General MLB Discussion, Winter 2023-24

[bkox]

Not sure I would want to travel to a game this way.

Dodgers gondola plan is one step closer to reality

[BostonRoss]

I went to a game at Dodger Stadium in 2019, and if the gondola existed back then, I would have used it. I was staying at a downtown hotel and decided to walk to the stadium. It wasn't bad, but it was kind of long, and the air quality wasn't great. Taking the bus would have taken as long as walking, if not longer. It was a night game, and I took an Uber back to the hotel. Waiting for that was a madhouse, but I wasn't going to walk at that time of night. I would have gotten back sooner on a gondola.

[andyb]

That does not seem to be something that has much every day utility though. Not really a commuting route and there is just not anything close to the downtown mass transit network that exists in most cities.

[zambonir]

LA mass transit has come a long way though. You could get to downtown and then a game from a lot of places via both Metro and Metrolink. It may not be a habit for some people but you could say that for a lot of Philadelphians going to the sports complex too.

Of course it lacks everyday utility, though people would probably take it recreationally like in New Mexico and Portland (where there is one at a hospital).

[zambonir]

BREAKING: The New York Yankees are acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo in a trade with the Boston Red Sox for right-handeres Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 6, 2023

[bkox]

Right-hander Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Fedde, 30, went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA for the NC Dinos in the KBO, where he was named MVP this year.

[Philsmania]

LA mass transit has come a long way though. You could get to downtown and then a game from a lot of places via both Metro and Metrolink. It may not be a habit for some people but you could say that for a lot of Philadelphians going to the sports complex too.

Of course it lacks everyday utility, though people would probably take it recreationally like in New Mexico and Portland (where there is one at a hospital).

This probably threatens to take this more into the politics thread but California is really where the American love affair with the automobile and where the auto industry literrally bought up railroads to rip them up.

[fish]

Per MLBTradeRumors:
"The Yankees and Padres have agreed to a blockbuster trade sending Soto and fellow outfielder Trent Grisham from San Diego to the Bronx, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Prior reports have indicated San Diego is likely to receive right-hander Michael King, top pitching prospect Drew Thorpe, right-handers Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez, and catcher Kyle Higashioka."

This feels like a deal engineered for the Padres by Ed Wade. I half expected the last name in the deal to be CJ Henry.

[bkox]

BREAKING: Left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a four-year contract for around $20 million a year, pending physical, sources familiar with the agreement tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 7, 2023

[BostonRoss]

The Yankees have traded for an entire outfield this week. Of course they also have that tall guy named Aaron, who I think will keep his job. And they already have an expensive DH.

[zambonir]

This feels like a deal engineered for the Padres by Ed Wade. I half expected the last name in the deal to be CJ Henry.

You don't think the Padres got enough? I guess it is reminiscent of the Abreu trade in that they basically got nothing for Grisham, but not at all otherwise in that it was good - maybe even great - value for a rental (whereas Abreu had three years of control left and still fetched nothing).

Also, more significantly, Ed Wade wasn't the GM who made that trade.

Matt W compared it to the Phillies trading Suarez and Painter + (if you want to make the Padres look really good) or Sanchez and Abel+ (less so, but still substantial).

[andyb]

Senzel to the Nats for 1 year/$2 million. Probably a good move for him as he will play every day likely at 3B or 2B where he is better suited than in the OF (where most of the time with the Phillies would have come).

[bkox]

Infielder Jeimer Candelario and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Candelario, 30, joins a young Reds team that has spent $87 million on free agents this winter. First on the scene with the deal was @Feinsand .

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 7, 2023

[fish]

You don't think the Padres got enough?

None of those guys outside of King was someone the Yankees will miss.

[andyb]

Steve Potter reporting that the revised minor league limits (165/175 vs 180/190) are now in effect. A little unclear whether teams can go over 175 in the offseason but they'll be down to 165 next April. Steve estimates this saves about $300K per club.

12/7/23 : Just Sayin

[fish]

MLB Trade Rumors says Otani to the Blue Jays. It's his prerogative to go wherever he wants to be, but his choices so far don't seem to indicate winning is the top of his priorities. Not that the Blue Jays are bad, but....well, you know what I mean.

[zambonir]

I mean, arguably picking the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Mariners or Giants wouldn't be any guarantee of winning either. Nor the Phillies really (Blue Jays have won more regular season games than us total over the last two seasons though obviously not as good playoffs-wise).

But of course money and being allowed to pitch are also a big part of it (and money is always a big part of it). Perhaps being the biggest star on a country's sole professional baseball team might also be another big source of $ (and for the Jays as well).

[bkox]

Source: Shohei Ohtani has not made a decision yet.

That’s not to say it won’t ultimately be the Blue Jays; my understanding is that, at this point, that decision has not been made.

— Alden González ( @Alden_Gonzalez ) December 8, 2023

[bkox]

Real baseball news: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring outfielder Tyler O'Neill from St. Louis for right-handed reliever Nick Robertson and right-handed starter Victor Santos.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 8, 2023

[andyb]

That would be our Victor Santos. Traded to the Red Sox for the immortal CJ Chatham in 2021.