MLB Offseason Thread

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, it doesn't seem like any of the players going to the Yankees are all that great. At best they may get a couple of middle relievers from the group they are getting back.

[-Jrabbit]

I don't care who it is, it's idiotic to give up 3 youngsters to take on $16 MM in salary for a 43 year old with a recent history of health issues. Even if Johnson has a decent season (say, 16 wins), it costs them a million per win.

Plus, it helps the richest team in baseball.

Monumentally stupid.

[Arrian]

They're taking on $14 million this year (the Yankees will pay $2 million), and word is they're giving him a $10 million extension for next year (!!).

As for the rest, whatever. Teams will trade with the Yankees if they think the trade benifits them. Even if the Yankees are the minions of evil or whatever you think they are.

I think the Dbacks are going to be disappointed, personally, so in that sense we agree. But I think I get *why* they're doing this.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, I also assume greater attendance and some more merchanise sales can offset some of the salary. I'm not sure the D'Backs are all that popular right now.

[-Jrabbit]

I'm guessing they want to be the team he wins #300 for, and get a Dbacks hat in the HOF 5 years later. It will help attendance -- one day out of every 5.

[Arrian]

Also, the NL West is a pretty weak division. If Randy really does put up 16 wins, those wins might really be worth $1 million per, because the result very well might be a trip to the playoffs (setting aside the question of whether or not wins/losses are really good benchmarks for a pitcher's performance).

The Dbacks already have a guy who is arguably the best pitcher in the NL, or at least top 3. Pair him with a RJ who has a good bounce-back year, and they could win the west. Maybe.

I don't see it, but that, in conjunction with the hope for an attendence bounce just from the big name & chase for 300 wins, seems to be the idea.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

If Randy really does put up 16 wins, those wins might really be worth $1 million per, because the result very well might be a trip to the playoffs

Which is a good point. If you've read "Baseball Between the Numbers", you'll note that there is some seriously big money when you get to the playoffs... in terms of not just gate revenue, but also extra TV revenue (I'm not sure, but I think you can get extra even though its a national broadcast). Simply getting to the playoffs is supposed to be worth about $15 million, IIRC.

[Arrian]

I'd put the O/U on Randy's wins at about 12, though. Arizona offense << Yankee offense. Randy won a lot of games in which he pitched like crap, especially last year.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

By the way, it's a little depressing that the best the Yanks can do for a 1B is Doug ManCaveItch. It's too bad Craig Wilson **** the bed in his ~100ABs as a Yankee. His track record is a lot better than his performance as a Yank, but he got himself labelled as a bum. And thus we go out and get "have glove, won't hit" ManCaveItch. Who, given his age and injury issues, may not really have much of a glove left anyway. Sigh.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

HoF election results:

Ripken and Gwynn are in.

Gossage came close. CV says next year for him. Good, 'cause he's worthy in his own right and furthermore if Sutter's in there's just no excuse. I don't even care he was a Yankee - he was before my time.

-Arrian

[Ned]

There was a debate this morning on M&M in the Morning about some sportswriters refusing to vote for any player in the steroids era until they have further clarification on whether particular players were involved or not. Greeny thought the whole idea of delaying a vote for clarification was wrong because with some players there has never been any suggestion of their involvement with steroids.

Then Golic pointed out that until he tested positive, the same was said of Palmeiro.

Greeny then changed his view on this.

Interesting debate.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Ned
Greenies then changed his views on this.

Fixed.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It saddens me that Blyleven didn't even get 50%. And if Sutter is in, how can Lee Smith not be? There is something to be said for longevity.

[OzzyKP]

Alan Trammel

[-Jrabbit]

MANNY TRILLO!!!