The Official 2014 MLB Off-Season Thread

Its the largest per year contract given out by Alderson in his now 3rd off-season as Met GM. The first one was Frank Francisco (2/12M). This guy does a better job pulling Marlon Byrds and other assorted trash off scrap heaps then anyone but his idea of a big contract is stuck in 1994. Its being reported that the Mets offseason budget was around 25M. You just wasted 7.25M on a maybe. Why not just overpay for a Nelson Cruz or Granderson when at least you know what youre getting? Chris Young you have no idea if hes staying at 210 or going to be worse or better.

Yeah a few weeks ago.

 

The Yankees and Brian McCann have agreed to terms on a five-year, $85MM deal with a sixth-year vesting option, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. The sixth year option could boost the value of the deal to $100MM, Rosenthal says, adding that the deal is simply pending a physical in a second tweet. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that the contract includes a full no-trade clause.

McCann posted a typically strong offensive season in 2013, hitting .256/.336/.461 in 402 plate appearances, but he's likely to see his power rise significantly with the presence of the short porch in Yankee stadium's right field. McCann's defense is also rated highly by various metrics. While his 2013 total of 102 games in 2013 represented a career-low for a full season, the 29-year-old usually been a durable catcher. Switching to the AL should also allow him to transition to DH as he ages.

 

This isn't surprising, I figured it would be either NY or Boston. It's going to be strange not seeing him and Tim Hudson in Atlanta anymore.

 

Cards just keep getting better....

 

Call me crazy but I'd much rather have Stephen Drew than Jhonny Peralta for the next 4 years. Kind of surprised the Cardinals are going in that route.

 

I'm actually kind of torn on the McCann signing. On one hand it's a clear upgrade over the guys that the Yankees had last year and he's what at worst the 5th best offensive hitting catcher in baseball. On the other hand I do think the contract is too long, especially if that 6th year option vests and giving up a draft pick hurts for the Yankees whose system is pretty thin. But I guess this was a move they probably had to make.

I would have loved to get McCann on my team but there was no way he was taking a 3 year deal or less.

 

They dont want to give up the pick.. With the way they draft and develop i dont blame them.

 

I wanted less years as well but with the amount of teams interested he was going to get 5-6 years from someone. The Yankees were going to lose a pick anyways we have way to many holes to fill. McCann i can see becoming our Vmart like player in 2-3 years spending time at 1b and dh while backup catcher. He will get plenty of AB's. Alot depends on the vesting part of that option i havent seen it yet.

Ideal contract no but this gives the Yankees time to develop Sanchez or unload him.

 

A team with a great track record of minor league development with the last pick in the 1st round that could possibly be getting a sandwich pick for Beltran leaving that was arguably a player away from winning the WS last year shouldn't be that concerned about losing the pick by signing a lesser player.

If they weren't a win now team and had a poor minor league system etc then yeah I would buy it. But hey maybe they simply like Peralta better, who knows.

 

Yeah my comments weren't a knock on the Yankees, like I said it was probably a move they had to make.

 

I don't see him playing 1B. The DH will be a good option for him if he starts to physically decline at catcher during his contract. He's going to hit for good power at Yankee Stadium, his HR numbers are definitely going to go up.

 

Really don't like the Chris Young signing by the Mets... very steep for that kind of player. He wasn't very good a few years ago, and he still isn't any good now. I got to see my fair share of him whiffing on every breaking ball thrown his way while in AZ.

 

Japanese baseball officials will visit New York this week to negotiate a new posting system, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman writes. A new posting system would free star Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to sign with a Major League team. Heyman also notes that, if Tanaka were to sign with a big-league team, other starters might begin to sign as well.

The next step has to be agreement on a new posting system. While Heyman notes that officials have "renewed hope" for an agreement, Golden Eagles president Yozo Tachibana recently told the Japan News that he thinks an agreement might not be reached until mid-December. Here's more on negotiations regarding the posting system.

 

There is nothing they can do to stop them from getting paid.

 

Dodgers handing out 10 million dollar contracts like candy on Halloween. Unreal.

And why the hell would the rays sign Molina to a 2 year deal?

 

Yea I think he's a good back up and spot starter. Just really would be surprised if the 2nd year is necessary for a 39 year old #2 catcher.

 

Haren for a year isn't bad. He looked strong late in the year and Dodgers Stadium will help him.

If the Dodgers land Tanaka, it may be a wrap. The kid is good...real good. Every team should be trying to get him, in my opinion.

 

Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Schilling, Kent, Biggio and Raines. Edgar and Morris are maybes for me.

Great class.

 

I am a Biggio mark. Always have been.

I doubt he gets in, but Hideo Nomo is on the ballot. No question that he had a HUGE mark on MLB. I am wondering where his final numbers (in terms of votes) stacks up. Extremely underrated as to what he did for the international aspect of the game.

 

With the ballot so stacked yeah I don't think they get in this time either but I do think eventually Schilling and Biggio will make it. Raines should have made it years ago.

 

Was curious to see what Nomo's numbers are and Nomo isn't close to a HOFer. I'd actually be surprised if he got enough votes to get on the ballot next year.

 

Eh. I think 3 years is an awfully long time to be giving to a RHPer who has a line of .289/.330/.520 against RHHers in the last 3 years due to his straight fastball and poor off speed pitches that he can't command. That just screams 5th starter or RPer at this point.

 

Takes another team out of the Salty Sweepstakes. Hey I would love for the Sox to sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal right now. What other teams have a need and money to spend besides the Sox? Maybe the White Sox or Rockies? Texas still?

 

I think you're underrating Saltalamacchia. He hit .282/.336/.500/.836 at home and .263/.341/.429/.770 away in 2013 and career he's a .255/.313/.450/.763 at home and .237/.306/.406/.712 on the road. Those splits aren't anything major or adnormal really. He's best used as a platoon player but when he's hitting from the left side he's one of the better hitting catchers in the league.

Buster Olney brought this up last week that there are whispers that his medicals aren't great and that's why teams are walking away from him a bit.

As for Hughes, I don't have an issue with the 8 million, it's the length of time on the contract that bugs me.

I think we need to stop focusing on the dollar amount and focus more on the years. MLB teams have tons of money now with all these new TV deals, money isn't an issue.

 

The guy hasn't had an era under 4.7 in 3 years. I think what Ray is saying is, 8 mill isn't a bad game on him because of his stuff. But not 3 years 8 a year. Because if he doesn't pan out on the one year deal, no big deal. But if he doesn't, you basically threw away another 16 mil. I agree, 3 years is to much. I wouldn't of went above 1 personally.

 

The years are horrible. The price tag of 8 million for 1 year is fine. David Murphy after all is a 4th OFer and is getting 7 mill a year, Jonny Gomes is getting 5. Salaries aren't dropping anytime soon.

The issue is the years. I'd much rather give a player a shorter deal for bigger money.

Exactly. The 8 million a year for Hughes is fine in this market. I just hate having to give him a 3 year deal for a RHPer that gets crushed by RHHers. He's a 5th starter right now, at worst a RPer.

If anything I'd guess Hughes or any other player would get more money on a 1 year deal then on a multi-year one, I believe after Napoli rejected his QO of 14.1 million, the Sox countered with a 1 year $15 million offer.. So thinking you could sign Hughes for 1 year for 5 million or under is probably unrealistic. He'd probably get 10 million or so.

I would have offered Hughes a 1 year deal with hopes that he has a good season, then you offer him a QO and if he rejects it you get a pick, if he agrees you have him again the next year. If he sucks, that's fine let him walk away after the year.