MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

I should have phrased that better. I think he was open to new opinions, but you had to be in category 1 for him to listen to it.
You are probably right, they probably feel he’s a good guy to get some of their underperforming young players on the right track, but can easily jettison him if shit hits the fan.

 

or maybe because he never spent a minute on a MLB bench as a coach or manager. I don't get the fascination with this guy. Let another organization run a lab experiment with the position.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12Fdcz-v1dHv7WUA6N73JhLNL7cZ-JCaUSRyh8LQvG7A/pubhtml#

A spread sheet from cots contracts, helps explain it from that perspective.

Side note: Another reason Grandal needs to go, that's ~$7.5M that could be better utilized elsewhere if they are gonna go over anyway.

 

I would keep Grandal why should we trade him?

 

Because Barnes was as good, if not better, while considerably cheaper. Not to mention, Grandal will be a free agent at 30 next winter, can't imagine they want to sign him to long-term deal, if they do, then trade Barnes, he'll bring Back more. Might as well upgrade another part of the roster instead of let him (Grandal) walk for nothing.

 

Idk, Grandal is one of the handful of best catchers in the league, I think I’d wanna extend him for a couple of years and play them both.

 

He’s 3rd in WAR among catchers since 2015

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...5&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

 

Ok so I have read all of these payroll posts. I think the estimated salary for next year is somewhere between $207MM and $211MM which includes Arb and 0-3 yr increases. To be safe lets take the $211MM number. Add Stanton's $25MM to that and you arrive at the magical $236MM which is 1MM over the $235MM super max lux tax threshold and $1MM away from losing 10 slots in the next draft. Worst case scenario MGT blows past the threshold, pays a ton of cash again and loses 10 draft slots......which is not super bad as the Dodgers are picking #30 next year. I do not think the difference between 30 and 40 is that significant. Now if they were up in the teens and dropped into the 20's maybe. Also because of the size of Stanton's contract, im sure MGT could add in someone like Gonzo or Kaz and give up better prospects. Look guys the reality is this team is mostly set. Where are you going to put these rookies that you want to keep. Behuler/Urias/Alvarez are at best fighting for one rotation spot and maybe one bullie spot. Puig/Pederson/Taylor/Toles/Thompson/Verdugo/Kendall/Diaz are all fighting for 5 OF spots. Right now that is Puig/Pederson/Taylor as the starters and Toles and maybe one of Thompson or Verdugo. We have no room for these guys unless there is a mass house cleaning. So why not use some of the surplus??? Stanton for Alvarez(RHP)/Verdugo(OF)/Kazmir(RHP)/Smith(C)/Lux(SS/2b). In no way does that decimate the farm system because it leaves Behuler(RHP)/Urias(LHP)/Kendall(OF)/Diaz(OF)/Ruiz(C).

So help me understand this. We don't want Stanton that is 2 years older and signed for 10 years at an AAV of $25MM/year but we do want to sign Machado who will probably command a 10 year FA deal at an AAV of $30MM/year or more AND disrupt the inf by moving Turner to 1b and Bellinger away from his natural position to the OF.

 

Austin Barnes has not caught more than like 78 games in a season at any level. Dodgers need another catcher than can play a lot if he can't hold up over the course of a season.

 

That's why Yasmani is going to hit for more than a 2 or 3 year deal.
Yasmani is probably due for 4 years/around 60M after next season

 

Stanton is older, worse, would cost actual players as opposed to just money, plays a less valuable position, and is not making 25 million AAV anymore

http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/miami-marlins/giancarlo-stanton-6864/

 

I’d give it to him easily

 

I would try to send Grandal packin for a prospect. You would then save Grandal's contract as well as add in a prospect that could be dictated by the Marlins in a trade for Stanton and then sign a guy like Miguel Monero to back up Barnes. Yes I know Montero stucks but he is a FA next year and still ranked in the top 30 (#29) by baseball prospectus in framing, the same guys that ranked Grandal #4 and Barnes #8.

 

The shoulder that has bothered him since San Diego and throughout his dodger tenure and is the safe bet for the source of his being absolutely useless for the final two months

And it’s basically incurable even according to Yas — http://m.mlb.com/news/article/154269272/yasmani-grandal-dealing-with-shoulder-pain/

I think odds are extremely low he maintains the strong pace of the past several years

 

You say that quite confidently..almost as if you can count on Yasmani to keep his starting gig come October.
I think that's the most unsettling aspect of this topic.
Sinking a 4 or 5 year/60-75M commitment into Yasmani and him failing to even be our starting catcher in the fall.

 

A "couple of years" being the key words if he only wants 2-3, then sure, but he's more likely to want the 5/80+ that Martin got, and I don't think they are giving that to a 30-year old. We've seen their unwillingness to give long-term, big money deals, only twice has it not bit them in the ass (JT and Kenley), Rich has been fine too, but Kazmir and McCarthy, have largely been failures. (not to mention the many they have avoided, most notably Greinke).

 

First my bad.....his AAV is $28.5MM/year......which is still less than $30+MM/year. Second, the issue IS money. Staying under the cap is a desire for MGT, so they could get the "big bat" and pay less. How is he worse??? Stanton 59hr/132rbi/281ba vs Machado 33hr/95rbi/259ba????

 

We have a lot of catcher depth in our system, that's the only reason I see to trade him. I'd rather keep Grandal, at least for 2018, and do a 50/50 split at catcher. Backup C is the one position where I think the backup can't be too good.

But once Grandal hits free agency I think the price will be too high.

 

We have players though, and not enough room for everyone. It all depends on price and value, but it's definitely worth kicking the tires. If you can get Stanton for less money than what you project Machado or Harper to get, then the player(s) could justify that. Just seems silly to nix the idea without actual numbers or players on the table. Also, 2018... it's just one year, but having a guy who contributes in 2018 is something to consider.

The positional value of someone like Machado takes a big hit if the plan is to move everyone else around to make room. If we shift Turner to 1B and Bellinger to LF, then signing Machado effectively fills LF.