Around The League News And Rumors (Non-Braves)

[Spud2nique]

I for one do not want Bryce. We have a good young nucleus going..keep at it.

The young nucleus is the reason we can afford to get a free agent like Bryce. Again, our payroll is far less than most of the quality teams in MLB. We've got 3... count them... 3 outfielders on the 40 man roster - let alone the 25 man roster, and one of them is DuVall - who was beyond bad for the Braves last season. The "young nucleus" needs reinforcements in the OF. Obviously Bryce isn't the only option, but if you don't want him, who do you want?

I would also say Trout but like you said we can’t put all our chips in one basket even though Trout is a generational type and would be an awesome
Brave. You can do a lot worse than Bryce but at what price?

[HMFFL]

Jim Bowden of The Athletic was told by a source that the Nationals' last offer to Bryce Harper was "much more than the $300 million being reported by the media."
Bowden says that the reported 10-year, $300 million offer the Nats made at the end of the regular season was just their first offer. It's unclear when the club might have bumped up their initial offer, but worth noting is that Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported earlier this week that Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, had a five-hour meeting with owner Ted Lerner on the Saturday before Christmas. It's tough to peg a favorite to land Harper at this point, but we can't rule out him ultimately returning to Washington.
Source: Jim Bowden on Twitter
Jan 4 - 8:30 AM


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[Nemesis21]

I still think he goes to the Cubs. Machado to Philly/White Sox.

[Ruzious]

I wonder if Jim Bowden is getting used by Scott Boras. I just find it hard to believe that Washington is offering "much more than 300 mil" while it sounds like nobody else is offering 10 years.

[Nemesis21]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25693480/zach-britton-new-york-yankees-agree-three-year-deal

[HMFFL]

Mets released 3B David Wright.
Wright's playing days are officially over, although he will remain in the organization in a part-time role as a special advisor to COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. He is still owed $27 million, although the Mets are expected to recoup some of that in an insurance settlement. Wright finishes his career with a .296/.376/.491 batting line and 242 home runs. He made seven All-Star teams and won two Gold Gloves. Rotoworld.com

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[Ruzious]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25693480/zach-britton-new-york-yankees-agree-three-year-deal

Frankly, I think the Yankees over-paid - guaranteeing 39 mil over 3 years. Britton's great when his sinking fastball is hitting 97 MPH, but that's his only pitch, and he's missed big chunks of the last 2 seasons. He also gave up 2 homes in 5 post-season innings. At 31, he's a health risk. I would have liked him at a cheaper price - but probably not guaranteeing more than 25 mil over 2 seasons.

[Nemesis21]

Yeah but we are sitting around doing nothing. We need a closer, OF and SP. Kimbrel, Ottavino and Cody Allen are the most legit closers left. It's key IMO to get one of them. We can't trot a platoon of Viz/Minter out there again.


I'm kind of annoyed by our offseason, it's too quiet.

[HMFFL]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports 2018 Heisman Trophy Winner and 2018 Oakland A's first-round draft pick Kyler Murray will enter the NFL draft.
In and of itself, entering the draft would not necessarily mean Murray was foregoing his baseball career, but A's beat writer Susan Slusser reports he would be expected to focus on football if he did so. Super agent Scott Boras had previously insisted that Murray planned to report to A's spring training next month. Now that appears to be up in the air. We will gain more information in the coming days. Were Murray to commit to football, he would have a shot at coming off the board on Day 1.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 9 - 10:14 PM

www.rotoworld.com


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[Ruzious]

Yeah but we are sitting around doing nothing. We need a closer, OF and SP. Kimbrel, Ottavino and Cody Allen are the most legit closers left. It's key IMO to get one of them. We can't trot a platoon of Viz/Minter out there again.


I'm kind of annoyed by our offseason, it's too quiet.

I'd like to get Ottavino - he doesn't have the impressive resume that Kimbrell and Britton have, but he was great last season and did it playing for Colorado. I'd much rather get him than Cody Allen. And his cost will likely be reasonable because he hasn't done much closing.

[HMFFL]

Mets and RHP Jacob deGrom avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $17 million contract.
It's a record raise in arbitration and also a record for a pitcher going through the arbitration process for the third time. The Mets would still like to sign the reigning National League Cy Young winner to a long-term extension, but there's been no indication to this point that anything is close.
Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter
Jan 11 - 3:14 PM


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[HMFFL]

Philly to focus more on Harper.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies' meeting with Bryce Harper on Saturday went so well that the team "might be shifting their focus from Manny Machado to Harper."
Zolecki adds that the Phillies were "remarkably impressed with Harper and his wife" when the two parties met in Las Vegas. It's essentially backing up a previous report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale, which said the Phillies "have emerged as the clear-cut favorite" to sign Harper. Philadelphia looks like a shoo-in to sign one of the two mega free agents, and it's sounding like Harper might be the likelier of the two at this point. Per Nightengale, Philly is expected to make a formal offer to Harper this week.
Source: MLB.com
Jan 13 - 2:37 PM


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[HMFFL]

White Sox offer eight years to Manny Machado.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the White Sox have made an eight-year contract offer to free agent superstar Manny Machado.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier in the day that the White Sox had made an offer to Machado "for about $200 million", and now we learn that it's for an eight-year pact. The White Sox have been steadfast in their reluctance to go to 10 years on the contract, and reportedly they're nowhere near the $300 million threshold that Machado had been hoping for. Unless a vaunted mystery team comes into play, or the Yankees jump back into the mix, it looks like the battle for Machado will come down to the White Sox and Phillies.
Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter
Jan 13 - 10:49 PM


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[Nemesis21]

Yankees add Ottavino too. Britton a week or so ago.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/


I guess it's Kimbrel or Viz/Minter. Not much left on reliever/closer market.

[Nemesis21]

Cody Allen signs one year deal with the Angles. That's another closer off the market.


https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/angels-discussing-deal-with-cody-allen.html


So we couldn't afford Ottavino at 3 yrs $9 mill per. We couldn't afford Allen on 1 yr at $9 mill per. That tells me, that we can't afford Kimbrel either. So I guess it's another year of Viz/Minter closer platoon.

[HMFFL]

Tony Romo Responds to Bryce Harper on Twitter, Predicts He'll Sign with Rangers

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2816942-tony-romo-responds-to-bryce-harper-on-twitter-predicts-hell-sign-with-rangers

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[Ruzious]

Yankees add Ottavino too. Britton a week or so ago.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/


I guess it's Kimbrel or Viz/Minter. Not much left on reliever/closer market.

The Yankees will win 110 games next year. Chapman, Betances, Britton, Chad Green, and Ottavino... that's crazy. And they have a couple more great arms they can add to them.

[HMFFL]

Dennis Lin of The Athletic is told the Padres are interested in setting up a face-to-face meeting with free agent Manny Machado.
Lin says the club may set up a meeting in Machado's native Miami, and that the club wants to have an in-person meeting if they're to get more seriously involved in talks for the infielder. The Padres are fairly recent, or at least as far as the public is concerned, entrants in the Machado sweepstakes, joining the White Sox and Phillies, among others, as suitors. Though latest to the party, the San Diego club seems to have some momentum right now and could be serious players in the pursuit of the 26-year-old.

www.rotoworld.com
Source: Dennis Lin on Twitter
Jan 26 - 5:02 PM


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[HMFFL]

San Francisco to pursue Bryce Harper on short term contract. While it says that Philly is in the drivers seat I believe Washington is.

www.rotoworld.com

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Giants plan to make Bryce Harper "a lucrative short-term deal."
However, Nightengale notes that the Giants "have no desire" to make Harper a long-term contract offer approaching the 10-year, $300 million offer the Nationals reportedly made him last September. It seems pretty clear at this point that Harper probably isn't going to land the mega-deal he sought at the beginning of the offseason, but whether he's amendable to a short-term contract remains to be seen. The Phillies might still be in the driver's seat to sign Harper.
Source: USA Today
Feb 10 - 2:56 PM


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[Ruzious]

San Francisco to pursue Bryce Harper on short term contract. While it says that Philly is in the drivers seat I believe Washington is.

www.rotoworld.com

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Giants plan to make Bryce Harper "a lucrative short-term deal."
However, Nightengale notes that the Giants "have no desire" to make Harper a long-term contract offer approaching the 10-year, $300 million offer the Nationals reportedly made him last September. It seems pretty clear at this point that Harper probably isn't going to land the mega-deal he sought at the beginning of the offseason, but whether he's amendable to a short-term contract remains to be seen. The Phillies might still be in the driver's seat to sign Harper.
Source: USA Today
Feb 10 - 2:56 PM


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I don't get why he'd take a 3 year deal with SF rather than an 8 to 10 year deal with Philly or Washington - especially with an out clause. If he takes a 3 year deal, his next contract will be when he's nearly 30 - and that'll reduce his value when he goes for his next contract. Not to mention, he gets lifetime security for generations with a longer deal. Also, SF is not a good hitter's park.

I also agree that Washington would be his choice over Philly.