MLB 2017 Offseason signings news/rumors

Captaincoop

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You're trying to paint the 4/$82 deal to a 27 yo as bad/stupid in the face of a 6/$126 deal to a 31 yo. Even with the benefit of hindsight that shows he won a CY, was worth $40M, and had a better year than any Darvish has ever had in year one? If he has two more years as bad as 2017, he's still possibly worth more over the course of his contract than Darvish over the first 4 years - and not signed through age 37.
It's definitely bad at this point. Stupid may not be fair, but the market certainly did not develop as expected over the last three years.
 

soxhop411

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It's definitely bad at this point. Stupid may not be fair, but the market certainly did not develop as expected over the last three years.
There are exactly 0 people who could have predicted the market would be what it is today when he signed that contract. If we were under the same CBA as 2 years ago this FA mess never happens. This is 100% the fault of the new CBA.
 

soxhop411

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I mean contract values were going up as late as last season. We have not had this type of offseason where dollar values were this depressed
 

tonyarmasjr

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It's definitely bad at this point. Stupid may not be fair, but the market certainly did not develop as expected over the last three years.
And if post-2016 Porcello is a FA this year, he signs a deal similar to Darvish's - or 50% more than his current deal. Of course if he were a FA after a down season he wouldn't get a huge deal. Locking up his prime, and only has prime, for 4/$82 was not and still is not a bad move. The market may not be what people thought it would be, but it hasn't fallen nearly enough to make the prime years of a CY winner at 4/$82 anywhere close to a bad deal. A better pitcher just signed a deal for the same yearly money, but it wasn't nearly the same deal: It was 50% longer and was signed at the age Porcello's will finish.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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So the Cubs are rolling out a rotation of Quintana, Darvish, Lester, Hendricks and Eddie Butler with Alzolay on the shuttle? Not bad.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Shit, forgot about him. Yeah, that's a really good rotation. Wonder where they rank at this point? Lot's of good competition for best rotation out there. They're in the conversation, though.
I guess it really depends on what one thinks about Arrieta vs Darvish. If you think they're comparable, then it's really just like second half of last season but with Montgomery upgraded to Chatwood.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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I guess it really depends on what one thinks about Arrieta vs Darvish. If you think they're comparable, then it's really just like second half of last season but with Montgomery upgraded to Chatwood.
I think Darvish was significantly better than Arrieta last year, and I think that gap will grow in 2018 (though that second part wasn't the question, I know). They lack a dominant front man like Scherzer/Kershaw/Sale, but that's a very deep rotation. Similar to Houston's, IMO.
 

chawson

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I think Darvish was significantly better than Arrieta last year, and I think that gap will grow in 2018 (though that second part wasn't the question, I know). They lack a dominant front man like Scherzer/Kershaw/Sale, but that's a very deep rotation. Similar to Houston's, IMO.
Houston is stacked to the degree they’ve got a completely expendable pitcher in Collin McHugh—who honestly looks like a favorable alternative to Lance Lynn—as their #7.

The Cubs have the best pitching in the NL, better than LAD, and I think rival only the Yankees. I agree that Darvish and Chatwood are maybe only a modest improvements over Arrieta and Lackey, but they’ve also got a full season of Quintana and Wilson, and Morrow and Cishek are way better than what they’re losing in Wade Davis.

Pedro Strop is a Top 20 reliever in baseball the last three years (3.27 xFIP). He’s sixth back in their pen.
 
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Plympton91

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Oct 19, 2008
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I'll take Scherzer, Strasburg, Roark, and Gonzales, with whoever fills it out over the Cubs, Astros, or Dodgers.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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I'll take Scherzer, Strasburg, Roark, and Gonzales, with whoever fills it out over the Cubs, Astros, or Dodgers.
Scherzer is better than any pitcher on the Cubs or the Astros, and the Nats are definitely better at 2 and maybe 3 than the Dodgers, but the Cubs and Astros both have depth that the Nats would kill for.

The Cubs, in particular, have an entire rotation of middle of the rotation or better quality pitchers. Darvish, Quintana and Lester are all 1a to 2's.

And if the Astros can "fix" Cole, they're looking pretty similar to that and have starting caliber pitchers well beyond the 5th rotation spot.

Given the shift toward fewer innings per pitcher in a season, that kind of depth is really useful. The Dodgers are sitting pretty on that front as well.

It's going to be really interesting to see how the season plays out, because if this shift is a permanent evolution of the sport, the traditional dominant rotation (like what the Nats have) may not cut it anymore.
 

DanoooME

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Scherzer is better than any pitcher on the Cubs or the Astros, and the Nats are definitely better at 2 and maybe 3 than the Dodgers, but the Cubs and Astros both have depth that the Nats would kill for.

The Cubs, in particular, have an entire rotation of middle of the rotation or better quality pitchers. Darvish, Quintana and Lester are all 1a to 2's.

And if the Astros can "fix" Cole, they're looking pretty similar to that and have starting caliber pitchers well beyond the 5th rotation spot.

Given the shift toward fewer innings per pitcher in a season, that kind of depth is really useful. The Dodgers are sitting pretty on that front as well.

It's going to be really interesting to see how the season plays out, because if this shift is a permanent evolution of the sport, the traditional dominant rotation (like what the Nats have) may not cut it anymore.
Can't disagree with you on most of this, especially the conclusion, but the bolded. I'd be worried about the Dodgers' rotation, just because every one of those guys in their top 5 had been on the DL last year. They traded some of their depth away, so now that leaves 2 kids and a bunch of guys behind them that are probable disasters. When multiple guys go down, they are probably going to have to trade for a stopgap, especially if Buehler (anyone, anyone) or Stewart can't step up.

When Henry Owens is your #10 starter, you know you have problems... o_O
 

Oppo

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Diamondbacks to use a humidor this year.
Wonder what JDM thinks about that.
 

chawson

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Diamondbacks to use a humidor this year.
Wonder what JDM thinks about that.
Probably means they’d value him more highly than they otherwise would have. If the ballpark is suddenly home run-suppressant, the elite fly-ball distance guys will stand out. Kinda like how the Giants targeted Stanton.
 

moondog80

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Sep 20, 2005
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Cashner to O's.
16 mil for 2 years with 10 mil vesting option for 2020 and 5 mil in incentives each year. Had a 3.40 ERA last year but horrible peripherals (4.6 K, 3.5 BB per 9) suggest it was a fluke. Fangraphs projects a 5.40 ERA for him this year. Seems like he did very well for himself, maybe the market isn't dead after all.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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16 mil for 2 years with 10 mil vesting option for 2020 and 5 mil in incentives each year. Had a 3.40 ERA last year but horrible peripherals (4.6 K, 3.5 BB per 9) suggest it was a fluke. Fangraphs projects a 5.40 ERA for him this year. Seems like he did very well for himself, maybe the market isn't dead after all.
The same Orioles who traded for Jeremy Hellickson in an effort to get into the playoff race? I wouldn't put much weight in their moves as it pertains to the market.
 

jon abbey

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Jaime Garcia to the Blue Jays, 1 year/$8M with a club option for 2019.
 

chawson

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Hot stove is crackling this afternoon for subpar starting pitching.
Garcia got his fastball back again last year and had a top-10 ground ball rate in MLB. He’s easy to flip if they’re out of it. Seems like another good deal for the Jays.

Cashner is definitely subpar.
 
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jon abbey

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The Orioles have a crazy 40 man, 24 pitchers before Cashner and 4 catchers, leaving only 12 spots for IF/OF/DH.
 

AB in DC

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It could just be a domino effect though -- after the first pitcher signs at $8 million, that may have set a marker for later negotiations.
 

grimshaw

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Vargas' ERA by month after June
July 7.23
August 7.18
Sept/Oct 5.72

He did pretty well for himself on that deal.
 

Wingack

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Well, those top guys aren’t going to be the ones that run the risk of not finding jobs at all. It’s the lesser guys that appear to be jumping at the offers they have on the table so they don’t miss out.
 

chawson

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Rays just DFA’d Corey Dickerson, who hit better than anyone on the Red Sox last year.
 

jon abbey

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They have 10 days to move Dickerson, they must have a deal in place for him already.
 

VORP Speed

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Yeah, I assume it’s a salary dump. Dickerson was very good in the 1st half last year, but lousy in the 2nd half. They picked up Cron who is somewhat similar but $4m cheaper....and let’s face it, they’re not really trying to win right now. I think the frozen offseason market was the only thing that prevented them from getting rid of even more salary. Kiermaier prob the only one making a real salary that they won’t be looking to move at the deadline.
 

jon abbey

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They needed the roster spot for CJ Cron, and they supposedly already have a trade in place with MIN including Dickerson.
 

DeadlySplitter

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They needed the roster spot for CJ Cron, and they supposedly already have a trade in place with MIN including Dickerson.
I'm seeing Odorizzi traded to MIN, nothing about Dickerson.

So the Rays are in the packing it in step of the cycle?