OT: Baseball Free Agents

Jun 1, 2014
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That’s what I have also heard about roberts, that’s why I was surprised you didn’t list him in the post I was responding to.

I was talking on the lesser known guys. Robert is ranked on every top 100 lists, I didn't include him in the previous post but should have
 

IGNORE

Redshirt
Jan 15, 2019
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You mean the White Sox? I am not too high on the job Hahn has done although the jury is not fully back on this yet. I think Theo Epstein has shown that if you truly want to rebuild your minor league organization, there are no shortcuts and you have to make a long term commitment that requires significant resources and personnel focused on talent identification and talent development. The early returns on Hahn's organization when you look at his draft record, his international signings, his trades and most importantly when you look at the job they have done of developing the talent once it gets to the organization is lukewarm at best.

I was referring to every GM they picked ahead of Theo and missed this hidden gem. But like PPD, I say let's wait three years and see which pick is doing what.

As I look back at first round picks 5+ years ago, so few make the majors. Fewer become stars. And this includes top ten picks. I think the Sox have shown better ability to identify and draft talent than in the past. I would agree that there ability to develop talent through the MiLB leaves much to be desired. But the ones that don't need much tutoring - Sale Rodon, Anderson, maybe Madrigal - well, they have proven to be starters.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
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I was referring to every GM they picked ahead of Theo and missed this hidden gem. But like PPD, I say let's wait three years and see which pick is doing what.

As I look back at first round picks 5+ years ago, so few make the majors. Fewer become stars. And this includes top ten picks. I think the Sox have shown better ability to identify and draft talent than in the past. I would agree that there ability to develop talent through the MiLB leaves much to be desired. But the ones that don't need much tutoring - Sale Rodon, Anderson, maybe Madrigal - well, they have proven to be starters.

The teams that hit on the majority of their first round picks and their international free agent signings are the ones the are consistently good. It comes down to talent identification and talent development and Hahn's track record right now is not looking great. He can still redeem himself but the early signs are not encouraging for White Sox fans in my opinion.
 
Jun 1, 2014
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The teams that hit on the majority of their first round picks and their international free agent signings are the ones the are consistently good. It comes down to talent identification and talent development and Hahn's track record right now is not looking great. He can still redeem himself but the early signs are not encouraging for White Sox fans in my opinion.

I don't disagree here. Jury is still out. There have been too many "safe" picks by them so far IMO. The college guy who doesn't require too much seasoning, but don't have much boom factor either.

I'd be pretty shocked if they go HS at 3 this June, but I do think they need to start supplementing all of this core with guys that are 5-6 years away as well so they're not all due big $ at the same time.
 

rwhitney014

Sophomore
Dec 5, 2007
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I don't disagree here. Jury is still out. There have been too many "safe" picks by them so far IMO. The college guy who doesn't require too much seasoning, but don't have much boom factor either.

I'd be pretty shocked if they go HS at 3 this June, but I do think they need to start supplementing all of this core with guys that are 5-6 years away as well so they're not all due big $ at the same time.

It's that, plus the fact that teams only have 40 spots to protect once players reach the experience level where they need to be protected. The Rays in particular are about to face a situation where they have too many good prospects and won't want to lose any for nothing in the Rule 5 draft, so don't be surprised to see them package some guys either for an upgrade at the MLB level or for a highly thought of player who's younger.

As my grandfather would have said, we should all have this problem. But it's still something to monitor.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
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It's that, plus the fact that teams only have 40 spots to protect once players reach the experience level where they need to be protected. The Rays in particular are about to face a situation where they have too many good prospects and won't want to lose any for nothing in the Rule 5 draft, so don't be surprised to see them package some guys either for an upgrade at the MLB level or for a highly thought of player who's younger.

As my grandfather would have said, we should all have this problem. But it's still something to monitor.

There are very few instances where the 40 man limit has become a serious problem because a team has too much talent that needs to be protected. Don’t know enough about tampa’s situation but if this is truly the case, now is the time to use that capital to make a run at the big league level.
 
Jun 1, 2014
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It's that, plus the fact that teams only have 40 spots to protect once players reach the experience level where they need to be protected. The Rays in particular are about to face a situation where they have too many good prospects and won't want to lose any for nothing in the Rule 5 draft, so don't be surprised to see them package some guys either for an upgrade at the MLB level or for a highly thought of player who's younger.

As my grandfather would have said, we should all have this problem. But it's still something to monitor.

For sure. They're gonna start making prospect for prospect trades soon so they don't lose guys to the rule 5 because of the roster crunch they're going to have to go through.
 

Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
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Lots of chatter around the league about “collusion” because Harper and Manny are unsigned. They seem to forget that both guys have offers. It’s just that offers are record setters from teams where these guys want to go. Average MLB payrolls have risen from $110M in 2013 to $139M in 2018. Not a huge increase but certainly significant. The 2013 figure is also a bit misleading because of spending by NYY and the Dodgers that was over twice the league average. In 2018, only 5 teams have payroll under $100M.
 

Fitz51

Senior
Oct 21, 2008
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Lots of chatter around the league about “collusion” because Harper and Manny are unsigned. They seem to forget that both guys have offers. It’s just that offers are record setters from teams where these guys want to go. Average MLB payrolls have risen from $110M in 2013 to $139M in 2018. Not a huge increase but certainly significant. The 2013 figure is also a bit misleading because of spending by NYY and the Dodgers that was over twice the league average. In 2018, only 5 teams have payroll under $100M.

No puppet.
 

Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
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Harper has a 10 year, $300 M offer from the Nats. Reports say the Nats upped it last month.

Machado has an offer from the WSox for around $200 M based on reports. The Padres made an offer, according to some.

The poor entitled snowflakes aren’t getting gobs of money thrown at them by multiple teams.

The horror.
 
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hoosboot

All-American
Nov 7, 2001
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The poor entitled snowflakes aren’t getting gobs of money thrown at them by multiple teams.

I think you need to study up some before you use "snowflakes" again.

Meanwhile, as while the average MLB payroll has gone up 26% in the time you note, MLB revenue has gone up 33% over the same time period.

Some perspective, my dude.
 
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Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
36,365
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I think you need to study up some before you use "snowflakes" again.

Meanwhile, as while the average MLB payroll has gone up 26% in the time you note, MLB revenue has gone up 33% over the same time period.

Some perspective, my dude.
Yes, I’m well aware that revenues have grown faster than payroll, dude.

Is there a law that stipulates every incremental dime earned by the business has to go toward employee compensation? In many healthy businesses revenues grow faster than payroll, dude.

As noted earlier, Machado and Harper are more the victims of bad timing. There are a handful of teams that do mega contracts (Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs), and they are sitting this one out.

Without a hostage, there is no ransom, dude.
 

hoosboot

All-American
Nov 7, 2001
26,893
6,534
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Yes, I’m well aware that revenues have grown faster than payroll, dude.

Is there a law that stipulates every incremental dime earned by the business has to go toward employee compensation? In many healthy businesses revenues grow faster than payroll, dude.

As noted earlier, Machado and Harper are more the victims of bad timing. There are a handful of teams that do mega contracts (Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs), and they are sitting this one out.

Without a hostage, there is no ransom, dude.

 

Purple Pile Driver

All-Conference
May 14, 2014
25,971
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It does pain me to watch "snowflake" be employed so badly.
Or the word “Dude” being used so liberally.

“Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not Mr. Lebowski. You’re Mr. Lebowski. I’m the Dude. So that’s what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.”
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
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The players union has spent the last decade strategically reducing the money that players can make early in their careers through strict slotting of draft and international pool money, at the same time the front office has realized that players are already too old by the time they reach free agency, at the same time that the desire of players to lock in cash has reduced the quality of the free agent pool.

I would anticipate that the players union will negotiate for a ‘percentage of revenue’ split. (I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure the NBA has one.)
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
45,600
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I don’t care if you are shocked or not. You implied that AAV is as relevant in baseball. It is not. Total contract size is what matters. I’ll be surprised if either of them signs a nine figure contract that starts with a 2.

So, about that bet...
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
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Good for him. I hope this puts to rest any silly talk of collusion. What it does not change is the view that the economics of baseball are broken and are risking killing the golden goose. Players are getting ridiculous contracts like this one at the same time that owners are progressively getting a bigger piece of the total revenue pie. The average fan is getting priced out from attending games and pretty soon fans won’t even be able to watch games on TV without forking over extra money. If teams like the Cubs are building their business model on the premise the average fan is going to fork over extra money solely to watch Cubs games on Sinclair, I think they are fooling themselves. I certainly won’t be doing that. Heck, this might just be the push I need to become a White Sox fan.
 
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Fitz51

Senior
Oct 21, 2008
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Hilarious how poorly the White Sox played this. They go public saying they would be disappointed if they don’t get him, so now the fans are pissed from setting the expectation without any need to. Then, they acquire two ****** players because of ties to Machado but don’t get Machado. Then, say they thought they had the best offer all along showing they didn’t know the market.

Overmatched front office. Horrid ownership. I’ll wait this out like I did Wirtz.
 
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Alvious

Junior
Sep 6, 2010
2,592
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My fear is that when Jerry (or his estate) sells the team, the new owner will move them out of town.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
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My fear is that when Jerry (or his estate) sells the team, the new owner will move them out of town.

Possible. Their financial position will look even less attractive if their sweetheart lease gets renegotiated to market terms once it expires in a few years. There are several growing markets that would kill to get a MLB team ( Nashville and Charlotte come to mind). A new owner with no ties to Chicago may be less inclined to play second fiddle to the Cubs in the Chicago market.
 

willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
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My fear is that when Jerry (or his estate) sells the team, the new owner will move them out of town.
Montreal? Unless they up their attendance numbers in a big way, why would a new owner buy into be the second team in Chicago?
 

Fitz51

Senior
Oct 21, 2008
10,115
649
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My fear is that when Jerry (or his estate) sells the team, the new owner will move them out of town.

Maybe. They'll still be my favorite team no matter where they move. Well, within reason - I'm not rooting for a team from Alabama or something.