Amaya is really in full-on “prove-it” mode. At some point I’ll believe he’s healthy when I see him be healthy. I’m hopeful that he can at least be a bat at some point, but I can’t really invest in him at this point. There’s reason to be hopeful, but also years of evidence to not get too excited.
Yeah, that seemed weird. They reached a deal on his arb number, then quickly signed an extension. There really seemed like a lot of friction growing in between him and the team. And, as an outsider, the Red Sox seem to be in a little bit of disarray.
That whole Devers thing was weird. I kind of wonder if the Sox were holding firm on a years/cost number and not budging and then the bad pub they got after they lost Bogaerts just forced their hand. What was being reported as friction and maybe bad feelings either gets completely wiped away by $300M or it wasn’t really that way before. My best guess is that Devers was just holding on a number.
I read an article about the Hosmer signing that basically said the Cubs might try to trade Mervis since a lefty lefty 1st base combo isn't ideal. The thinking is that Hosmer and Wisdom will play 1st since it would be righty lefty.
My guess is he just wanted some no trade protections. That's about all he could insist on.
I saw one guy on Twitter (Michael Cerami, maybe, so it might have been Bleacher Nation) speculating about it, but I’ve literally seen nothing else on it. If there’s some big value on Mervis where they can trade him to get a power hitting 3B or a starting pitcher or something, maybe, but otherwise the whole idea just makes no sense. Hosmer is Mervis insurance, Wisdom will play somewhere against lefties and there’s a DH spot. Trading Mervis because they signed Hosmer just makes no sense.
Pretty sure Bauer can only make the minimum this year. Question is which non contender adds him.
Bauer can only make his money from the Dodgers plus league minimum this year. I think technically, a team could pay him more, but it would be deducted from what the Dodgers owe him, so that would just be dumb.
I'm curious if someone like the Pirates add him. It's not as if they have any fans to tick off anyways.
People say he won't get picked up, but I can see a team taking a flyer after his suspension is up, especially a team that could give him some starts, take a little heat, then flip him at the trade deadline.
The issue still remains when will he blow up next. And how much damage he does. It's not question of if it's when. If he feels a teammate is dogging it or an Ump is squeezing him.
Any team that picks him up is doing it with a timeframe of months? Not years. Any issues, and they cut him at the expense of the Dodgers.
But you're assuming the damage he does is only limited to him. Totally can see him go F it and throw at someone's head. Or sucker punch a teammate. Ending someone else's career.
Hasn't stopped him before. See Cleveland and Zona. Both had high hopes of extending him to big money considering his service time. And both passed after blow ups.
I don't expect it to happen, but if PCA got a cup of coffee in Chicago this season I would not be shocked. My hope for Davis is a full season at AAA with no setbacks, and Chicago in 2024.
I’ll be interested to see what happens with Madrigal. He’s never played a position other than 2B in the majors, so there isn’t natural position flexibility there, Hoerner is locked in at 2B and they have at least two other options for utility. Not sure he fits what they’re doing now.
Yep, but from what it sounds like, they are going to go with one of their minor leaguers at 2B. I would deal Madrigal for Cease, that’s a fair deal, right?
Yep. Send him to AAA and try and develop a little power, and some better glove skills. The Cubs don't need a light hitting, bad second baseman. Especially with the new shift rules going into effect.
He‘s gone. He opted for free agency over taking the assignment. I have to think that Amaya’s status played big into even DFA-ing Higgins in the first place.
Damn. Didn’t realize he had reached whatever status it is that allowed him to do that. I know he wasn’t essential to the immediate future, but I sure liked him as a player. And I hope you’re right about Amaya; you have a lot more confidence than I do.
It’s a years thing. When the Cubs DFA a bunch of guys after the season, several had the opportunity to opt out.
6 yrs 200 million could Max out at 270 with vesting options. Question is how long will that ligament last before it blows. He's not a small guy. And SS is a high stress position unlike OF or DH.
