2021 MLB offseason - news and notes
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I'm so relieved; the fact that some Soshers wanted him worried me. No way Bloom would have touched that, though.
Asking those who might know better. Does it make sense that LLA ponies up $21 M for Syndergaard before Iglesias decides on the QO?
Edited... Probably knew he wasn't coming back at the QO
Edited... Probably knew he wasn't coming back at the QO
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I'd be reluctant to go 10 years if I'm Franco, but if it's 10/$200? I think you gotta take that. If it's 10/$150? I think I'd at least push for an opt out after year 8.
What I'd probably counter with and prefer is an 8 year deal, maybe for $110-120M (beating Acuna), with a $2M/yr escalator in case of trade. A decent signing bonus ($10M?) and then backload it.
What I'd probably counter with and prefer is an 8 year deal, maybe for $110-120M (beating Acuna), with a $2M/yr escalator in case of trade. A decent signing bonus ($10M?) and then backload it.
He’s so young. If I’m the Rays and he wants more money, I tack on more years. Plus, halfway through this contract, they will be out of the Trop and presumably generating much more revenue.
The Canadian government just announced that all pro athletes will have to be vaccinated to enter the country as of January. This won’t have much impact for NBA and NHL players as most are vaccinated.
But, if the MLB rate is still around 85% (and I’m not sure what it is now) that would mean that every visiting team would leave 3-4 rostered players at home for Blue Jays home games. Quite an advantage for the Jays?
I assume it would also mean the Jays would certainly need to have a 100% vaccination rate.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/mendicino-athlete-vaccination-exemption-1.6256370
But, if the MLB rate is still around 85% (and I’m not sure what it is now) that would mean that every visiting team would leave 3-4 rostered players at home for Blue Jays home games. Quite an advantage for the Jays?
I assume it would also mean the Jays would certainly need to have a 100% vaccination rate.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/mendicino-athlete-vaccination-exemption-1.6256370
Good to know this prior to the bulk of the off season transactions. This should be of particular interest to The Sox, MFY, Baltimore and Tampa.
BOGO sale on non-Vaxxed Red Sox players?
On a serious note, no way the PA agrees to any penalties or requirements. Unless they make roster decisions based on vax status, compliance needs to be pushed at the player level, and we have seen very few signs vaccinated players will push teammates harder.
ALCS? The Sox have three trips to Toronto in the regular season before they get there. I'm sure they'll have a solution one way or another once the ALCS becomes the issue.
Seems simple to me. If a player chooses to not be vaccinated, then they're simply excluded from any trips to Toronto. Put them on the COVID IL for the series and replace them. If there's no COVID IL, then some other restricted list (paternity, bereavement, etc). If the player is upset or embarrassed to be excluded (or singled out), then as crow said, there's an easy solution.
Have to wonder if this at all played into JDM's decision. Foresight by his agent that as an unvaxxed player, his market might have diminished with any upcoming new laws? Wonder how this changes the calculus for the Sox on a player like Rizzo too. Do they really want 3 or 4 of their players not showing up in Toronto?
I wish the simple solution was truly that simple.
This is a pretty good take. If you as an organization are striving to achieve as close to 100% participation as possible, just how willing are you to bring in a guy like Martinez at the price he going to command? IMO he's still an impact player, but limited in his abilities and you have to weigh what you hope he brings to the team vs the fact that he's working contrary to an ideal that your organization and league is embracing and promoting. The Toronto situation now complicates things further. In the case of the Sox, it's not only a matter of 3-4 players being left behind for any series being played north of the border, but ponder for a moment a situation where you have Sale, JD and another anti-vax guy that you picked up as a FA who is a regular in your lineup. So potentially you have one of your top pitchers and two impact regulars from your line-up being left home against a division rival that is an offensive force. Let's add to that the possibility of another impact, position player and/or another of your top 3 from the rotation being on the IL at the time. Going into a scenario like that is tough under any circumstances, I would think it would be a even more of a concern moving forward when you have this knowledge prior to making roster moves.
I've been wondering that too. He's never said that he is unvaccinated, but he simply talked about it being a personal choice when asked. So probably.
Good question. I'm among those who may be falsely operating under the assumption that he's not vaccinated.
My ALCS cart before the horse example is moot for now, but any team with post-season games in Toronto would be tough. You can not manipulate the roster for short IL stretch like regular season.
regardless of vaccine, I continue to be amazed that dugout and bullpen masking for players is not being enforced.
regardless of vaccine, I continue to be amazed that dugout and bullpen masking for players is not being enforced.
See: League, National Football,, for reasons why you shouldn’t be amazed at things like this
Man, really good deal for Kim Ng and the Marlins. Alcantara is likely getting at least half of that over the next three years anyway. Guess that means they’ll trade Lopez or Hernandez this winter.
Why is it crazy? Seems obvious to me. I don't see why the Canadian government should give special treatment to professional athletes.
On the rarity the Indians were winning in the my earliest visits to Cleveland at old Municipal Stadium, it was "Special Delivery" Jones on the mound in the 9th. I remember a drunk sputtering out a long line of expletives when Jones came out of the pen for the final frame one night... and thinking "c'mon man, he's practically the best player on this sorry team".
not crazy on the part of Canada, I fully agree with their position. Crazy on the part of any team in the AL east or with serious post-season aspirations. A player who is unwilling to be vaccinated could severely damage their team’s chances, with no wiggle room in roster manipulation during the postseason.
The Angels bullpen goes from good to great if they can now bring back Iglesias to go with Loup.
Every time I see/hear the name “Aaron Loup” I think “hasn’t that guy been around since like 2005?” Not true! No idea who I’m confusing him with.
Braden Looper? Pitcher from '98-'09 with St. Louis, Florida, Mets and Milwaukee.
I had the same thought about Loup.
Maybe Adam Lind? Not a pitcher of course, but his initials are AL and I was always surprised he was still in the league. I swear there was another Loup though
Me too, but I think we're all thinking of the right guy. Loup started his career with the Jays, so we all would've been familiar with him from divisional games, and he debuted in 2012, which is a pretty long time ago. Not 2005, but long enough where it sort of feels that way.
He was a pretty fungible and forgettable pitcher even just a few years ago, so it’s sort of jarring to see him get $8.5M per and I can see how it’s confusing. Good for the Rays in 20, great for the Mets last year, but he’s also 33. I dunno, maybe it works out but I wouldn’t be super confident of this being a great deal.
Maybe Scott Downs?
Or Scott Schoeneweis?
Or maybe @cromulence is right and 2005 seems as recent as 2012.
Or Scott Schoeneweis?
Or maybe @cromulence is right and 2005 seems as recent as 2012.
I think Loup signed a minor league contract with the Rays prior to the 2020 season after pitching 4 innings in 2018 and 3.1 innings in 2019. What a turnaround. He must be so pumped to sign that contract for his age 34 season.