MLB Hot Stove Baseball Report

And with the final puzzle piece in place (more or less), I can finally finish writing this thing I started last year that I thought I’d be done with by early December.  I don’t even have a season preview issue at the moment.  I didn’t buy one last month because of two difference-making free agents not signing.  I’m not sure about buying one now since I don’t think I’m going to be blogging about baseball this season.  (I can’t keep writing about how I’m not able to sit down and watch games, either because of work or poor reception.)  It’s all very disappointing. 

As it turned out, I didn’t need to wait.  Neither of the two major free agents, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, signed with anyone who was going to contend.  The question of the offseason was not “Why did it take so long for them to finally sign?” but rather, “Why on earth did two teams eventually agree pay these two players so much?”  They kept holding out until two teams they really didn’t want to go to met their prices.  Thank goodness, now the Players’ Union doesn’t have to strike over these two not getting paid enough.  Everybody wins!  (That threat was the actual biggest story of the offseason.) 

It’s no secret why the big money teams passed on Manny Machado.  He was basically exposed for not hustling during the freaking World Series and being a dirty player.  Few contending teams could afford him and fewer than that want to spend the money and then have to apologize and make excuses for him later.  I’m not sure what the Padres were thinking in picking him up.  Their youthful and talented core, which I’ve heard plenty of with their Triple-A affiliate, could either develop into stars or be traded for stars during the season.  Since Manny isn’t a star pitcher, he can’t help the team be a winner right now.  At least there’s an early opt-out in the contract.

I listened to ESPN Sports Talk radio the day after the signing for a bit.  They were all over it.  Those two idiots in the morning had a baseball “expert” on.  This “expert” broke down the trade using an Elmo impersonation to the delighted giggles of the idiots.  I wish I was making this up.  I kept listening because I was fascinated by the sheer offense and stupidity of these dimwits. 

The next shift came on.  This host was angered by the deal.  He referred to the Padres as a “witness protection program for baseball players.”  (Heh, heh, that’s actually a good one.)  He was mad that Machado took the money to go with a loser instead accepting a bit less to go to a big market team that has a chance of winning now.  (Those teams wouldn’t take him at any price after his World Series performance.)   

Bryce Harper, in spite of the Nationals surrounding him with great players, couldn’t put the team on his back to even win a division series.  It’s not really his fault, but the guy is wearing a collar that says “loser.”  I could see him thriving somewhere else, but with last year’s injury and poor performance, who would want to spend all that money to take a chance? 

I pegged the Phillies as an up-and-coming team.  Getting a hold of free agents like Harper, Jean Segura, and JT Realmuto is a good move in the right direction.  Andrew McCutchen is a good veteran presence for the clubhouse.  David Robertson is a good addition to the bullpen.  Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel are still available.  Phillies ownership did pledge to spend “stupid” money this season.  More pitching would make them an actual contender.   

But, I have to question Harper’s contract: $330M, 13 years, no trade, no opt-out.  After 13 seasons, even Philly fans will be tired of booing him.  Bryce actually had better, but shorter, offers from the Dodgers and Giants.  He could have gone to the Dodgers, been paid more per year, won a couple of World Series, and been eligible for another huge contract in five years.  Unless of course, Bryce thinks he’s a loser too, in which case he made the right choice.  Machado isn’t going to put one fan in the seats in San Diego unless he’s helping the team win.  He’s not an attraction by himself.  Harper is.  So, it’s a good contract in that sense, since Philly fans will pay to show up to boo him. 

After this deal was made, I listened to some more ESPN.  (These are the only times I’ve been listening to them.  Yeah, they’re only good for blog-fodder for me.)  There I heard a couple of sportscasters celebrating like they’d just got paid too.  At least they feel like they deserve some of the credit for these two contracts.  Perhaps they do.  Most of these guys are in the players’ pants jobbing them.  They want to make sure they have a chance to interview them at some point, so they’re always on the players’ side of making more money.

What other moves caught my highly subjective interests? 

The Rockies inked Nolan Arenado to a long-term extension.  This will keep their fans happy.  They also signed Daniel Murphy, who should love hitting at Coors Field.  However, they lost Adam Ottavino to the Yankees.  The Rockies’ recent success was more due to their pitching, so I hope they’ve got more lined up. 

The Rangers finally traded Jurickson Profar.  What a waste.  This guy was the two-time prospect of the year that never panned out.  The Rangers received three pitchers in a three-team deal.  They need more.  With Adrian Beltre retired and Profar gone, they’ve picked up Asdrubal Cabrera, a second baseman, to play third.  The franchise has got two “halo” years with the closing of the old ballpark and moving into the new one next year.  After that, they need to put a team on the field.

The Reds were surprisingly frisky.  The Dodgers made multi-player deal to get Homer Bailey and some prospects from them, in return for getting rid of Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, and Matt Kemp.  What a tremendous salary dump!  Bravo!  The Reds also did the Yankees a favor by picking up Sonny Gray.  Some have cynically commented that the Reds are stockpiling veterans to trade them for prospects at midseason.  Well, only if they play well, otherwise you guys are stuck with them. 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers picked up AJ Pollock, which could be a great move if he stays healthy.  They lost Yasmani Grandal to the Brewers.  I hope this move helps the Brew-Crew.  Let’s get Bob Uecker a championship guys!  

Who won the offseason?   

Me and other prognosticators did!  With Harper gone, we can all stop picking the Nationals to win something and then end up looking dumb.  (Shaking my head.  Watch them go to the NLCS just to spite everyone.)  Let’s add the Dodgers and the Yankees to this list, not for the deals they made, but rather for restraining themselves in not going after Harper or Machado.  (Everybody hates us so much.  Let’s not do anything to exasperate our un-likability.) 

More seriously, I’m picking the Cardinals.  Paul Goldschmidt seems like a really good fit for the team and the city.  I think he’ll thrive in St. Louis.  The best part of this deal is that it opens up first base on the Diamondbacks, perhaps for legendary fan-favorite Cody Decker.  Getting Andrew Miller for the Card’s bullpen should also help.  Look for the team to swing a good deal at the trade deadline if they’re seriously contending. 

Who lost?

The Indians, hands down.  They lost enough to probably end up not winning a very weak division.  (I’m interested to see if NM State Aggie Alum, Daniel Johnson, makes the team.  On Stadium’s MLB Prospects Special, an expert said the team was toying with the idea of using him as a pitcher?)  The White Sox, spurned by the major free agents, are no doubt feeling unloved.  Picking up Marwin Gonzalez and Robinson Cano may finally put the Twins over the top in that division.  Jerry Dipoto making trades from a hospital bed probably explains Seattle’s salary dumping maneuvers.  

I also lost.  This took way too long to write and ended up being crap for the effort.  Hopefully, the players will strike soon since they’re being so woefully underpaid.  Then I can avoid writing about the next offseason.  Ugh.  I’ll probably embarrass myself with some season predictions in a couple of weeks.