2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

[N41D]

Read the Rangers absolute max on Choo might be around 6/120... Still think that's too high.

and Champ... Think there's one more bat (Choo or Cruz) and then a pitcher (Tanaka with the new posting rules?) somewhere for the Rangers. 

 

[champcruthik]

Pro: Walker is a sure thing, barring injury (knock on wood). Hultzen will pan out, IMO. If Pike or Paxton hit, either one, you're happy.

I see your point about Matty and the M's pitching prospects.

 

[proshares]

651: Link, please.

Walker is a future ace. Fastball, curve, change. Athlete. Starting to grasp his command. Comfortably worked through Double A and Triple A ball successfully.

I only rank Tavares and Buxton above him.

LAA's rotation has question marks even with Skaggs and Santiago. Watch them overpay for Garza. Stuck with Hamilton and Albert contracts. Trout is their glimmer of hope.

Oakland can be overtaken despite their shrewd business model. Jack just needs to be patient with the pitching prospects and let the rotation come together by 2015. I wouldn't even part with Ackley unless you receive a tempting offer from NYM, NYY, etc.

Stros are cellar dwellers. Only Jewbacca gets excited for them.

I was telling someone else this a week or so ago but Walker took a big step back this year.

LAA just doesn't know what the **** they want to do.

As Paul was saying...Jack Z isn't the brightest out there.

 

[champcruthik]

I honestly don't think Boras accepts 6/120. He'll ask for more money per or a seventh year like Ells and Werth received.

I can definitely see Nellie returning to Arlington. He took his suspension like a man, I read he actually earned respect from teammates for the way he handled the BioGenesis situation. I need to trace back and uncover where the 5/75 Seattle offer came from.

I wonder where Daniels goes for SP if/likely Tanaka doesn't post. Plus you have to outbid LAD and NYY potentially.

 

[champcruthik]

Pro: Please elaborate on Taijuan.

Everything I read and followed, indicates he tore through Double A and Triple A ball with three premium pitches. With many young pitchers, you worry about his command but that will come with time and innings.

 

[proshares]

Well maybe not big but a step back.

Dirk, I heard Choo absolutely wants 7 years. So you might be good there.

The bidding war for Tanaka is gonna be intense and fast

 

[wearinthefourfive]

Oakland Athletics ‏@Athletics 1m
The #Athletics have acquired minor league OF Billy Burns from the #Nationals in exchange for LHP Jerry Blevins.

Nats fans know anything about this kid? He stole 74 bases in 81 attempts last year, I'm in.

 

[champcruthik]

$20M posting limit. Some club is going to throw over $80M to secure Tanaka. Darvish was like $105M total. Watch a team go over $100M for Tanaka, posting fee separate and aside.

 

[ooiron manoo]

208 Games 4.9 WAR
179 Games 2.9 WAR

Past two seasons...

I feel the only reason Colletti is enticed into fielding offers for Kemp is that he saw what Ellsbury got on the open market. His selling point is you can take a chance on him and you have a better/equal player as Ellsbury, he's younger and he'll come at half the price. The risk being his injury history.

2011 was his best season, and everyone remembers that...

Again, we're just going off his 2011 is his standard year. How do we know that wasn't a career year and he goes back to 2009 Kemp? Or even 2010 Kemp?

2011 was a career year, but you wouldn't want 2009 Kemp?

Yankees gave Ellsbury all that money based on a 2011 career year, an injury filled 2012 and a 2013 year that is in line with Kemps 2009 year...

Also, I don't necessarily think you have to force Kemp into a corner outfield position.

I'm banking on Kemp coming back healthy in 2014. No need to trade him for peanuts.

 

[dman14]

ya think mark mulder has a chance to make it back to the bigs? i didnt catch much of him after the a's. i know he had arm problems, but pulling for the guy

 

[champcruthik]

IronMan: Slight area I disagree with you about. Any smart manager would certainly move Matty to a corner OF spot. It's proactive. Preserve his health, legs, longevity.

Ells is also getting paid for his postseason success. If not the most recent/current WS run, then the WS he carried Boston past Colorado as a young, inexperienced player.

 

[proshares]

of course I'd want '09 Kemp. I just think '11 (much like Ellsbury) was his peak year.

I think you gotta get him to a corner to keep him healthy. You're gonna kill that hammy in CF.

Don't take this as I don't like Kemp, I'm hoping he's back to normal next year as well.

 

[proshares]

$20M posting limit. Some club is going to throw over $80M to secure Tanaka. Darvish was like $105M total. Watch a team go over $100M for Tanaka, posting fee separate and aside.

They're going to have to. It's gonna be open bidding from every team for him

 

[ooiron manoo]

IronMan: Slight area I disagree with you about. Any smart manager would certainly move Matty to a corner OF spot. It's proactive. Preserve his health, legs, longevity.

No doubt, totally agree, but I don't think a team will be "forced" to move him. He still has one or two years where he can adequately man CF. It's better for him to be a corner OF, but he can still patrol CF.

 

[champcruthik]

Over/Under: 18 HR for Ells in Yankee Stadium for 2014.

 

[651akathepaul]

Jon Heyman at CBS reporting that the Mariners will sign Corey Hart, pending physical.

 

[champcruthik]

Low risk, high reward. Bat him cleanup behind Cano. 1B and DH. One-year deal. Outbid Milwaukee.

 

[proshares]

Smart move.

Hopefully that settles the Ike/Loney/LoMo dust soon.

 

[651akathepaul]

He'll find the gaps at Safeco. Should be a good short-term signing.

Edit: Logan Morrison to the M's as well for Carter Capps.

 

[champcruthik]

Can't believe NYM and Sandy prefer Duda to Ike. Could be a mistake long-term.

 

[champcruthik]

I think Ike lands in Tampa. Friedman has been interested all along.

 

[651akathepaul]

Morrison an under-the-radar ballplayer. I like these last to moves for the Mariners.

 

[proshares]

So does that mean Smoak is finished in Seattle?

Thought he'd be their opening day first basemen.

Champ, Ike is awful although, I've always felt like I've been too hard on him considering his Valley Fever issues.

 

[Hahahaha]

Price is smart. Why play in Seattle when you can live in LA? Seattle has an awful team, cold and there isn't any perks other than clean air, nice mountains and peace.

What do the Dodgers want for Kemp? Prospects or to take on the salary? I'm assuming Seattle would take the salary, does anyone know?

 

[651akathepaul]

Hoping the M's make a play for Johan. Safeco is the exact place than can extend the career of a savvy, future hall of fame, pitcher. Nestle him between Felix and Kuma and I think he can pitch pretty well for two years.