Baseball Thread

[Preferred Penne]

Half the people in various Facebook baseball pages that I follow are saying "good riddance you pussy fuck, you invented a rule that took away home plate collisions, your career is a joke".

Because Buster Posey totally wanted his leg to be snapped in half.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Congrats to the Braves. Fuck the MLB for taking away their All Star game.

And this what the Braves said to the MLB.

Btw, the Astros thanks to their cheating back in 2017 might be jinxed now like the Cubs, the White Sox and the Red Sox was.

 

[Local Fed]

Pedro Feliciano passed away last night in his sleep at the age of 45. He spent a pretty successful 9 year career with the New York Mets which concluded in 2013. In each season from 2008 to 2010 he led all of baseball in appearances. He ended up with a solid career 3.33 ERA (ERA+ of 126) entirely out of the bullpen, mostly as a LOOGY for the latter half of his career.

 

[mikaylatoads]

Saddened by how the Red Sox went out of the playoffs, but it was an overall positive season from them. Also happy anyone besides the Dodgers or Astros won the chip.

 

[Akashic Retard]

History made with the first batter as Jorge Soler hits the first leadoff home run in World Series history.

First game 1 lead off home run*

Late, I know. I'm not letting you take away Dexter Fowler's leadoff home run in game 7 2016 though.

 

[Iron Hamster]

Pedro Feliciano passed away last night in his sleep at the age of 45. He spent a pretty successful 9 year career with the New York Mets which concluded in 2013. In each season from 2008 to 2010 he led all of baseball in appearances. He ended up with a solid career 3.33 ERA (ERA+ of 126) entirely out of the bullpen, mostly as a LOOGY for the latter half of his career.

And now Julio Lugo passed away at 45 from a heart attack.

 

[Local Fed]

And now Julio Lugo passed away at 45 from a heart attack.

Yeah, a few days ago. I meant to post it but kept forgetting. Sad to hear.

 

[Preferred Penne]

The newly christened Cleveland Guardians celebrated the reopening of the team shop with their brand new sign falling to the ground and shattering.

Guardians' launch starts with store sign falling

As fans were buying the first available Guardians merchandise on Friday as the team officially transitioned from Indians after 106 years, a sign installed outside the team store at Progressive Field broke free from its mount and crashed to the sidewalk.

www.espn.com

 

[FaramirG]

The newly christened Cleveland Guardians celebrated the reopening of the team shop with their brand new sign falling to the ground and shattering.

Guardians' launch starts with store sign falling

As fans were buying the first available Guardians merchandise on Friday as the team officially transitioned from Indians after 106 years, a sign installed outside the team store at Progressive Field broke free from its mount and crashed to the sidewalk.

www.espn.com

Apparently they're making bank off the rebrand though

Guardians merch sales exceed team's expectations

The baseball club did solid sales at the Progressive Field team shop last weekend. Plus, CrossCountry Mortgage honors a fallen soldier at the Lions-Browns game.

www.crainscleveland.com

Also, and this is just wild speculation, but I think that if the Indians had won the 2016 World Series, this rebrand would have never happened because there would be a huge amount of local fan support, the kind that lets the Braves keep their name, logo, and the chop. In other words, I think you can pin this whole situation on Trevor Bauer sticking his finger into a spinning drone fan in October of 2016.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

The newly christened Cleveland Guardians celebrated the reopening of the team shop with their brand new sign falling to the ground and shattering.

Guardians' launch starts with store sign falling

As fans were buying the first available Guardians merchandise on Friday as the team officially transitioned from Indians after 106 years, a sign installed outside the team store at Progressive Field broke free from its mount and crashed to the sidewalk.

www.espn.com

Am I the only one who think it might be a bad omen for the Cleveland Guardians?

 

[Local Fed]

A pretty big signing was announced: the Rays have signed Wander Franco to an 11 year, $182 million contract extension. With incentives and the potential for an option for a 12th year, it could be worth up to $223 million. He won't turn 21 years old until the beginning of Match and has played just 70 games at the Major League level.

Some other notable signings (I'll try to keep this updated and categorized by division) that have happened this winter:

Spoiler: Signings

NL East

• C - Manny Pina to the Braves (2 years, $8 million)
• RP - Kirby Yates to the Braves (2 years, $8.25 million)
• RP - Collin McHugh to the Braves (2 years, $10 million)
• OF - Avisail Garcia to the Marlins (4 years, $53 million)
• SP - Sandy Alcantara extension with the Marlins (5 years, $56 million)
• INF - Eduardo Escobar to the Mets (2 years, $20 million)
• OF/1B - Mark Cahna to the Mets (2 years, $26.5 million)
• OF - Starling Marte to the Mets (4 years, $78 million)
• SP - Max Scherzer to the Mets (3 years, $130 million)
• RP - Adam Ottavino to the Mets (1 year, $4 million)
• 2B - Cesar Hernandez to the Nationals (1 year, $4 million)
• RP - Steve Cishek to the Nationals (1 year, $1.75 million)
• DH - Nelson Cruz to the Nationals (1 year, $13 million)
• INF - Ehire Adrianza to the Nationals (1 years, $1.5 million)
• RP - Sean Doolittle to the Nationals (unknown)
• RP - Corey Knebel to the Phillies (unknown)
• RP - Jeurys Familia to the Phillies (1 year, $6 million)
• RP - Brad Hand to the Phillies (1 year, $6 million)
• LF/1B - Kyle Schwarber to the Phillies (4 years, $79 million)

NL Central

• OF - Andrew McCutchen to the Brewers (1 year, $8.5 million)
• SP - Steven Matz to the Cardinals (4 years, $44 million)
• RP - Drew VerHagen to the Cardinals (2 years, $5.5 million)
• RP - Nick Wittgren to the Cardinals (1 year, $1.2 million)
• OF - Corey Dickerson to the Cardinals (1 year, $5 million)
• C - Yan Gomes to the Cubs (2 years, $13 million)
• OF - Clint Frazier to the Cubs (1 year, unknown)
• SP - Marcus Stroman to the Cubs (3 years, $71 million)
• SS - Andrelton Simmons to the Cubs (1 year, $4 million)
• RP - Jesse Chavez to the Cubs (unknown)
• RP - Chris Martin to the Cubs (1 year, $2.5 million)
• OF - Seiya Suzuki to the Cubs (5 years, $85 million)
• RP - David Robertson to the Cubs (1 year, $3.5 million)
• RP - Daniel Norris to the Cubs (unknown)
• INF - Jonathan Villar to the Cubs (1 year, $6 million)
• C - Roberto Perez to the Pirates (1 year, $5 million)
• RP - Heath Hembree to the Pirates (1 year, $2.125 million))
• 1B - Dan Vogelbach to the Pirates (1 year, $1 million)
• INF - Donovan Solano to the Reds (1 year, $4.5 million)

NL West

• RP - Mark Melancon to the Diamondbacks (2 years, $14 million)
• RP - Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks (1 year, $4.75 million)
• SP - Andrew Heaney to the Dodgers (1 year, $8.5 million)
• RP - Daniel Hudson to the Dodgers (1 year, $7 million)
• INF/OF - Chris Taylor re-signing with the Dodgers (4 years, $60 million)
• INF - Hanser Alberto to the Dodgers (unknown)
• 1B - Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers (6 years, $162 million)
• SP - Alex Cobb to the Giants (unknown)
• SP - Carlos Rodon to the Giants (2 years, $44 million)
• RP - Carlos Martinez to the Giants (1 year, $2.5 million)
• SP - Jakob Junis to the Giants (1 year, $1.75 million)
• OF - Joc Pederson to the Giants (1 year, $6 million)
• SP - Matthew Boyd to the Giants (1 year, $5.2 million)
• SP - Nick Martinez to the Padres (4 years, $20 million)
• RP - Alex Colome to the Rockies (1 year, unknown)
• 2B/SS - Jose Iglesias to the Rockies (1 year, $5 million)
• SP - Chad Kuhl to the Rockies (unknown)
• 3B/OF - Kris Bryant to the Rockies (7 years, $182 million)

AL East

• SP - Jose Berrios extension with the Blue Jays (7 years, $131 million)
• RP - Yimi Garcia to the Blue Jays (2 years, $11 million)
• SP - Kevin Gausman to the Blue Jays (5 years, $110 million)
• SP - Yusei Kikuchi to the Blue Jays (3 years, $36 million)
• 2B - Rougned Odor to the Orioles (1 year, unknown)
• SP - Jordan Lyles to the Orioles (1 year, $7 million)
• C - Robinson Chirinos to the Orioles (1 year, $0.9 million)
• SP - Corey Kluber to the Rays (1 year, $8 million)
• SP - Michael Wacha to the Red Sox (1 year, $7 million)
• SP - James Paxton to the Red Sox (1 year, $10 million)
• SP - Rich Hill to the Red Sox (1 year, unknown)
• RP - Jake Diekman to the Red Sox (unknown)
• RP - Matt Strahm to the Red Sox (1 year, $3 million)

AL Central

• SP - Zack Greinke to the Royals (1 year, $13 million)
• SP - Eduardo Rodriguez to the Tigers (5 years, $77 million)
• SS/2B - Javier Baez to the Tigers (6 years, $140 million)
• RP - Andrew Chafin to the Tigers (2 years, $13 million)
• OF - Byron Buxton extension with the Twins (7 years, $100 million)
• SP - Dylan Bundy to the Twins (1 year, $5 million)
• RP - Kendall Graveman to the White Sox (3 years, $24 million)
• RP - Joe Kelly to the White Sox (2 years, unknown)
• 2B/3B - Josh Harrison to the White Sox (1 year, $5.5 million)
• P - Vince Velasquez to the White Sox (1 year, unknown)

AL West

• SP - Noah Syndergaard to the Angels (1 year, $21 million)
• RP - Aaron Loup to the Angels (2 years, $17 million)
• RP - Michael Lorenzen to the Angels (1 year, $7 million)
• RP - Raisel Iglesias, re-signing with the Angels (4 years, $58 million)
• INF - Matt Duffy to the Angels (1 year, $1.5 million)
• RP - Archie Bradley to the Angels (1 year, $3.75 million)
• SP - Justin Verlander, re-signing with the Astros (2 years, $50 million)
• RP - Hector Neris to the Astros (2 years, $17 million)
• INF - Niko Goodrum to the Astros (1 year, $2.1 million)
• SP - Robbie Ray to the Mariners (5 years, $115 million)
• SS/2B - Marcus Semien to the Rangers (7 years, $175 million)
• OF - Kole Calhoun to the Rangers (1 year, $5.2 million)
• SP - Jon Gray to the Rangers (4 years, $56 million)
• SS - Corey Seager to the Rangers (10 years, $325 million)
• SP - Martin Perez to the Rangers (1 year, $4 million)
• INF - Brad Miller to the Rangers (unknown)
• RP - Greg Holland to the Rangers (unknown)

Some notable retirements:

• C - Alex Avila
• C - Buster Posey
• RP - Joakim Soria
• RP - Wade Davis
• 3B - Kyle Seager
• OF - Cameron Maybin
• SP - Jon Lester
• OF - Melky Cabrera
• P - Francisco Liriano
• 1B - Adrian Gonzalez (last played in the MLB in 2018.)
• 1B - Ryan Zimmerman
• INF - Sean Rodriguez
• 3B/1B - Todd Frazier
• SS - Jordy Mercer

Notable names traded:

• Adam Frazier traded from San Diego to Seattle for a pair of prospects
• Jacob Stallings traded from Pittsburgh to Miami for three prospects (one is Connor Scott, the 13th pick in 2018.)
• Joey Wendle traded from Tampa Bay to Miami for outfield prospect Kameron Misner (35th overall pick in 2019)
• Jorge Alfaro traded from Miami to San Diego for a PTBNL or cash
• Jackie Bradley Jr. traded by Milwaukee back to Boston along with two prospects for Hunter Renfroe
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (traded again the next day) and a prospect traded by Texas to Minnesota for Mitch Garver
• Chris Bassitt traded from Oakland to the Mets for pitching prospects J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller
• Sonny Gray traded by the Reds to the Twins for two pitching prospects (including the 21st overall pick from 2021)
• Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa traded by the Twins to the Yankees for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela
• Matt Olson traded from Oakland to Atlanta for Christian Pache and a trio of prospects
• Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez traded from the Reds to Seattle for Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley and a prospect
• Matt Chapman from Oakland to Toronto for four prospects (including Gunnar Hoglund a 2021 1st round pick)
• Mike Minor from the Royals traded to the Reds for Amir Garrett

 

[mikaylatoads]

And now Julio Lugo passed away at 45 from a heart attack.

One of my favorite players when I was a kid. Always tried to emulate his and Dustin's fielding.

 

[Here Comes Mongo]

Some other notable signings that have happened this winter:

• Kendall Graveman to the White Sox (3 years, $24 million)

So this is the second consecutive year the Sox have picked the closer of the team that eliminated them from the playoffs. Pretty spiteful, I like it.

Needless to say, after the Kimbrel disaster, it's much needed. I'd also like them to re-sign Ryan Tepera and be in on Marcus Semien. They need to do something to cover the gaping hole they made at second base when they traded Madrigal for Kimbrel, and Cesar Hernandez ain't it.

 

[mikaylatoads]

Anyone got experience with 44 Pro gloves? Looking to get a catcher's mitt for softball season.

 

[Local Fed]

Probably the biggest signing of the offseason was announced a short while ago: Marcus Semien is going from Toronto to Texas on a 7 year, $175 million deal. They've also just announced that they've signed starter Jon Gray to a 4 year, $56 million deal.

Edit: Toronto has now agreed to sign Kevin Gausman to a 5 year deal worth $110 million.

 

[Here Comes Mongo]

Probably the biggest signing of the offseason was announced a short while ago: Marcus Semien is going from Toronto to Texas on a 7 year, $175 million deal. They've also just announced that they've signed starter Jon Gray to a 4 year, $56 million deal.

Edit: Toronto has now agreed to sign Kevin Gausman to a 5 year deal worth $110 million.

Jesus Christ. a 31-year old middle infielder getting 7 years. That's absolutely obnoxious. From everything I read, almost every other team was maxing out at 5 years. Good for Marcus for taking advantage of the Rangers' desperation. Also seeing reports that the Rangers are in on almost every FA remaining as well.

I've pretty much accepted the fact that the Sox are gonna be fucking stuck with Hernandez or Mendick again, and MAYBE get a mid-tier SP like Rodon, meaning Graveman will likely be the only notable acquisition this offseason. Looking forward to more pain next season, especially if Correa ends up going to the Tigers as rumored.

 

[Local Fed]

In absolutely crazy news: the newest Met and recipient of the largest contract ever in terms of annual salary is future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer. He's signed a 3 tear, $130 million contract. He can opt out after 2023, but I don't think he'd leave $43.33 million on the table.

Another Dodger, Corey Seager is expected to sign somewhere today, but there's no guarantee. The Rangers are apparently making a big push for him.

Edit: breaking news, the Mariners are signing reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray to a 5 year deal worth $115 million.

 

[Here Comes Mongo]

In absolutely crazy news: the newest Met and recipient of the largest contract ever in terms of annual salary is future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer. He's signed a 3 tear, $130 million contract. He can opt out after 2023, but I don't think he'd leave $43.33 million on the table.

Another Dodger, Corey Seager is expected to sign somewhere today, but there's no guarantee.

Mets billionaire owner: BUY EVERYONE

White Sox billionaire owner: "Can't spend a dollar if you only have a quarter." (a literal, honest-to-God quote from the GM years back)

Not that I was expecting Scherzer, but it fills me with rage that all the dominoes are starting to fall and the Sox are absolutely nowhere to be found, after promising up and down this offseason will be focused on putting the finishing touches on a championship contending team. One solid reliever and.......?

Be right back, going to touch some grass.

 

[Local Fed]

The Rangers have in fact landed Corey Seager. They've signed him to a massive 10 year contract worth $325 million. I would assume that this means Semien agreed to stay at second base after having done so in Toronto.

 

[Here Comes Mongo]

I take my gripes earlier back. This is some STUPID money being thrown around. The Rangers have just spent almost $600 million in like 24 hours. Between the Rangers and the Mets literally letting these players write their own checks, pretty much no one else even stood a chance.

The one reasonable deal I've seen for a top-flight talent (and one I feel was one the Sox could have beat) was the Robbie Ray signing. Everything else? Hell no.