There was a run on pitchers at the Winter Meetings today with none of them going to the Giants. First up was a pretty big surprise with Charlie Morton, who had been rumored to be mulling retirement signing a 2 year deal with the Rays for $30 M with assignment bonuses of $1 M and $500 K if he is traded in 2019 or 2020 respectively. There is also an option for 2021. I really like this deal for the Rays. Morton is 35 yo, but has been getting better with age and seems like a pretty good bet to more than cover his cost in on-field production.
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The Rangers are reportedly nearing a 3 year/$30 M deal with RHP Lance Lynn, which seems to be awfully rich for a guy who will be playing his age 32 season and has scuffled a bit over the past 2 seasons.
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The Reds acquired RHP Tanner Roark in a trade with the Nationals for 26 yo pitching prospect Tanner Rainey who excites scouts with a triple digit FB but has a wild hair up his nose. Roark has put up ERA's of 4.67 and 4.34 over the past 2 seasons but has thrown 361 innings over that span. Seems like a solid pickup for the Reds, but the Nationals were willing to essentially give him away due to a projected $9 M+ salary in 2019.
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The Yankees reportedly agreed to a 2 year/$34-35 M contract with LHP JA Happ. The deal comes with a 3'rd year option. No word yet on the buyout price. This signing probably takes the Yankees out of any trade scenario for Madison Bumgarner.
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In addition to the pitching run, the Angels signed 1B Justin Bour to a 1 year/$2.5 contract. This one is a bit curious because the Angels already have a first baseman in Albert Pujols and a DH in Shohei Ohtani. Bour was likely signed as a bat off the bench with depth. He's run hot and cold over his career but his a very dangerous hitter when he's hot.
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Rule 5 Draft tomorrow AM......and the Giants select IF Drew Jackson!(prediction).
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This has been an odd start to the offseason for Farhan to say the least. It reminds me of an auction fantasy football draft where other teams are spending their draft cash in various ways while the Giants have spent $1 on Rupp and $1 on Gerber! Maybe they are holding out for when Harper is nominated to start bidding the big bucks but they aren’t really even rumored to be connected to anyone.
ReplyDeleteEven the Rays and the Mets seem to be improving while other teams like Seattle and the D-Backs are making clear moves to rebuild. The Giants meanwhile just seem to be sitting on the sidelines holding their cards tight to their chest. Apart from the rumors that they are shopping Belt, Will Smith, and MadBum and getting nowhere is there any real smoke that could prove to be fire?
I figure it is a sign of one of two things, either Farhan is a tiger waiting patiently to jump on his prey OR there are no plans to compete this year and the Giants are trying to rebuild without anyone noticing! As I’m typing this, Krukow is expressing some frustration over the lack of action. I would like to stay positive and believe this isnt a rebuild but I guess we will know after today (Kruk is hinting that if the Giants draft multiple players in the rule 5 that means they will be rebuilding).
Zaidi wasn't overly impressed with Jackson ...
ReplyDeleteOr LHP Travis Bergen is the real deal, not bad AA numbers, seems like a reach
Giants take pitcher Travis Bergen from the Blue Jays. Very nice numbers
ReplyDeleteRichard in winnipeg
They drafted at least one, the LHP Travis Bergen, a 25-year-old reliever with pretty good numbers at no level above AA.
ReplyDeleteWith all the rumored interest in Will Smith, does the selection of Bergen increase the likelihood the Giants pull the trigger on a deal possibly?
ReplyDeletei think the giants are open for business for trading almost anyone at this point. i see the astros and brewers as two trade partners for madbum. i see guys like watson, smith, and dyson being moved by the trade deadline this year.
ReplyDeleteDo "contending" teams ever use up a 25-man roster space for a guy probably not quite ready for prime time?
ReplyDeleteThe only teams that were over .500 last year that drafted were the Mariners and the D'backs and both seemingly have given up on 2019.
Phillies picked and think they're contending but immediately traded their pick to the Orioles.
Isn't picking a gem in the rough a sign of re-building, not contending, or are the Giants so flush with $$ that a couple hundred K means nothing?
The Giants hoped to contend last year, but drafted Julian Fernandez in the Rule 5.
DeleteLarry Baer should run for office and take his empty promises with him! I could have sworn I heard him say that rebuilding wasn’t an option yet so far they have filled 4 roster spots with dumpster dives. All 4 moves are clearly a sign that it is more important to occupy the roster with minor league depth than proven MLB talent that has a much higher likelihood of helping the team win now.
ReplyDeleteTalk of trading core players without adding proven talent along with every move so far is by definition rebuilding. Does Larry take us for fools or is this going to end up like the movie Fargo where we have to wait to the very end to appreciate it? Forgive my skepticism and lack of patience but don’t take me for an idiot Larry!!
Alex Pavlovic on twitter: My main takeaway from Winter Meetings is that Giants people realize they handed Zaidi a subpar roster/terrible payroll situation and they’re willing to be patient. They’re not really in on big names right now. This will be methodical, not splashy, but it’s the right direction.
ReplyDeleteTerrible payroll situstion?
The Giants, should they desire to spend up to the CBT (as they did last year) have a TON of money to spend for 2019, and, if they go over the "limit," they have a LONG TON with a 20% tax on the over before hitting the BIG tax at $40M over.
With $152 comitted to 13 players (including Smith), they have $55M more to spend in 2019.
They have even more (plus some tax) to spend before getting to additional penalties.
They could sign 6 or more FAs or Harper and a few less and fill their roster.
They have to sign enough to be competitive so they get people to come to games and consume a lot of sushi and white wine.
2019 CBT threshold: $206 million
DeleteFor first time offenders (Giants were reset last year):
Exceeding the Competitive Balance Tax threshold: pay a 20 percent tax on all overages.
Exceed by $20 million to $40 million: 12 percent surtax.
Exceed by more than $40 million: 42.5 percent tax.
Exceed by $40 million or more: highest selection in the next Rule 4 Draft moved back 10 places (unless the pick falls in the top six then the second-highest selection moved back 10 places instead).
I wouldn't be impatient with the Giants. We're all used to sitting next to a highly caffeinated Sabean at the hot stove. He liked to get things settled early. Farhan (I hope) is watching the table. Seeing how things are developing.
ReplyDeleteSeems like prices are a little high right now. Unexpected teams are active (Reds).
What if the Giants had been patient last year and signed Moustakas for 1-year, say $10 million instead of trading for Longoria?
There have definitely been times when the Giants would have been better off being a bit more patient and letting the market come to them.
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