NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread (Oct 2016 - Feb 2017)

agree with the last several posts
hill would be a solid #3
the best f/a starter in a weak market so it will cost $$$
put together a package (puig + prospects/cash, whatever) and pry someone like sale or quintana from the chisox
doesn't have to be one of those two, just the first that came to mind

going a bit off topic, but imo we (obviously) also have to re-sign kenley or sign melancon
chapman throws gas, but he showed he was vulnerable against the giants, cubs, even us

not sure how we address the inability to hit lefties better if we use our trade chips for a starter though
baby steps i guess

 

poorly written article
but at least the point is clear

Steve Bartman is 'Overjoyed' Cubs won, now leave him alone
by Dave Lozo | UPROXX — Yesterday 8:07 am

It’s hard to imagine how dense you have to be at this point to still bother Steve Bartman. It’s been 13 years since Moises Alou threw a temper tantrum so big that you forgot Alex Gonzalez choked away the inning, and Bartman has steadfastly refused to be interviewed about anything.

But now that the Cubs have won the World Series, it’s fair to say there’s never a reason to pester Bartman for anything because… what’s that? Oh, we’re still trying to contact just to learn that he won’t be at the victory parade Friday? Tremendous. From USA Today:

“He was just overjoyed that the Cubs won, as all the Cubs fans are,” Frank Murtha, a lawyer who has served as Bartman’s spokesman, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

“We don’t intend to crash the parade,” Murtha said. “The one thing that Steve and I did talk about was if the Cubs were to win, he did not want to be a distraction to the accomplishments of the players and the organization.’’ ​

Bartman has gotten so many inquiries that he has allowed lawyer Frank Murtha act as his spokesman to tell people he is “overjoyed” his favorite team won it all. Meanwhile, Bill Murray might be convinced he’s on the roster and deserves his own float for the parade and no one seems to mind that distraction from the fact the Cubs won one of the greatest baseball games ever played. Isn’t Bill freaking Murray guzzling champagne in the clubhouse enough for you jackals?

And a sincere question for journalists: Do you think anyone will care if you get Bartman to talk on the record? “I’m happy the Cubs won the World Series.” Dynamite job, Woodard. You cracked the case. You’ve got the story everyone will tweet about for 12 hours then forget. That’s totally worth not respecting 13 years’ worth of wishes from a guy who wants nothing to do with the media.​

 

early projected ratings for 2017...
a bit useless since we don't know where everyone will sign, but whatev
complete ratings HERE

ESPN ranks Dodgers 4th in final 2017 Power Rankings
by Daniel Starkand | Dodger Blue — 12 minutes ago

The Los Angeles Dodgers again fell short of reaching the World Series, but that does not take away from the success they had in 2016. In particular, rookie manager Dave Roberts guiding the club to a fourth consecutive National League West title.

It wasn’t easy for Roberts and his staff, as the Dodgers placed a Major-League record 28 different players on the disabled list throughout the year.

They faced the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series and despite falling down 2-1 in the series, battled back to win the series in five games. Los Angeles then faced the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series.

They shutout the Cubs in consecutive games to take a 2-1 series lead, but then ran out of some steam and the Cubs’ offense awoke, resulting in three straight wins to end the Dodgers’ season.

Going into this offseason the team’s front office will have their hands full, as they have nine free agents. Most notably, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner are on the market.

While there’s plenty left to be settled in the coming weeks and months for not only the Dodgers, but throughout the league, ESPN’s David Schoenfield released power rankings for the 2017 season.

He placed the Dodgers fourth, behind the Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Nationals:

4. Los Angeles Dodgers
2016 record: 91-71
Final ranking: No. 4

"Look, I don’t like the bloated payroll full of expensive, injury-prone starting pitchers, either, but it’s not our money being flushed down Chavez Ravine. They still have the best pitcher in the game in Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda is solid and youngsters Julio Urias and Jose De Leon have star potential. And that’s aside from whatever Scott Kazmir, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy have to offer. As we saw in the playoffs, adding some right-handed bats and re-signing Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen will be top priorities."​

Re-signing Turner and Jansen is at the top of the Dodgers’ list this offseason. Turner cemented himself as one of the Dodgers’ best hitters since joining the team in 2014, and Jansen proved how valuable he is this postseason, pitching multiple innings whenever he was needed.

The division rival San Francisco Giants, who ESPN ranked seventh in the 2017 power rankings, will likely attempt to sign Jansen after their bullpen struggled mightily this season. That led to the Dodgers passing the Giants in the standings after San Francisco led by eight games midway through the season.

In other notable 2017 projections, the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook has the Dodgers tied for the second-highest odds at 10-1 to win the World Series next season.​

 

i just used puig in the trade bait example because his value is now somewhat high
i obviously don't know what's going on inside the clubhouse
so if they decide he's not a problem/distraction, cool by me
but you have to give up something to get something and our other options are limited

 

dodger blue article
edited accordingly...

Dodgers 2016 Player Review: Brett Anderson
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 51 minutes ago

Difficult as it may be to recall, there was a point in time where it appeared the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation in 2016 was going to feature four left-handers. But Hyun-Jin Ryu’s recovery from shoulder surgery hit multiple snags, and Brett Anderson underwent back surgery. It was a surprising development, but one that didn’t leave the Dodgers regretting their decision to extend the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer to Anderson after the 2015 season. He began the year on the 60-day disabled list, retroactive to March 25, and was projected to miss three to five months while recovering from back surgery to repair a bulging disc. The 28-year-old began to play catch in June, and threw his first bullpen session in July. Anderson came off the DL on Aug. 14 to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in an afternoon affair at Dodger Stadium. His 2016 debut was short-lived, as Anderson suffered a mild left wrist sprain in the first inning after diving at a chopper hit toward second base. Anderson allowed five runs on five hits and threw 30 pitches in his lone inning of work. The southpaw managed to make his next turn in the rotation, but was removed due to injury in a second straight start. Anderson that time came out in the fourth inning due to a blister on his left index finger that had lingered since Anderson’s rehab assignment. He was put on the 15-day DL on Aug. 23 and didn’t return until Sept. 22. He made one start, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings, and threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief prior to the regular season coming to a close. edit: blah, blah... blah, blah, blah...

2016 Highlight
After three shaky starts the Dodgers tested Anderson in a relief role against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 29. It came under the notion that Anderson potentially would make the postseason roster, and he went on to collect a pair of strikeouts while holding the Padres scoreless over 2.1 frames. Although the appearance was encouraging, it ultimately was not enough for the Dodgers to include Anderson on their National League Division Series and NL Championship Series rosters. edit: the season ended

2017 Outlook
All signs point to Anderson, who is a free agent, and the Dodgers parting ways this offseason. The role of the dice last winter backfired, Los Angeles has plenty of pitching depth knocking on the door, and are unlikely to again extend a qualifying offer to Anderson. Although this season was in line with what’s been Anderson’s Achilles’ heel — injuries — he did have a strong 2015 campaign, going 10-9 over 31 starts with a 3.69 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 3.51 xFIP, 1.33 WHIP and an MLB-best 66.3 ground ball percentage. Anderson set new career highs that season in starts and innings pitched (180.1). He went 11-11 with a 4.18 ERA in 35 games (34 starts) across two seasons with the Dodgers. edit: his gimpy ginger ass is gone ​

 

i hate this time of year

 

Not true. We have a ton of options.
You just hate puig.
Racist!

 

okay, name an option other than puig who you could use as a headliner in a trade for someone worthwhile?
waiting

 

agreed
that should be priority #1
priority #2, turner or replacement

 

haven't heard that but i wouldn't doubt it
and almost certain someone will give it to him
has almost become routine for teams to sign players for [say] 8 years in order to get them for 3-4 productive years
greinke a prime example
not sure how willing our front office will be to commit to something like this, given how much the end of contracts to carl/ethier/agon are hamstringing them at the end

 

nor should they be