General MLB Discussion, Winter 2023-24

[bkox]

Scherzer out until midseason after back surgery

[andyb]

Dodgers still need more SP. Glasnow is oft injured. his 120 innings this season was a career high and only the 2nd time hes gone over 100 innings. Urias is a FA and in legal trouble. Kershaw is a FA and out til at least July. Ohtani cant pitch this season.

But does anyone doubt they won't add Yamamoto or equivalent?

[zambonir]

Yeah and going to 32 teams and another expansion of playoffs is another way to keep the have-nots in the mix. Even if they don't seriously have a chance to win 100 games or go the distance in the later rounds.

With Tampa and Oakland seemingly resolved the two new markets will presumably come along with the next CBA.

Yeah, Dodgers can still add Yamamoto or Snell or whomever. Supposedly could still be in on Cease and Burnes too. They don't just have money and this new bargain loophole, they have assets to trade.

[bkox]

Since some folks missed Tweets after 1st one: #Braves finalized another multi-player trade Friday that didn’t move the needle much. They got lefty reliever Ray Kerr, aging DH Matt Carpenter and cash from the Padres in exchange for minor league OF Drew Campbell.

— David O'Brien ( @DOBrienATL ) December 16, 2023

To reiterate, the #Braves are expected to flip Carpenter to another team, sooner rather than later. Like they did with the bad contracts they took on in deal for Kelenic. https://t.co/hnufza11zm

— David O'Brien ( @DOBrienATL ) December 16, 2023

[bkox]

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a deal with the D’Backs, per source. @Ken_Rosenthal was first.

— Kiley McDaniel ( @kileymcd ) December 17, 2023

Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel’s deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks is for three years and $42 million with a club option for a fourth season, sources tell me and @kileymcd . The deal also includes an opt-out after the second season.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 17, 2023

Since the Arizona Diamondbacks went to the World Series, they have:

- Signed Eduardo Rodriguez for four years, $80M
- Re-signed Lourdes Gurriel for three years, $42M
- Traded for Eugenio Suarez

They're planning on adding a power-hitting DH.

Win, then improve. How it should be.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 17, 2023

[fish]

Since some folks missed Tweets after 1st one:

Braves

finalized another multi-player trade Friday that didn’t move the needle much. They got lefty reliever Ray Kerr, aging DH Matt Carpenter and cash from the Padres in exchange for minor league OF Drew Campbell.— David O'Brien (

@DOBrienATL

) December 16, 2023

To reiterate, the

Braves

are expected to flip Carpenter to another team, sooner rather than later. Like they did with the bad contracts they took on in deal for Kelenic.

https://t.co/hnufza11zm

— David O'Brien (

@DOBrienATL

) December 16, 2023

They released Carpenter, eating the $4 million in salary they owed him. So, besides throwing in a 26 year old AAA OF in the deal, it seems they paid $4 million for Ray Kerr. On the surface Kerr seems like a nobody- he's going to be 29 with 29 innings of uninspiring big-league time. But stuff-wise, if they can fix him he's going to be a real pain for Schwarber and Harper. Interesting, and creative deal for sure. You have to layout the Braves offseason like a RICO investigation to follow what they are doing.

[bkox]

On the RSN uncertainty, why teams claim -- with some pushback -- that it's limiting their spending, and MLB's path to a remedy, now and in the future ... https://t.co/Llh2b1Yl7y

— Alden González ( @Alden_Gonzalez ) December 21, 2023

How MLB's RSN mess is rocking this winter

[bkox]

MLB rule changes for 2024 amend pitch clock, runner's lane and more

[fish]

Dodgers get Yoshinobu for 12 years and 325 million. Well, glad it wasn't the Mets or Yankees.

[bkox]

Any team ever agreed to over $1B in contracts in an off season before?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers is the largest contract for a pitcher in Major League Baseball history, beating Gerrit Cole's deal by $1 million. Furthermore, the Dodgers will pay an additional $50.6 million in posting fee. Total outlay: 12 years, $375M.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 22, 2023

Sources: The Mets offered $325 million to Yamamoto. The Yankees offered $300 MM

— Andy Martino ( @martinonyc ) December 22, 2023

Steve Cohen made his best effort, but the Mets knew they were never in a great position to land Yamamoto https://t.co/VIXci311RK

— Andy Martino ( @martinonyc ) December 22, 2023

Initial expectation is Mets will not pursue high end starting pitching as a pivot from losing Yamamoto.

— Andy Martino ( @martinonyc ) December 22, 2023

[zambonir]

Why the Yankees? I mean I understand, they are the Yankees, but the Dodgers present a bigger obstacle to the Phillies.

I could have lived with the Mets too given the deal is not without risk and I don't think they are going to be good for a couple years. But if he lives up to his contract obviously he gives his team an ace or great #2 for a very long time.

[bkox]

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's deal includes a pair of opt-outs, sources tell ESPN.

Here are more details on the contract, which is pending a physical: 12 years, $325 million (which includes a $50 million signing bonus), no deferred money, an additional $50.6 million posting fee to Orix.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 22, 2023

[zambonir]

Bookmarking this site for all future Las Vegas A's news

LVSportsBiz.com's New Policy: Economic Impact Numbers Related To Sports Events,...

LVSportsBiz.com today released a new editorial policy regarding publishing information about “economic impact” numbers put forth by sports teams, leagues and event promoters.

We will publish economic impact numbers only after the provider of the information explains the methodology and criteria for reaching these controversial numbers that are often used by teams, events and leagues to gain public money to build stadiums, justify public dollars for sports events and draw free PR.

[bkox]

Mets acquire Houser, Taylor in trade with Brewers

[BostonRoss]

Adrian Houser was originally an Astro, but Houston made a trade that they certainly regret. Houser was traded to Milwaukee in the summer of 2015 along with Josh Hader, Brett Phillips, and old friend Domingo Santana for Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers. Houser was 22 at the time of the trade, and has been a decent starter for the Brewers the last three years.
Hader we all know about, Phillips was eventually partial payment for Mike Moustakas, and Santana had one good 30 homer year for the Brewers. Gomez was released a year later after 0.3 WAR with the Astros. Fiers finished 2015 well but was under zero WAR for his subsequent two years with the Astros (and then he exposed their cheating).

[bkox]

I wrote about superteams and why they're a lot scarier in theory than they are in reality. It's free at ESPN: https://t.co/YXotDkizis

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 22, 2023

In the last 10 years, 14 MLB teams have made the World Series and nine have won. In the last 25 years, 20 have made it and 16 have won. Over both spans, that’s more different winners than the NFL, NBA and NHL.

The Dodgers spending a billion dollars on two players has done what it always does, which is rile up fans — especially those in small markets — who want parity. But is parity about payroll size or winning?

Baseball’s postseason is its great equalizer. And that’s the point I make in the column. No team has won back-to-back championships this century. That’s a long time. And it’s not an accident. It’s the expanded playoffs and short series and randomness of the game.

The chasm between large and small markets continues to grow, and perhaps at some point it becomes an issue, but the best team in the AL this past season had the second-lowest payroll in baseball and the second best team had the third-lowest payroll in baseball.

Teams can win without riches. They just need to be really good.

Teams can falter with riches. Just ask the 2023 Yankees, Padres and Mets.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2023

[andyb]

A lot of words to say we have random outcomes in the playoffs so who cares if we don't have anything close to parity.

I still worry about baseball if close to half the teams are really bad.

[bkox]

News: Yuki Matsui, one of the most prolific closers in the history of Nippon Professional Baseball, has signed a five-year, $28 million deal with the San Diego Padres. Details free at ESPN: https://t.co/5qT3HQYnGR

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 23, 2023

Injury clause? never heard of that before

Left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a five-year, $28 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done. It includes opt-outs after the third and fourth years as well as an injury clause that can convert the fifth year into a club option.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 23, 2023

[zambonir]

Specifically if he suffers an elbow injury (or presumably has TJ).

Agree, not immediately familiar to me, but not new. It makes sense, you can't give incentives based on performance, just games played or innings, so injury just makes it a little more specific.

An additional note on Luis Castillo's deal: If from 2025-27 he undergoes UCL repair surgery on his right elbow that keeps him out for 130+ days, the Mariners will receive a $5 million option on the 2028 season, sources tell ESPN. Seen as downside protection against future injury.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) September 24, 2022

[zambonir]

Gosh that's gotta sting when you're only making $2,000,000.

Ohtani gifts new Porsche to Kelly's wife for No. 17