MLB - NEWS & NOTES

U DOG - just read the big reason why the Yankees are not involved with Harper/Machado is because they are against the luxury tax threshold. surprised to see they wont go over it like in the past to nab harper or machado. i heard the stanton contract is a big reason why. however they are so loaded with talent, they shockingly dont need either.

BIG NEWS-Phils Jake Arrieta warns young players of a players strike in 3 yrs. Not good. No one wants that shit.

 

We'll see...Cot's still has them projected under right now even with signing LeMahieu and before they dump Sonny Gray. They were under this year so the penalty schedule is reset for them so they won't get hit as hard to go over. They can probably still fit one of those guys in and stay under if they really want to (would probably have to dump at least Gardner and Betances in addition to Gray), or at least only go over by a very small amount. It makes sense not to bother with Harper because they've already got an OF logjam, but they could still use an IF upgrade even with Tulo and DJLM aboard, so I'd imagine if they're avoiding Machado it may be more a combination of concerns over the player himself and wanting to leave themselves some breathing room for next year when Judge and Sanchez hit arbitration for the first time and Severino for the second time.

 

Sonny Gray - what happened to him ? He was solid with the A's and fell apart like a 77 Pinto. He's still young and can turn it around.

 

Since Sonny was a Yank - He's 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA. By the end of the 2018 season, Gray had been banished to the bullpen and finished with a 11-9 record and 4.90 ERA.

 

The San Francisco Giants have brought back pitcher Derek Holland on a one-year deal with a team option for 2020. He’s guaranteed $6.5 million next season. The buyout on the option is $500,000. If the option is picked up he could make as much as $15 million over the next two seasons, though 2020’s salary would be subject to various incentives.

Holland, 32, posted a 3.57 ERA and 169/67 K/BB ratio in 171.1 innings in 36 appearances (30 starts) this past season for San Francisco. It was his best season since 2013.

 

Its nice to see some baseball talk around here... good stuff guy's.

 

lot of FA's to sign still. going to be an interesting few months to see where they all go and end up. then we will have tons to talk about.

white sox off machado 8 years and i think $250-280 ? will the phils top that at 10 years and $300 million ?

 

I think the Phils land Harper, Machado to the White Sox, but anything can happen. Everyone is having fun with the speculation, tho.

 

im praying harper signs with the phils this week and that tells machado the phils are all about winning and he signs with them too. imagine those 5 hitters -segura, machado, harper, hoskins and mccutchen ? wow. add franco and herrera and tha's not a bad lineup.

 

Report: Rays to sign Avisaíl García to one-year, $3.5 million deal...

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Rays are close to signing free agent outfielder Avisaíl García. Per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the deal is for $3.5 million plus performance bonuses. The White Sox non-tendered García, who was entering his third and final year of arbitration eligibility, in late November.

García, 27, had a tremendous 2017 campaign, but suffered from injuries and mean-regression this past season. He played in only 93 games, batting .236/.281/.438 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in across 385 plate appearances.

García figures to compete for some playing time in right field as well as the DH spot. If he has a bounce-back year, he will provide a decent amount of value for the Rays, who could potentially flip him at the non-waiver trade deadline.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...wetteland-arrested-on-child-sex-abuse-charge/

disturbing details on John Wetteland's arrest. Wow. he needs to be locked up for a long time. disgusting.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...m-with-bryce-harper-or-manny-machado-in-2021/

haha. i'll believe it when i see it. i can only pray that it happens and im alive to see it.

 

Yanks signed Ottavino 3/27 (should've come back to Boston instead of NY, Adam!), and reportedly close to moving Gray.

 

Cody Allen heads to the LA Angels.

I wish the Phils took a chance on Gray.

 

Barring physicals and roster reshuffling, the Yankees and Reds are all but ready to finalize a deal involving right-hander Sonny Gray, Fancred’s Jon Heyman reported Saturday. The exact return has not been confirmed, but Heyman hears that the Yankees will receive top infield prospect Shed Long and a draft pick in exchange for Gray, with an as-yet unnamed third player possibly involved as well.

According to several reports earlier in the day, negotiations came down to the wire as the Yankees first had their eye on the Reds’ no. 6 prospect, 22-year-old catcher Tyler Stephenson. The Reds ultimately elected to hang on to Stephenson and send Long to New York, as they currently have a greater need for catching depth and weren’t expected to be able to provide a full-time role for the infielder in 2019. Long, 23, is ranked seventh in the Reds’ system and appears to be nearing his MLB debut after batting .261/.353/.412 with 12 homers and a .765 OPS across 522 PA at Double-A Pensacola last year.

Gray figures to step into a prominent role within the Reds’ rotation, which is likely to be a mix of recently-acquired left-hander Alex Wood and right-handers Tanner Roark, Luis Castillo, Anthony DeSclafani, and Tyler Mahle, among several others. Despite Gray’s struggle to remain productive on the mound — he’s three years removed from his only All-Star campaign and turned in a disappointing 4.90 ERA and 2.16 SO/BB rate in 2018 — he might yet help stabilize a team that trotted out the fifth-worst rotation in the majors last season. If, on the other hand, the veteran righty finds the hitter-friendly confines of Great American Ball Park a little too unforgiving this year, the Reds can take some comfort in the fact that he’s due to enter free agency in 2020. (NBC's HBT)

 

As much as i wanted the Phils to get Gray, "Yankees will receive top infield prospect Shed Long and a draft pick in exchange for Gray, with an as-yet unnamed third player possibly involved as well," is a ton for him. wow. no wonder the Yankees rebuild so fast. they rob teams of picks and prospects.

 

He will play 3rd base...

 

wish the Phils would've kept him.

btw-Sonny Grey's agent is the man. He signed for like $50 mil. Wow. Not bad for someone who has stunk the last 2 years.