To me, if they go with the DH in the NL, the next logical step for the next CBA down the road would be radical realignment/doing away with the NL and AL. They were talking about it already recently..

Bob Costas will have a stroke from this news.

Being a Mets fan would drive me to honest to God kill ownership.

Bad structure thurrrrrrr

<font color=goldenrod>They're terrible. They talked ad nauseum about raising payroll once they got good and they're still decidedly on the low end of dollars spent per dollars earned.

I have no faith whatsoever that the team will spend the necessary cash to keep any of their starting pitchers once the hit the market. There's a chance that each and every one of those guys will land $200+ million deals once they're free agents.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Rosenthal saying the Nats' offer to Cespedes is clearly the best one he's gotten but he's still torn and wants to go back to the Mets, even if it's for a shorter term deal. Mets don't want to go more than 3, but based on what I've been reading a 4th year might get it done.

Regardless of my feelings on Cespedes...if they REALLY think he can help over 3 years, would it kill them to just guarantee the 4th? They were prepared to give 4 years to Zobrist. Cespedes can move to a corner OF spot in 2 years once Granderson leaves. And in 2019 all of the pitchers will still be here (minus Harvey, who everybody knows is a goner). So it's not like a 4 year deal for Yo will prevent them from re-signing one of the other starters if that's what they're worried about.</font>

With the rumours of a DH hitting the NL soon, and with injuries virtually a guarantee to happen over the course of a 162-game season, having a 4th OF like Cespedes would not be a terrible idea for the Mets at all....for a team with all the pitching in the world, another bat like his would be well worth the gamble in my eyes....

<font color=goldenrod>Now the infamous "mystery team" has jumped into the mix.

I hope he makes up his mind this offseason. Even if it's a mystery team I'll be slightly annoyed but please just not the Nats. Cespedes to the Nats completely swings the division.</font>

:eek: <font color=goldenrod>HOLY FUCK Sandy did it :eek: Cespedes back to the Mets. 3 years, $70 million with an opt out after year 1.

Forget what I said earlier in the off-season. Opt-outs rule!!!

My nipples are hard.</font>

Son of a bitch, Mets ponied up the dough.

Good for you Vito.

Few blizzard related baseball things

Why not add baseball to the winter Olympics/

Well..

Baseball was once played on ice

http://awfulgames.com/fun/comic_stri...w_baseball.gif

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...9590b2a46a.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>I can't decide what I like the most about the Cespedes re-signing.

-He adds another layer of depth to the lineup
-He took less money and years from the Nats to come back to the Mets
-The Mets got him back on their terms, since it essentially is a 1-year contract
-Reportedly the complete and utter outrage from fans on Twitter when he was said to be close to going to the Nats put extra pressure on the Mets to try to get him (The Ces Movement!)
-Perhaps most of all, the Wilpons finally opened up their damn wallets and the payroll went from like $106 million to $140 million in the span of three days

Great deal all around. Cespedes gets a huge $27.5 million salary this year with a 2-year, $47.5 million insurance policy in case he sucks this year. Mets get a highly motivated star player, aren't tied into him for a really long time even if he surprises everyone and opts in, and if he leaves they'll get a first round comp pick.</font>

Was revealed recently that MLB and the USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) are teaming up together in regards to an investigation into the roids allegation report by Al Jazeera. NFL not asking for USADA's help but are holding a seperate investigation into the same claims.

At the moment, MLB believes in some truth to the allegations due to at least one player admitting to taking roids.

Also being implied the NFL might not be as aggressive as the MLB if actual evidence if found due to their poor reputation with roids fighting.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14...jazeera-claims

lolnfl

<font color=goldenrod>Astros set to do some fisting this year. Doug Fister heads to Houston on a 1 year, $7 million deal.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Want to see lots of Fister vs. Pujols matchups in the AL West.</font>

love Fister... wish he'd come back to Detroit

Fister? I hardly even knew her....

TPWW Fantasy Baseball is open. Managers from last year got an email. We have 4 hypothetically open spots if you'd like to play.

Dodgers retain Howie Kendrick. 2-years, $20 mil.

<font color=goldenrod>Brewers get:
2B Aaron Hill
RHP Chase Anderson
SS Isan Diaz
and cash considerations

Dimondbacks get:
SS Jean Segura
RHP Tyler Wagner</font>

Seems like a decent enough way to clear a little payroll space and get a workable major leaguer in return. The Dbacks didn't want to pay Hill $12 mil. Chase Anderson was going to be the odd guy out of the rotation, and Collmenter is better in long relief rather than starting.

Segura gives them mix and match options at the middle infield positions with Owings, Segura, and Ahmed. I think they go with Owings at short and Segura at 2B though. Segura will probably leadoff also (whether that's the right move or not, given a 301 career OBP) and the DBacks needed a leadoff guy after including Inciarte in the Shelby Miller trade.

Milwaukee picks up a guy that can do baseball things in Aaron Hill and a good mid-rotation starter in Anderson.

Hill is aging, but if he gets hot he can provide a lot of power from second, seems like a a great veteran mentor for the young guns there as well....

Segura was rumored to be getting bounced eventually. Heard his name being floated around Mets Nation during the trade deadline.

Not a bad get for the Snakes.

<font color=goldenrod>Yankees top 1B prospect Greg Bird to get shoulder surgery and miss the 2016 season.</font>

This should cover it.


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WWaLxFIVX1s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

That's gonna hurt when Teixeira goes down for his yearly injury.... A-Rod could fill the void short-term, or they'll have to deal one of many OF they have on their 40-man....

<font color=goldenrod>I'm guessing that they'll go with McCann at 1B with Sanchez catching if Teix goes down.

Could also see an Ike Davis or Pedro Alvarez signing.</font>

they might even go cheaper with Garrett Jones, who they are already familiar with from last season, or maybe other fresh blood in Chris Parmelee or Brock Peterson....

<font color=goldenrod>AL seems like it's way more "wide open" in terms of realistic playoff contenders. I don't feel good about every AL team but there really aren't any that I can look at at say with 100% certainty that they're going to suck.

In the NL however I feel like you can already cross out the bottom 2 teams in each division: Braves, Phillies, Reds, Brewers, Rockies, and Padres. Don't really see a scenario in which any of those teams are good.</font>

As far as the AL East goes, I think the Rays/Jays will decline slightly from 2015, Orioles will decline a decent amount and BoSox/Yanks will be on the upswing.... My guess is that there will be less than 7 games in between all 4 teams by seasons end.....

AND THEY WILL ALL LOSE TO THE DERTROIT BEISBOLCATS SIMULTANEOUSLY

Orioles are going to be better than last year, just watch.

You willing to wager on that

How many wins the Orioles have last year...

I don't see it happening, sorry dude.... Machado will get hurt again and Jones is due to miss some time as well....

81-81

Right now the biggest question is the Os rotation. Specifically who is the 5th starter.

The offense and bullpen should be good enough to support an average rotation.

I'm back! My phone reset and I forgot my password, and the email I used is an old college account. So, from the ashes rises Damian Rey 2.0.

First off, congrats Vito on signing Cespedes to a stellar deal. We've discussed defense in center but you don't pass up that kind of contract.

As for Baltimore, I think Droford is forgetting the Orioles are worse roster wise than last year, have zero pitching and still need outfield help while the rest of the division either improved or only slightly declined.

The Orioles will be likely last place this year barring a catastrophe.

The only place theyre worse is Starting Pitching and thats only because they lost Chen and haven replaced him.

They brought back their two most important free Agents (oday and davis) and signed Trumbo and Kim. Trumbo will be a huge imprivement at DH and if Kim can come somewhat close to his career .420 OBP over in korea hell be a great leadoff hitter and upgrade at LF. A full year of healthy Wieters catching (hasnt played full year since 2013) is a plus.

Trumbo is barely a league average player. He's not going to make much if any difference what so ever. He's not a very good player.

You can't just graph international players' numbers and say "oh if he comes close" because the league he was posting those numbers in isc the equivalent of AA or AAA at best. He's not going to be facing the same inferior talent.

Can you name even 10 guys in the least 20 years who came over from Japan or other country who came over here and hit like gangbusters? Can you name even 5?

But....the TRUMBOMBS

More like TrumBum AMIRITE?

Jesus Christ I missed posting in here.

Trumbo and Kim almost have to be better than what they trotted out at dh and lf last year.

At dh they used Paredes the most with Clevenger (3rd catcher) Junior Lake (gone) and Christian Walker (back up 1b that can't hit)

In Lf they used like 7 guys the best of which was Steve Pearce who hit .218. Henry Urrutia who got time in LF will probably play RF..

I've already pointed out how much of an upgrade Trumbo isn't. He's an at best average player, who, even if he's an upgrade, isn't going to move the needle more than maybe a game or 2 at the most.

Kim is a wildcard. God only knows if he's going to be any good and even if he did workout out ok how much of an impact is that really going to make.

The rotation is in shambles. It's not as good or better than any other team in the division. They are in dire need of pitching and instead of blowing their load on Chris Davis they could've gone out and refilled the staff and possibly an outfielder.

It's not looking good. I get you're going to try to be optimistic but the players they're adding are marginal at best. They have done nothing to add to last year's roster.

<font color=goldenrod>Padres get: RHP Jean Cosme
Orioles get: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne</font>

Thank God

Despaigne is going to get fucking shelled in the AL east. He has mediocre at best offerings and trouble hitting spots. May at best be replacement level but that's his ceiling.

#LOLOrioles

Supposedly has/had a great changeup

He stinks. At best he's mediocre, but that's it. He's gonna get shelled in that division though.

Diamondbacks sign Tyler Clippard. 2-years, $12.25 mil.

Delmon Young got arrested for battery after allegedly threatened and beat up a valet attendant.

The Gurriel Bros. have reportedly defected from Cuba. I guess they're the next big thing.

lol delmon, seems like he never learns his lesson

How many teams have a 5th starter that is better than mediocre

A fair question, except Despaigne isn't mediocre. That's his ceiling, as in best case scenario. Right now he's a below average pitcher who gives up 6runs a game

Orioles are probably going to sign Gallardo and Dexter Fowler. Fowler will play LF, he had a career worst.346 obp last year which would hsve been 3rd on the orioles behind Davis/Machado and well ahead of the LFers they used combined .287 obp last year. Fowler getsv 2/20 which seems reasonable if he bounces back..

I dont know about Gallardo though

They shouldn't sign neither of them, especially Gallardo. Neither of them make Baltimore a contender in their own or in aggregate. Not to mention, their farm system is a barren wasteland and giving up two top picks for two guys who won't make much of a difference.

They're better off trying to make trades. Mortgaging the future isn't gonna do them any good.

Bryce Harper was asked about the potential of signing a $400 million contract when he hits free agency in three years, and Harper told the person interviewing him to not sell him short.

christ almighty is that going to be an entertaining offseason.

There's a reason why the Yankees didn't spend money this offseason.

Tbh the Yankees and any other team would be smart to clear as much money as possible before that offseason. It's going to be fucking mayhem.

Jenrry Mejia receives a lifetime ban for his third failed test for performance enhancing drugs. He loses all of his near $3 million he agreed to via arbitration. There's a chance he could be reinstated but at for now he's done.

Lolololollololoollolololollol. At least the Mets get the cash back but lolollollold lol lol jajjajajjjajajajaajak hahahahahahja

^ what

First thing I thought of when I heard this news.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4s5XOFnv7I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Have some respect, the man's only been dead a week

Other tidbits:

Yankees and Aroldis Chapman avoid arbitration. 1-year, $11.325 mil. deal.

Royals and Mike "Moose" Moustakas agree to a 2-year extenstion.

Giants and Brandon Belt agree to a 1-year, $6.2 mil. deal to avoid arb.

Blue Jays lock up Josh Donaldson for an extra 2 years.

Mat Latos ends up on the South Side of Chicago. 1-year, $3 mil. deal with the White Sox.

Pretty stupid to get busted twice while serving suspensions. One would think after the first or second time getting busted, probably would be smart to stop taking roids to avoid this situation in the end.

LOL Jesus Christ mejia. Oh well, I really wasn't counting on him this year anyway. Moron.

When he managed to get popped for PEDs not once but twice in a single year, I saw little reason to expect him to be reliable going forward. We're better off without him. Good fucking riddance.

Agreed. And while the CBA does have reinstatement provisions written into, you'd have to think Mejia is going to made an example of. Highly unlikely they allow the very first 3x offender get back in.

Is the K instead of C representative of his strikeouts?

He's a decent hitter. More pop than anything but it's enough to carry him. His defense is worrisome though. He's an average overall player probably and with 4 years of team control it's not a bad pickup.

Have to say I'm impressed with the Brewers and their rebuilding efforts. They're stocked their farm system in the matter of 2 years and they still have Will Smith and Jonathan Lucroy on their roster. They're gonna reload rather quickly I think.

just screwed himself out of any chance of Major league action.... off to Japan/Korea/Mexico to play any ball at all....

Going to the Blue Jays opening weekend! Taking in all three games.

Fangraphs is projecting 1.7 wins above replacement with a .273/.338/.420 batting line and 18 home runs for Kim which would be miles above what they had last yesr

Only if you don't don't know what the team got out of left field last year. It's. A 2 game swing assuming he can actually produce at that clip. I wouldn't say miles. More like modest improvement.

left-field-disaster

This was posted with a month left in the season but it didnt get much better
Avg. .203
Hits 95
Runs 53
RBIs 33
OBP .275
HRs 10

.70 pts better BA, .60 pts better OBP 8 more homers

The Orioles got -0.4 WAR out of left field last year. If Kim puts v up a 1.7 WAR, then it's a two game swing regardless of whatever counting numbers you post. That's what I'm trying to explain.

How often does a Japanese/Korean/Asian meet expectations their first season in?

Rarely. The only two Japanese guys I can think of are Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. Kang from Pittsburgh is another Asian transplant that hit well, so like 3 in 20 years or something like that.

Not a stellar track record.

Mune Kawasaki.

The greatest Asian to ever play.

Maybe most entertaining

Pitchers & catchers report in 3 days. And there's 1 question Yankee fans need answered.

Anybody know what it is?

That's my point....

To which I agree.

Nori Aoki's been pretty good. Tadihito Iguchi had a nice little run too.

Where does Starlin Castro party first?

By far the best Asian player moment in MLB history

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XRoKDDKkKoc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Can A-Roid catch Babe Ruth?

Nope and nope.

How am I going to the game now that I can't use print at home tickets

I mean..you know it's coming for other teams but still..

Meh, downloading tickets straight to the Passbook on my iPhone has been insanely convenient anyway.

Passbook is super great I agree, but that's a dumb change

The answer is:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sFq_asWwT6o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>


There is no way I'm gonna watch my Yankee games on FOX with Joe Buck calling them. I WANT MY YES NETWORK!

The Asian guy that was in the White Sox in like 2008 maybe we pretty good. And not the closer guy who was amazing for one year.

Tad Iguchi? He stunk. Had like 2 mediocre years and was done after 4.

The Gooch had something like a 6.5 WAR in three years before an injury plagued 4th. He was a solid starter if not an all star.

I can also see ruien doesn't read my posts.

They're off YES? Here in Canada Sportsnet will broadcast a handful of Yankee games all season from YES on days the Jays don't play or if they have rain delays/postponed games.... That sucks....

Comcast will cave on YES eventually