caulfield12

Pollock is already 31. He's a lot like Harper, in that his one peak (and 100% healthy) season makes you think he could almost be a superstar. The problem is that the rest of his career suggests at 2.5-3.0 value player, not unlike Joc Pederson, except Pederson's only 26 years old and has been able to stay relatively healthy. Pederson has the 2017 season counting against him, when he managed something like a 0.6 fWAR. Everyone projected Pollock at around 5 and $80 coming into the offseason, but it seems that's falling back towards 3-4 years....but, then again, who knows what the heck happens to the market once Harper and Machado are gone.

I think we're discounting a few things. We know Kopech's situation, but with Cease/Dunning and possibly Hansen, that should provide at LEAST 2 more options. Then you have the free agency market (at least 5 REALLY good pitchers that are all 100% "win now" besides Sale)...the #3 draft pick for another high-rising college pitcher (if it's not Vaughn, Adley or Witt) AND international free agency.

Another reason to trade him to the Sox is that a competitor of the Dodgers, like the Braves, would then have to allocate more payroll due to the increasing demand for Pollock’s services, not to mention they’d lose that draft pick. Considering the Braves are set up to be one of the top NL teams the next five years, it’s certainly a consideration to a team desperate for a World Series title. Not a huge consideration, but if would be if the Braves aren’t offering significantly more for Joc. Of course, Atlanta could always shock the world and sign Harper tomorrow.

Gray could headline a rotation in far better shape than the one that finished 2018 with a 5.02 ERA: Gray, Roark, Wood, Luis Castilloand Anthony DeSclafani, with Tyler Mahle, Sal Romano and Cody Reed also capable of starting. While the Reds have yet to sign a major league free agent this winter, the additions through trade have pushed their payroll above $120 million, which would be a franchise high. Following a 67-95 season, the Reds felt close enough to start moving toward contention, even with a loaded National League Central that includes three potential playoff teams in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis as well as a Pittsburgh team that finished above .500 last season. source:espn.com

Pirates’ fans would mutiny on the Clemente Bridge...

https://www.mlb.com/news/should-white-sox-spend-big-on-position-player/c-302813752 Is signing Machado or Harper the right move? Scott Merkin mailbag

Three MLB "insiders" who didn't have the White Sox as much of a factor 4 days ago...not completely surprising, I guess http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25769367/will-bryce-harper-manny-machado-sign-super-bowl-sunday-other-burning-questions Who do you think will sign Machado? Matz: All the talk about the Phillies flirting heavily with Harper in Vegas this past weekend could be legit. Or it could be a ploy to make Machado flinch and take whatever Philly is offering. Feels like the latter to me. I still see Manny donning red pinstripes. Schoenfield: The funny thing, it's to the advantage of both players to wait for the other to sign first -- especially if the first one to sign doesn't go with the Phillies. We know the Phillies want one of these guys, and if they miss out on the first one to sign, they may feel forced to increase their offer to the other to make sure they don't get shut out. But who signs first? If Harper ends up choosing the Nationals and that happens first, maybe it will push Machado to the Phillies. Miller: The Phillies. Again, though, given the tone of what's been publicly reported, this feels like trying to forecast the weather nine days out. Feels like the significant steps in the process are still undeveloped. How surprised would you be if the Phillies ended up signing NEITHER Machado nor Harper? Matz: About as surprised as I'd be if Machado or Harper ended up hosting this year's Academy Awards. Schoenfield: Not that surprised. Harper to the Nationals seems like a real possibility. Something deep inside could still see the Yankees swooping in at the last second for Harper or Machado, or maybe Machado goes to the White Sox or the "mystery" team that is supposedly out there (the Padres need a third baseman ...). Miller: A little bit, but if they were really committed to signing one of them, it would have happened by now.

You'd have to break out the advanced stats, but probably means he's getting more fastballs over the plate in the 8th spot to retire him before the pitcher comes up...or trying to avoid walks in order to get the pitcher to lead off an inning. With the 1st spot, he's a lot more vigilant about taking walks and working deep into counts, but I'm not sure if that's borne out by the individual stats with Pederson in terms of more power hitting 8th or 1st, OBP, etc. A lot of leadoff hitters get fastballs because no pitcher wants to walk the top of the order and set up the big inning, especially starting out a game. That said, it's not like he's 1980's Vince Coleman or Tim Raines and a threat to run wild on the basepaths.

Yep, if we didn't "luck" into getting Contreras for Loiaza (who we lucked into getting a near Cy Young performance out of in 2003 off the scrap heap, which almost never happens anymore)....then probably no World Series. Or the Graffanino error, or the AJ/Josh Paul incident, etc.

Uh-oh.

And that's with him being described as having the most MLB-ready bat of all the collegiate players...I think it's a little of the Jeremy Reed syndrome, he's going to be solid all-around (or maybe Gonzalez) but nothing he do will amaze you unless you watch him day in, day out, for an entire season. He's also likely not to stick in CF, eventually, although only time will tell on that front. Corner outfielders that only hit 15-20 homers per year on pretty much a dime a dozen, unless they have the overall hitting skills of a Benintendi.

cappin'=frontin', saying stuff that isnt true She said she won $1,000 yesterday. Why is she cappin, she know she aint got no money.

Except we might actually (believe it or not!!) be competing for a playoff spot at mid season that year.

We want Bush!, lots of him.

Nice to see Mahomes come back strong in the second half. Chiefs DESPERATELY need to improve their defense...they're like the Oklahoma of the NFL. Two more weeks of Belichick/Brady worshiping, this year, there hasn't been so much drama around the team...maybe Gronkowski retiring will be the biggest offseason issue for them. Sucks for Chiefs' fans that they lost Hunt when they did, but they gave it their all. Eventually, with as good a QB as Mahomes has become in just his first year, they'll break through and win one of these games. At least they exorcised the INDY demons.

The Phillies have three good to great hitters in Hoskins, Segura and McCutcheon (depending on what he has left). Plus Franco, if they don't trade him with Machado signing...obviously, Harper would take one of their OF slots, which continues to be the logical sign because it would strengthen their weakest point and weaken one of their divisional opponents. They have a VERY shaky rotation after you get past Nola/Arrieta, unless you believe 100% they can repeat last year's unexpected success. Jean Segura – SS – 2.4 WAR Odubel Herrera – RF – 2.0 WAR Rhys Hoskins – 1B – 3.6 WAR Maikel Franco – 3B – 2.4 WAR Cesar Hernandez – 2B – 2.1 WAR Andrew McCutchen – LF – 2.9 WAR Jorge Alfaro – C – .8 WAR Roman Quinn – CF – .9 WAR They've also improved their bullpen a lot, but this is not an everyday line-up that can compete without Harper or Machado.

The biggest concern is who's going to be in charge of disciplining all these players who are basically connected to keeping Manny Machado happy? Right now, it's basically 20% of the roster with a connection to him in one way or another...and the final point is what effect will creating a clique like that have on our ability to bring in 2-3 critical free agents next off season?

Bryce Bush is a 2018 3B/1B with a 6-0 205 lb. frame from Birmingham, MI who attends De La Salle Collegiate HS. Strong athletic build, still has room to get stronger. Right handed hitter, low hand still start, very quick hands create outstanding bat speed, ball explodes off the barrel, has barrel control and the ability to drive the ball long and far, high ceiling hitter. 6.76 runner, clean actions in the infield, plays under control with soft hands and steady feet, gets plenty of carry on his throws. Corner infield tools with the athleticism to play left field as well. Bat is his carrying tool. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi State. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic. https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=407844 Who actually watched him play 3B on a daily basis for Great Falls? He made 24 errors in 60 games at third between AZ and GF. (Waiting for the caveat about Derek Jeter's 55 errors at Greensboro in 1993, lol.)

Amen. Not only that, but getting a player (even with a financial subsidy) who partially hamstrings you payroll-wise down the line. It would be one thing if we were trading talent for talent, like Rodon for Jonathan Gray, but this era of adding aging/experienced veterans years after their prime has to stop at some point.

Except that's not 100% fair because Giolito wasn't in that vicinity after his fastball already started showing signs of dipping 2-3 MPH even with the Nationals.

If they think Bush has the potential to really be an excellent 3B...they shouldn't trade him. We're doing the Dodgers a favor here taking those two salaries (especially Hill). If the Braves want to give a rival team in the NL a better return (or the Dodgers want to help someone who can knock them out of the playoffs), more power to them.

Joc Pederson major league games played... CF=410 LF=122 RF=7 Somehow I doubt Bryce Harper has played 76% of his career MLB games in CF.

Since a lot of board members think Harper should already be converted to 1B, I don't think Harper has much to do with it. So let's not call it the Manny Machado Principle, then let's call it the all players who can stick at catcher, middle infield or CF are going to be more highly valued in Free Agency than those who cannot play those positions defensively...and their fWAR values should be correspondingly higher (maybe not in the case of Machado playing Gold Glove 3B vs. average SS, I'll leave it for the statniks to argue which has the higher value).

Guess their pitching coach/staff sees something the Yankees don't/didn't...or it's all predicated on getting him out of NY and giving him a fresh start and confidence with an extension behind him. You think they would have learned with Homer Bailey, but maybe not.

Clearly they signed Gio Gonzalez (an ex-Nats teammate) because we're now turning our attention to Bryce Harper with Machado already in the fold...and to make up for the two times KW traded him.