2020-2021 OFF-SEASON NEWS AND RUMORS

That’s a great buy low deal! Huge upside with Knebel and the cost is gonna be likely very light. Take advantage of this market!

 

Knebel was returning from TJ in 2020 after a run as being one of the more dominant relievers in the game with a strikeout rate that would be a nice addition to our pen. His average velo was all over the place in 2020 and nowhere close to what he was before... BUT his velo in his 4 of his last 5 appearances was creeping back towards his older numbers with mostly 95's and 96's on average. The other thing to look at is his max velo ticked way up in those last games with his first 97 MPH and a majority of his fastest pitches of the years rolling in during those 5 games after a worrying drop prior to. Year 2 from TJ is usually better than year 1 and if he can get numbers above those posted in the final weeks, the Dodgers just picked themselves a gem with 2 more years of control.

 

I just want to add... if this is the biggest addition to the bullpen this winter, then I will not be happy in the end. If this is part 1 of potentially 2 or more intriguing arms added, then I will be satisfied. His massive upside does not offset his shakiness and the bullpen still has a spot at the back end that should be addressed. Trevor May for signing around $7M a year could be a sign that bullpen arms are going to come a bit cheaper.

 

phenomenal pickup. he'll have an era under </= 3 and 12 k/9

 

We won the World Series. People forget that.

 

I sure haven’t forgotten

 

God, I hate how slow MLB offseasons have become, the NBA and NFL do it so much better. We are over a month out from the World Series ending and a little over 2 months away from training camp starting. Yet we STILL do not know whether a rule will be in place that drastically alters the landscape of how the game is played for half the league. One third of the offseason is behind us and it has been an absolute snoozefest thanks to the owners being asleep at the wheel as usual. I hope in the next CBA this shit is addressed as many even within the industry are calling for it. We are on the eve of what would have been the Winter Meetings, this year's event has been cancelled, but it would be great if they could find a way to insert life into this week in the years ahead. I am all for the smarter front offices, but there needs to be a counter to their slow, calculating approaches. I hope they can find a way to do that or this game is going to continue to push fans away.

I may be wrong about this, but our landing Knebel may be the biggest move of the offseason thus far.

 

I think teams are also waiting as long as possible so they can better predict the COVID landscape. As things stand right now, MLB and the MLBPA will need to come together again to develop safety protocols, and if full stadiums aren't allowed by April we could see MLB try to shutdown part of the season again.

 

At this point they need to prepare for the season to be impacted heavily again. No need to delay or shorten, but they likely need for the first 50 games to once again be played within the AL/NL divisional alignment. Going the full 162, that leaves for plenty of games against your division territory to eat up another month of games and get you through June if need be, before things get tougher. If the vaccine is out, you can flip those games to September and allow for play outside the division. If games are not played in front of crowds, start nationally televising everything you can. Have 2 nationally televised games a night with a 6PM and 10 PM EST game. Try a couple triple and quadruple headers a week and recoup lost gate revenue with the TV deals. More people are at home, so more people should be watching. Also, the UDH is what I’m talking about. How the fuck have they not figured that out yet? That’s something that should have been figured out 4 weeks ago. Fucking stupid the way everything is used for fucking leverage.

 

• There’s a report that the Jays and Indians have had good talks around a trade involving Lindor. The Indians like Lourdes Gurriel according to the report and Lindor is open to an extension with the club.
  
  
• In the moderately hilarious department, the Phillies are looking to trade Zack Wheeler only 1 year into a 5 year deal. According to multiple reports, the Phillies are in trouble a bit financially and are looking to cut some payroll. This is going to be interesting to watch as their farm is not great, roster is losing some key pieces and that will leave Bryce Harper in a weird spot. It will be interesting to see if they start to look at trades for him.
• The Twins have expressed interest in Kikè Hernandez. They’re in need of a utility player and Hernandez would definitely fit the part.

 

This is what should happen.

Because it seemed like owners were negotiating in bad faith in 2020 (ie purposefully delaying an agreement so they get the shortened season they want) I fully expect them to go out of their way to do it again if they think attendance will be affected. With lost revenue last year and the CBA even closer, they have incentive to shorten the season again. With a vaccine on the horizon, we are probably looking at more than 60 games, but a 100-120 season seems more likely than 162 IMO. I think UDH has a 75% chance of happening in 2021, but it only happens with expanded playoffs.

 

Apparently they would not trade him for Babe Ruth, according to one of the owners. What a fun couple of hours that was.

 

There are a number of owners that need to just go. Too many penny pinchers that don't give two shits about the game. I am not thrilled that there is likely to be a 3rd team in the NL now that will be at the top of the yearly salary numbers with us, but I would take a shit ton more Cohen's & Walters over all the Monfort's & Dolan's littering the sport.

 

MLB and the MLBPA are expected to ramp up discussions on the 2021 season structure next week. There have been some preliminary discussions already, but the MLBPA wanted to get together their 8-player executive subcommittee before beginning the actual negotiations. They are expected to discuss rule changes like Universal DH and expanded playoffs, as well as what to do if COVID impacts how many people can attend games (which it certainly will, for at least part of the 162-game schedule).

 

MLB is telling teams to operate under the likelihood that there will not be a UDH in 2021, but it is still not fully off the table... so yeah, I'm guessing that things will continue to be quiet until right around or after Christmas.

 

There is also a report that MLB has already offered the universal DH for 2021 in exchange for another year of expanded playoffs, and the MLPA rejected the offer. I think it's safe to say this is part posturing by MLB, and universal DH is still on the table - especially if there are other extra safety precautions in 2021 (ie COVID testing, expanded rosters, etc...).

That said, I do think NL teams should operate right now as if there is no DH, even if there is a chance there will be a DH in 2021 and an even higher chance there will be a DH in 2022+. Until it is certain, you shouldn't plan on it. As a fan, I don't care either way. As a Dodgers fan, our team is best equipped to roll with last minute rule changes. Friedman never operated with a pure DH with the Rays, so I don't really think he has his sights on a pure DH like Ozuna (even though there are reports the Dodgers are interested). I think the only major potential signing that could be affected right now is Justin Turner. If there is a universal DH, they could justify overloading the infield knowing extra AB's will be there, but without a universal DH signing Turner would likely close the door on Lindor/Arenado/Bryant/LaMahieu types.