Montgomery is probably the top starter on the market this summer, isn't he? I'm not sure we get into a bidding war for a rental.
I think what I like about him is that when I play OOTP I always make sure to draft a super fast utility infielder to be the designated pinch runner (ideally also a guy you don't mind starting if you need to) and I think the strategy is super effective.
They all look immortal in their prime but I have a hard time believing that Ohtani is going to be a 2 way player into his mid-30s. It seems to me that there's twice as many things that could go wrong for him than a regular player.
Oh yeah, the Red Sox aren't going to go anywhere near that, neither are the Yankees. All you need is two teams where he would be happy to end up (LAD, NYM, SD?) and the bidding will go through the roof, and this particular roof is many many floors from the ground.
That's a boatload of eggs in one basket. One catastrophic injury could well take away your best pitcher and your best hitter. Adding insult to injury, you only get to replace one. I'd love to see him in Boston, but I don't think that large of a contract is worth the risk to this team at this time.
Yeah, that's why I've been talking about 1 year+ on Burnes.
I don't disagree with any of this. He will most likely have a 35-40% K rate in the majors, almost certainly. But if he can be the .240/.310/.510 guy he was across 2020 and 2021 (which he did with those K rates!), well, that's pretty interesting.
It's an easy mix-up, especially when you consider that Chang was the corresponding move that allowed Caleb onto the 40 man.
Ohtani's contract size will be limited by what is insurable. A team cannot bet the franchise on ACLs, UCLs, labrums and rotator cuffs. If the contract cannot be substantially offset by insurance, it won’t happen.
That’s not going to stop Steve Cohen if he decides he wants Ohtani, no matter the cost.
Yeah Sano and guys like Javier Baez and Matt Chapman have pulled off the 33-36% K rate with SLG numbers in the high 4s/low 5a and OBP in the low/mid 3s. Joey gallo too.
Sure, it looks like his third consecutive year of excellence. He's an excellent player with a unique skillset.
Well, Mookie & Trout's contracts are older now. Let's compare to last off season.
The Padres offered Judge at least 12/415, and were supposedly prepared to go higher if he was genuinely interested. Cole also could have gotten more if he didn’t essentially pick the Yankees over the Dodgers, then the Dodgers stopped increasing their offer.
Two things. Does Otani want to go to the east coast? This only one person (maybe two people know). No matter the contract cost, the Japanese advertising he brings with him is outrageous dollars.
Let me start by saying that I have no earthly idea as to how this man should be paid. Not only CAN Ohtani DH, but he IS the DH. While he's not averaged 32+ starts like Cole, he did make 28 starts last season and is on pace for 30-31 this season. Add to that, he plays in nearly every game.
FWIW, Last season I was watching a Seattle - Anaheim game and the Seattle announcers said Ohtani wanted to stay on the West Coast so his Japanese fans could still watch him.
Yes, this along with the idea that the wear and tear of fielding a position everyday increases the chance of a non pitching related injury.
West Coast 7 PM is 11 AM in Tokyo. East Coast is 8 AM.
There's constant replays/highlights throughout the day in Tokyo about him. I think it's six of one, half dozen the other as far as playing time goes. Comes down to winning team environment + location if I'm in his shoes. Masa btw has picked up a game reply here and there.
He has no no-trade. He's on a standard 1-year, arbitration-avoiding contract. But why would the Angels consider trading him? They're very much in the playoff hunt. Judging by their dealings last night, they plan to be buyers not sellers.
ATM, I don't see the Angels moving him unless they flat out see no path to him returning and completely fall out of playoff contention. Regardless as to his preference for 2024, he'll still command a haul at the deadline. In Ohtani you're getting a top flight pitcher who will start 8-10 games (plus playoffs) AND one of the most feared hitters in the game who will be penciled into the lineup nearly every day. Ohtani's unique skill set would make him the most unique deadline acquisition ever.
He won’t reach free agency. I’ll believe the Padres have a limit on spending when I see it. They’ll extend him between now and the ‘24 deadline and probably sign Ohtani to boot.
Not only in the playoff-hunt, but only a half game behind a now-Judge-less NYY team for the third wild-card spot and tied with Toronto. Aside from NY, only other above .500 teams are Houston and Boston.
Teams with better postseason shots have become sellers. The problem, with Duvall and Kike anyway, is that I think the returns would be so small that they would be better off keeping them and their puncher's chance at the postseason (if in fact that's where the stand at that point).
What makes Merrifield or Báez solid middle infield acquisitions for the Sox? Both are name brands but are not cheap and low key stink.
You're probably right. At this point I suspect they've penciled Rafaela in for a starting job next year. I just kind of envisioned him as a super sub because I don't think the bat is there. There were definitely a lot of people clamoring for Baez especially as a bounce back candidate.
PeteAbe suggesting on Twitter that tonight's great performance might be an enticement to move quickly
These "sell-high NOW" things always seem to presume that the other GMs have been in a cave for the last 3 months.
