2024-25 MLB Offseason

[GirlySports]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1853554102896140481

So Cole opted out, the Yankees told him they weren't tacking on a year and
they both agreed to pretend the opt out never happened?

Or the Yankees said, "We’ll give you the extra year but you’ll have to go to first base to get it"?

[SuperMatt18]

Yankees should have called his bluff once he opted out and not given him the same deal...who is giving a 34 year old that was a 2.0 WAR last year 4 years at $36M per year.

[bluejays]

Whatever reason, he came to his senses after only a day. They probably had a very explicitly conversation with his agent. Kinda funny all in all.

[Inferno]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1853597769534943562

[Senator Clay Davis]

Did they not talk before all of this, or did Cole just take a shot in the dark and got rejected?

[browna]

Meh, Cole will get a reworked contract. My guess is that was always in the cards and probably discussed beforehand.

Also, I'm sure there was MLBPA voices telling him to opt out, as a PA approved tactic against the owners, however ceremonial.

[bluejays]

Rumors are the Jays may be moving on from Romano. I'd wager to guess they haven't seen something they like for them to do this. He's young, throws hard, but has shown he can be a bit off at times. Still a hometown guy, it would have been nice if they could keep him. I always thought of him as a perfect set up man. Also the business of the sport may be pushing this along if they're targetting Soto with the saved money.

[KelVarnsen]

Rays to play at Yankees ST stadium next season
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-field-tampa

[fundmark19]

This will be interesting as there is a huge part of the fanbase wanting the stadium to be built in Tampa. Hopefully they show up and can make it a fun/intimate atmosphere.

[bluejays]

No take on Kikuchi getting $21M for 3 years? I think it's absurd. $15M max. Angels always do odd things.

[flamingred89]

The Angels are handcuffed with Trout. You can't have "the (former)best player in baseball" on your team and not spend money to compete. So year in and year out they try and cobble something together. What they really need to do is trade Trout and commit to the rebuild. But they won't because there's still butts in seats and Moreno is a moron.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

The Angels are handcuffed with Trout. You can't have "the (former)best player in baseball" on your team and not spend money to compete. So year in and year out they try and cobble something together. What they really need to do is trade Trout and commit to the rebuild. But they won't because there's still butts in seats and Moreno is a moron.

I still believe in Trout, but I think there have been rumors that his back is a chronic situation. So you probably won't get a kings ransom.

[transplant99]

Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 19 of its first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28, then [B] Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer rain at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 19 of its first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28, then will play 64 of its last 108 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight games each in July and August. The Rays are home for eight games each in July and August.

Yikes.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-last-103-road

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yikes.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-last-103-road

Probably win-win in many cases. The cold weather teams especially sell better in the summer, and Tampa outside will sell better in the spring.

[browna]

It's because of the rain in September and it's stinking hot come July August and most of September. There's a reason the Rays and Marlins (and Arizona) play inside.

In other news, sounds like it's Soto to NY,NY, LA, Boston or the Jays.
Unless the Jays get Santander.

[bluejays]

I've said it before and will say it again, I'd much rather Santander at a lower tag and 5 years plus others to fill out the lineup than 14 years of Soto for a crazy amount. While it's not a cap, there's a realistic situation where too much money will be locked into one guy for too long. Too risky to take that on.

[Sylvanfan]

I'd be careful with Santander. His 44 home runs last year seems like a pretty big outlier. He's never been a great on base guy either. He's been around 3 WAR for two years and that seems to be his absolute upside. Not sure a couple more one dimensional right handed hitters makes the Jays lineup any better.

[flamingred89]

Id be wary of Santander as well. Dude is enticing with the power he brings from both sides of the plate. But his low walk rate, OBP, and average suggest an all or nothing guy. The Jays need more baserunners not solo homeruns. I'd let someone else overpay for him.

[bluejays]

I think y'all are right to be weary of Santander, but I don't think he'll come at a premium. Guessing 4 years @ $20M will be his tag. I'm fine with that. I'm also sure most other teams are skeptical of his sudden power as well (hence the theoretical lower tag/term). I do think the continued philosophy shouldn't be defensive prowess, but OBP. That should be a theme for everyone in the lineup, frankly.

[flamingred89]

Sigh. And so it begins. Blake Snell to the Dodgers. 5 years 182 million.

At the end of the day I don't think that contract will age well. Snell had a hard time getting a contract last off season after winning the Cy Young. Had an absolutely terrible start to last season before turning it around. High risk high reward type player. More just annoying that it's the Dodgers and their infinite payroll.