MLB 2017 Offseason signings news/rumors

RedOctober3829

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deep inside Guido territory
Otani may not be coming over to MLB for this upcoming season due to issues with the posting fee.

Shohei Otani has not selected an agent yet. And there are some who believe it’s still possible he may not make the leap to MLB this year after all.

The posting system, which provided up to $20 million for Japanese League teams who offer up big stars, recently expired, setting up a standoff about how things should come from here. At least for now, there seems to be some question about what the posting fee is going to be, potentially throwing a major monkey wrench into Otani’s plans to come over from Japan.

The great two-way star has yet to select an MLB agent after interviewing most of the big agents several weeks back, and some are wondering if he has more to think about now. MLB and the Nippon Ham Fighters (Otani’s current team) would like to reinstate the $20 million posting figure that had been in place. But it is possible Otani, or whomever represents the great star (whether that be the players union or whatever agent he may choose) could try to make the case that the posting fee should be only some percentage, maybe the 15 percent under one previous agreement, of what he’s going to get on his deal (under MLB’s new CBA, teams are allotted only between $4.75 million and $5.75 million per year for all international signings, though some teams, such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers, added a few international dollars via trades).

Or he and his eventual reps could try to claim that he should be given free agency if the Fighters are making the $20 million windfall, as Masahiro Tanaka got under the old system.

“MLB wants Nippon to get paid, and the kid to get nothing,” one player source said.

There seems to be a jockeying over who’s going to be the bad guy if Otani eventually decides not to come, and MLB and one of the greatest talents in the game are deprived of what should be a natural marriage. MLB’s position seems to be that, like others now, he needs to choose whether to come under the new CBA limitations (the $4.75M to $5.75M figure), and that if he seeks the big free agent bucks he still has the option to wait two years when he will meet the age requirement for free agency.

https://www.fanragsports.com/heyman-mlb-future-for-shohei-otani-hits-possible-snag/
 

MikeM

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5 years, $106 million, full no trade.

JD prices going up!
I'd say yes and no there.

JD was always going to have his own pay more for the premium guy type market anyway, which inevitably was going to narrow down the list of potential suitors. So the other way of looking at this is that's one less team coming out the gate that can help push the bidding process to it's absolute ceiling.
 

santadevil

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santadevil

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Sox and Rocks

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Greg Holland declined his vested $15M option and will become a free agent.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21313808/greg-holland-declines-15m-option-colorado-rockies-becomes-free-agent

Colorado will most likely offer him a qualifying offer. What is the QO amount this year?

Does a 32 year old closer command more than the QO on the open market with a terrible second half?

QO is $17.4M
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/mlb-sets-2017-qualifying-offer-at-17-4mm.html
As a Rockies fan, I'll be happy to let another team give him multiple years, collect the comp pick, and sign someone else.
 

Luis Taint

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A plane registered to Roy Halladay has crashed, one dead. A press conference at 4:15 will reveal the identity of who was flying.
 

Luis Taint

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One of my favorite pitchers of the last 10 years, and someone I desperately wanted the Sox to trade for.
 

mauidano

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His Twitter feed has pictures of the plane and postings from yesterday.
 

Doc Zero

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Sorry—didn't see this discussion going on before I made a thread. A dope can do away with that thread if it's redundant.

This really sucks.
 

Oppo

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Ryon Healy to Mariners

RP Emilio Pagan and MiLB INF Alexander Campos to A's
 

simplicio

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As salty as we all feel about Trey Ball, at least Boston took him 6 slots lower than Mark Appel, who was DFAed today by Philly.
 

Plympton91

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As salty as we all feel about Trey Ball, at least Boston took him 6 slots lower than Mark Appel, who was DFAed today by Philly.
In order to be DFA'ed you have been good enough to make a 40-man roster in the first place. Ball hasn't gotten to that pantheon yet.

Appel was also part of the Ken Giles trade, so Houston got a very real return on that draft pick.
 

simplicio

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Fair enough, though I'd also note that membership on the 2017 Phillies 40-man wasn't exactly the most exclusive opportunity in the land.
 

jon abbey

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It seems like Stanton to SF may be moving forward.

Ken Rosenthal‏Verified account @Ken_Rosenthal 4m4 minutes ago
Source confirms to The Athletic: #SFGiants executives in Los Angeles to meet with Stanton’s representatives, as first reported by @CraigMish. Unclear whether deal is in place. Stanton’s approval would be necessary; he has full no-trade clause.

Buster Olney‏Verified account @Buster_ESPN 10m10 minutes ago
In the Giants' meeting with Giancarlo Stanton's reps, they aim to ascertain whether he might approve a trade to San Francisco. To repeat: Stanton completely controls this process.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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Not that this means anything, but I just can't picture him in a Giants uniform. I can't picture him in a Red Sox uniform either, though.
 

moondog80

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Mike Minor's deal with Texas is for 28 mil over 3 years. And he might get used as a starter. Very healthy deal for a guy who didn't pitch in the majors in 2015 or 2016 and has one year of being a relief ace.


 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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If--and this is a big IF--he makes a major league roster and gets an at bat or two, does that roll back his Hall of Fame nomination? In other words, say he gets a few April at bats this year and then calls it quits. Does he go back on the HoF ballot in 2023? Maybe steroid guys aren't looked at in the same light and he squeaks in.
 

RedOctober3829

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Bobby Evans confirmed Stanton was in LA meeting last Thursday and that Giants agreed to terms with Marlins. Of course, Stanton needs to approve any deal. Evans interviewed on Giants' radio flagship, KNBR.

First time I've seen confirmation from any team that they've agreed to trade terms with the Marlins.
 

Plympton91

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Mike Minor's deal with Texas is for 28 mil over 3 years. And he might get used as a starter. Very healthy deal for a guy who didn't pitch in the majors in 2015 or 2016 and has one year of being a relief ace.


This is insane.
 

jon abbey

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This is insane.
Why? They want to use him as a starter:

"At 3 years, $28 million, Minor is getting a little more than $9 million per year, which is a pretty reasonable deal if he’s going to be a 1.5-2 win starting pitcher for the Rangers over the next three years. Minor said at the press conference today Texas was the one team willing to commit to him as a starting pitcher, which is what he wanted to go back to doing."

https://www.lonestarball.com/2017/12/6/16742876/texas-rangers-mike-minor-mlb-free-agency-contract
 

Plympton91

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Why? They want to use him as a starter:

"At 3 years, $28 million, Minor is getting a little more than $9 million per year, which is a pretty reasonable deal if he’s going to be a 1.5-2 win starting pitcher for the Rangers over the next three years. Minor said at the press conference today Texas was the one team willing to commit to him as a starting pitcher, which is what he wanted to go back to doing."

https://www.lonestarball.com/2017/12/6/16742876/texas-rangers-mike-minor-mlb-free-agency-contract
He’s had 1 good year as a middle reliever.

What is the likelihood that his arm isn’t going to fall off again?

What is the likelihood that his effectiveness in middle relief translates to starting?

Maybe $9 million for 1 year makes sense. Guaranteeing 3 at that rate, when he has no track record as a post-injury starter and has to be pegged as below average durability? Glad it’s not my dime or my favorite team.
 

GrandSlamPozo

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May 16, 2017
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If--and this is a big IF--he makes a major league roster and gets an at bat or two, does that roll back his Hall of Fame nomination? In other words, say he gets a few April at bats this year and then calls it quits. Does he go back on the HoF ballot in 2023? Maybe steroid guys aren't looked at in the same light and he squeaks in.
Yes, unless the rules have changed since 2008. Jose Rijo initially appeared on the 2001 ballot and dropped off after receiving one vote, then came back to MLB that same year, retired in 2002 and reappeared on the 2008 ballot (where he received no votes).
 

jon abbey

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Yep, 3/38 is being reported now, was coming back to fix it.