Quote from fenn68 on November 29, 2021, 2:08 pm

Did a quick look at MLBTradeRumors for the remaining SP and except for Stroman the remainder are not compelling with a combo of injury risk, age, marginal performance in 2021 ... basically not much of a real upgrade to the Padre options.

With the demand for quality SP (even serviceable SP) ... can't see any team dealing a SP except for a mega return given the potential suitors.

Flip the line of thought and maybe we should consider getting a quality return from dealing one of the Padres serviceable arms ... have to get past any injury concerns in ST first but then?

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With Seager and Semien off the board ... lots of money spent by teams so far ... and looking as though none of the major bats near signing ... post CBA freeze (and near ST) should be an interesting market for Corriea, Story, Baez, Bryant, and Castellanos. Who will have the big money left and need what these guys offer. Especially SS.

Quote from fenn68 on November 30, 2021, 6:39 am

Reports have Baez to DET for $140MM / 6 years. Another SS / quality hitter off the board. It will be interesting where Correa ends up and does he get near he mega ask and landing spots dry up. Story is another question … IF Correa holds for a big deal some team wanting a SS may just shift to Story and a lesser contract than Correa but better contract for Story.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 1, 2021, 1:55 pm

Mark Melancon signs in the division with the Diamondbacks, 2 year deal with a option for a 3rd year. With how bad they are, he may not exceed the amount of saves that he had in 2021 with SD.

Quote from LynchMob on December 1, 2021, 6:22 pm

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/phillies-to-sign-corey-knebel.html

The Phillies announced the signing of reliever Corey Knebel to a one-year contract this afternoon. It’s reportedly a $10MM guarantee.

Quote from fenn68 on December 2, 2021, 9:17 am

Hard to see logic in some moves but Boston trades Renfroe (who had a very good season) to MILW for Jackie Bradley (who had a very bad season) ... money / control not that dissimilar ... and got two prospects (no idea quality).

Quote from LynchMob on December 9, 2021, 3:33 pm

A friend of mine posted this interesting note in another forum ...

Jacob Stallings finished second as the best defensive player at any position, according to dWAR. He might have been robbed.

He had 21 Defensive Runs Saved, the metric that John Dewan devised. Nine more than the next best catcher (Austin Hedges), the biggest victory margin in any of the positions. He finished first in block rate and fourth in pitch framing.

He won the Fielding Bible Award by a comfortable margin.

Quote from fenn68 on December 22, 2021, 9:05 am

Some interesting issues (potentially) for the LAD.

1. they (along with the Padres) are the only two teams penalized this year for exceeding the luxury tax ... and the LAD exceeded by a lot. Under current CBA exceeding a second year in a row (e.g. 2022) would be even more sever penalties ... so a lot depends on the new CBA ... but resetting by being under the limit in 2022 may be a strategic objective.
2. the have "lost" Corey Seager at SS (and maybe don't resign Kershaw) so getting close to the reset level if they don't make any major signing (e.g. Correa, Story for SS)
3. the presumption has been that Trea Turner would take over SS and be resigned for the future ... in 2022 maybe yes BUT a new report is suggesting that Trea Turner does NOT want to play on the West Coast and would prefer to head East as a FA and that would put the LAD in a SS bind for 2023.

So, would the LAD protect their future by going big to sign Correa and incur a second violation year on the luxury tax with significant penalties (which get even worse if they go to three years)? Penalty money and loss of draft picks  hurt their future as they have some  young players who soon will have to get paid too. Put those two together and will the LAD be motivated to do some trades to "shed payroll" or not sign some other veteran FA next winter?

LAD have part of their roster that is getting old anyway ... so are we beginning to see a scenario that pushes them closer to the pack in the NL West?

Quote from LynchMob on January 25, 2022, 10:05 am

Depth chart for Cubs' pen at Rotowire:

Closer 

1. 1. Rowan Wick (R)

Bullpen 

1. 1. Codi Heuer (R)
2. 2. Scott Effross (R)
3. 3. Brad Wieck (L)
4. 4. Tommy Nance (R)
5. 5. Michael Rucker (R)

Quote from fenn68 on January 25, 2022, 10:31 am

Quote from LynchMob on January 25, 2022, 10:05 am

Depth chart for Cubs' pen at Rotowire:

Closer 

1. 1. Rowan Wick (R)

Bullpen 

1. 1. Codi Heuer (R)
2. 2. Scott Effross (R)
3. 3. Brad Wieck (L)
4. 4. Tommy Nance (R)
5. 5. Michael Rucker (R)

Looks as though the Cubs will be looking for RP once the CBA is signed. That is a poor crop.

Their SP seems serviceable but the everyday line-up is also weak ... in a division with StL and MILW would think they would be conservative and and focus on building for the future yet they signed Stroman to the starting staff and Gomes to catch ... decent money.

Maybe a home for some of the Padre "excess" bullpen arms ... maybe for a low A prospect.