MiddleCoastBias

Might be based on a quote from the Rogers article - "Though Jackson Holliday is almost certainly off the table -- a new GM can dream, can't he? -- the teams might line up if corner infielder Coby Mayo can make his way into the deal."

Might be a double post but this article from Jesse Rogers this morning presents a different look inside the process that I haven't seen yet. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39272529/mlb-free-agency-dylan-cease-white-sox-trade-rumors-fits-2023-2024 Two quotes that stand out: "According to rivals who have negotiated with Chicago, Getz has been deliberate and straightforward in his new role so there's no reason to expect he will rush what would immediately become his signature move as White Sox general manager. ... Getz's no-nonsense style of negotiating has also led to a clear picture of what kind of package it will take to get a deal done, according to teams that have engaged in talks with the White Sox this offseason: Multiple high-end prospects (one won't be enough) and some "fill-ins." "During negotiations and after completing a five-for-one deal for reliever Aaron Bummer, the Braves spoke to the White Sox about Cease, according to league sources. Chicago is in need of middle infielders, and second baseman Vaughn Grissom was on the table. But Getz stuck to his asking price and Atlanta couldn't offer the multiple high-end prospects needed to complete a trade. (The Braves pivoted by acquiring Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox for Grissom.)"

Yup, we're doomed.

Nor is Kopech at this point.

My biggest takeaway was this quote, emphasis added: "Can the Yankees acquire Cease without giving up one of their two highest-ranked prospects, center fielders Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez? Dominguez won’t be moved and the Yankees want to keep Jones." Interesting (and possibly pointed) use of won't and want here, signaling the Yankees acknowledge they may have to grin and bear it to include Jones if they really want Cease.

It's like a Family Guy joke that goes on too long, just repeating itself. It's funny for a bit, then gets tedious and you want it to end, and then eventually it comes back to being funny. Just ride the wave, it'll be fun again in a minute.

Gallo is the guy that every team keeps saying "maybe he'll find his HR stroke this year and we can flip him, he HAS to be better than last year." It's the same thing every year. At some point we need to accept that Gallo is who he is. That said, this isn't a competitive team trying to win ballgames so I'm not concerned about fooling myself into thinking Gallo will actually be good. I'd be ok with him on this bad team as a (hopefully) entraining bat to hit some dingers. Wouldn't be opposed to that move.

This team is going to suck, especially when you spell out all of the 26th men like that. But I'd rather be fun-bad than boring-bad, so I like this move. People getting upset about this, do you want to see us lose 100 games with Gavin Sheets falling over his own get in RF? Or would you rather see us lose 100 games with someone who can catch the ball and have a fun personality worth watching? Because we're losing 100 games - it's just a matter of whether you want to be miserable all season or not.

The amount of energy we've collectively put into discussing "Cease to the Orioles" in our two threads while nothing new has happened is staggering. My main takeaway is that they're on page 141 of their thread while we're on 149. We must not lose the Thread Wars to those jamokes, we must maintain our lead!

Still Jon Morosi.

I propose a 3 for 2 trade, where we receive three Red Sox posters for two Orioles posters.

He was always in Cooperstown for Hall of Fame induction weekend. He'd set up a table on the sidewalk advertising "Frank Thomas autographs beginning at [time]" (this is a common thing for others players that played on the same team as the players that are getting inducted that weekend). You could tell who was making their first trip out for an Induction weekend as they lined up an hour in advance. He was always a good sport about it and had fun, saying he was the original Frank Thomas and that ours was the *other* Frank Thomas. Anyway, RIP to that guy.

*Gonzo/Charles Dickens voice* "And Frank Thomas, who did NOT die,"

Seems like Nashville and Oakland are the favorites. While Charlotte would be cool, it seems MLB wants to balance things out west more. I believe Oakland negotiated that they get the right to an expansion team if the Athletics do move to Vegas, and I think they're requesting to retain the Athletics name and colors as well. I don't think that proposal has been accepted yet but last I read is that Oakland was insisting on that in negotiations. Also feels like Nashville is a foregone conclusion at this point, what with their grassroots effort to set that foundation in advance of any expansion talks.

https://x.com/martinonyc/status/1736419509525742021?t=YfE3pKTyLoOhJWfT76ZokQ&s=09 Doesn't sound promising for the Yankees

See: Blake Rutherford. A week or two back I defended a Volpe/Dominguez trade prop, but then promptly remembered the Blake trade and how their prospects tarnish quickly.

Pain.

Every time I see a Bruce "scoop" tweet, it takes me three or four read-throughs to determine if it's the parody account or not.

Who was it yesterday that was talking about how smart the Braves are and how they're going to stick someone else with Stassi's contract? Kudos. Just didn't expect it to be us.

Man, imagine being a Jays fan watching this all unfold today, thinking it was happening. It's like us when Machado had that custom black mitt made, or when he was seen in the batting cages with what looked like a Sox hat in blurry photos, or when Hector said the deal was done, or Harper's name was on the banner in the United Center, or that photo of Harper wearing a Sox hat from years ago resurfaced, or

There's no way the Yankees would part with Volpe and Dominguez for two years of Cease. Volpe is one year removed from being a top-10 prospect in all of baseball, and Dominguez was looking to crack the top-50 last year before tapering off a bit. Personally, I would kill for Volpe and Dominguez for Cease, but it ain't happening.

Meanwhile the Braves have also acquired Bummer, Reynaldo, and Leury Garcia. Baseball is weird.

Narrator: "It was the mushy middle."

I'm curious what the "hit" rate is in getting, say, #3 in 2024 and #10 in 2025 vs. #7 2024 and #1 2025. Seems to be the latter option would have a better chance at landing on guys with the greater chance of success.