caulfield12

I guess bWAR is what BaseballReference uses…there are obviously significant differences between the two for pitchers.

Do you believe 2022 TLR was better?

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bradiky01.shtml You realize Kyle Bradish had an fWAR nearly double that of Dylan Cease, right? Jesus Luzardo was definitely the better performer compared to Cease in 2023. Game 1: Jesus Luzardo (10-9, 3.63 ERA) Game 2: Braxton Garrett (9-7, 3.66 ERA)

The Dodgers weren't going to start him over Kershaw this past year, despite Kershaw's postseason struggles. And they normally would have had Buehler and Urias starting as well, not to mention the injured Gonsolin and May (will give you Dylan Cease over Bobby Miller). Miami was without Alcantara, who's clearly their #1 despite a relatively down season for him statistically. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if the team that acquires Cease (and he puts up another 4-4.50 ERA season) is actually going to start him in Game 1 in the post-season...ASSUMING THEIR #1-2-3 guys are unavailable for various reasons, lol. The only time Cease has really performed as completely reliable and trustworthy TOR/ace starter was 2022.

Which playoff teams would have sent Cease out as their #1 starter in the postseason this year?

Those two have "big game" reputations during to past successes...Cease never even really earned his shot in 2020, so it's fair to say that Dylan is somewhere hovering around strong #2 in the average MLB rotation in terms of positioning, or even a weak #1 like with the White Sox. The Guardians really don't want to pay Bieber, so they're just as much interested in the savings as return. Glasnow is far too injury prone...and that's always going to be a risk with Dylan considering the previous TJ and reliance on the slider as well as 1.5 MPH velocity drop in 2023. If you have a great pitching coach, then there's much less hesitancy taking on Dylan. And you also need to have a strong bullpen to cover those 3-4 innings at the end of nearly every Cease start. That said, he's usually good for those 4+ to 6ish innings each start.

Cubs in on both Bieber and Glasnow...two pretty good comps for Cease value, albeit 10-15% lower in all likelihood in terms of 2024 projections. Blue Jays looking to move on from last two years of Bichette at SS for the right price, Padres looking to dump one very expensive Soto year and at least get down to $200 million from their 2023 record payroll.

Seem to be shooting for $120-129 million range...Cease/Jimenez and half of Moncada's remaining commitment at ASB would save another huge chunk of money.

Where's our Derek Holland and Kelvin Herrera/Rafael Soriano contracts???

You trade Eloy and Cease...that's the end. Period. Then you're stuck with just Benintendi and Moncada's nearly $30 million (including buyout) for 2024.

12-16 seems the maximum feasible for NCAA...and they'd have to give 4 byes...so you would have quarterfinals, quarterfinals winners vs. 4 bye teams, semi-finals and finals, requiring a full four weekends of play on top of a 10-11 game schedule. Still don't see them going back down below 11 games per season after pushing for years to get it up to 12.

BovNix might end up shocking someone as well...just don't see Penix Jr creating enough outside the pocket or throwing well on the run to believe in him. Plus limited escapability. Wouldn't be shocked to see JJ McCarthy have a better pro career.

Too much revenue lost from those 6th or 7th home games from those P5 conference teams...

Not right now, with the current roster and Cease on way out...makes zero sense unless they're going to make him closer, which also seems far-fetched with his control issues more vexing than Lopez even. Motivational factor?

Or Liam last off season...with multiple health concerns entering 2023.

Not unless he puts up a 725-750ish ops the first half of the year and plays in at least 75-80% of the games.

https://sports.yahoo.com/alex-bregman-could-traded-offseason-143133246.html Going to make it even harder to deal Moncada with Bregman on the market.

The biggest concern beyond his weight was the hitch or T-bar/arm bar in his swing that was supposed to get exposed at the next level...and worries that SW Missouri State wasn't exactly a P5 conference in terms of competition.

Haseley was drafted as a CFer and McKay a poor man's Ichiro...Huira and Smith would be the comps because all three (along with Burger) were perceived as bat first players. It's safe to say he was perceived to be a Top 3-5 hitter in that collegiate class by many...especially Hostetler. "Let’s start with the biggest power bat of the season, a player who, according to Statcast, should have 8.4 homers in just 67 at-bats. In a normal season of 550 at-bats, that’s 69 homers. Forget 69 homers, obviously, but he’s surely someone worth rostering. The player? Jake Burger, a former top NCAA slugger short-circuited by two Achilles tears. His physique once comported with someone with his last name. He’s lost weight but still has a protein-packed swing." theathletic.com

That money should have gone to Betts instead of the one dimensional Devers.

Definitely not the Betts deal…that was horrific for Boston, ultimately. Essentially wiped out two GM’s. At keast one other team is going to have to offer a comparable amount of talent or LA will just wait out Getz. Unless the Giants massively improve, nobody can really push them…we will see what staying power AZ has.

Other than Yordan Alvarez, what absolute stud hitters have the Dodgers lost at a young age? Just feels like they almost never make mistakes…and have fixed at least 5-6 vets as well, including Turner, k***, Taylor, Muncy, etc.

Burger always had a great hit tool before the two Achilles injuries. The major question was always defensively…just like this kid. Whether he can stick at third or second. But Burger was the #1 college bats to a number of scouts that year…worst-case, #3.

If I had a million dollars for every potential Sox LH savage who was going to put up massive power numbers to the pull field, I’d doubtless be a billionaire today. Even known quantities like Dunn and LaRoche busted. Forget about minor leaguers. Just trade Cease to the Yankees for Jasson Dominguez, lol. Can throw in Hensley Meulens Jr., Kevin Maas Jr., and Shane Spencer Jr.

Great, Burger-esque. Wouldn’t it have been to simply hold onto the known quantity?