MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

Alex Pavlovic who is a Giants reporter-
This can obviously change as it goes, but Giants expect a Stanton decision by the end of the week. I'm hearing they continue to view Dodgers, not Cardinals, as biggest threat.

 

Passan reporting that Ohtani as of last night has finished his interviews and a decision could come quickly. Hearing again that the Mariners are fairly confident they’ve landed him. Them and a couple oher teams are said to be pitching him a 6 man rotation if he wants.

 

Could be a case of SF having to move on at some point, maybe they pursue Moustakas (they need 3B production desperately) or JD Martinez.

 

Also from Pavlovic "who does also note that the timeline is hardly set in stone."
Just another SF blow hard looking for something to write.

 

If Jeter wants to be hardheaded, kicking this down the road into next offseason will be a L for him as well. He's not going to get better offers with the impact bats that'll be out there on the FA market like Donaldson, Blackmon, Harper and Machado, and perhaps most importantly who's to say Stanton won't be just a committed to LAD next offseason? Not shedding Stanton this offseason won't make Jeter popular with majority owner Sherman either, won't make Jeter popular with the parties that are still interested in investing and joining Miami's ownership group ( as they're still reportedly looking for investors), and it won't make Jeter popular with the fan-base if he pulls Stanton back and they're doing the predictable pouty face failed trade dance all year long with the media.

Now, Jeter probably won't care much about some of those things, but that'd be a bad look for their brand and that's all that really matters when starting " brand new ". Jeter can give no fucks til the cows come home, but he's not worth more than a MLB franchise, so he loses by default in that battle. That scene would be especially horrible for an org that's already known for it's fire sale fuckery every few years..a new ownership/FO group is supposed to bring optimism. Bringing Stanton back against his wishes would douse whatever optimism they have now and set their rebuild/rebranding back years. All to say, it would not be a wise move. So the nerds are essentially saying, " Look, bully Jeter..we're going to give you a wedgie in front of everyone, but we'd also like to help you with your homework here since you're new to this. We're nerds, not monsters. "

The nerds have done enough now for opposing FOs to understand that they won't budge if it means doing a deal that doesn't make sense to them from a value standpoint. That much has been established. They sat still on Dozier..haven't gone big in terms of a rotation upgrade from outside of the org until the trade deadline..will only trade Puig for what they think is proper value, even at his lowest point, etc. At this point, trying to wait LAD out is just flat out insane. Fortified by a strong farm system and a WS contender at the big league level..they don't have to do shit, other than maybe trade Yasmani, but I doubt they get ran over in those talks either. Even if you " red flag " a proposed trade, LAD scoffs and you eat the shit anyway ( Preller/Padres/Kemp), so yeah, the reports of rival GM's having admiration for LAD's FO must be real and the SI article would seem to be on point. Jeter just has to embrace this L. Even if for some reason Stanton OK's the trade to SFG..Jeter will have gone to a shitty organization for trade compensation when LAD's farm and big club have better to offer, so that's still a L for Jeter. Auto-L no matter the path, but only one way does the Miami FO look like a competent group in the end..if they deal the star where he wants to go, build some good feelings from players around the league that are watching and spin it that way. Jeter's good enough at this PR thing that ultimately I think he'll do what's best and grab whatever win he can at the end of the day.

 

^Im not sure it is Jeter that is holding this up. My guess is that MGT is probably not willing to send prospects that Jeter is interested in or that are better than Beede and Shaw (which is tough to even believe). I almost wonder if MGT is playing a very strict game of chicken and will not flinch from their position. I guarantee that if MGT was offering even one of Alvarez/Urias/Verdugo that Stanton would be in dodger blue. I kinda get the feeling that MGT is offering none of those prospects AND asking to take back Kazmir. Losing out on Stanton because MGT was greedy would really suck.

 

They should be confident but then again the Yankees and their fan base pretty damn sure he'd be with them lol.

 

The difference is, if the Dodgers are pitching the Kazmir/Agon/BMac $$$ washes with the 45MM Miami is willing to add in the SF deal, it's all next year so any of those guys would also have to be willing to take deferred monies. Sticky, especially if none of them want to leave LA. It basically gives those guys quasi-no-trade clauses too. Better for them though bc it gives them a (State) tax free annuity for however long they take the salary from a FLA employer. Dunno how much longer Kazmir/AGon/BMac think they can play, or even be signed, but if I were quitting BB, I'd take the trade.

 

See I think the money/taking players is not the issue, seeing as Miami is willing to eat money in the SF deal. We have heard nothing as to what prospects MGT has offered Miami. I think Miami is trying to pry one of our top 3 away and MGT is sticking to its guns and saying NO. I really hope that is not the case as we have a log jam in both the OF and SP.....places where Urias/Behuler/Alvarez/Verdugo could go. I said it from the beginning, part of the reason you have a deep farm system is so you can make trades using your surplus. MGT needs not be greedy now.

 

Are you not seeing these reports that the hold up is LAD insisting that Miami take one of Kazmir, Adrian, or McCarthy?
The spec side of this has been easy peasy from the outset.
Miami wants to clear as much money as possible and LAD doesn't give a whole lot of fucks about that as they have their own financial goals to worry about.

 

The point I was making is "When" Miami eats the money.... in the SF deal, they could be sending 2MM a year for the next 25 years for all we know. With the LAD deal, it's whatever the terms are in the contracts those guys currently have, and they'd have to agree to a deferment from Miami if that's what Miami got from SF. Again, all speculation, but viable, IMO.

 

This article is confusing

 

It is not the fans and writers saying it just because it is the Yankees. Apparently about the time Ohtani was posted, Dipotto and the Mariners FO went totally dark and unresponsive about player inquiries, which is very un-Jerry like. Those that people have spoken with say they have been acting funny and a bit spry, which is why people think something is up/already known. Not saying that I think it is a done deal, but if he doesn't choose the Dodgers, the Mariners are easily my top choice for him and the Rangers a distant second.

 

Yeah, I am reading those reports. What I am saying is that Miami would take one of those contracts if they got better prospects in the return. My guess is that MGT is saying you gota eat one of these contracts and you get B level prospects. IMO Miami is balking at that and asking for A level prospect or it won't eat the contract, hence MGT getting greedy.