steveno89

50 for Harper? haha

Depends what Donaldson you are getting and if Brantley can stay healthy?

21 Donaldson + 15 Brantley + 8 Allen = $44? Or did I screw something up?

No way I am paying a 1B over $300 million^

Figure Brantley gets 3/45, Donaldson 2/42 and Allen 2/16? How much more would you expect them to add after spending $44 million per year on those guys?

Yes, and no^ It's something for sure, but we still would be nowhere close to contending with teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros in the AL

You would think that many free agents would wait for Harper/Machado to sign prior to signing themselves^ Teams might feel pressured to react to a division rival making a big move?

"Sox go all in by signing Brantley, Donaldson and Cody Allen!" = the headline Sadly that would excite no one here

Brantley does not have draft pick compensation attached, which is noteworthy to a degree

Brantley is a good player when healthy for sure, and would come much cheaper than Harper. I would imagine a realistic Sox plan would revolve around Brantley, a starting pitcher or two and bullpen help.

No chance the Cubs are able to trade those contracts without eating gigantic amounts of salary

I don't think the Cubs will be in on any big free agents given their existing payroll obligations

I could totally see the Yankees lying in the weeds...only to sign Corbin and Machado to big deals I doubt they take kindly to Boston winning it all

Paying Corbin to be more than a #2/3 starter would be a mistake in my opinion. He's good, and coming off a great year, but I don't think he's likely to continue to be quite that good moving forward.

Agreed. I think we roll with Castillo/Narvaez for 2019 and then evaluate. I don't think Zavala or Collins will be ready until late in the season.

Mets system seems pretty thin to me at first glance, not that Castillo would have tremendous trade value or anything

I'm sure the Sox are interested, but I doubt they end up signing Corbin given the lack of starting pitching available in free agency right now. Contenders like the Yankees and Astros should be all over him. I think 5/100 with an opt out after year two or three will end up being what Corbin signs for. Not sure if that is a deal we should make or not, but I'm open to considering it.

Doubtful a player would send an ultimatum about a prospect like that.

Cruz would be a 1 or 2 year addition, for what? 10-15 million per year? Sure he would make them better, but if we really aren't contending in 2019 what is the point?

I really really hope that the front office uses enough restraint to not go balls out this offseason to try and speed up contention. As agonizing as losing is, 2019 should be another rebuilding season as we try to usher more of our prospects to the mlb level by end of the season. The goal should be to build sustained success, and I realize that some additions must happen this offseason to help supplement our home grown talent. Sensible additions this offseason, combined with further player development at both the major and minor league level should provide us with a solid idea of shopping needs next offseason.

I don't get why the Yankees would do with Andujar if they sign Machado? He's a perfectly good, young, cheap third base solution for them moving forward.

I just do not see 2019 being a contention year, even if we completely blow our wad this offseason. Unless the front office knows that the Indians are blowing it all up and the division is up for grabs, going "all in" right away just seems too early for me. I'm all for making wise, opportunistic additions this offseason, but cutting the rebuild short to go for it in 2019 just does not seem prudent.

Harper to the Yankees just does not seem to make much sense. They want to pursue pitching, not add another huge money positional contract at this point.

Exactly^ Give me a bridge, like Pomeranz, to get me to more free agents next year that are plug and play options

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/08/2019-20-mlb-free-agents.html Chris Archer (31) — $9MM club option with a $1.75MM buyout Jake Arrieta (34) — can opt out of remaining one year and $20MM unless Phillies exercise a two-year, $40MM option Homer Bailey (34) — $25MM mutual option with a $5MM buyout Madison Bumgarner (30) Carlos Carrasco (33) — $9.5MM club option with a $662.5K buyout Andrew Cashner (33) — $10MM vesting/player option Jhoulys Chacin (32) Yu Darvish (33) — can opt out of remaining four years and $81MM Gerrit Cole (29) Mike Fiers (35) Kyle Gibson (32) Sonny Gray (30) Cole Hamels (36) Felix Hernandez (34) Rich Hill (40) Corey Kluber (34) — $13.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout Wade LeBlanc (35) — $5MM club option with a $450K buyout Miles Mikolas (31) Shelby Miller (29) Ivan Nova (33) Jake Odorizzi (30) Rick Porcello (31) Jose Quintana (31) — $11.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout Clayton Richard (36) Tanner Roark (33) CC Sabathia (39) Chris Sale (31) Drew Smyly (29) Stephen Strasburg (31) — can opt out of remaining four years and $100MM Julio Teheran (29) — $12MM club option with a $1MM buyout Jason Vargas (37) — $8MM club option with a $2MM buyout Justin Verlander (37) Michael Wacha (28) Adam Wainwright (38) Zack Wheeler (30) Alex Wood (29) Could be possibilities?