MLB (Non Phillies) News and Discussion 2025 Season

[andyb]

I can't remember who though they did not stick with it long. Guessing they fell to the temptation of keeping the starter in too long so they could get 5 innings and be eligible for the win. It is long past time for that rule to go. I have always thought it strange to see a pitcher go 4.2 innings and leave with a lead and have a pitcher come in and get one out for the win.

A really good tandem starter could end up with like a 2-10 record and a 2.50 ERA since they were not eligible for most of the wins. In general the tandem idea means a starter never goes near 100 pitches and never really faces a lineup a 3rd time. This can be a good thing. Get 7+ innings out of your tandem starters and one really does not need much of a bullpen. Match LH and RH starters in the tandem and the second guy gets a platoon advantage often.

[bkox]

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a 14-year, $500 million contract extension, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. A monumental, no-deferral deal to keep the homegrown star in Toronto for the rest of his career.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) April 7, 2025

[bkeich]

[quote="bkox, post:38, topic:54272, full:true"]

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a 14-year, $500 million contract extension, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. A monumental, no-deferral deal to keep the homegrown star in Toronto for the rest of his career.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) April 7, 2025

[/quote]

Shouldn’t it say “until he is traded to the Dodgers or Yankees”?

[andyb]

Harper and others and then Soto have set this standard for long contracts based on the relative youth of the player when the contract was signed. Guerrero certainly has advanced hitting skills like Pujols did which theoretically could extend his window of above average offense, but I just don't know if his body will age well. This is a risk and by the time he slows down the Dodgers and Yankees may not need or want him.

[zambonir]

And it's not like the Jays are a poor small-market team. I presume he has a no-trade clause. He's no more likely to become a Yankee than Harper or Turner (whether we want that or not).

[fish]

I guess they “had” to do that deal. But as great a player as his dad was, he was done by age 35. No way does Jr’s body age better than his dad. They’ll be throwing at least $200 million out the window.

[BostonRoss]

Just for fun, Vlad Jr.'s comps through age 25, from baseball-reference, are not that inspiring (numbers are WAR from age 26 on, number of 4 WAR seasons from age 26, age in last year):

Eddie Murray (48, 5, 41)
Tony Conigliaro (-0.5, 0, 30)
Prince Fielder (13, 2, 32)
Del Ennis (9, 0, 34)
Freddie Freeman (47 and counting, 7 and counting, ??)
Bryce Harper (23 and counting, 3 and counting, ??)
José Canseco (23, 1, 36)
Justin Upton (16, 2, 34)
Rubén Sierra (-0.5, 0, 40)
Juan González (25, 2, 35)

[Philsmania]

Just for fun, Vlad Jr.'s comps through age 25, from baseball-reference, are not that inspiring (numbers are WAR from age 26 on, number of 4 WAR seasons from age 26, age in last year):

Eddie Murray (48, 5, 41)
Tony Conigliaro (-0.5, 0, 30)
Prince Fielder (13, 2, 32)
Del Ennis (9, 0, 34)
Freddie Freeman (47 and counting, 7 and counting, ??)
Bryce Harper (23 and counting, 3 and counting, ??)
José Canseco (23, 1, 36)
Justin Upton (16, 2, 34)
Rubén Sierra (-0.5, 0, 40)
Juan González (25, 2, 35)

An interesting mixed bag. Murray, of course, was a HOFer while Freeman and Harper, unless they totally and unexpectedly faceplant the rest of their careers, probably will be as well. Canseco and JuanGone have steroid questions (or, in the case of Canseco, an outright confession). Fielder--whose physical profile is pretty close to Guerrero's--had his career short-circuit due to a bad back in his early 30's.

[andyb]

And Tony Conigliaro had 11.2 WAR through his age 22 season which probably put him on at least a 50/50 HOF trajectory before his injury.

[bkox]

not really season notes.. but not sure where else to put this

Report: Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel trapped in fatal Dominican nightclub...

[LegoDoom]

not really season notes.. but not sure where else to put this

Unfortunately, probably in the death notices thread.

[zambonir]

Yeah I guess it's official now. I watched Dotel on the Astros a quite bit, can't say I really remember him on the 2011 Cardinals but why would I want to remember that series?

[LegoDoom]

Yeah. I remembering him being fairly filthy on the Astros and then was traded like every year after that.

[Philsmania]

Nelson Cruz's sister--a prominent Dominican politician in her own right--was also killed. That led me to check out his stats and, dang, one can make a solid HOF argument for him.

[BostonRoss]

Except that he was suspended for PEDs.

[andyb]

Interesting structure for Guerrero's deal. The majority is the signing bonus. Biggest reason is that a bonus can be paid in the state of residence (i.e. Florida) which has no income tax. This seems a huge evasion of local (in this case Canadian) taxes since the work is done for the baseball team and even the bonus is paid out periodically rather than all at once.

If I were Canada I would sue. They probably aren't firing their IRS agents like we are.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Blue Jays extension includes $325 million signing bonus

[zambonir]

I would imagine the Blue Jays owners already find plenty of ways to avoid paying both Ontario and Canadian tax (as well as getting tax breaks) and have the political connection to smooth things over if necessary. Some portion of the public might see it as scammy but the larger portion just doesn't want to see him in a Texas Rangers uniform.

[zambonir]

Cubs feast in Dodgers' worst home shutout loss

[andyb]

Kyle Tucker having quite a contract year so far. 1100+ OPS at the moment.

[zambonir]

Yeah Cubs are really coming on. And the Giants, who are 6-3 on the road and come here next.