2015 MLB season.

[choxorn]

If it's just 3 it's gotta be Bonds, Clemens, and Johnson for me. If it opens up to 5 then I'd probably add Piazza and Martinez.

I'm going to assume you mean Pedro, not Edgar, in which case I agree with you on both counts.

Given 10 spots, I'd also vote in Biggio, Bagwell, Smoltz, Schilling, and Raines, I guess, though I also really want to be able to vote in Trammell, Mussina, Edgar Martinez, and maybe also Larry Walker or Jeff Kent.

 

[onejayhawk]

A WTH trade:

A's give Josh Donaldson, probably their best player
Blue Jays give Brett Lawrie, pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, SS Franklin Barreto.

Donaldson's age ( Lawrie is 4 years younger) and Barreto appear to be the keys to the deal. Barreto could be called up by age 21, a la Rougned Odor. Both pitchers are fringy, but have already had their cup of coffee.

J

 

[shadowplay]

What a deal for the Jays. They get rid of one of the biggest jerks in Toronto sports in Brett Lawrie, and land an all-star caliber player at the same time? Two birds with one stone.

A's must have high hopes for the two prospects.

 

[onejayhawk]

What a deal for the Jays. They get rid of one of the biggest jerks in Toronto sports in Brett Lawrie, and land an all-star caliber player at the same time? Two birds with one stone.

A's must have high hopes for the two prospects.

One prospect and probably Lawrie, who is will not turn 25 til January.

Berreto is only 18, but has already Wowed a lot of people. Short more than small, he could be in Oakland before he turns 21. he looks to be a solid middle infielder or possibly CF, with some pop. Think Rougned Odor. This is a year old, from when he was 17

Franklin Barreto, SS: Signed for more than a $1 million out of Venezuela in 2012, Barreto is an ultra-talented shortstop who spent the 2013 season playing in rookie ball at the age of 17. Just 5’9”, he generates good raw power (currently gap strength) because of his strong wrists, forearms and bat speed. Barreto has an advanced approach at the plate for his age and makes solid contact despite a somewhat aggressive approach. He’s a stretch defensively at shortstop and should eventually end up in the outfield.​

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-top-10-prospects-toronto-blue-jays/

Since then he hit a 800+OPS in A ball, with plus speed and improved defense. I have seen him on a top 50 prospect list (#34).

The two pitchers are roster fillers. They might make it to the majors to stay, but neither looks like a star.

J

 

[dgfred]

Some had expected Lawrie to really break out last year... and maybe the year before too .

Sure did mess me up in fantasy baseball last year . He was terrible when not hurt early in the year. Didn't get too much better.

 

[choxorn]

damnit mariners why did you sign cruz now he's going to suck for 4 years and aaaaaaarghhh

 

[dgfred]

Getting guys just after they do well . And all that money to Kyle .

 

[onejayhawk]

Maybe this sheds some light on the deal:

"One industry source says he "knew" the Athletics would trade Josh Donaldson this winter, no matter how little baseball sense it made, because the All-Star and Beane were "at war" by season's end.

Multiple sources cite a verbal altercation between the two after Donaldson told manager Bob Melvin he needed a couple of days off after Oakland had played several days in a row. The story goes, Beane told Donaldson if he needed a couple of days off, the club should put him on the disabled list, and that made Donaldson unhappy. ...
"Donaldson told the manager he needed a blow, and [Bob] Melvin said, 'You got it,' " the source said. "Then that night's lineup came out and Billy asked, 'Where's Donaldson?'"

When told what happened, the source says, an angry Beane demanded that Melvin put Donaldson back into the lineup.

"They got into it in the coach's office," the source says, describing a scene in which Beane lit into Donaldson, with the third baseman reiterating his need for a day off and petulantly calling Beane "Billy Boy."

"Nobody talks to Billy that way," the source said. "It did not surprise me in the least that he got rid of Donaldson."
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...-with-billy-beane-before-trade-005754140.html

J

 

[onejayhawk]

Moneyball II (2014)
113 min - Biography | Horror | Sport - 30 November 2014 (USA)

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's deranged attempt to disassemble an entire baseball team by employing computer-generated holograms instead of new players.

 

[Light Cleric]

So the Braves are "rebuilding" and trade Heyward...and then pay a declining 31 year old Nick Markakis $44 million.

WTH are we doing????

did we hire Ruben Amaro while I was on vacation?

did we not have enough bad contracts in the outfield?

 

[dgfred]

Haha... 'Ruben'

 

[Light Cleric]

Aaaaaaand now it's coming out that Markakis is leaning towards having neck surgery. The neck is always a great place to have something going wrong. And the Braves news about the injury before they signed him.

They fired Frank Wren for a couple of bad contracts over the course of his tenure...and then his replacement makes a garbage one within a month on the job.

The only thing the Braves are building right now is their fans' blood pressure.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Hmm, Lester to the Cubs. Pricey, but even as a St Louis fan, I have to say that this looks like a good deal for the Cubbies, at least for the first few years of the contract.

 

[SamSniped]

THANK GOD WE DIDN'T GET HIM!
Not for that kind of money at least.

 

[choxorn]

Jimmy Rollins is now a Dodger. Not clear yet what exactly the Phillies got in return for him.

 

[KMRblue1027]

Jimmy Rollins is now a Dodger. Not clear yet what exactly the Phillies got in return for him.

I don't think I can watch baseball until he retires now.

 

[EgonSpengler]

So the Red Sox are putting some nice depth in their rotation. I feel a distinct lack of an Ace, however. Cincinnati just traded Latos and Simon, which probably means they're trying to keep Cueto.

 

[onejayhawk]

So the Red Sox are putting some nice depth in their rotation. I feel a distinct lack of an Ace, however. Cincinnati just traded Latos and Simon, which probably means they're trying to keep Cueto.

Why give up so much to bring a HR prone lefty to Fenway?

Their rotation will be as good as the Royals. Now all they need is the bullpen and the defense.

J

 

[EgonSpengler]

Why give up so much to bring a HR prone lefty to Fenway?

You mean Miley? 0.9 homers per 9 innings isn't a lot, but I don't know if Arizona's park favors hitters or pitchers in that regard. And we didn't give up that much. De la Rosa and Webster were substitutes, at best. I don't know how good a prospect Flores is, but that's part of the nature of prospects, isn't it?

 

[onejayhawk]

You mean Miley? 0.9 homers per 9 innings isn't a lot, but I don't know if Arizona's park favors hitters or pitchers in that regard. And we didn't give up that much. De la Rosa and Webster were substitutes, at best. I don't know how good a prospect Flores is, but that's part of the nature of prospects, isn't it?

1.03 HR/9, 13.9% HR/FB. His HR/9 has gone up two straight years.

This is a Big Deal.

Padres shortstop prospect Trea Turner and pitching prospect Joe Ross will go to the Nationals.
Wil Myers, Ryan Hanigan, and minor league pitchers Jose Castillo and Gerardo Reyes will go to the Padres.
Steven Souza, Travis Ott, Rene Rivera, Burch Smith, and Jake Bauers will go to the Rays (with Ott and Souza coming from the Nats).

I always wondered how Myers felt when the Royals went to the WS without him.

J