Post Winter Meetings Free Agency thread

[Dfan25]

Saw the other day the Cubs are interested in Ogasawara  If true that would be an extremely weird fit at this point .

Edited December 30, 2024 by Dfan25

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Sasaki's tremendous injury risk combined with the low monetary cost seems like it shouldn't affect the plans really at all. I guess maybe it'd make Jed less willing to give up the necessary prospects for someone like Lopez if he lands Sasaki? I don't know if I actually believe that though. 

So I think the team needs to add another SP either way, but I think if you land Sasaki it impacts A) How deep you're willing to dip into the farm for a trade and B) how much you might value talent vs. durability.

I think the other thing is how it impacts other teams.  Specifically San Diego, I could see the Sasaki decision impacting their willingness to move Cease or King.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Not worthy of its own thread, but this is a fun MiLB reliever addition

Heller had terrific K/BB numbers in AAA, and after some initial HR trouble(and a horrible 2 outing MLB cameo) ironed that out and was outright dominant in AAA before getting called up for another MLB audition: 10 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 12/5 K/BB, 0 HR

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

So I think the team needs to add another SP either way, but I think if you land Sasaki it impacts A) How deep you're willing to dip into the farm for a trade and B) how much you might value talent vs. durability.

I think the other thing is how it impacts other teams.  Specifically San Diego, I could see the Sasaki decision impacting their willingness to move Cease or King.

If they get Sasaki,  that would just allow them to move Assad to the bullpen and use him there and as a spot starter.  He would make the pen much stronger. 

They won't need to go and add another SP, as they have plenty of depth in AAA in case of injury.

I know they are approximately 45-50 mil under the LT now, i think that should be used more towards any possible extension and or trade deadline additions that will allow them to take on a bigger size contract if needed to add a top tier player.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

So I think the team needs to add another SP either way, but I think if you land Sasaki it impacts A) How deep you're willing to dip into the farm for a trade and B) how much you might value talent vs. durability.

I think the other thing is how it impacts other teams.  Specifically San Diego, I could see the Sasaki decision impacting their willingness to move Cease or King.

I think the bigger issue is what you just mentioned. The hold up could be with other teams also having a shot at Sasaki. I do think the Cubs would make a deal for a pitcher with a team not in on him. If you believe they were in discussions for Crochet and Luzardo that would be proof they aren’t waiting around for Sasaki. And I do believe they were in in both those guys. But if they are talking to SD, they may have to wait. I doubt they are waiting in Sasaki if the Twins make them an offer they like to get Lopez or the Marlins give them an offer they like for Alcantara. There are probably a few more options they can be kicking around as well, that they would do before the Sasaki decision. None may come to be, but that does not mean they are waiting around. 

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, Bertz said:

It's very interesting to me that the Luzardo stuff was so hot and heavy, then it fell apart, then Jed immediately pushed Cashman to make the Bellinger deal, and now it's just crickets.

In hindsight I'm assuming Toronto was about to pull their offer for Bellinger.  And now the Cubs are largely just hanging out until the Sasaki decision?

Yeah Sasaki decision probably is the domino to fall in the market and for the Cubs.  They'll know if they need to acquire another SP and sets the budget for their relievers and for a bench bat if any.

What's the posting cut off date for Sasaki? 

[Rcal10]

23 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Yeah Sasaki decision probably is the domino to fall in the market and for the Cubs.  They'll know if they need to acquire another SP and sets the budget for their relievers and for a bench bat if any.

What's the posting cut off date for Sasaki? 

He won’t decide before 1/15 and has to sign by 1/23. 

[Post Count Padder]

The Angels are considering an offer to Pete Alonso. They have like no direction but his market is clearly not active so maybe they could get a good deal. Or it's just a negotiating ploy to get the Mets to offer more.

[Bertz]

 

[Stratos]

 

[Stratos]

 

[chibears55]

This will be interesting,  hopefully the Cubs can get him, they probably gave the C or D offer.

He'd be perfect to fill in for Hoerner and utility player, can play LF too.

https://x.com/Wesley11798/status/1875099643471958196?t=iCnlKCeCg9xWOntG9e1FVg&s=19

Edited January 3, 2025 by chibears55

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

This will be interesting,  hopefully the Cubs can get him, they probably gave the C or D offer.

He'd be perfect to fill in for Hoerner and utility player, can play LF too.

https://x.com/Wesley11798/status/1875099643471958196?t=iCnlKCeCg9xWOntG9e1FVg&s=19

Dodgers getting them all, Sasaki will probably go there too.

https://x.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1875264212915622396?t=9KHK14zYMHr1YZsbcP9xBw&s=19

[Bertz]

I'm cleaning out unread tabs in Chrome and came across this story from a few weeks ago

The tl;dr is that Rosen used consistency of release point to attempt to measure command rather than pitch results, and the results largely make intuitive sense.

Towards the bottom of the article there's a Top 20 and a Bottom 20.  Shota and Steele both rank in the Top 5, and Taillon’s 11.  Certainly feels like Jed has a type.  Makes me wonder if Jed could trade for another top "command" guy on this list.  A few that feel plausible:

- Chris Paddack on the Twins is in his walk year and the Twins are trying to cut salary.  I believe we got linked to him a while back when he was a Padre as well?

- Kutter Crawford appears to be the Red Sox #6 starter.  Could we do a young player swap to nab him in exchange for some players Breslow liked over here?

- Jon Gray's still got velo, is there something easily fixable to get him back to missing bats?  Rangers are right up against the LT and might like to repurpose his money

- Rays are probably not actively looking to move SPs after the Springs trade, but they're always open for business so I bet Baz or Littell could be had

 

[Dfan25]

Feinsand on Jack Flaherty :

 

 

A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.

 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Dfan25 said:

Feinsand on Jack Flaherty :

 

 

A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.

 

I just don’t see him for the Cubs. I expect a pitcher added via a trade. Hard to believe the Cubs win on an offer to him. I would think he could get 5/$120M or more. And don’t see that from the Cubs. But 🤷

[Bertz]

9 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Feinsand on Jack Flaherty :

 

 

A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.

 

The Athletic guys mentioned him a few weeks back as someone Jed might circle back to if his market lingered.

[chibears55]

25 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Feinsand on Jack Flaherty :

 

 

A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.

 

Cubs are going to be in the mix for everyone mainly because of the money they have left to spend,  problem is that they usually have the worse offer of teams involved 

[Bertz]

I saw Juan Yepez get mentioned on Fangraphs earlier today.  He'd be a decent option for that 1B platoon-mate with Busch.  The Nats now have Lowe and Bell at 1B/DH so he's squeezed out of a firm role in DC.

He's still making league minimum, would be cheap to acquire (someone like Kilian?), and has one more minor league options left so could be stashed at Iowa.

[Bertz]

Cartaya would be worth trading something minor for to stash at Iowa.

Edited January 3, 2025 by Bertz

[mul21]

39 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Cubs are going to be in the mix for everyone mainly because of the money they have left to spend,  problem is that they usually have the worse offer of teams involved 

A. I think the word you're looking for is worst.

B. Please show your work to prove that's true or stop throwing hyperbole out there just to hear yourself talk.

[SOFNR]

47 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Cubs are going to be in the mix for everyone mainly because of the money they have left to spend,  problem is that they usually have the worse offer of teams involved 

Well the Cubs have pretty obviously not been in the market for everybody. They have been obviously in the market for another starting pitcher that fits into their budget. Cheaper with high upside guys like Bohm or Luzardo was probably their preference. Now it looks like guys in the $20 mil range may be the only ticket. It's worth checking in with Flaherty because if he's coming in closer to 3/75 then 5/120 Jed may decide to go that way rather then give up prospects for similarly priced pitchers like Castillo or Lopez. Or maybe they give up on upside arms and go for Scherzer, who isn't likely to be much of an upgrade but does offer short term depth. There are still reasonable options on the table. As much as I often give Jed flack I'm sure as hell happy he's not panicking on Jan 4th and offering Jack Flaherty a blank check.

Edited January 3, 2025 by SOFNR

[Post Count Padder]

Wow the Dodgers DFA'd Diego Cartaya. I know his bat flatlined the last two years but he's just 23 still and was a top 20 prospect in all of baseball before last season. I'm not sure we're a fit anymore but some team is gonna take a shot.

[Post Count Padder]

Orioles sign 41-year-old Charlie Morton, one year and $15 mil. The Boyd contract looks less bad as the offseason progresses, ha.

Orioles have a quietly decent rotation but definitely lacking following Burns' exit.

[Jason Ross]

18 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Orioles sign 41-year-old Charlie Morton, one year and $15 mil. The Boyd contract looks less bad as the offseason progresses, ha.

Orioles have a quietly decent rotation but definitely lacking following Burns' exit.

Could open up Flaherty as an option. His market is getting cloudy.