Since the 2024 World Series is over, and the first offseason trade has commenced (with commensurate offseason prognostications), I figure it's time to start the offseason thread.
And so the offseason begins: The Atlanta Braves are trading outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels, a source tells ESPN.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 31, 2024
#ChopOn
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Orioles traded to get Daz Cameron, one of their former AAA outfielders back from the Athletics for cash considerations.
Gerrit Cole opted out of his Yankees contract. Yankees can void the opt-out by adding a year at $36 million to his contract.
https://www.mlb.com/news/gerrit-cole-opts-out-of-contract-with-yankees-a...
Would expect they do the $36M
He ended up opting back in? Or at least agreeing to what was remaining before the extra year. I wonder if the Yankees called his bluff, knowing that, at 34 with elbow issues, he wasn't going to get anything near what was remaining on his contract.
I wouldn't pay a soft ass locker room problem that pitches 4-5 innings 10 dollars much less 36 million. he pitches 5 innings max... fuck him.
Yeah that contract is not aging well already
Interesting story out of the Dominican Republic. It seems that a prospect who had agreed to a $4M deal with the Padres was found to be using an assumed name, and was five years older than believed (19, not 14).
I'm wondering that, since deals aren't binding until the prospect is 16, are the Padres now on the hook for that $4M?
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42157614/sources-mlb-finds-prospect-...
Not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure a player representing themselves as 14 when they were actually 19 would void that. Especially since it was a verbal agreement to begin with.
The Nats did that 18 years ago, signing "Smiley Gonzalez, 16 year old 5-tool player" for $1.4M. Smiley was actually 20 year old Carlos Lugo who was meh. (Wikipedia)
Also resulted in discovery that Jim Bowden was skimming money off the international signings. Now a "trusted insider" on MLB transactions, but he's a fraud and will say anything if you pay him. So, guarantee that any insider information he says this offseason is him saying something because someone paid him to say it.
its refreshing to see that sports bag has not negatively infiltrated pretty much all of society. lol. This kid flat lies to MLB as if he won't get caught and Bowden commits a felony. All in the name of sports bag. Love it.
MLB appointed him GM of the Expos (soon to be Nationals) when they were owned by the MLB. MLB definitely has some inside corruption.
Dodgers did not offer a qualifying offer to Walker Buehler. Have to wonder if the injuries have him done or if he can return healthy.
Monday saw the Rookie of the Year awards handed out. Congratulations to Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Luis Gil of some team in the Bronx.
Good for Skenes. This ensures he gets through arbitration and out of Pittsburgh sooner! Teams start your bidding for Skenes in 2029! (and God bless him with health!)
And then there's this:
Dylan Crews may or may not have an elite career, but it seems crazy now that he was considered the clear #1 draft pick last year. Pitt didn't draft him because he said he wouldn't sign with them, so they went with Skenes.
(But here's me hoping Crews wins the ROY next year while also being on the opening day roster.)
Tuesday saw Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers and Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Indians named Managers of the Year.
Cy Young Awards to be announced today.
Atlanta's Chris Sale wins the NL Cy Young award, and Detroit's Tarik Skubal wins the AL Cy Young award. They are the 24th and 25th pitchers to win the Pitching Triple Crown for their respective Leagues.
As expected, in unanimous votes, the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani won the NL MVP, and the Yankees' Aaron Judge won the AL MVP.
Blake Snell getting a 5 year deal with Dodgers