The MLB Thread

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

Tigers and Price agree to one year deal to avoid arbitration ($19.75m).

I was hoping a long term deal would clear up the future of Scherzer.  This does nothing.

I still say give Scherzer what he wants and trade Price to replenish the farm system at the trade deadline.

[vansmack]

I still say give Scherzer what he wants and trade Price to replenish the farm system at the trade deadline.

Are you not planning on being in first place at that time?  Because there's no way that deal happens if the Tigers are leading the division. 

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

I still say give Scherzer what he wants and trade Price to replenish the farm system at the trade deadline.

Are you not planning on being in first place at that time?  Because there's no way that deal happens if the Tigers are leading the division. 

I realize short of the wheels falling off, they'll never actually DO it. That doesn't mean it's not a good idea. The Tigers are highly leveraged in big $$ players with decreasing returns over the next five seasons. Their farm system is mostly in shambles. Why not, you know, be smart for once?

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

Apparently Jamie Shields is in talks with Detroit. (Or Shields agent would like people to think he is.)

[vansmack]

Apparently Jamie Shields is in talks with Detroit. (Or Shields agent would like people to think he is.)

I absolutely would think this is true if Price had signed a long term deal.  There's no way the Tigers lose Scherzer and Price and turn that into just Shields.   

[hutch]

I guess its just me that thinks Shields ain't all that.. I wouldn't sign him.. He looked scared during the World Series..scared to throw strikes.. I hate pitchers like that.

[shemptiness]

Vegas odds now for WS.

Washington Nationals 6/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 8/1
Boston Red Sox   12/1
Chicago Cubs   12/1
Los Angeles Angels   12/1
St. Louis Cardinals   12/1
Detroit Tigers   14/1
Seattle Mariners   16/1
San Francisco Giants   18/1
Toronto Blue Jays   18/1
Baltimore Orioles   20/1
Chicago White Sox   20/1
Kansas City Royals   25/1
New York Yankees   25/1
San Diego Padres   25/1
Cleveland Indians   28/1
Atlanta Braves   33/1
Miami Marlins 33/1
New York Mets   33/1
Pittsburgh Pirates   33/1
Oakland Athletics   40/1
Texas Rangers   40/1
Cincinnati Reds   50/1
Milwaukee Brewers   50/1
Houston Astros   66/1
Tampa Bay Rays   66/1
Arizona Diamondbacks   100/1
Colorado Rockies   100/1
Minnesota Twins   100/1
Philadelphia Phillies   100/1

[stevewizzle]

Vegas odds now for WS.

Washington Nationals 6/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 8/1
Boston Red Sox   12/1
Chicago Cubs   12/1
Los Angeles Angels   12/1
St. Louis Cardinals   12/1
Detroit Tigers   14/1
Seattle Mariners   16/1
San Francisco Giants   18/1
Toronto Blue Jays   18/1
Baltimore Orioles   20/1
Chicago White Sox   20/1
Kansas City Royals   25/1
New York Yankees   25/1
San Diego Padres   25/1
Cleveland Indians   28/1
Atlanta Braves   33/1
Miami Marlins 33/1
New York Mets   33/1
Pittsburgh Pirates   33/1
Oakland Athletics   40/1
Texas Rangers   40/1
Cincinnati Reds   50/1
Milwaukee Brewers   50/1
Houston Astros   66/1
Tampa Bay Rays   66/1
Arizona Diamondbacks   100/1
Colorado Rockies   100/1
Minnesota Twins   100/1
Philadelphia Phillies   100/1

would you take two 12/1 teams or the nats at 6/1? given that the payout would essentially be the same if either bet hit, i think i would be taking BOS and LAA or maybe even ChC and really liking those odds.

[vansmack]

The 2014 World Series Odds on Feb 1, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers -- 13/2
Detroit Tigers -- 17/2
New York Yankees -- 10/1
Boston Red Sox -- 12/1
St. Louis Cardinals -- 12/1
Washington Nationals -- 12/1
Texas Rangers -- 14/1
Los Angeles Angels -- 16/1
San Francisco Giants -- 16/1
Cincinnati Reds -- 18/1
Atlanta Braves -- 20/1
Oakland Athletics -- 20/1
Toronto Blue Jays -- 20/1
Tampa Bay Rays -- 22/1
Pittsburgh Pirates -- 25/1
Baltimore Orioles -- 33/1
Cleveland Indians -- 33/1
Kansas City Royals -- 33/1
Philadelphia Phillies -- 33/1
Seattle Mariners -- 33/1
Arizona Diamondbacks -- 40/1
Chicago Cubs -- 40/1
Chicago White Sox -- 40/1
Milwaukee Brewers -- 50/1
San Diego Padres -- 50/1
Colorado Rockies -- 66/1
New York Mets -- 66/1
Minnesota Twins -- 75/1
Miami Marlins -- 100/1
Houston Astros -- 200/1

[vansmack]

Astros sign Colby Rasmus to a one year deal worth $8m. 

[shemptiness]

Astros sign Colby Rasmus to a one year deal worth $8m. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/astros-add-colby-rasmus--plan-to-strike-out-at-an-astonishing-rate-211239451.html

hahaha

[vansmack]

hahaha

Yes, they now have 7, SEVEN hitters in the top 100 for strikeouts last season.  5 in the top 20!

That being said, I'd still rather have Rasmus than Lough or De Aza.

[vansmack]

Ichiro to the Marlins.

[vansmack]

Keith Laws farm team ranks:

1. Cubs

9. Nats - the Souza deal helped a lot.

22. Orioles - still have top 2 pitchers, weren't able to add much more though.

27.  Angels - were sure to be last for third straight year, but the Heaney deal moved them up 3 spots (still not sure how much that matters as Richards, Shoemaker and Calhoun have starting jobs and were from the system last year and the year before).

30. Tigers - really no good news at all.  Traded 5 of their top 10 prospects, promoted Castellanos, and had an elbow injury to their top pitcher.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

30. Tigers - really no good news at all.  Traded 5 of their top 10 prospects, promoted Castellanos, and had an elbow injury to their top pitcher.

Well, it's the price we knew we were going to have to pay for that World Series championship we won a few ye---, oh, wait...