How the Mets could jumpstart the Brodie Van Wagenen era with a few low-cost pickups and some good luck - CBSSports.com

This is a tough place to be.

Even with some big chunks of money coming off the books, the Mets have strikingly little financial flexibility for a team coming off such a lousy season. According to the excellent Cot’s contracts page, New York is already projected to carry about $144 million in payroll next season, with about $46 million of that total tied up in projected arbitration awards. Syndergaard and deGrom project to earn about $22 million combined through arbitration in 2019, with a ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 11-8-2018

El Paso Herald, November 8, 1918:

Irish Fans Not Very Excited Over Baseball

Weather and an open-eyed wonder as to what it is all about made the first international baseball game Dublin has seen something of a fizzle so far as enthusiasm was concerned.

Yanks met Canadians, and the Yanks won, 13 to 6. The game was played in puddles, with much slopping about. Dublin boys will not adopt baseball as the result of their first introduction to the game.

People trying to spread baseball in Ireland were ...

Tomase: Overreliance on WAR may have hurt J.D. Martinez in AL MVP vote that’s going to be won by Mookie Betts | WEEI

Take this year’s AL MVP race. Betts led the league in WAR, will win the award, and deserves it. Hard to argue with Trout or Ramirez, either, based on performance, though I’m certainly open to the idea of an MVP coming from a winning team, and not Trout’s sub-.500 Angels.

But there are other deserving candidates whose WAR won’t give them a sniff. Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez is one of them. For five months, he flirted with the Triple Crown. Because he’s mostly a DH and no better than ...

Bryce Harper free agency focus at GM Meetings

Huge ten-year contracts pretty much suck. Pass.

While that contract would be the largest for a free agent, it would not surpass Giancarlo Stanton’s record-breaking 13-year, $325 million deal from 2014, nor would it surpass Zack Greinke’s $34.42 million for the highest average annual value. Harper has confirmed he is seeking a long-term deal, but accepting a contract with no opt-outs would lock Harper up for the entirety of his prime without giving him the chance to earn more money should player ...

Mariners finalizing a trade that would send catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Guillermo Heredia to the Rays | The Seattle Times

Mike Zunino may not have to go far from his home in Gainesville, Fla., when the 2019 season begins.

Multiple Major League Baseball sources said the Mariners are finalizing a deal with their favorite trade partner, the Tampa Bay Rays. Seattle would send Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia and minor league left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith and minor league outfielder Jake Fraley.

Alex Rodriguez ‘not a fan’ of tech in the strike zone - CNET

I’m still not sure what to think about ARod. It’s tough to know what’s real and what’s bullshit.

Here’s why the Cardinals need Bryce Harper

Is Harper really better than Stanton?

9. They were just willing to do this with Stanton
The Cardinals, by all accounts, were willing to take on Stanton’s entire contract last offseason. Stanton is signed through 2027 for a total of $270 million, nearly $33 million a year (when you account for a $10 million buyout in ‘28). Stanton is (obviously) a great player. But is he better than Harper? Probably not, right? And then remember that Harper is two years younger. Harper might get more than $33 ...

A’s building 2019 with dwindling revenue sharing - SFChronicle.com

The A’s are sticking with their plan to increase the payroll, which was lowest in the majors at the start of last season. Forst and executive vice president Billy Beane met with owner John Fisher last week to discuss spending parameters.

“We didn’t leave with a number I can report to you,” Forst said. “John has been pretty consistent in being open to what we want to do so I think we feel we have some flexibility.”

Giants’ new baseball chief Zaidi talks Bumgarner, rebuild, working with Bochy

The Giants are in good hands.

MLB cheaters beware: Baseball finally addressing sign-stealing problem | NBC Sports Boston

One high-ranking club official in the National League said that last offseason, MLB started asking some clubs about potentially allowing pitchers and catchers to communicate with an earpiece, or the like. As an American League front office member noted: Why hasn’t that technology already been tested in the Arizona Fall League, or some other venue?

Now the matter is at least at the top of the docket. The next steps, however, are unclear.

“I have no idea,” said one high-ranking league ...

Sonny Gray is perfect change of scenery arm | MLB.com

The new Ed Whitson.

Astros have a few changes occur as the offseason simmers

I missed Hallahan’s departure.What’s going on in Houston?

While the offseason rumors simmer, the Astros’ front office is experiencing employee turnover. Sig Mejdal, one of the key figures in Houston’s data-driven front office, is moving on from the organization as Brian McTaggart of MLB.com notes here. Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports here that another key member of the front office, Ryan Hallahan, the Astros’ senior technical architect, will also leave the club.

I'm ...

BA: Minor League Free Agents 2018

520 players, list includes hyperlinks to BA player pages.

This changes everything: Giants president Farhan Zaidi agrees to a five-year deal – The Athletic

Friedman and Zaidi may be competing for the same guys.

And how’s this for intrigue? Before the Giants and Dodgers meet on the field next season, Zaidi and Friedman could find themselves in a more immediate form of competition. Zaidi is almost certain to hire a GM. Friedman, unless he decides to keep Zaidi’s former chair empty, will be in the market for one, himself. And here’s betting their lists will have some overlap.

Will Zaidi seek to renew with Billy Owens, his former colleague with ...

Sources: Nationals made Bryce Harper ‘aggressive offer’ last month, did not reach agreement

This sounds like a PR leak.

According to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, the Nationals discussed terms for a new deal with Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, throughout September. Those conversations led to what one person called “an aggressive offer.” That offer included no opt-outs, and was less than the $400 million some have speculated Harper could receive, according to a person with direct knowledge who would not disclose the exact terms.

Texas Rangers: Woodward dines with Andrus, others | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

They aren’t going to win without much improved starters.

“These guys are eager, man,” Woodward said during the first full day of the general managers meetings. “I don’t know how many games we’re going to win next year. Nobody does, but they don’t like the fact that people have low expectations for us. I think that’s important.

“They want to win. They’re not looking at this thing as we’re expected to lose 100 games or 90 games. They were mad. They weren’t happy about that. ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 11-7-2018

Wheeling Intelligencer, November 7, 1918:

Billy Wood says that a friend of his who is a former baseball player has started an eating house and has these signs around the place:

Club Sandwiches.
No Flies Around Here.
Game in Season from April to October.
Fowls Any Style.
Goose Eggs to Order.
Our Waiters Never Go Out on Strikes.
Ice Water in the Pitcher.
Don’t Make a Short Stop. Stay as Long as You Like.
You Can Get Beaned Here.
No Wheat Cakes Today. Batter Out.

I’d like to speak to the manager. ...Read More...

Dale Murphy: An advice column for GMs heading into the offseason – The Athletic

His four points:

1. Your signs are getting stolen
2. Launch angle is irrelevant
3. “Bullpenning” is unsustainable
4. Leadership matters

And get off his lawn!!!

Redefining a Dynasty : baseballmusings.com

I’ve always thought the best model for a franchise is one of sustained excellence.Unfortunately runs like the 90’s Braves and the current Dodgers usually get viewed as disappointments by typical fans, who possess short memories and poor perspectives.

The Braves and the Yankees showed the past and future in the 1990s. The Yankees won four of five World Series titles and three in a row. They are considered a dynasty, as it was known then. The Braves won the division year after year, but only one ...

Undeterred by last winter’s free-agent freeze, Scott Boras is even more himself – The Athletic

Yesterday I listened to the interview with Boras shill Casey Stern (which you can listen to On Demand on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM). Although his hyperbolic shtick can be amusing in short doses, it wears thin in a half-hour interview. 

Anyway, Boras rehashed a lot of the interview with reporters, including Dave O’Brien here.

“We have all kinds of evidence that anybody who’s done what Bryce Harper has done (at his age) — they’re Hall of Famers,” Boras said. “I can show it 12 ...

Farhan Zaidi takes Giants job | MLB.com

This isn’t good for the Dodgers.

CC Sabathia to return to Yankees in 2019 | MLB.com

I know some Yankees fans might not be happy but he’s a decent 5th starter, especially at that price.

Sabathia and the Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year, $8 million deal, MLB.com has confirmed. The deal has not yet been officially announced because Sabathia must undergo a physical, which is expected to take place on Wednesday.

A closer look at four candidates for Orioles’ top job - BaltimoreBaseball.com

A mixed bag.

Mets shake up coaching staff | Newsday

How many advisors will be in the Mets front office?

The changes:

  Hitting coach Pat Roessler is fired.   Ruben Amaro Jr. is moving from first-base coach to a front-office adviser role.   Gary DiSarcina is moving from bench coach to third-base coach.   Glenn Sherlock is moving from third-base coach to first-base coach.   Ricky Bones is moving from bullpen coach to a player-development role to be decided.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 11-6-2018

Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, November 6, 1918:

Charlie Swain, baseball player, died [November 4] of influenza. Until Ping Bodie came along, Swain’s record of 34 home runs was the season’s record. He played with the Washington Americans and with Sacramento and Vancouver on the coast.

Cy Swain was a better hitter than a lot of guys who made it to the big leagues, and he was playing in a Class B league with tiny ballparks, but 34 home runs during the deadball era is remarkable regardless of context.

Yankees GM takes dig at Hall voting while praising George Steinbrenner

“I think he is a Hall of Famer,” Cashman said. “Whether he’s been inducted yet or not, I think it’s important. I believe that committee and the people who have the power of votes would be hard-pressed not to acknowledge this was a transformative figure in all of sports, not just baseball. I can’t imagine that he doesn’t warrant [induction], but again, it’s very political at times, this voting. Just like everything else. So there’s some powerful people that view it differently, ...

Josh Donaldson worth the risk in free agency

What kind of deal is fair? He’s been hurt two years now. I could see a big money contract for a single season but, if I were a GM, unless I’m getting a pretty big discount, I wouldn’t want to be on the hook for more than one year with a dual option triggered by playing time.

For Donaldson’s part, a one-year deal might not be appealing anyway, because then he might be headed out into next year’s market a year older, possibly after declining a qualifying offer, into a third base market that could ...

Bryce Harper Rumors

So, the Yankees would pay Bryce Harper top dollar **and** some of Stanton’s contract? Sorry, that’s not happening.

Would Yankees move another superstar to make room for Harper?
Nov. 5: It has been reported recently by many insiders that the Yankees likely won’t pursue Bryce Harper in free agency, and though some think that New York’s public lack of interest in the superstar outfielder may just be posturing with an eye on Harper agent Scott Boras, the Yankees seemingly don’t even have the room in ...

Beane earns inaugural Executive of Year Award

CARLSBAD, Calif.—The Athletics were one of the best stories of the 2018 season, overcoming a rash of injuries—many of them to their starting rotation—to win 97 games and earn an American League Wild Card berth.

For his work assembling Oakland’s playoff club, Billy Beane was named the 2018 MLB Executive of the Year Monday night.

This is the first year this official award has been bestowed by MLB, the result of voting among the 30 Clubs, each of which had one vote. The runners-up for the honor ...

Rebuild or Retool? Evaluating the Giants Offseason Choices

Some commentary on the current state of the Giants, and considerations as for what the Giants can do in response.