MLB Offseason 2020 News & Notes

jon abbey

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MIN wins the standoff with Nelson Cruz, who has been holding out for a two year deal, getting him back at 1/13.
 

JimRiceHOFer

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"Baby Shark" is Back

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/nationals-sign-gerardo-parra-to-minor-league-contract.html
The Nationals have signed outfielder Gerardo Parra to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. He’ll earn a $1MM salary if he makes the majors, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.

Parra has appeared with seven teams in the majors since debuting in 2009. He was most recently a member of the Nationals and Giants in 2019, when he batted .234/.293/.391 with nine home runs and eight stolen bases in 301 plate appearances. Parra became a fan favorite in Washington that year for his “Baby Shark” theme when he came to the plate. The Nationals, of course, won the World Series that season, though Parra hasn’t been in the majors since then. He spent last year with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
 

Yelling At Clouds

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At this point, who would be the Mets’ competition? As much as I was hoping the Angels would go for it, seems like they’re out, and I haven’t read of any other teams reported as being even vaguely connected to him.
 

kenneycb

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This was my first thought, too. I would love to see him come back strong, but I think this contract shows how doubtful that is. And if he does, it will be for Baltimore.

Talk about lose/lose.
He’ll be traded if he pitches well. So that’s a silver lining.
 

dynomite

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Seems that way. A rotation of deGrom, Bauer, Stroman, and eventually Syndergaard is quite good.
Ridiculous as this is, don't forget Carlos Carrasco!! deGrom/Bauer/Carrasco/Stroman/Thor is, in my view, clearly the best rotation in MLB, with 4 legitimate Cy Young contenders led by 2 of the top 5 pitchers in the sport. Then there's the lineup, which starts with Lindor, then features a Lemahieu clone in McNeil and two sluggers in Conforto & Alonso.

Between the Dodgers, Padres, and Mets it's the era of the super team in the NL, huh?
 

Murderer's Crow

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Ridiculous as this is, don't forget Carlos Carrasco!! deGrom/Bauer/Carrasco/Stroman/Thor is, in my view, clearly the best rotation in MLB, with 4 legitimate Cy Young contenders led by 2 of the top 5 pitchers in the sport. Then there's the lineup, which starts with Lindor, then features a Lemahieu clone in McNeil and two sluggers in Conforto & Alonso.

Between the Dodgers, Padres, and Mets it's the era of the super team in the NL, huh?
I'll believe the Mets are a superteam when I see it. They're the Mets.
 

Scoops Bolling

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I wonder what the Mets do with Peterson if they do sign Bauer. I guess he probably is in the rotation until Thor gets back.
 

Sad Sam Jones

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jon abbey

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Those Mets pitchers would all be a lot happier if they signed JBJ to play CF.
 

RedOctober3829

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Joel Sherman tweets that his sources tell him the Mets have set a Noon ET deadline for Bauer to decide. 3 year deal with opt outs after the first 2 years. Around $40 million in Years 1 and 2. Total contract would be 3 years and around $100-$110 million.
 

E5 Yaz

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Joel Sherman tweets that his sources tell him the Mets have set a Noon ET deadline for Bauer to decide. 3 year deal with opt outs after the first 2 years. Around $40 million in Years 1 and 2. Total contract would be 3 years and around $100-$110 million.
I always get a kick out of teams that do this. If Bauer calls 6 hours later and says he'll take it, do the Mets say no?

I mean, what's the Mets option here? Just keep the money?
 

moondog80

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Joel Sherman tweets that his sources tell him the Mets have set a Noon ET deadline for Bauer to decide. 3 year deal with opt outs after the first 2 years. Around $40 million in Years 1 and 2. Total contract would be 3 years and around $100-$110 million.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to think of this, but if activated, does the opt-out impact the tax calculation retroactively?

Extreme example -- Mets sign Trevor Bauer to a deal that pays him 40 mil in years 1,2, and 3, and then the league minimum for 7 years thereafter, including opt-outs every year after the 3rd year. That can't possibly result in his contract counting just 12+ million toward the cap, right?
 

OurF'ingCity

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I'm sure I'm not the only one to think of this, but if activated, does the opt-out impact the tax calculation retroactively?

Extreme example -- Mets sign Trevor Bauer to a deal that pays him 40 mil in years 1,2, and 3, and then the league minimum for 7 years thereafter, including opt-outs every year after the 3rd year. That can't possibly result in his contract counting just 12+ million toward the cap, right?
My understanding is that every team ultimately has to be credited at some point for what they actually pay a player. So in your scenario, I believe that, yes, the first three years would be a 12 million cap hit, but then if he opted out after that the Mets would be assessed an $84 million single-year hit to factor in the money that had been paid but never counted toward the tax.

So while I do think a team could play some games using player options to effectively defer a tax hit to later seasons, I don't think it would ever be as dramatic as the scenario you outline.
 

nattysez

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The fact that Bob Nightengale remains employed is a joke (he had Bauer to Mets yesterday).

I imagine this is the end of the Justin Turner era in LA.

Dave Roberts may have his hands full with that locker room.
 

Yelling At Clouds

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Heyman says Bauer to LAD. That rotation.....wow.

Buehler
Bauer
Kershaw
Price
Urias or May

View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1357777208710938624
I'd say they should trade Gonsolin or May, but for what, precisely? Do they have any holes right now?
Oh, I guess that could be the Adames-for-pitching deal the Rays fan on here was talking about.

Also, I know the "LOLMets" narrative is strong, but I'm not sure I feel too bad for them in this. They still have deGrom-Carrasco-Stroman with Thor back in June/July. They could probably just grab a couple of 4/5 types and be fine.
 

nattysez

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I'd say they should trade Gonsolin or May, but for what, precisely? Do they have any holes right now?
Oh, I guess that could be the Adames-for-pitching deal the Rays fan on here was talking about.

Also, I know the "LOLMets" narrative is strong, but I'm not sure I feel too bad for them in this. They still have deGrom-Carrasco-Stroman with Thor back in June/July. They could probably just grab a couple of 4/5 types and be fine.
I don't know much about Edwin Rios. Seems like their 3B situation isn't great, and losing Quique means they need a solid utility guy or two.
 

RedOctober3829

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I'd say they should trade Gonsolin or May, but for what, precisely? Do they have any holes right now?
Oh, I guess that could be the Adames-for-pitching deal the Rays fan on here was talking about.

Also, I know the "LOLMets" narrative is strong, but I'm not sure I feel too bad for them in this. They still have deGrom-Carrasco-Stroman with Thor back in June/July. They could probably just grab a couple of 4/5 types and be fine.
No one they could get right now would be worth Gonsolin or May. They are set at pretty much every position.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Wonder if they plan to move Price to someone (or if he doesn't plan to return?)
 

Murderer's Crow

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I think this was a smart move by LA for a lot of reasons. Kershaw and Price with their injuries while allowing May to settle into the rotation could really allow him to blossom. One of the better rotations in recent memory.
 

PseuFighter

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I love doing math on these crazy deals. Figure 30 starts a season, ~90 pitches, and you get to about $15,000 per pitch. Bananaland sorta stuff right there.