RynoRules

There's plenty of good powder in the mountains, I hear.

LOL

Why not front load a contract then? If you back-load it you have zero chance of trading him during the last three years when his value starts to plummet.

I can't remember an offseason where the same team signed two infielders such as Ramirez and Sandavol, especially with a guy like Bogarts there. Interesting stuff.

Heyman says Sandoval to Red Sox is done deal; his agent denied that 10 minutes later. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/red-sox-to-sign-pablo-sandoval.html

I suppose you are correct and I am assuming that Bryant isn't playing in the OF next season. I also thought Morse could play CF, but if I am wrong then I see your point. Still - I'd rather have Morse as a 4th OF'er than either Ruggiano or Sweeney.

Greenberg mentioned in a tweet today that we have interest in Morse. I'd be happy with that.

Mother-f'er

This is where I was going. I get that Heyward is a good or very good player. I just don't think he is as in league with Trout, Stanton, etc. and what Taveras was projected to be.

Does anyone know or have an idea why his power numbers have plummeted like they have?

Go home, you're drunk. Heyward had the lowest strikeout rate of his career last year. It was his best OBP since his rookie year. He was one off his career high in SB while posting his best success rate so far. And he's the best defensive right fielder in baseball, by a pretty hefty margin. He's a great player. This trade is pretty simple though. Heyward has one year left on his contract and seems determined to test free agency. The Braves aren't really contenders next year. So it's better to get something for him than nothing. The Cardinals gave up a combined 10 years of cost controlled young pitching, each with #2 potential. It's a pretty big haul for the Braves for a guy they couldn't keep. John Hart is a schmuck, though. If he's really Baseball Jesus and you are so sure that you aren't going to be able to keep him why not wait until the FA market thins-out or until the season starts to deal him? Wouldn't you be in a better position to get more for him? BTW, he slugged .384 last season and posted his lowest OPS+ since his brutal 2011. I get that he's an excellent defensive RF'er, but that seems to be where the majority a significant amount of his value is based. He's not a good enough hitter to be considered "one of the best players in baseball" by any stretch. So I'd suggest it is you who is drunk.

heyward didn't also get into a car accident fyi Didn't know that. Thanks.

Don't forget his descending OPS.... If you are correct that Heyward is one of the best players in baseball, then the Cards just pulled-off a historic heist at the level of Anderson-Bagwell, Mozeliak is an amazing GM, and John Hart is a schmuck.

wait is this a serious question? Forgive me if I am wrong, but wasn't Taveras considered a consensus top 3 (or 5) prospect who OPS'ed .953 at age 20 in AA? Meanwhile Heyward's OPS has dropped significantly each of the last three years and he hit 11 HR's last season. So yes he was better than Taveras last season, but that wasn't likely to continue, so its a probably a net downgrade. I'm just trying to look on the bright side here.

Stanton deal is done at 13 for $325 mill. Full NTC and opt-out after 6 years.

Heyward essentially replaces Taveres, doesn't he? That's one way to look at this - is Heyward likely to produce as well as Taveres might have?

This is some of the dumbest [expletive] I've ever read. Wait... We're better off letting other teams sign the best players in order to remove them from bidding on players next year? Even though that one player does not consume their whole budget or even block a position since teams need five pitchers? That's some awesome logic, Buster. He seems to become dumber and yet more cocksure each year. (Nice of turn of phrase there, methinks.)

Sheesh, that's a lot of money for Sandoval. His OPS has dropped each of the last three years, he hasn't been above .800 since 2011, and he never has walked very much. I realize the position is very thin (he was a 3.3 WAR player last season) and he's only 28, but I'd be very nervous about giving him that much money and that long a commitment.

If they'd take CJ instead of Hendricks the go for it. I don't mind trading Hendricks in a Hamels deal because I don't think he can sustain last year's numbers based on some of his peripherals. I am not convinced Vogelbach is an every day ML'er. To me the major dice-roll in the deal I proposed is Baez.

Lovie was a consistent winner, and he was not a dud personality. He was a strong personality where it mattered, with his players. The problem was simply he did not win enough due to offensive blind spots. You and I may define 'consistent winner" differently. He made the playoffs three times in nine years. I realize that includes a 10-6 finish in his final season, but the reason they didn't make the playoffs that year is that they were 3-5 in their final eight games. By "dud personalities" I meant their public personas. I acknowledged that Lovie was great with the players and in the locker room.

I'd bet the Cubs are sort of reverse engineering here, i.e., "If Russell and company were worth both Shark and Hammel, then Castro (a proven, 3-win ML shortstop) is worth..."

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/062010/1275389857_naked-gun-facepalm.gif

Yeah, I never bought the notion that Kruetz was some was Patton-like leader. It seemed more to me that no one else on offense during that era was any good or deserved the gig. Lovie definitely had the love and respect of his players. He's living proof that you don't have to be a consistent winner to earn that. I think it has to do more with style and pedigree (i.e., he recently had coached with and for some well thought of individuals). Since Ditka we certainly seem to hire some dud personalities though. Wanny, Jauron, Lovie, and Trestman. Not exactly the Harbaugh's of the world.

Meaning Rex Ryan as DC under Trestman? Yes Correct. Ryan is there to shore up the defense and generally make Trestman uncomfortable.

I'd do Javier Baez, Hendricks, and Vogelbach to get Cole (I doubt that Philly would, but I would.). Then I'd sign Lester and start printing WS tickets.