison