Offseason baseball Thread

People always seem to forget just how many players were tied to draft picks under the former "Type A," Type B" and Type C" system. From the SI story:

The truth is that these rules will only impact a small group of teams and players. Only nine men received qualifying offers, and only four clubs—the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers—paid the luxury tax this year. But it's worth wondering just how we got to the point where understanding MLB's free agency rules now requires LSAT-level reading comprehension, or even a team of specialized lawyers. The simple reality is that free-agent compensation shouldn't be tied to draft pick forfeiture: All that does is serve to depress the market artificially, as teams usually have no inclination to sacrifice picks (and the cheap talent they lead to) in exchange for already expensive veterans, particularly those who are not elite. And while this new system is a clear improvement for the players, who saw their markets badly hurt by the old qualifying offer system in which first rounders were the cost of doing business, this is still far from perfect.

 

Yeah, the only reason JD Martinez hasn't been a full-time DH in the AL is that he's played on teams with other guys who are worse on defense/don't have a position (Chris Carter with the Astros, Victor Martinez with the Tigers). Obviously, being the DH in Arizona wasn't an option.

 

Sorry, but the changes to the luxury tax and compensatory picks (which took place in 2016) are not so drastically different that they're squashing the market for this year's free agent crop. The big free agents this season are uninspiring, they're almost all over the age of 30, and they're asking for mammoth deals.

 

Welcome to the 21st century, Cleveland:

 

Dan Snyder says ahoy-hoy.

 

Former Padres and Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers has died of cancer. He was only 56.

 

First round pick in back-to-back years, including No. 1 overall by the Astros in 2013 (one pick ahead of Kris Bryant):



If he never makes the majors, he'd be just the third No. 1 pick who didn't, after Steve Chilcott (1966) and Brien Taylor (1991).

The Mets took Chilcott, a high school catcher from California, right before the Athletics took Reggie Jackson.

The 1991 draft had a pretty bad Top 10. Dmitri Young went No. 4 to the Cardinals (drafted as a shortstop!), and that was about it in terms of star players until the teens. Manny Ramirez went No. 13, Cliff Floyd No. 14, Shawn Green No. 16.

 

I imagine Loria waddling out through the outfield, priceless paintings and boxes of bobbleheads under his arms, getting into a tiny spaceship pod he had hidden under that hideous display out in centerfield and blasting off through the roof while cackling out like a Bond villain: "HAVE FUN WITH JETER, SUCKERS!"

Sources: Jeffrey Loria not sharing profits with county from $1.2 billion Marlins sale

 

Mets sign Todd Frazier. Two years, $17 million, per Rosenthal.

Therefore making the decision to move on from David Wright. Quality player and stayed with Mets when they were beyond awful. But his body is just broken.

Wonder if he retires or tries to hang on as a bench player.

 

And on Monday, Jetes fired the team mascot, Billy the Marlin. This could be Manky's best shot.

 

Never met him, but Appel seems incredibly stubborn. Got drafted by the Pirates at #8, wouldn't sign, was then rewarded by being the #1 pick the next year. Now the Phillies want to try him in the bullpen, and he's quitting to go to business school.

 

Stubborn? That's an interesting way to put it.