South Side Hit Men Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) ST Games start tomorrow, here are the remaining quality Free Agents and teams which still may spend before the season. Martinez, Belt and Clevinger are the three players over 32 years old among the 10 remaining from the Top 50. MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($15M/1) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($8M/1) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($-) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($14M/2) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($-) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 HM - Honorable Mentions, NL = Not listed players with a 1.0 + projected 2024 fWAR. Teams over "Luxury Tax" Still Possibly Active: Los Angeles Dodgers; New York Mets; New York Yankees; Philadelphia Teams near "Luxury Tax" Possibly Active: Chicago Cubs; San Francisco; Texas Edited February 22 by South Side Hit Men Thanks Cali - Updated the incorrect cut and pasted salaries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliSoxFanViaSWside Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 5 minutes ago, South Side Hit Men said: ST Games start tomorrow, here are the remaining quality Free Agents and teams which still may spend before the season. Martinez and Belt are the only two over 32 years old among the 10 remaining from the Top 50. MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($264M/12) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($264M/12) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($264M/12) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($264M/12) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($264M/12) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 HM - Honorable Mentions, NL = Not listed players with a 1.0 + projected 2024 fWAR. Teams over "Luxury Tax" Still Possibly Active: Los Angeles Dodgers; New York Mets; New York Yankees; Philadelphia Teams near "Luxury Tax" Possibly Active: Chicago Cubs; San Francisco; Texas According to your own list Clevinger is top 50 over 32 years old also (33). You also have MLBTR projected salary for Belt, Votto, Stanek, Taylor and Pham all @ the same projected salary as Cody Bellinger's $264/12. Just by perusing the list and ages of those players you don't have to know the actual projected salary's to know those are wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogan873 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 This is ridiculous. The one thing Manfred said that actually makes sense is having a FA deadline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 At the very least, they need establish a reliable offseason schedule that ends with players that are supposed to be reporting to camps in mid-February to be signed by February 1. Maybe just shut down the game after the World Series for 5-6 weeks, with exception of announcing awards. Have the GM meetings when the Winter Meeting usually happen. And then have the Winter Meetings in early to mid-January. After that, if you’re a free agent, get signed by 2/1. Obviously there can be other rules for older guys that are non-roster invites, but the cream of the crop free agents should be in camp on Day 1. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 28 minutes ago, hogan873 said: This is ridiculous. The one thing Manfred said that actually makes sense is having a FA deadline. Players would never agree to that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Teams can see how their spring training is going, perhaps evaluate players that are already in their system to see if they are MLB ready, or sign a free agent. Right now if a contending team's starting shortstop wakes up with an injury Tim is in a nice spot. Making free agent players ineligible at some point to play seems like a harsh punishment for the player. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Boys and Girls can you spell collusion? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 13 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: Boys and Girls can you spell collusion? That has to be a part of it. It would also be nice to know what the player and agents are telling teams. If Tim (for example) is (hypothetically) demanding a five year deal, it's no wonder he's still sitting at home. If he's hypothetically telling teams he'll play on a one year incentive loaded contract then something is very fishy. The reality is probably somewhere in between. I could see him holding out for a three year deal expecting someone to need him that bad. How can teams piss away $4 mil on scrubs yet collude on bigger issues? All reality and normal business practices just get suspended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogan873 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 59 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said: Players would never agree to that. Yeah, I know. But some of those players still out there are going to end up on short-term deals or getting less than they expected. Who would have thought that Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery, and Chapman would all be without jobs as spring training games started? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 14 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: Boys and Girls can you spell collusion? Why should the teams give Snell, Bellinger or Montgomery $50-$75 million more than they’re worth? Three Boras clients, yes? Chapman you’re 66% paying for past performance, declining vets were always going to get squeezed. Clevinger, we know all the reasons well enough. Besides Tim Anderson, that’s about the extent of projected 1+ fWAR guys…and JD Martinez will get signed eventually by someone. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 (edited) 2 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said: According to your own list Clevinger is top 50 over 32 years old also (33). You also have MLBTR projected salary for Belt, Votto, Stanek, Taylor and Pham all @ the same projected salary as Cody Bellinger's $264/12. Just by perusing the list and ages of those players you don't have to know the actual projected salary's to know those are wrong. Thank you Cali! I didn't finish updating the cut and pasted amounts. $- indicates there were no estimates provided by MLB Trade Rumors or FanGraphs. FanGraph amounts were used for HM and NL guys not projected by MLB Trade Rumors. Everything should be accurate after my updates. 2 hours ago, hogan873 said: This is ridiculous. The one thing Manfred said that actually makes sense is having a FA deadline. This gives owners even a greater opportunity for collusion, make players sign a terrible deal by December 15 or January 10 or whatever or lose entire season of salary. A majority of players do not even reach free agency / 6 years in MLB. For the remaining players, FA is their one opportunity to attempt to get market worth. I do feel some clubs have a legitimate reason for cutting spending (Padres' owner died) and the teams with shitty expiring TV deals have a valid reason to be conservative. But several teams including the top 5-10 in revenue such as the Cubs and Boston have done little. For all those clamoring for untold billions for Jerry, both the Cubs and Red Sox owners have maximized beyond stadium revenue including real estate and RSN ownership. Both also charge the highest ticket prices in MLB. Boston finished last and cut payroll $9M to date YOY, the Cubs raised it by $8M, and neither are in the Top 8 in payroll, despite being in the Top 4 in ticket revenue. These two, Jerry and the rest have zero intention of ever slating a penny of any of this revenue toward on-field product. Edited February 22 by South Side Hit Men 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 1 minute ago, South Side Hit Men said: Thank you Cali! I didn't finish updating the cut and pasted amounts. $- indicates there were no estimates provided by MLB Trade Rumors or FanGraphs. FanGraph amounts were used for HM and NL guys not projected by MLB Trade Rumors. Everything should be accurate after my updates. This gives owners even a greater opportunity for collusion, make players sign a terrible deal by December 15 or January 10 or whatever or lose entire season of salary. A majority of players do not even reach free agency / 6 years in MLB. For the remaining players, FA is their one opportunity to attempt to get market worth. I do feel some clubs have a legitimate reason for cutting spending (Padres' owner died) and the teams with shitty expiring TV deals have a valid reason to be conservative. But several teams including the top 5-10 in revenue such as the Cubs and Boston have done little. For all those clamoring for untold billions for Jerry, both these owners have maximized beyond stadium revenue including real estate and RSN ownership. Owners have zero intention of ever slating a penny of any of this revenue toward on-field product. Yeah there would be no incentive for the players to agree to that unless there is like, a salary floor added for teams or something. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 Two of the seventeen have signed within the 10 hours this thread has existed. MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 Signed by Detroit for $1.5M/1Year + up to $0.5M in incentives. #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($15M/1) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 Signed by Miami for $5M/1Year. HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($8M/1) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($-) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($14M/2) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($-) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirmin' for Yermin Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Wow. Urshela woulda been amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) 23 minutes ago, South Side Hit Men said: Two of the seventeen have signed within the 10 hours this thread has existed. MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 Signed by Detroit for $1.5M/1Year + up to $0.5M in incentives. #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($15M/1) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 Signed by Miami for $5M/1Year. HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($8M/1) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($-) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($14M/2) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($-) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 Greinke and Votto might retire. German had lots of personal issues…so similar to Clevinger but he will eventually sign for a low/er number. Taylor caught in the same Rosario vortex…except his offense is as unreliable as Rosario’s defense. Pham was decent last year and will sign somewhere for lower than he wanted. Everyone has known for almost a decade non star vets over 32 were going to be at risk. Chapman was a star but no longer…might end up more on a Longoria track. Edited February 23 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Squirmin' for Yermin said: Wow. Urshela woulda been amazing He’s at least signing with a team that’s attempting to compete. The Tigers are the emerging team in the division most likely to challenge Minnesota. Edited February 23 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 11 hours ago, Squirmin' for Yermin said: Wow. Urshela woulda been amazing Cubs should have been all over that over Madrigal (although, sounds like Morel may see time at 3B, though he could just DH and be a super utility type role). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Bellinger only got $80M. 🤣 I love seeing Boras overplay his hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 8 minutes ago, ChiliIrishHammock24 said: Bellinger only got $80M. 🤣 I love seeing Boras overplay his hand. Not collusion. Just an acceptance that one really strong season in the past four injury-plagued years doesn’t merit $150-200 million. Watch Chapman come way down now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 7 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: Not collusion. Just an acceptance that one really strong season in the past four injury-plagued years doesn’t merit $150-200 million. Watch Chapman come way down now too. The AAV was near expected. Never thought he'd get a 12 year deal like the MLB Trade Rumors Projection, but with player opt outs over the next two years, he locks in $80M if he's severely injured, but gets to explore Free Agency when the there should be more teams competing vs. what the remaining four players faced with ST underway. Teams with plenty of resources and no excuse including the "luxury tax" for sitting out on the three remaining primary FAs: The Tanking Twenty MLB rank & Current Payroll 10th Saint Louis $176.6M 11th Los Angeles Angels $173.2M 12th Boston $172.1M 13th San Francisco $167.3M 15th Colorado $145.5M 16th Arizona $142.9M 17th Seattle $139.0M 18th Chicago White Sox $132.2M 19th Washington $129.6M 20th Minnesota $126.1M 21st Kansas City $118.2M 22nd Milwaukee $107.6M 23rd Detroit $103.4M 24th Tampa Bay $98.3M 25th Cleveland $98.0M 26th Baltimore $96.4M 27th Miami $96.2M 28th Cincinnati $89.8M 29th Pittsburgh $83.6M 30th Oakland $60.9M MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 Signed by Chicago N. L. for $80M/4Years with Player Opt-Out options over the next two years. #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 Signed by Detroit for $1.5M/1Year + up to $0.5M in incentives. #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($15M/1) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 Signed by Miami for $5M/1Year. HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($8M/1) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($-) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($14M/2) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($-) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 2 hours ago, South Side Hit Men said: The AAV was near expected. Never thought he'd get a 12 year deal like the MLB Trade Rumors Projection, but with player opt outs over the next two years, he locks in $80M if he's severely injured, but gets to explore Free Agency when the there should be more teams competing vs. what the remaining four players faced with ST underway. Teams with plenty of resources and no excuse including the "luxury tax" for sitting out on the three remaining primary FAs: The Tanking Twenty MLB rank & Current Payroll 10th Saint Louis $176.6M 11th Los Angeles Angels $173.2M 12th Boston $172.1M 13th San Francisco $167.3M 15th Colorado $145.5M 16th Arizona $142.9M 17th Seattle $139.0M 18th Chicago White Sox $132.2M 19th Washington $129.6M 20th Minnesota $126.1M 21st Kansas City $118.2M 22nd Milwaukee $107.6M 23rd Detroit $103.4M 24th Tampa Bay $98.3M 25th Cleveland $98.0M 26th Baltimore $96.4M 27th Miami $96.2M 28th Cincinnati $89.8M 29th Pittsburgh $83.6M 30th Oakland $60.9M MLB Trade Rumors Top 50 FAs + Honorable Mentions Remaining MLBTR 2024 FA Rank / Position Player Age / MLBTR Projected Contract / 2024 Fangraphs Projected fWAR #2 CF/1B Cody Bellinger 28 ($264M/12) 2.4 Signed by Chicago N. L. for $80M/4Years with Player Opt-Out options over the next two years. #4 SP Blake Snell 31 ($200M/7) 3.3 #6 SP Jordan Montgomery 31 ($150M/6) 3.2 #7 3B Matt Chapman 31 ($150M/6) 2.6 #20 DH J. D. Martinez 36 ($40M/2) 0.5 #30 SP Mike Clevinger 33 ($26M/2) 1.4 #34 SP Michael Lorenzen 32 ($22M/2) 1.2 #38 3B/1B/SS Gio Urshela 32 ($20M/2) 0.9 Signed by Detroit for $1.5M/1Year + up to $0.5M in incentives. #45 1B Brandon Belt 36 ($15M/1) 0.5 #50 SS Tim Anderson 31 ($12M/1) 1.5 Signed by Miami for $5M/1Year. HM CF/LF/RF Adam Duval 35 ($8M/1) 0.2 HM LF/RF Tommy Pham 36 ($8M/1) 1.0 HM RP Ryne Stanek 32 ($-) 0.3 HM CF Michael A. Taylor 33 ($14M/2) 0.9 HM 1B Joey Votto 40 ($-) -0.1 NL SP Domingo German 31 ($-) 1.1 NL SP Zack Greinke 40 ($7M/1) 1.0 12 or 13 teams on that that are approaching this season as competitive. All but Boston, Colorado, Sox, Washington, KC (expecting 70-74 wins), Oakland realistically consider themselves to be competitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reiks12 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 I hope Greinke gets signed so he can get to 3000 strikeouts, hes so close. 2979. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-madden-teams-not-willing-103000682.html Not willing to give Boras what he wants for Snell Montgomery Chapman JD Martinez. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb-free-agent-rumors-drag-113050019.html Nightengale “Clubs have plenty of money to spend," Boras says, “but they’re not spending in a matter that is customary to competitiveness. It’s not that they don’t have the ability to pay, but their choice to regress on their payrolls. Just a year ago, the Mets and Padres were in an arms race, spending wildly, convinced it was their year to win the World Series. This season, they’re settling for being competitive, with a simple wild-card berth considered a tremendous accomplishment. “Nobody is saying the revenues in baseball are not going up, or that every team in baseball isn’t getting record revenues than at any time in their history," Boras says, “but you’re seeing clubs that are not in any way pursuing competitiveness in the manner of the past." The stagnant market has caused some of the biggest stars in the game to call out their own ownership this past week. Three-time MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Yankees MVP Aaron Judge and Boston Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers each implored their teams to take advantage of the players available. “Players that have made commitments to their franchise," Boras says, “they’re crying out. They were told by ownership they had a common goal of winning. We’re seeing those situations now where the players are serving as the litmus test for the commitment to winning. “When you have players like this who are available, they can dramatically impact the outcome and goals of teams. It’s like the trade deadline in July. You can absolutely change the culture in the clubhouse by adding one of these players." Several general managers and managers have privately joined the chorus, telling agents to remain patient. They continue to have discussions with their owners, hoping to convince them that reinforcements are needed. Edited February 25 by caulfield12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Jimmy0 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 On 2/22/2024 at 8:06 AM, flavum said: At the very least, they need establish a reliable offseason schedule that ends with players that are supposed to be reporting to camps in mid-February to be signed by February 1. Maybe just shut down the game after the World Series for 5-6 weeks, with exception of announcing awards. Have the GM meetings when the Winter Meeting usually happen. And then have the Winter Meetings in early to mid-January. After that, if you’re a free agent, get signed by 2/1. Obviously there can be other rules for older guys that are non-roster invites, but the cream of the crop free agents should be in camp on Day 1. On 2/22/2024 at 7:42 AM, hogan873 said: This is ridiculous. The one thing Manfred said that actually makes sense is having a FA deadline. It’s just never going to happen. There’s not a salary cap and something like this would squeeze the players even more. 5 hours ago, ChiliIrishHammock24 said: Bellinger only got $80M. 🤣 I love seeing Boras overplay his hand. It’s a tough situation. Nobody thought he was worth 8/200. It also doesn’t make sense for him to take like 5/150 due to the QO being attached. This deal makes sense for the Cubs but I doubt anyone else would do this because of the QO rules 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Side Hit Men Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 56 minutes ago, reiks12 said: I hope Greinke gets signed so he can get to 3000 strikeouts, hes so close. 2979. Kansas City has been active for what they have been, but here is a scenario where you spend several million to bring back a long time beloved player by fans. Helps with PR, especially when your trying to finagle taxpayers with an enormous bill and an April 2 ballot referendum on whether to approve their tax scheme to pay for it. Wish we had a referendum here, at least they have some level of respect for citizens and taxpayers. 2 hours ago, caulfield12 said: 12 or 13 teams on that that are approaching this season as competitive. All but Boston, Colorado, Sox, Washington, KC (expecting 70-74 wins), Oakland realistically consider themselves to be competitors. They can consider themselves to be a turtle, but that doesn’t mean they are a turtle. Nine teams have spent to field competitive teams. San Diego’s owner died, so they can’t spend. Twenty teams aren’t doing everything within reason to improve their respective clubs. 47 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-madden-teams-not-willing-103000682.html https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb-free-agent-rumors-drag-113050019.html Nightengale “Clubs have plenty of money to spend," Boras says, “but they’re not spending in a matter that is customary to competitiveness. It’s not that they don’t have the ability to pay, but their choice to regress on their payrolls. Just a year ago, the Mets and Padres were in an arms race, spending wildly, convinced it was their year to win the World Series. This season, they’re settling for being competitive, with a simple wild-card berth considered a tremendous accomplishment. “Nobody is saying the revenues in baseball are not going up, or that every team in baseball isn’t getting record revenues than at any time in their history," Boras says, “but you’re seeing clubs that are not in any way pursuing competitiveness in the manner of the past." The stagnant market has caused some of the biggest stars in the game to call out their own ownership this past week. Three-time MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Yankees MVP Aaron Judge and Boston Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers each implored their teams to take advantage of the players available. “Players that have made commitments to their franchise," Boras says, “they’re crying out. They were told by ownership they had a common goal of winning. We’re seeing those situations now where the players are serving as the litmus test for the commitment to winning. “When you have players like this who are available, they can dramatically impact the outcome and goals of teams. It’s like the trade deadline in July. You can absolutely change the culture in the clubhouse by adding one of these players." Several general managers and managers have privately joined the chorus, telling agents to remain patient. They continue to have discussions with their owners, hoping to convince them that reinforcements are needed. QFT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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