2021 MLB Thread

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

He was excellent with the Padres. I haven't watched him pitch with Cleveland, but his stats look good and I know he was an All Star with them too.

This will already be his 11th season in the bigs even though he's only 30. He actually broke in with the Florida Marlins before they changed to Miami. Its interesting to see how much he improved after moving from the Marlins to the Padres. Coaching and enviornment matter.

That and I think he was a starter with the Marlins. Apparently Rosenthal was premature with the news tho so it’s not official. It just looks likely.

Two mariners prospects in the top 5 of the top 100 must be a record. Color me excited!

Not to mention a lot of nice pitching prospects.

"King Felix wrote:

Two mariners prospects in the top 5 of the top 100 must be a record. Color me excited!

Not to mention a lot of nice pitching prospects.

Enjoy Kelenic...glad he’s at least out of the NL so I can root for him. Kid is going to be a star. And Julio is a beast also. Been since Reyes and Wright that the Mets had 2 prospects of that caliber at the same time. Logan Gilbert should be a good one. Sheffield and Dunn probably more mid tier SP.

"Boik14 wrote:

Enjoy Kelenic...glad he’s at least out of the NL so I can root for him. Kid is going to be a star. And Julio is a beast also. Been since Reyes and Wright that the Mets had 2 prospects of that caliber at the same time. Logan Gilbert should be a good one. Sheffield and Dunn probably more mid tier SP.

I was a big fan of Diaz so I wasn’t happy to trade him but that’s what it took to get rid of Cano. It’s just a cherry on top to get a top 5 prospect too lol.

both Julio and Noelvi Marte (SS, I think he made the top 100) both said George Kirby is the hardest pitcher they’ve faced in the organization and he didn’t even make the top 100!

It’s an exciting time to be a Mariner fan!

"King Felix wrote:

I was a big fan of Diaz so I wasn’t happy to trade him but that’s what it took to get rid of Cano. It’s just a cherry on top to get a top 5 prospect too lol.

both Julio and Noelvi Marte (SS, I think he made the top 100) both said George Kirby is the hardest pitcher they’ve faced in the organization and he didn’t even make the top 100!

It’s an exciting time to be a Mariner fan!

Thanks for that gift (Cano) :001_rolleyes:

Springer to the Jays at 6/150. Sucks to lose out but that’s a lot more then I’d have wanted the Mets to go. I think the Mets high bid was 6/120-125 depending where you look and that was pushing how high I’d want to go. It also would have made it virtually impossible to stay under the luxury tax next year for NYM when Cano is back on the books.

Jays also signed Kirby Yates.

Brantley back to Houston.

3 team trade the other day was good for the Mets imo getting Luchessi for cheap

I guess the Jays can afford to pay him that kind of money when literally every infielder on their 40 man roster has yet to reach arbitration. Nine guys in total, according to Sportrac.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

I guess the Jays can afford to pay him that kind of money when literally every infielder on their 40 man roster has yet to reach arbitration. Nine guys in total, according to Sportrac.

Agree. Tho the last 2 years on that deal could be ugly. Also if I’m the Jays I’d have used that money on Bauer. They have offense. They need pitching

Well, pitchers and catchers report in a month, and my Cubs have at my count 17 men on their roster with a legit chance to make the MLB club. And zero minor league prospects ready to make the jump. So....I guess we'll see if the free agent market heats up any, lol.

Right now we could field a starting 8-man lineup, a 4 man rotation and part of a bullpen. No bench. The guys better not get tired!

The baseball world lost a true legend and titan of the game today. Rest in peace to the Home Run King, greatest Brave of them all, and one of the greatest hitters of all time, Hank Aaron.

"muscle979 wrote:

The baseball world lost a true legend and titan of the game today. Rest in peace to the Home Run King, greatest Brave of them all, and one of the greatest hitters of all time, Hank Aaron.

He retired the year before I was born, so he's been the home run king my entire life. But also an astounding all around weapon in his youth, and a great ambassador for the game in the years since his retirement.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

He retired the year before I was born, so he's been tye home run king my entire life. But also an astounding all around weapon in his youth, and a great ambassador for the game in the years since his retirement.

The interviews he sometimes came in and did during Braves home game broadcasts were always a treat. It was clear what he meant to everyone in the organization. This is a huge loss for baseball, and especially Braves fans. He was our Babe Ruth. This one hits hard.

He played before I was born but what I do know is he did it with class in the face of adversity others didn’t have to deal with. God bless him.

I knew about Pittsburgh, but I didn't realize that it had been quite that long for the Reds, given that they won the WS in 1990. But looking back, I guess they only won 91 games that year. And 81, when they had the best record, they were only 66-42 due to the strike. It looks like the last time they had the best record in a full season was 1976.

And I feel bad for Padres fans. 52 seasons and never once with the best record in the NL.

The Cardinals are getting Nolan Arenado from the Rockies, and Colorado is sending them 50m in cash for the privelage. Just shoot me. The only good news (as a Cubs fan, and an opponent of the NL's evil empire) is that he can opt out after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons and become a free agent.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

BREAKING: Cardinals have agreed to acquire Nolan Arenado from Rockies, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deal pending approval from both MLB and players’ union; Rockies sending Cardinals significant cash, believed to be in $50M range, and Arenado will be deferring money.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2021

The Cardinals are getting Nolan Arenado from the Rockies, and Colorado is sending them 50m in cash for the privelage. Just shoot me. The only good news (as a Cubs fan, and an opponent of the NL's evil empire) is that he can opt out after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons and become a free agent.

You can always hope his away splits from coors are what the Cards get from Arenado as opposed to the home splits. Spoiler: you’ll like the away splits.

That said he’s still a fantastic player. Seeing as how the Cards got 50M in the deal and gave up no top 5 organizational prospects, I have to wonder if this makes the price on Bryant drop as the market has been set by a better player (albeit one making more money).

Patiently awaiting the Mets to pounce on Bauer and Bryant.

"Boik14 wrote:

You can always hope his away splits from coors are what the Cards get from Arenado as opposed to the home splits. Spoiler: you’ll like the away splits.

That said he’s still a fantastic player. Seeing as how the Cards got 50M in the deal and gave up no top 5 organizational prospects, I have to wonder if this makes the price on Bryant drop as the market has been set by a better player (albeit one making more money).

Patiently awaiting the Mets to pounce on Bauer and Bryant.

It looks like the Cubs are never going to be competitive again under the current ownership, so you can just have him.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

It looks like the Cubs are never going to be competitive again under the current ownership, so you can just have him.

Lol damn. Can I interest you in taking Familia off the Mets hands? I can’t wait til Sandy trades him again lol.

"Boik14 wrote:

Lol damn. Can I interest you in taking Familia off the Mets hands? I can’t wait til Sandy trades him again lol.

Apparently, the Ricketts are firm in that they/the Cubs are so deeply in dept all of the sudden, that payroll is going to be drastically reduced for the forseeable future. It currently stands at 128m, which is 12th in MLB. In 2019, it was 221m, and everyone thought that it would stay right below the tax threshold forever as the Cubs rake in money left and right. Suddenly, after last year, that's no longer the case, and that's part of why Theo left.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Apparently, the Ricketts are firm in that they/the Cubs are so deeply in dept all of the sudden, that payroll is going to be drastically reduced for the forseeable future. It currently stands at 128m, which is 12th in MLB. In 2019, it was 221m, and everyone thought that it would stay right below the tax threshold forever as the Cubs rake in money left and right. Suddenly, after last year, that's no longer the case, and that's part of why Theo left.

MLB really should force owners like them, the Pirates, Indians and now Rockies to sell. Piss off if you aren't interested in actually winning.

The players likely are going to need to trade a salary cap for a salary floor at this rate.

"Boik14 wrote:

You can always hope his away splits from coors are what the Cards get from Arenado as opposed to the home splits. Spoiler: you’ll like the away splits.

That said he’s still a fantastic player. Seeing as how the Cards got 50M in the deal and gave up no top 5 organizational prospects, I have to wonder if this makes the price on Bryant drop as the market has been set by a better player (albeit one making more money).

Patiently awaiting the Mets to pounce on Bauer and Bryant.

I mean at this point based on the non-return the Cubs already took for Darvish plus the non-return the Rockies got for Arenado, I'm not sure Bryant has value above a bucket of balls.

The way these teams are acting is astoundingly uncompetitive. PAYING the Cards to take your franchise player away?

I'm not a fan of Rob Manfred, but I do strongly believe that MLB needs to be able to pull the plug on the season if things get bad with regards to Covid. Everyone is hopeful that things are going to get gradually better, and they might, but it could also get worse. We just don't know. And if that happens, then putting an indefinate pause on the baseball season just seems to be prudent.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

MLB on Friday proposed to the union a 154-game schedule with full pay, delayed by a month and extended by a week, sources say. Also, with expanded postseason. Union considering.

— Tim Brown (@ByTimBrown) January 31, 2021

Union has been against approving expanded playoffs because of concerns that if teams feel they could win fewer games and get in, why compete financially for players? Also heard 1 suggest concern over if fewer games (even just 8 fewer) hurt stats/value for 2022 season.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 31, 2021

𝕏 · X (Twitter)View post ↗

Some of union concerns about MLB's proposal:
In eyes of PA, the proposal would give Manfred expanded authority to shut down the season.
Less margin for error in executing schedule.
Trade of expanded playoffs for the universal DH, a swap union doesn't want.
But they are talking.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 31, 2021

I'm not a fan of Rob Manfred, but I do strongly believe that MLB needs to be able to pull the plug on the season if things get bad with regards to Covid. Everyone is hopeful that things are going to get gradually better, and they might, but it could also get worse. We just don't know. And if that happens, then putting an indefinate pause on the baseball season just seems to be prudent.

I'm totally in favor of a delay. I'd love to attend a game or two later in the summer. I will actually be vaccinated in the coming weeks (federal USPS worker), but the longer the delay, the more fans will be able to attend. This will boost revenue and remove one of the owner's biggest gripe points.

The stats thing ... as a fan IDGAF though I understand for incentives and bonuses, some kind of pro-ration would be needed. But if it's just about counting stats, then the players will look bad.

I like the expanded playoffs, and one can easily make the counter to the players' argument - allowing more teams should increase spending because you are more likely to see a payoff from a playoff series. I don't get the union opposition to the NL DH at all.

"texanphinatic wrote:

I'm totally in favor of a delay. I'd love to attend a game or two later in the summer. I will actually be vaccinated in the coming weeks (federal USPS worker), but the longer the delay, the more fans will be able to attend. This will boost revenue and remove one of the owner's biggest gripe points.

The stats thing ... as a fan IDGAF though I understand for incentives and bonuses, some kind of pro-ration would be needed. But if it's just about counting stats, then the players will look bad.

I like the expanded playoffs, and one can easily make the counter to the players' argument - allowing more teams should increase spending because you are more likely to see a payoff from a playoff series. I don't get the union opposition to the NL DH at all.

The tweets aren't all written the most clearly, but the players have always wanted the DH in the NL. I think the issue relating to that is that MLB wants them to give up something to get it, and the MLBPA never wants to give up anything....ever. So, we'll see where it goes. I personally hate the DH and AL style baseball, and have grown to find watching games far less enjoyable over the past few years.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

The tweets aren't all written the most clearly, but the players have always wanted the DH in the NL. I think the issue relating to that is that MLB wants them to give up something to get it, and the MLBPA never wants to give up anything....ever. So, we'll see where it goes. I personally hate the DH and AL style baseball, and have grown to find watching games far less enjoyable over the past few years.

Yeah I thought I had read MLB proposed it along with the expanded playoffs a week or two ago and it was shot down, which I found curious.

I think the statistical revolution is probably more responsible for style of play than DH though. I think having elder sluggers like Thome and Big Papi in those cleanup roles is good. Just need to stop with 2b and cf focusing on launch angle and HRs rather than OBP.