2014/2015 Official MLB Offseason Thread: Signings, Trades, Rumors, Etc.

[Doc Holliday]

Sweet Addition! If somehow Cashman gets Robertson under contract (tho i doubt he stays) the Yanks have a top 3 BP in the game. With a great defensive SS also added yesterday and a healthy lineup the Yanks are on the right path. Now getting McCarthy and Scherzer signed would be great for the rotation.

Giving any reliever a 4-year contract is always risky. Relievers' careers are often very odd. A good season can often be followed by a miserable one, and vice-versa. Sure, there are exceptions, but they are rare. I'll admit that i would have liked to see Miller with the Jays, but i also understand why they'd want to stay away from offering a 4-year contract...especially for that kind of money (for a reliever).

 

[Doc Holliday]

But what if he's wrong? What if the Jeter jitters never leave? What if the Yankees realize what the Reds and the Diamondbacks before them have already figured out – that Gregorius is a one-dimensional player who is a liability at the plate? What will they do then?

I'll admit that at first, i thought Gregorius was a good move by the Yankees, even though they gave up a promising pitcher in the trade. But i also did my own research since the trade was announced & i've come to the conclusion that i sincerely doubt he'll succeed in the New York pressure-cooker. I've concluded from research that he's an extremely good fielder....above-average....but he's a very light-hitting hitter. Not much better than Stephen Drew, actually. But the red flag came up when i learned about how mentally fragile he is. And he'll be playing in New York? For the Yankees? To replace the legendary Derek Jeter? Yikes!

I actually wish him well since i feel for the poor kid. The NY media will eat him alive the minute he goes hitless in a game! And what i've concluded is that he simply doesn't have the mental tools to handle that kind of pressure.

It should be an interesting season to watch....

 

[Special K]

Didi is simply a placeholder until the Yanks can get their paws on Tulowitzki. As for Miller, he was at times horrid for the Sox in a reliever position. It'd be almost certain he would walk in a run if he came in with the bases loaded as he had no control. He's had one great season with many average to below average ones prior to last year. I would have taken him but not at 9M/ year for a 1 inning specialist

 

[daydreamer41]

Didi is simply a placeholder until the Yanks can get their paws on Tulowitzki. As for Miller, he was at times horrid for the Sox in a reliever position. It'd be almost certain he would walk in a run if he came in with the bases loaded as he had no control. He's had one great season with many average to below average ones prior to last year. I would have taken him but not at 9M/ year for a 1 inning specialist

I have to agree. Nine million is way too much for Miller. One on here was touting him, when Miller was with the Red Sox of course, as the next Sandy Koufax or Nolan Ryan. That is he not. Nine Million a year is about 7 or 8 million a year too much for inconsistent reliever.

I think the Yankees will be grabbing for straws for the next 3 years until some of that payroll is unloaded. Many teams go through that. Some more than others.

 

[lgna69xxx]

You could be right SK, about the Yanks and Troy T. (hope so) Who i am really excited for is Rob Refsnyder at 2b. This guy is a pure hitter and could be a very good player for a long time but as always, time will tell but hoping he gets a shot in the spring to win the job.

Didi is simply a placeholder until the Yanks can get their paws on Tulowitzki. As for Miller, he was at times horrid for the Sox in a reliever position. It'd be almost certain he would walk in a run if he came in with the bases loaded as he had no control. He's had one great season with many average to below average ones prior to last year. I would have taken him but not at 9M/ year for a 1 inning specialist

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Who i am really excited for is Rob Refsnyder at 2b.

You might look for him at 2b for the Yankees, but don't look for him on any lists of the top 100 prospects in baseball, because you won't find him there.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Lists? like the lists that Willie Middlebrooks and Jack Bradley jr were on? (i assume they were on some "list" as much as you had them being the next great red sox's and future hall of famers) Those lists? Well i certainly hope Refsnyder is not on them!



:lol:

You might look for him at 2b for the Yankees, but don't look for him on any lists of the top 100 prospects in baseball, because you won't find him there.

 

[Special K]

Yankees lose Robertson to the White Sox, 4 years 46M!!!

 

[Merlot]

BOYZ,

MEGA OUCH!!! Gaining Andrew Miller and losing Robertson is a huge net loss. Robertson was solid...4 to 5 blown saves a year at most. Miller is shaky and any one who says otherwise needs a clue. This is a big drop off and it would have been worth the Yankees taking a large part of Miller's salary to use for Robertson. I can't blame Robertson on his part though for getting away from that grossly overpaid bunch of has beens. Smart move.

Regarding Jon Lester. Geeeez, I'm not happy with the Red Sox. They pay $22 million a year for Ramirez who can't play shortstop (never could) and has to bump a plethora of fielders out, and still he hasn't shown he can even stay healthy. Now the scuttlebutt from the insiders like Ken Rosenthal, Rob Bradford, and others is Lester may get $150 to $160 million for 6 years and what Lester does is holding up a lot the Sox and a lot of other teams want to do. Personally I wouldn't give Lester more than 4 years. I think his contract will be a white elephant for any team after three years. Let the guy take a hike and do some serious rebuilding with prospects and young veterans instead of charging into the failed Yankee Way of pouring money on players past or about to pass their prime and others whose true value is far below the insane amounts the Yanks BLEW on them..

peeeuuuuuuuuuu,

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

Case closed: Yankees didn't need D-Rob....ESPN

Not a big fan of Es-pen but they are absolutely correct this time about DRob and the Yanks.

Dont forget the Yanks have a stud in the making (likely major league ready this season sometime) in last years first pick by the Empire in Jabob "The Strikeout Factory" Lindgren out of Mississippi State who dominated at all levels he pitched in last season on the farm (as well as in college)

Hate to see Drob go as he was a true bonafide tride and true homegrown talent but it appears most agree it was for the best. Now to get a starter or two under contract.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Hungry,

You got a good young pitcher coming your way to Detroit in Shane Greene......hated to see him go but Cashman has other plans i am sure, some which he already implemented in the trade for Didi and the signing of Miller.

Hopefully Grenne can help you guys in the motor city.

 

[Special K]

Dont forget the Yanks have a stud in the making (likely major league ready this season sometime) in last years first pick by the Empire in Jabob "The Strikeout Factory" Lindgren out of Mississippi State who dominated at all levels he pitched in last season on the farm (as well as in college)

Sounds like the coming of the new Daniel Bard! Hahahaha. Hey Rumps where does Jabob rank amongst the leagues prospects?

 

[lgna69xxx]

"Hopefully" not on a "list" Bwahahahahaahahahahah!!! :lol::lol::lol:

Hey Rumps where does Jabob rank amongst the leagues prospects?

 

[Special K]

John Lester to the Cubs for 6/$155M. Redsox outbid by $20M. No surprise there, they obviously didn't want him bad enough. Nauseates me that this all could have been avoided if they hadn't low-balled and insulted him last season by offering 4/$70M.

This ownership, while bringing 3 World Series trophy's to Boston, still needs to get over themselves and step into reality!!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

I guess Max S becomes a Yankee now....... thanks Lester! :thumb:

 

[Merlot]

THANK YOU CUBS,

John Lester to the Cubs for 6/$155M. Redsox outbid by $20M. No surprise there, they obviously didn't want him bad enough. Nauseates me that this all could have been avoided if they hadn't low-balled and insulted him last season by offering 4/$70M.

This ownership, while bringing 3 World Series trophy's to Boston, still needs to get over themselves and step into reality!!!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ubs-latest-contract-details-comments-reaction

Nick Cafardo, Ken Rosenthal, Jeff Pasan are all saying Lester is gone to the Cubs, the amount being $155 million for 6 years. Pasan also reports the Giants offered Lester $168 million for 6 years. According to ESPN this morning Lester went to the Cubs because of the Epstein connection and some assurances Lester would be "very comfortable" in Chcago put the Cubs over the Giants and the Red Sox. Yes, the Red Sox screwed up by making an insulting offer and acting like Lester would just lap up a huge "hometown" discount. He could have been had easily at $125 million for 5 years. In fact that was the offer by Lester's agent as reported at the time. Still, I would have thought that much smaller amount would be ridiculous. Lester has been an extremely tough pitcher, but he has never been the truly dominant force during the regular season like real superstars who one could argue deserve the kind of money he got. It's only his playoff dominance that puts him in that kind of conversation. This contract will also be a measure for other pitchers out there, making it tougher to sign them.

I don't think he's worth the money. I'd love to see the Cubs win the Series more than any other team except Boston, but they had better do it in the front half of his contract. After that Lester's effectiveness is likely to have dropped enough to change his value significantly. Yeah, a pitcher friendly park in the NL helps, but Lester has shown at times that when he gets too emotional he blows games. If he starts to lose his stuff his emotionalism factor becomes a bigger problem and the park or the league won't be a lot of help then. I'm not happy to lose Lester, but for the money he's getting paid I say...good bye and have a nice life at that price. Thanks Cubs. :thumb:

Congratulations to Lester and his agent for playing the market like a Stradivarius since the original Red Sox offer getting $30 million more than they originally wanted. But it's also a bit comical how this all happened.

Cheers,

Merlot

BTW: the Cubs have money money money. Watch them start to snap up more pitchers.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Sounds like the coming of the new Daniel Bard! Hahahaha. Hey Rumps where does Jabob rank amongst the leagues prospects?

When you have a system as bankrupt as the Yankees', these poor guys get excited about anything resembling a prospect. Lindren, iggy's uber-prospect, has pitched a total of 25 (that's twenty-five) innings in professional baseball.

At AA, in 11 innings, he walked 9, so your Daniel Bard comparison might be on the mark.

Lindgren was rated the 50th best prospect in the Draft last year, so he was not particularly highly thought of on draft day. The Yankees got him at number 55, meaning 29 other teams passed on him. He was unsuccessful as a starter in college, but excelled in his junior year in the bullpen.

Baseball Prospectus lists Lindren as the Yankees' number 9 prospects, behind such luminaries as Ian "Who?" Clarkin, Jorge "Who?" Mateo, Rob "Who?" Refsnyder, Greg "Who?" Bird, and Leonardo "Who?" Molina.

The Yankees' system appears to have three actual prospects, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Gary Sanchez.

 

[Merlot]

BOYZ!!!

So a couple of college players will make up for losing Robertson...and that will happen this year??? BWAHAHA!!! :crazy:.

As everyone knows in the MLB it's much better to give up a rock solid closer who has proven to be extremely reliable in the American League East for an unproven college player. After all, a new Mariano Rivera falls right off the tree into everyone's lap each day. That must be why the White Sox decided to give Robertson a minimum $10 million per year, the Phillies gave Papelbon $12.5 million, and the Yanks gave Rivera himself $15 million per year...$169 million over his career.

Genius. ,

Merlot

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I guess Max S becomes a Yankee now....... thanks Lester! :thumb:

Would you care to explain how driving Scherzer's price up makes him a Yankee? Lester got $25 M. Let's say Scherzer goes for $28. That would cost the Yankees $42 million per year including luxury tax. You really think the Steinbrothers are going to pay $42 million per year for Max?

Guess they're going to give him Dontrelle Willis' locker. Or Cliff Lee's.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Red Sox add 3 starters

The Red Sox just traded Yoanis Cespedes, Alex Willson & Gabe Speier to the Tigers for starter Rick Porcello.

Earlier, they also acquired starter Wage Miley from Arizona for Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster.

And finally, they brought back starter Justin Masterson by signing him as a free agent.

I predict that Cespedes will become a huge star in Detroit. I also believe that the other players they obtained for Porcello will be serviceable players for the next few years.

As for Miley, he's a control pitcher who relies a lot on his slider since his fastball is in the low 90's at best. However, for whatever reason, he wound up walking over 3 hitters per nine innings last season.

As for Justin Masterson, he had an absolutely awful 2014 season & will be looking to bounce back.