2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Second big deal of the day: Brett Anderson to Colorado for former first-round pick Drew Pomeranz and minor-league pitcher Chris Jensen:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/rockies-acquire-brett-anderson.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

The A's -- THE OAKLAND A'S -- also sent $2 million to the Rockies as part of the deal.

Based solely on the A's offseason, but with plenty of additional evidence too, I think it's time to throw out everything we thought we knew about baseball's financial structure.

 

The role of Mark Prior will now be played by Mark Mulder.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10116437/mark-mulder-attempting-return-mound

 

Tigers and Rajai Davis agree to two year, $10 million deal.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24370865/report-tigers-agree-to-two-year-deal-with-rajai-davis

 

No you don't. You are just trolling for a reaction. Even you know better than this.

You do realize, for example, that the acquisition of Jim Johnson could end up being a cheaper option than trying to keep Grant Balfour as a free agent, right? Johnson gives them cost-certainty for 2014 that they didn't have if they tried to keep Balfour, something of value to smaller market teams that have to watch their pennies.

Then you have the Pirates, who are doing nothing but watching free agents leave after finally making the playoffs last season. Sure, the offseason isn't over, but if you can post a knee-jerk reaction based on Oakland, I can make one based on Pittsburgh.

And the Yankees are still spending whatever they want. We all know they could have matched on Cano. They chose not to, still spent quite a bit this offseason and they are not done. The only thing that might keep their spending this offseason from reaching truly insane levels is the change in the posting system. Everything I heard was that the Yankees were counting on being able to blow people away to get Masahiro Tanaka, but the new agreement would not allow that to happen.

 

They signed Scott Kazmir for two years, $22 million, they shipped cash to the Rockies, and they signed Punto for $3M, exactly the kind of deal they used to shy away from for a marginal veteran. They were also in the running for Tim Hudson, and their name has come up a few other times at least in rumors.

I don't care to discuss this with you other than to say the A's are spending money like we haven't seen before, as are other teams. That the Pirates aren't is something for the Pirates to ponder.

I'm sure an insulting post will follow, but I think anyone rational knows what I'm saying.

 

That still isn't much money compared to what the big boys spend, but you knew that, too, right?

A tweak to one team's philosophy does not constitute a change in the overall finances of baseball.

You actually want to include rumors as evidence, too? Seriously?

The issue isn't just how much (or little) the small markets spend. The issue is the difference between what they spend and what the high-revenue franchises spend. That gap is still massive.

The three deals you mentioned combine for $27 million in spending by Oakland this offseason. The Yankees committed to a guaranteed $153 million for Jacoby Ellsbury alone. Yeah, the playing field is completely level now.

 

Very well then. Good day.

 

Translation: You know I'm right, but at least your trolling got a response.

 

Really not.

Just trying to disengage from this portion of the debate.

Have at the last word if you must, but there's really no admission here. Just fatigue at ending up in the same place everyone always ends up with you.

 

Translation, you are the biggest clown on here and should STFU. Baseball has never, ever been healthier and you still want to scream salary cap. You're a clueless twat.

 

Funny how LTL assumed I'd be the one hurling insults. Unlike you, I actually debated the topic and you contributed nothing but a personal attack.

LTL trolled for a reaction, trying to claim something even he knows isn't true. He got called on it and quit. He can't counter my argument, so he relied on making it personal. Both of you can whine about me all you like. It just proves you can't handle the debate on its merits.

And by the way, if you don't like that the debate came up again, take that up with LTL, not me. He's the one who dragged it into the discussion.

I never said baseball wasn't healthy. I said it has an unbalanced playing field which is damaging to the integrity of the game, one that makes its financial system inferior to that of the NFL. One relatively modest spending spree by the Athkletics does not change that. Next time, try to understand what a poster is saying before you launch into an attack.