MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

The faint promise, then, of a new saviour, arises from the haze of a distant horizon...now it is Manny the Redeemer?
I wonder just exactly what that says about what the FO thinks of Seager precisely? Or the seriousness of his "injury"? Hmmmmm...
No matter actually, since it is just some more negotiations that although make a mildly interesting diversion of what might have been, went down the tubes like so many others that come to light after the fact.
Let the Manny lineups begin!

 

Wow.... Jon Heyman is reporting that after the 2007 season when ARod opted out of his deal he obviously took a new Yankees deal, but what was not known was that it was the second highest offer on the table.... The Dodgers were in fact the team with the highest offer in the range of $320M. That deal would have been catastrophic almost immediately, but I can't help but wonder what could have happened in 2008 and 2009 with him in the lineup. Likely don't sign Manny to that deal, but maybe still make that trade? Who knows, but talk about dodging a bullet.

 

Source: Frank

 

It was Boras, but I seem to remember this rumor floating around at the time and everyone was like, "no fucking way". Even with his suspension, the Manny deal was significantly better for the club in hindsight... Also while reviewing the rosters, FUCK ANDRUW JONES.

 

I have a feeling that the Dodgers were just doing their due diligence since a trade like this doesn't only massively shake up the roster/lineup potentially, but the clubhouse as well. MM is not known for being the best teammate AND he wanted to play SS this season going into FA. Turner and Seager are minimally versatile, but it is hard to believe that at this point, the org is at all interested in moving Cody back to the OF. Turner has looked good since the knee surgery, so maybe the club was considering a go of him at 2B instead. Other thing could have been asking Manny to take the reins at 2B, though a waste of some of his talent he'd probably be well suited for the position. He is an interesting player to target if he was willing to consider an extension off the bat, but if he says no way you can't justify throwing multiple Top 50 prospect(IMO) in that deal, so that is potentially one of the Dodgers top three prospects going back, which is probably nowhere close to the return that the Orioles expect. The Yankees going below the threshold is too scary a hurdle in the offseason ahead to throw multiple prospects at a guy who could leave at the end of the season, especially one where you may also need a new frontline starter.

 

Or three.

 

I actually think there might be something to this. Why would the Dodgers push so hard to get under the tax threshhold this year, unless they intend to go above it next year? 2019 was setting up to be a good year to get under, we could have easily done it then - but the Kemp trade was a clear indication that we are 100% in on going under this year not next. This offseason the team passed on getting a player at a discount (Stanton) who would likely be number 3 on the free agent list if he was part of the 2019 FA class. The only way this all makes sense is if 1) They are going cheap in general, or 2) they want Harper or Machado.

I've said before that Machado doesn't make sense because we would pay a position premium when it's not a need, but I'm starting to wonder where Seager fits in long term. The elbow might be a bigger issue than any of us realize.

 

I'll take Harper over Machado.. Keeps the infield in tact and either ends the Puig era or eliminates a blackhole (racist) platoon at one of the corners.

If Verdugo, Toles, Peters, or whoever else emerges, I'd rather force Taylor to 2B than expect Turner to play there. That's not happening.

Wouldn't complain if we got Machado because trades are fun but yeah

 

If you are going to play your teams best CF in the outfield why put him in LF?

 

An incident that happened like 4 or 5 years ago, when Machado was like 20-21 years old..some immaturity to be expected.
CKWG is going to have to bring me up to speed on the Machado not being the best teammate thing.
I know Machado has had his drama with the Red Sox, A's, and a few other teams, but I've not heard anything about him having problems with teammates.
I know he and Jonathan Schoop are actually pretty tight and that he's helped him a lot.
But yeah, to speak to Machado's issues with opposing teams..he just seems to not take a whole lot of shit off anybody.
I'd love to see Bumgarner and Machado lock horns.
Shit, I'd love to have a player in his prime that plays with an edge like that in general

 

All good except for one big factor..they have an old, meddling Gollum looking owner who doesn't let the GM do his job to the best of his ability.
Any Machado trade talk should begin and end with that troll Angelos.
LAD may well want Machado, may be willing to make a fair trade, etc., and Angelos will just shit on it, no problems.
So it's just damn near impossible to pinpoint what an Angelos will want in return for Machado..he may not even want 3 or 4 or whatever specs in return..he may want some established types mixed in..who the hell can tell with Angelos?
Who can ever tell with the Orioles?
They always like to stay in the picture somewhat..if Yasmani agreed to do an extension on arrival, wouldn't shock me if the O's were interested.
Wieters sort of broke down on them and Yasmani is along the lines of what Wieters could have been with better luck.
Yasmani + Verdugo would maybe get the ball rolling, at least, and Duquette had interest in Yadier Alvarez at last year's deadline..but Angelos did not.