The MLB Thread

[Kubacheck]

^not that it wasn't obvious already, but Samardzija seems like one of the few baseball/football college prospects who made the right decision to choose baseball over football in terms of career trajectory/earnings....  when I say this, I'm thinking of guys like Josh Booty and Drew Henson, guys who were supposedly NFL QB material but elected to try pro baseball first and ended up not doing much in either baseball or football..... also just goes to show you the insane economics of baseball where a guy who's never had a winning record as a starter in a single season and has a career ERA over 4 still commands that kind of money......

[vansmack]

Sorry Nats fans, Cubs get Zobrist, 4 years, $56m.

And promptly trade Starlin Castro to the Yankees.

[vansmack]

D-Backs acquire Shelby Miller from Braves.

[Julian, Forum COGNOSCENTI]

D-Backs acquire Shelby Miller from Braves.

Surprised they gave up Dansby Swanson in that.

[vansmack]

Surprised they gave up Dansby Swanson in that.

AJ Pollock was who they wanted but the D-Backs said no way.  Getting Swanson will take the sting off of losing Simmons, but yeah, I'm surprised he was included.

But three years of control for Miller has a cost.

[shemptiness]

D-Backs acquire Shelby Miller from Braves.

Surprised they gave up Dansby Swanson in that.

All of Atlanta believes they have their next Chipper Jones.

[shemptiness]

Sitting in the box seats at the O's the other day I was saying that I'm surprised they haven't had more accidents and put up netting like the NHL.  I think that will happen now.

Bad form to quote oneself but nevertheless....

http://deadspin.com/mlb-recommends-all-30-stadiums-install-additional-safet-1747108452

[vansmack]

D-Backs acquire Shelby Miller from Braves.

Surprised they gave up Dansby Swanson in that.

All of Atlanta believes they have their next Chipper Jones.

The other three times a #1 selection was traded before they reached the bigs (Matt Bush, Adrian Gonzalez and Shawn Abner) only once did it not pay off for the trader - small sample size of course.  Even then, it took a while for Adrian Gonzalez to blossom.

But most are calling this a comically high take for ATL.  Shelby Miller for Aaron Blair OR Dansby Swanson was probably enough.   They essentially turned Jason Heyward's last year under control into three top prospects (P Tyrell Jenkins, SS Dansby Swanson, and P Aaron Blair) and a utility outfielder Ender Inciarte, plus one good year of Shelby Miller.

That's amazing.

[Julian, Forum COGNOSCENTI]

But most are calling this a comically high take for ATL. 

Oh, it is comically high. And its amazing, agreed. The Braves are going to be unwatchable dreck for the next 2 seasons but if these prospects they're getting in this firesale actually pay off, they're going to be awesome when they open that new stadium.

[shemptiness]

But most are calling this a comically high take for ATL. 

Oh, it is comically high. And its amazing, agreed. The Braves are going to be unwatchable dreck for the next 2 seasons but if these prospects they're getting in this firesale actually pay off, they're going to be awesome when they open that new stadium.

Which pleases Nick Markakis for sure. 

[vansmack]

Arizona is clearly valuing pitching and sees the next three years as the key for this young crop of position players.

D-backs starters with Free Agent year:

Greinke (2022)
Miller (2019)
Corbin (2019)
Ray (2021)
Anderson (2021)
De La Rosa (2019)

[Julian, Forum COGNOSCENTI]

Heyward to Cubs. Haven't seen terms yet.

[vansmack]

Heyward to Cubs. Haven't seen terms yet.

8 years, $184m with two (!) opt out clauses.

BTW - if (when?) Theo wins a WS with the Red Sox AND the Cubs, where does he rank among the Gods?

[Julian, Forum COGNOSCENTI]

BTW - if (when?) Theo wins a WS with the Red Sox AND the Cubs, where does he rank among the Gods?

I mean, the Mount Rushmore of GMs for sure. Interesting topic.

[vansmack]

8 years, $184m with two (!) opt out clauses.

Supposedly, the Cards and Nationals had bids with more cash (+$200m), but he chose the Cubs in exchange for the opt outs.