***Official 2012-13 MLB HOTSTOVE OFF-SEASON THREAD***

The third year is what brings this contract down but I still think 6.5 million per season for Scutaro is a good deal. You can't just look at last season. He's been pretty much an average 2nd baseman for a while now. If you go by Fangraphs, an average position player is 8 million per season. That's less than what Scutaro will make. I think the next 2 seasons he can play at least average to be worth it.

 

Right but you're looking at past production and assuming he can play at least average to be worth it. I feel that going forward, based on his age and skill set he's going to play more like the player he was in Colorado compared to the one we saw in SF. He's going to be 37 next year, I simply see his skills continuing to decline.

Still don't see how much sense it makes for the Giants to sign him for 3 years at age 37 season then he signed a 2 year deal to play SS at age 34 coming off of a career year. Just doesn't make any sense. Of course with the overspending going on this offseason maybe we just have to readjust are thinking too.

 

In that case we'll just have to wait and see. I think he can play for at least the next two seasons the way he is now,

 

Man the Rays are in on everything I swear, such a model of contemporary baseball front office GM'ing so to speak.....they spend on the right things, draft well, and make smart trades....

 

His range at 2nd is shrinking. Crawford has become a pretty good defensive shortstop for them and may be able to relieve a little bit of the duties of balls going up the middle, allowing SF to cheat Scutaro more towards the gap between second and first, but that also means a larger hole between short and third of that happens.

Congrats to Scutaro though. He parlayed a hot hitting streak into a big payout. It is good work if you can get it.

 

I'd take that bet. I don't think a career .276/.340/.391/.731 player at age 37-38 can put up a stat line of .306/.348/.405/.753 (his 2012 numbers) or .299/.358/.423/.781 (2011 stat line) for the next two years again. If he does more power to him and I'd be more than happy to admit I was wrong but that's asking an awful lot.

 

I thought that rumor was dead. Doesn't seem like something this big can get done.

 

Keppinger signed with the ChiSox 3/12M

McClouth signed with the O's 1/2M

Not sure what Cashman is doing or what is going through his head right now.....

 

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...Again not sure what Cashman is doing....

 

Kep would of been a perfect fit for the Yankees. I would of loved the Rays to sign him back. However. I'm sure neither Yankees or Rays wanted to do 3 years. And I'm sure Kep at this point took the years no matter what.

 

How in the world did Jason Bay get a MLB contract? I know it's the Mariners but still, wow. Figured a few teams would offer him a minor league deal. Hey good for him. This offseason is already crazy, watch Hamilton get a 10 year deal now.

 

Keppinger's deal is more in line of what I would think Scutaro would get, btw.

 

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Rays talking Shields for Wil myers. Rays want Myers + according to Bob Dutton (KC beat writer). If you believe this though the Royals would jump on Jon Niese for Wil Myers: http://metsblog.com/rumors/pitchers/royals-pursuing-starting-pitching-via-free-agency/

Rangers want Shields too fwiw. Theyre willing to go 4 years on Hamilton supposedly but not 5.

 

Are you kidding about the Niese/Wil Myers thing?

 

If that's true, the Mets need to pull the trigger pronto.

Don't think it's true, though.

 

Dont see whats so crazy about it. Niese produced about 1 more win over Shields, is locked up for 5 years (Shields is only locked up for 2) and Shields is 2 years removed from a terrible year. Plus Shields has the 6th most innings the last 5 years so hes got more innings on that arm. Plus theres a good chance the Rays could see KC in the playoffs considering that the AL central sucks aside from Detroit. Give KC some pitching (to go with good position players at every position except RF-Franceour) and its not that crazy

 

As crazy as it sounds, dont be surprised if Sandy is holding out for Sal Perez also. He really wants a Catcher and the Mets need one.

 

Victorino says yes to the Reds Sox 3yr 39mil contract. Deal is pedning a physical

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story...ictorino-boston-red-sox-close-contract-source

I think they paid a little too much

As a Giants fan I'm happy that they resigned Pagan & Scutaro but I think they gave 2 yr too many to Pagan & 1 yr too many to Scurato. With no one waiting in the wing to take over at CF & 2B any time soon, I can understand why they signed them.

 

It's absolutely looney. Niese is a nice arm. He isn't worth Myers, though.

Shields isn't either probably.

 

Neither are, especially Niese. God damn KC if they give up Myers for just Shields.

 

Niese is a nice pitcher and yes it's important he's under contract for 5 more years but the Royals are looking for an ace type pitcher, which isn't Niese.

And IF Alderson ever had a Niese for Wil Myers deal on the table and he turned it down because he wanted Sal Perez too and the deal fell apart he should be fired on the spot.

 

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Eh glad TB didnt sign him to be honest.

 

Well see thats exactly it...if theyre willing to take Shields then why not Niese? Theyre very comparable in terms of how good they are. theyre both probably best suited as #2 types but they eat innings. Niese as a LHP has more value in that respect while Shields durability remains almost unquestioned.

I tend to agree but when Baltimore called about Dickey he asked for Bundy. So clearly hes shooting high and seeing who will give what. A lot of trades are always about posturing.

 

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@JSalisburyCSN Vance Worley and Trevor May to Minn for Ben Revere. He will be Phils' CF.

 

That noose is starting to tighten around Boras's neck....the options are becoming thin for Bourn...and ESPECIALLY Soriano....whom have been told by the Tigers multiple times are arent touching Sori at that price.....

Yes the same Tigers who had Jose "Gasman" Valverde as their closer last year.....

 

You really think James Shields and Jonathan Niese are comparable? I admit I haven't seen much of Niese this past year but I always thought he was a good, not great, pitcher. Never saw him as a #2 type. Plus pitching in the NL in mostly pitchers parks in the East helps too. Hey maybe I'm wrong and Niese is much better but I wouldn't say or think his stuff is on par with Shields.

And of course Alderson should be asking for the moon but at a certain point you have to be somewhat realistic. I just don't think either Niese or especially Dickey have that much trade value. I mean I'd much rather have Bundy than either of them, ditto for Wil Myers. Rumor is Alderson asked for Bogarets, Bradley and Barnes for Dickey.

But hey all it takes is one GM to make a silly mistake (see Beltran for Wheeler for example or anything Ned Colletti does).

 

We all said the same thing with Boras and Prince Fielder last year and then the Tigers stepped up.

Let's not forget the offseason is still pretty young, there's a lot of time left.

And never bet against Boras.

 

If they were willing to take Shields, this trade would probably already be done.

Also, Niese has only been anything better than below average for one year. Let's not make him something he's not. Nice arm to have, not worth the top hitting prospect in baseball

 

Fielder is a marquette superstar who was going to get paid....it was just a matter of time.....

Soriano and Bourne arent Fielder....

But you are right, he will convince the Yankees to take Soriano back on a 5 yr deal at 12 per watch....

 

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KOJI! Love this signing as Uehara is one of the most underrated bullpen arms in the game. The Sox now have some bullpen depth if they want to deal some of their RPers.

I'd be shocked if the Sox don't make a few trades before ST.

 

But he was unemployed until the end of January with people questioning if Boras blew it. It happens every year with Boras guys.

 

Who u thinking?? Bard?

 

I agree hes not worth the top hitting prospect in the game...neither one is. The only reason its being discussed is because the sky high price of pitchers on the FA market wont allow the royals to sign one. You have Greinke asking for the moon, stars, and a better contract then Matt Cain (LOLLLL), Anibal Sanchez wants 6/90M, etc.

Up til last year not really. Shields had a terrible 2010 and a great 2011 and an average 2012. So in the last 3 years Shields really only had 1 year much better then average. Niese had a better WAR by a full win last year and showed what he is becoming. Theres a question of consistency last year but he had sinus surgery in the 2011 offseason and he was going deeper in to games because he was better conditioned. I bring this up because Niese's 2011 season started good until he started having breathing problems and his stats went to crap. It was so bad and so easily recognized actually that Carlos Beltran actually paid for Niese's surgery. Find me a half dozen lefties who throw 94-96MPH and can go 7....you can count them on one hand. And Niese is one of them.

I tend to agree Dickey wont have much value though I do think he should (not because of the Cy Young, but because the last 3 years hes been one of the 10 best SP's in the NL and his stats have been getting better as he perfects the Knuckleball) but thats because of old school bias against knuckleballers imo. Dickey is unique and to be honest its a case where he probably has more value to NYM then anyone else cause everyone else will hold the knuckleball bias/age card against him. They cant do that with niese.

Funny part will be in 2014 when the Mets slot Dickey between Harvey and Wheeler, two hard throwing young beasts and they have to deal with Dickey in between assuming he is resigned....

 

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