Balta1701

See more recent post. I was eyeballing it based on the B-R page, but then I realized it didn't even have Lynn's extension in there so I had to backtrack and go to Spotrac to get more updated numbers.

His physical conditioning actually looked good, he was moving around quite well on the broadcast so he was clearly in shape. I think much more he had to get some time on a baseball field to get into "baseball shape" to avoid exactly these type of injuries from baseball moves.

Ok, in a little more detail I was a little high on that, it depends on a lot of arbitration offers. They're at just under $140 assuming the 2 options are picked up. Giolito would bring that closer to $150 (a couple million under), but they have arbitration decisions to make on Burr, Engel, Marshall, and Lopez - if all of them are offered Arb, that probably pushes them closer to $160. Altogether I was probably $10-15 million high, but B-R doesn't even have the Lynn extension in there so I was eyeballing it.

Please note where it says "if he passes a physical" as this detail was included in that clause. He must pass a physical.

I would say that they moved him quite quickly through his rehab stint, only played 12 minor league games, so some of this could be on whoever made the decision to call him up and have him at full speed so quickly.

He has a complicated option. It is one of 2 things - if he finishes 55 games this year, the option vests if he passes a physical, and he has finished 35 games so far. If he does not finish 55 games and the option does not vest, the option becomes a team option with a $1 million buyout. So, it's fairly team friendly - more team friendly than having him under contract in fact. In the case of injury, he can be let loose for $1 million.

This is the kind of setup that can get in an opponent's head. The Astros are down 3-1 in the 5th inning...they're thinking "We have to get something going right now because we aren't coming back late". This also destroys the strategy of trying to make a starter work a lot to get him out of the game. Oh, I'm sorry, Lynn threw a lot of pitches and is out after 6? Here's Kopech, Hendricks, and Kimbrel. Stay safe on the roads home.

Assuming they pick up the two options they just got, they're basically right around $170 million next year give or take.

I really like the attitude of these guys together. I think this is going to be an absolute buzzsaw.

Ironically, Hendriks in 2019 started the season behind Blake Treinen as the A's closer, and Hendricks only took over that role in June, so he's been a dominant setup man somewhat recently.

I really want the team to make something of the two headed monster coming into the game, something recognizable.

Here's one where it actually comes down to how you define valuable. Because in terms of "Win Probability Added", which is specifically what we're going for with a deal like this - Kimbrel actually has outperformed Bryant this year., Bryant has more chances to do stuff, but Kimbrel is impacting the highest leverage points.

Presumably you mean "If Madrigal was healthy" right?

A major payroll increase up to at least $170 million is all but guaranteed. That said, I don't see the White Sox spending a huge amount on a starter this offseason, because they're still going to plan for Kopech in the rotation and probably should. I would say it's a good idea to bring in some depth again. RF, I'm not sure what they'll do, because there's like 3 or 4 guys they have to figure out what they're going to do with. My guess is they could be looking to pull something off in a trade market for that.

This post is better with no context.

Isn't the corresponding move for Kimbrel = Heuer gone?

I believe they specifically said that after his latest injury they were going to limit his use and not play him back to back. Righty on the mound tonight, so get the lefty in today.

I think Rob Manfred is quite content with how the rule change worked out.

Ya know? That's better than Goodwin in CF and Leury in RF.

Is Kimbrel available?

I think Nick showed he can be better than that with the bats this year, even from the eyes of a skeptic he was absolutely driving the ball whether or not it went out of the park. But you've got a major wrist injury in 2018-2019, a major shoulder injury in 2020, and a major hamstring injury in 2021. That's a guy who you would say "we need to pick up Cesar Hernandez's option just to have some insurance" if he were your penciled in 2022 starter.

The White Sox actually need some of those wins to chase down Houston and Boston.

Apparently Kimbrel also has to pass a physical for the option to vest, so there's some injury insurance built in.

Yes, it converts to a club option if it does not vest. At that point, the club could take the buyout or the option (hard to imagine situation where the option isn't picked up though).

Would have been all right, but .773 OPS against righties this year and beating a lefty 17-3 as opposed to 13-2 doesn't get an extra win.