(01-18-2019 10:47 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(01-18-2019 01:47 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(01-17-2019 11:46 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  Ottavino to the Yankees. Best bullpen in MLB? I think so. They’ve done a great job improving this offseason. I know they’re playing it cool, but if they can figure a way to bring in Machado? It’s all over.

Not necessarily. Wouldn't be the first time the Yankees had the best players money can buy and still didn't win the World Series...

Yeah they still have flaws. I don't see that they improved their lineup and its feast or famine quality. I really like the rotation, but there are obvious risks. I think we can all see a world where Severino doesn't fully bounce back, Tanaka continues having arm issues, Paxton gets injured, Happy succumbs to his age and Sabathia does no better than last year. As of right now I think the Sox are still the heavy favorite in the league.

To be clear, my point was that IF they figure a way to land Machado, they'd be the clear favorite. We obviously don't hand anyone a trophy in April but it would be hard for me to point to a better team on paper.

interesting Jeff Sullivan thinks the Yankees has the edge right now in the AL East over Boston...

It's not a stretch. I expect the PECOTA numbers would show NY and Boston pretty close right now.

(01-18-2019 12:28 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  It's not a stretch. I expect the PECOTA numbers would show NY and Boston pretty close right now.

Yeah I agree....

I really think the thing to watch this spring will be Chris Sale.... He's definitely the X factor this year for the Red Sox.

I think Sale might go down as one of the most talented guys ever to not make the HOF.

So let me get this straight, the Reds are acquiring another player with one year left on his contract. Instead of waiting for these players to become FA, they're giving up decently talented prospects in an attempt to be better, but still not make the playoffs in 2019. Makes sense to me.

(01-20-2019 12:20 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  So let me get this straight, the Reds are acquiring another player with one year left on his contract. Instead of waiting for these players to become FA, they're giving up decently talented prospects in an attempt to be better, but still not make the playoffs in 2019. Makes sense to me.

I agree that Gray makes more sense for a playoff contender that needs another starter for its rotation.

OTOH, the Reds might think of Gray as an asset they can trade at midseason if they are not in the playoff hunt. (Who knows, they might have the same thoughts about Puig and Wood.) But if that's the case, the value they send the Yankees should be, at most, equal to what they could get back in July or August.

Already? I thought trading for this guy was going to put them over the top this past season? Good luck with trying to trade that contract on a 33 year old.

Quote:Evan Longoria's first season in San Francisco didn't go as planned, and now his future might not either.

The veteran third baseman has only spent one season in San Francisco, but the Giants, led by their new regime under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, reportedly already are looking at ways to move on.

Fancred's Jon Heyman reported Saturday that the Giants "have been gauging trade interest" in Longoria. But that won't be easy.

Longoria, 33, still has $72.5 million left -- $58 million from the Giants -- on his contract through 2022, plus a $2 million assignment bonus if he's traded. When the Giants acquired him in a trade with the Rays before the 2018 season, Tampa Bay sent San Francisco $14.5 million.

The three-time All-Star had the worst season of his 11-year big league career after joining the Giants, posting career lows in batting average (.244), on-base percentage (.281) and home runs (16).

$60 Million Dollar Bust

(01-20-2019 12:20 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  So let me get this straight, the Reds are acquiring another player with one year left on his contract. Instead of waiting for these players to become FA, they're giving up decently talented prospects in an attempt to be better, but still not make the playoffs in 2019. Makes sense to me.

Gray signed an extension with the deal... Reds control now thru 2022 with a team option for 2023.

(01-21-2019 04:28 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(01-20-2019 12:20 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  So let me get this straight, the Reds are acquiring another player with one year left on his contract. Instead of waiting for these players to become FA, they're giving up decently talented prospects in an attempt to be better, but still not make the playoffs in 2019. Makes sense to me.

Gray signed an extension with the deal... Reds control now thru 2022 with a team option for 2023.

Yes, I see and that's what I heard was going to happen. So for the right to sign him a year earlier they give up a potential solid big leaguer in shed long and a draft pick. I don't get this team.

Great news Reds fans! We continue to add solid pieces for both short and long term...

Really love the addition of the 22 year old lefty Sanmartin.

(01-21-2019 05:32 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Really love the addition of the 22 year old lefty Sanmartin.

Man, you really have a low bar for loving things

(01-21-2019 07:23 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(01-21-2019 05:32 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Really love the addition of the 22 year old lefty Sanmartin.

Man, you really have a low bar for loving things

Nah, Reds fans know what I'm talking about. Notice I said the word "addition" to the totality of the trade deal. You might want to focus your negative concerns and micro-lens on your team's $60 million Longoria bust. Good luck with that one.

(01-21-2019 07:29 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(01-21-2019 07:23 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(01-21-2019 05:32 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Really love the addition of the 22 year old lefty Sanmartin.

Man, you really have a low bar for loving things

Nah, Reds fans know what I'm talking about. Notice I said the word "addition" to the totality of the trade deal. You might want to focus your negative concerns and micro-lens on your team's $60 million Longoria bust. Good luck with that one.

Why do you really love the addition?

Not sure what Longoria has to do with this. I don't understand these moves for a Reds team that even with all the additions, is still not going anywhere this season. I applaud them for wanting to improve and not just tank, but from a fan perspective I don't see it. As the fan of a team that's been one of the worst in the last 2.5 seasons, I'd love nothing more than for them to lose 100+ games and get the first pick in the draft.

It's gettin fun around here! :popcorn:

(01-22-2019 12:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  It's gettin fun around here! :popcorn:

Normally we're the ones going back and forth

(01-22-2019 03:21 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(01-22-2019 12:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  It's gettin fun around here! :popcorn:

Normally we're the ones going back and forth

Exactly! Enjoyin watching somebody else go at it for a change...

For the life of me, I don't get this team. The Giants came off the 2017 season in last place in their division and decided to make a trade with the Rays for the $60 million dollar 32 year old Longoria whose offensive numbers were clearly in a downward trend since his earlier years. In the return trade they sent starting center fielder Denard Span and three of the Giants' Top 30 prospects including infielder Christian Arroyo (No. 1). So, four players traded away (including top young prospects) for one in return with a $60 million contract. Now, after one year of the failed Longoria experiment (finished the worst season of his career - like no one saw that one coming), the Giants management is seeking to TRADE him since they only finished in 4th place in the division. Did they really think a 32 year old 3rd baseman was going to rise them toward the Dodgers let alone climbing out of last place in the division? Why not hold on to Span and your top prospects and continue to build through the draft? I mean, they weren't going anywhere in terms of post season success. So in sum, before the Longoria trade the Giants won 64 games. After the trade they won 73 games. Makes sense...

(01-22-2019 09:52 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  For the life of me, I don't get this team. The Giants came off the 2017 season in last place in their division and decided to make a trade with the Rays for the $60 million dollar 32 year old Longoria whose offensive numbers were clearly in a downward trend since his earlier years. In the return trade they sent starting center fielder Denard Span and three of the Giants' Top 30 prospects including infielder Christian Arroyo (No. 1). So, four players traded away (including top young prospects) for one in return with a $60 million contract. Now, after one year of the failed Longoria experiment (finished the worst season of his career - like no one saw that one coming), the Giants management is seeking to TRADE him since they only finished in 4th place in the division. Did they really think a 32 year old 3rd baseman was going to rise them toward the Dodgers let alone climbing out of last place in the division? Why not hold on to Span and your top prospects and continue to build through the draft? I mean, they weren't going anywhere in terms of post season success. So in sum, before the Longoria trade the Giants won 64 games. After the trade they won 73 games. Makes sense...

Yeah it did not make any sense, I think we all know that. The only good thing that came of it was that it got us under the luxury tax threshold. Also, Arroyo is likely not any good. Sucks that we'll be paying Longoria for years to not do much of anything, but it isn't the end of the world. Also, the reason the strategy seems different is because it is. Giants personnel decisions are under new management for the first time in many years. We'll see what happens. They've stayed out of the FA pool so far. Let's hope they continue to play in the kiddie pool

(01-23-2019 08:35 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  Also, the reason the strategy seems different is because it is. Giants personnel decisions are under new management for the first time in many years.

This is key. It's easier for Zaidi to say Longoria's contract is a mistake because it wasn't his decision to bring Longoria in. Old management would have been much more likely to hang on to him.

(01-23-2019 08:35 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(01-22-2019 09:52 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  For the life of me, I don't get this team. The Giants came off the 2017 season in last place in their division and decided to make a trade with the Rays for the $60 million dollar 32 year old Longoria whose offensive numbers were clearly in a downward trend since his earlier years. In the return trade they sent starting center fielder Denard Span and three of the Giants' Top 30 prospects including infielder Christian Arroyo (No. 1). So, four players traded away (including top young prospects) for one in return with a $60 million contract. Now, after one year of the failed Longoria experiment (finished the worst season of his career - like no one saw that one coming), the Giants management is seeking to TRADE him since they only finished in 4th place in the division. Did they really think a 32 year old 3rd baseman was going to rise them toward the Dodgers let alone climbing out of last place in the division? Why not hold on to Span and your top prospects and continue to build through the draft? I mean, they weren't going anywhere in terms of post season success. So in sum, before the Longoria trade the Giants won 64 games. After the trade they won 73 games. Makes sense...

Yeah it did not make any sense, I think we all know that. The only good thing that came of it was that it got us under the luxury tax threshold. Also, Arroyo is likely not any good. Sucks that we'll be paying Longoria for years to not do much of anything, but it isn't the end of the world. Also, the reason the strategy seems different is because it is. Giants personnel decisions are under new management for the first time in many years. We'll see what happens. They've stayed out of the FA pool so far. Let's hope they continue to play in the kiddie pool

How do you know 23 year old Arroyo is "likely" not any good after just one year removed from the trade? He was the Giants #1 rated prospect. You're either admitting the Giants scouting/farm system is overrated or you're trying to make yourself feel better about the loss of the prospect. What about the two pitching prospects that went along with him? Losing Span? The point is, my example illustrates that teams sometimes take chances to try to improve themselves despite the odds of getting to the postseason. The Reds are no different. The organization is trying to generate some excitement, be more competitive in arguably one of the tougher divisions in MLB, and they now have a legit shot at a wild card spot if all things fall right. They didn't break the bank on payroll and lost NONE of their top prospects in the process. It's ok, I understand things are sometimes hard to accept when your hypocritical criticisms and poor logic is pointed out to you. Here...let me offer you a seat, put your feet up, sip on cola, and relax for a bit to help you feel better.