Here are three things worth watching in baseball today…
1. Bellinger’s still out there:
After a bounceback season with the Cubs in 2023, Cody Bellinger seemed to set himself up for a nice payday going into 2024. That hasn’t materialized just yet, as he lingers on the open market in mid-January. His most recent employer held 2024 Cubs Convention over the weekend and Bellinger seemed like the star of the event, despite not being there. Per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, everyone was talking about Bellinger throughout the festivities. Will he end up back with the Cubbies? And when?
2. International signing period begins:
The 2024 international signing period has officially begun. Young players from countries like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and others often agree to deals years before they become official, but today is the day when pen can be put to paper. Each club has a fixed spending pool which they can use to give bonuses to players they sign from now until December 15. The lower-revenue clubs get larger pools and clubs sacrifice pool space by signing free agents that have rejected qualifying offers, while pool money can also be traded. Ben Badler of Baseball America is tracking each club’s pool space and the players they have agreements with.
3. Spring Training a month away:
Many parts of North America are currently dealing with frosty winter conditions and/or severe storms, but the boys of summer are just over the horizon. Not all clubs have the same date for pitchers and catchers to report to Spring Training, but it will be somewhere in the February 13-15 window for most clubs. If you’re one of the people who has to dig a car out of the snow today, perhaps you can hold that thought inside to help keep you warm.
Monty & Snell are still out there to. Who’s goin pounce lst?
Good question. Monty is waiting for Texas to resolve their tv issue and Snell has set an unrealistic price. My guess is Monty.
with the contracts that have been signed over the last few years, I’m starting to wonder what too high of an asking price really is for a starting pitcher. I have a feeling that the Snell contract is going to shock a lot of us.
Mac – I don’t think Snell’s contract will be all that shocking.
You know why?
Because the biggest spenders over the past few years are all pretty much done, and there’s no other big spender left to drive the market.
Dodgers already have Yama, Glasnow, Buehler, probably Kershaw, and next year Ohtani.
Mets have insisted Yama was the only SP they had interest in giving a massive contract.
Yankees are over the top threshold and don’t want to spend $70M a year on a SP when they’ve already got 4 solid starters.
Rangers are close to the threshold and have said they are done with big acquisitions. They won a championship last year without deGrom, and he’s coming back around August.
Padres, we all know why they are not big spenders anymore.
Phillies said they are done, they already have basically the same team that has made it to the NLCS 2 years in a row.
So who is left? No team that has a history of spending crazy money.
Giants, Angels, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners (it’s his home town and they might make an exception for him), Cubs, Dbacks, Nats (3rd or 4th richest owner in the sport who has done this sort of thing before), hell the Rockies are $40m under their payroll peak.
He’ll get his bag.
Red Sox are rebuilding. Mariners already have a talented pitching staff and he’s not worth the money to them. They need to invest in bats. Angels are rebuilding. Nats are rebuilding and owner wants to sell. Dbacks were burned bad madbum and I don’t see them throwing money at him. I’ll admit that anything is possible with the Rockies
So basically, of the teams you named, Boras can try to play the Giants (who have already spent on pitching this offseason) against the Cubs and Jays and maybe the Rockies. That’s his insane contract market. Good luck.
Yankees 300M for Snell and they go to the World Series.
Is that too much?
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Schmidt/Cortes
I don’t think we can use the TV money excuse any more. We all know MLB is going to pick up the tab for any team Diamond drops, They did it last year. I think we’re into the teams that are left don’t think those 3 guys are worth what they’re agents are asking. The only one who should be offended is Montgomery. Dude knows how to pitch.
Jays dont have the payroll as they are near their self imposed cap (dumb). Also Jays have severe needs for major league players at 3B and DH/4th OF, they are no chance in on Monty/Snell.
Imagine Monty going against the Dodgers, Phillies or Braves lineup in World Series. That’s a bad deal for that AL team
Yankees want
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Cortes/Schmidt
Not a Monty!!!
The Angels are not revuilding. They are simply bad.
Fair point, but San Francisco has a history of OFFERING crazy money. Your logic leads me to predict that SF lands Snell, but unlike AllMLB I can’t guarantee that or exactly how many wins it gives SF.
Until the trade deadline where you move the goalposts and say they just need to spend x more dollars and trade for this guy and this guy and add so and so to the pen.
You should tell Angels management they’re rebuilding, because they don’t know about it yet.
All rebuilding teams are bad. (At first at least.)
That’s not how it works. If it did SD wouldn’t have had to slash payroll. The contract guarantees Diamond had with the respective teams, no team is being made whole.
They are getting something via MLB but not 100% of what Diamond would have paid them.
This story is huge and has big ramifications for MLB as it was these local contracts that has driven franchise valuations of late. There’s is media change on the horizon as the traditional media has taken a beating financially dealing with cord cutting and trying to spin up their streaming, none have been able to do so profitably.
If and when Apple, Google (YouTubeTV), Amazon, enter the fray gets interesting. I’m uncertain if Netflix does, they’ve only recently started ramping up their ad tier service, nothing they do is “live”.
So each of those teams impacted are dealing with an uncertainty in not only 2024 local tv but the out years as well. Makes it hard to sign long term deals.
Ultimately I think Bellinger signs a deal that lets him opt out in 2yr when the local TV situation is resolved.
I think for any team looking for pitching, Monty over Snell who I think is just a better risk/reward sign all things equal AND Monty doesn’t have a QO.
Snell has never been paid having signed that extension with TB, he/Boras can ask but….
The Angels have spent wildly over the last 2 decades. There’s still plenty of money out there!
Yankees have only two solid starters. They can’t trust Rodon or Cortes. Cole and Stroman are dependable.
If Snell pitches like he did in 6 of his 8 seasons (1.1 average ERA+ in non-CY years – 75% of his career), Rodon repeats LY, Stroman pitches like he did post injury LY, that rotation could land the Yankees in the back half of the standings again.
If Snell pitches like LY, Rodon pitches like he did in his contract year and Stroman pitches like he did Pre injury LY then it could be one of the best if not the best rotations in baseball.
Rodon, Stroman and Snell are in or entering the back half of their careers. The former has a better chance of happening than the latter.
If Snell pitches like he has in the past, Somebodies bullpen is going to be very tired come July. You better have 20 bullpen guys. Do the Yankees have that many anymore? Does anybody really?
I agree which is why the Reds should offer Bellinger $85 for 3 years and give him a player opt out every season. He would put up big numbers at GABP and would make the Reds favorites in the NL Central.
all owners of every team are billionaires. with your reasoning the pirates will offer him a huge contract
They’re embarrassing
The Angels haven’t spent big money on a pitcher since C.J. Wilson and aren’t likely to either. The Sox are all talk and are not going to make the David Price mistake twice (i hope). The Mariners just unloaded Ray, doubt they want another big money arm with other holes to fill. The Cubs rotation looks mostly set outside of the 5th spot with a number of young arms competing for the job, the Cubs money is better spent elsewhere. Rockies are gonna Rockie so who knows. Boras best bet is to play the Blue Jays and the Giants against eachother to see who bites first. I still think eventually he signs with the Giants
Snell was offered 5/150 by the Yankees as their initial offer. He wants another year. It’s likely to be his last FA deal. Nothing unrealistic about that.
Pads Fans I think it’s more than just an extra year for Snell. The offer was so far apart from what Snell wanted, the Yankees immediately pivoted to Stroman.
Bellinger and whole bunch of dudes are still out there because the only 2 teams that are spending money are the Dodgers and Yankees. Majority of the rest of the teams are operating on some type of scheme that has them trimming costs.
What yiu meant to say is those teams print money, the rest don’t and MLB loves it.
@Very Barry The Giants have spent far more money than the Yankees. And at this point I believe the Royals and Reds have outspent them this off-season.
Johnny – He’s probably counting Soto’s arbitration salary as money spent. In a way it is indeed newly spent money, along with Dugie’s salary.
“ Majority of the rest of the teams are operating on some type of scheme that has them trimming costs.”
Part of is that the length of these contracts has become ridiculous. Yes, I’m sure plenty of teams have the ability to offer Cody Bellinger the contract he wants, but if you don’t think he’s going to be any good in four or five years, and aren’t even sure he’s all that good right now, then why would you commit to 10+ years for him and have a mess on your hands for the last 5-6 years of the contract? And how many of these long-term messy contracts are wealthy teams expected to carry at one time? It’s kind of ridiculous, even for them after while.
I listened to boras try and pitch his client on Joel Sherman’s podcast. He said when Bellinger is healthy he puts up mvp numbers. He said the reason why he struggled was he was hurt. If I was a gm I’d say so can you guarantee me he not going to get hurt going forward? And if he is then I’d there a discount? Of course not.
Everybody wants a Yankee Dodger world series I guess. Probably most watched. Me I’d prefer a Bluejay Padre world series. Probably won’t happen but.
I’d prefer a Royals – Pirates WS. Unless you’re a Dodger or Yankee fan, you do not want that matchup.
I’d think a Pirate Royals WS would be pretty cool. What I’m saying is the big advertisers and networks would rather a Yankee Dodger WS.
Nah it’s Bc Belli has had 1 good year in 4, Chapman was terrible with Risp, Snell has CY but doesn’t eat innings.
Hmmmm…..8 year career
two of those years CY awards and an average ERA + of 2
six of those years a middling just above average 1.1 ERA+ average
……
75 percent chance whichever team signs him for star player money will get only a slightly above average starter.
Yankees work out a deal for Snell
@Vegas- definitely thinking Snell isn’t Yankee bound. I think he’ll be going somewhere else truthfully.
Belly back to cubs, Monty back to rangers. Snell to Yanks
I definitely think you are right on the lst two here. I just don’t see the Yankees offering that 6th season for Snell. I do think $210 million for 6 years with an opt out, gets it done with Snell though.
I think Snell ends up in Seattle or San Fran
Neither are paying that type of money to anybody.
Nothing about how Seattle operates suggests they’ll pay Boras what he wants for Snell. I’m not sure which team will.
I can’t see Snell ending up in Seattle because of the TV rights being up in the air
Lord – Normally i would agree, but if reports are accurate about Snell having a strong desire to go home then he probably would give the M’s a generous discount and there’s not a thing Boras can do about it.
@99 They’re probably out on Snell after Stroman’s signing.
Some in the media have suggested the Yankees-Stroman deal was two desperate sides coming together because they need each other. Yes, but the desperate angle is the Yankees removing the perception that they’re in desperate need in any further discussions. They filled out their five starters. Boras is very smart. He’s waiting for all the second-tier pitchers to sign, drying up the market, thus increasing the value of his pitchers. He waits patiently. What the Yankees did by signing Stroman is they said”checkmate, Scott.” Ditto for any discussions on trades. They removed the desperation card from the negotiating deck.
Doesn’t mean they’re going to sign Boras’ pitchers. Doesn’t mean they won’t trade. They can sit back now and see if the asking prices come back down.
Cole is the only sure thing in that rotation. Rodon only made 14 starts last season and was terrible. Stroman missed a third of last season. Schmidt was a below average starter. Cortes made 12 starts. 3 of 5 have serious injury concerns.
After trading King, Vasquez, and Brito their depth is also lacking.
If the Yankees are counting on that group to start 150 games they are in some serious trouble.
Not so much checkmate as lets keep talking because we want your client, but have to negotiations somewhere.
Bellinger’s situation reminds me of JDM in 18. Only logical place for real bucks is the Cubs who are waiting for the price to come down. No reason for them to bid against themselves.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels and Giants get in on Bellinger. He might get close to his asking price before all is said and done.
I say Giants given that they moved Hanigar are the team willing to spend the most money on Bellinger.
The question is ultimately, does Bellinger want to play in Chicago, San Francisco or some place else?
If Bellinger wants to continue playing in Chicago, I’m sure both sides can come to an agreement they are comfortable with, whether that includes opt outs, swell contract, incentive based or whatever it may need.
Being a Boras client, Bellinger wants/will play wherever and to whoever offers the best contract in both years and $ dollars………
6/165 with opt out after year 3 seems around mark for the Cubs. Just don’t see anyone feeling the desperation to guarantee him 200mil since he’s not a superstar.
Yeah that roster is real filled out… filled out for a 4th place finish. Lucky they have Rockies
I agree with this deal, might even be able to get an opt out after 2 years to possibly get him back in FA at age 30
I don’t know, bellinger could make a mess of the outfield in SF because moving haniger actually made the of more clear since you have Lee, conforto and every dayers and then can platoon yaz and slater and in AAA you want to be able to give time to matos and meckler if possible. Adding a bellinger puts you back in a position of figuring out wth you are doing with the extra bodies
Would Bellinger work for first base?
Sounds like a good problem to have.
Well the issue with first for the Giants is you have a pretty good platoon of Flores and Wade, basically any non infield signing is g going to mean your best move after is to trade 2 players so it starts to get messy
@dewey. . .hall
It seems to me also, that at this point the Cubs are just bidding against themselves. Even though it would benefit the Cubs in the short run, I’m fine if the Cubs don’t resign Belli. If they resign him for another pillow contract covering one or two years- great. But to tie him up for longer than that at big money – – forget it. Let someone else take that gamble. And it seems to me that nobody else really wants to take that gamble.
And the Cubs for seemingly the 10th year in a row, Their top International signing is….. Yep a SS. Thank God we were running low. We only had 9 in the top 30.
Typically because they are the best athletes.
It sure would be nice if Christian Hernandez all the sudden would figure it out. That guy was a hype machine when we signed him
He can’t even play 2B right now. At least Triantos has seemingly figured it out but now he’s completely blocked.
Dogbone, if you remember JDM, the numbers flown about were much higher (can’t remember specifics) and DD just waited it out for Boras to come back. Boras is known to come up with that mystery team but I just don’t see ANY team offering six years with the Cubs the only team to offer the AAV, five years and multiple opt outs.
Cristian Hernandez just turned 20. There’s plenty of time for him to “figure it out”. He’s blocked h6 Dansby at SS anyway. Chances are if he makes the ML with the cubs he moves to 3rd. Hopefully Nico is a Cub for life. Minimum 3 more years with Nico which means 2 more Gold Gloves at least.
Hernandez will be just fine.
He will. But somewhere else.
DD just waited it out for Boras to come back.
=======================
We were always a strong favorite. No DH in the NL, half the league couldn’t afford him, and half the league already had a DH. It was one of DD’s better moves.
That and not responding to JD’s threat to opt out. The press was screaming for DD to extend him, but I don’t think DD even picked up the phone.
Well if the price comes down other teams might enter the bidding esp as we get closer to opening day and most FA options come off the board. Of course as a Reds fan I might be a bit biased as I would hate to see him go back to the Cubs.
It’s not the money that any of these guys want as far as the Cubs are concerned. And it’s not the Luxury Tax concerns either. It’s the YEARS. The Cubs have quite a few guys coming and they don’t want to block them after having done that already with the NTC’s they gave out to Happ and Suzuki. I don’t get what’s taking so long with Hoskins. He surely can’t be expecting a ton of years. He should pick a place and go already.
Uncle, what I believe is holding things up for Hoskins is that Belli is still unsigned and Hoskins is still being told by Boras that he should be getting a long term deal. And being RH, the only place for him on the Cubs is likely as a DH.
I only see Hoskins for the Cubs on a one year deal. If that. Seems to me like drascoo mentioned – that acquiring Busch changes things.
True Bone but we’ve all heard the stories. Busch is a butcher in the field. Shaw is the future at 3B if Morel flops. If Busch can manage 1B great. If not he’s just a DH. Then 1 of Morel-Busch is the main DH. I haven’t seen Busch play so I don’t know. I guess we’ll all see in Mesa. Unlike some I think Canario-Tauchman can be a decent platoon CF as long as Tauchman is as good as he was last year until PCA arrives. Then maybe some trades happen but 1-Can Morel play 3B and 2 Can Busch play 1B? Those are the big questions.
Busch played 1st in college, I assume that’s his natural position, no clue. Dodgers are blocked at 1st. The ideal fit for cubs is Bellinger because he can hit and field multiple locations. They could just sign a masher (Soler, Martinez) and roll with Busch/Wisdom 1st and Morel/Madrigal at third. It’s probably not plan A but certainly could work out just as well.
If Snell signs with the Yankees do you think they’ll let him have the number 04 since 4 is not available? I don’t think he can be number 14 either. Don’t know if it’s retired or not.
Not so sure Cub fans at the convention did Hoyer too many favors with all the Bellinger talk.
That was one of the best parts about it. And Swanson said it too during a Q&A. Which is great. That should tell Jed all he needs to know and he needs to re-sign Bellinger.
“That was one of the best parts about it “.
What! Really? Very short term thinking.
I blame Boras.
Hey 99Captain, I fully expect the Jays to be “looking in on” Snell, Belli, JD, Soler as well as Matt Chapman and some trade options!!!
@jaysfansince1977- I fully expect the Jays to be looking into those players also. If they sign Snell and Belli at least, I think they will definitely win the AL East which is wide open right now. Great call & good luck.
Well 99Captain, i also fully expect to see one of the DH options also added to the team: Meaning Soler JD, Turner or Votto.
They will probably get Votto even though he’s done. I like Soler in the AL East, the question is his consistency.
If they can only make it on an actual accurate manifest to YYZ.
Will Snell teach his new team how he throws his slider like Sonny Gray did?
You figure once they sign the big contract, what is next? They want to win the World Series. No more reason to keep ut secret how they throw their same type of slider.
Snell learned it in 2018
Sonny Gray in 2019.
That’s really interesting never really thought about what you just said. I really want Monty to sign with the Yankees. I think $35 million a year for Snell is way too much. $195 mill for 7 yrs, for Monty.
1. Cole
2. Monty
3. Stroman
4. Rodon
5. Cortés/Weaver/Gill/Beeter
Where did Schmidt go?
Will Warren will also be in that mix as well sans Monty.
Rodon is very unreliable health wise so he will be in the rotation in no time!
Schmidt pitches for Rondon after he gets injured stretching in Spring Training.
Rondon plays 3B for the Angels when he plays – he doesn’t pitch yet, Rodon, on the other hand does pitch when healthy so here’s hoping he is healthy
I was really shocked Cashman gave Rondon that contract. Even those of us that play a lot of fantasy bb knew better than to trust Rondon.
There is a Rendon (Anthony), a Rodon (Carlos), and 6 Rondons that have played in MLB, per B-Ref.
Unfortunately, Hector Rondon (former Cubs reliever) and Anthony Rendon were never involved in a rundown play together.
Obviously, Anthony would have had to be the base runner in that silly situation between the Nats and Cubs that could have been an incredible to witness.
None of this ever happened, which is sort of like the 3 comments above from the natural, just rob, and Doug.
I’m not being critical your typos in your comments, just got a kick from the consecutive typos.
Look to a friend of Kramer’s to avoid the typos because maybe he has an intern typing for him (aka Kramerica Industries).
You really think the Yankees want to pitch Monty against the Dodgers, Braves or Phillies in the World Series?
Now you can understand how overrated he is.
Cole and Snell are MONEY in the playoffs, that’s all the Yankees need! They can scrap a quick bullpen on the rest of the games.
Yeah that Monty guy will never be a part of a World Series winning team.
That’s not what the Yankees want.
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Schmidt/Cortes
That’s enough to blow out the American league.
Feel like the Cubs will land Bellinger and Chapman. They need another big left-handed bat. Don’t love their lineup with Swanson hitting in the middle of the order
I don’t see both, Bellinger makes less sense now that they traded for Busch, assuming they give Busch every single opportunity to play first or DH while giving Morel every chance to play third.
It’s not a bad idea to have Bellinger hold down center and have an option to move him to first base, or to a corner down the road a couple years when Happ and Suzuki leave.
Chapman will likely get a similar deal to Swanson, and he’s the same player as Swanson.. lots of K’s, decent power, low AVG, good glove.. I don’t know that having two guys that will likely see their hitting ability dip below average in the next couple years is a good thing.
Bats are similar but Chapman will be 2 yrs older and is a 3B – Elite 3B vs Elite SS isn’t the same.
GOOD glove? They both have MULTIPLE gold gloves, I’d hardly call that “good”.
And I also agree, Suzuki hit his stride in the second half last year and you don’t want to ruin that by putting so much pressure on him being “rhe guy” in the middle. Happs nice, but not a middle of the order dude, Swanson same, Morel and Busch have the upside but shouldn’t be relied upon just yet.
Right. That middle of the order just doesn’t look good with Suzuki and Swanson in it
Alonso traded to Cubs. Chapman reunites with Bob Melvin in SF. Monty back with Texas. I’m really hoping Snell signs a 3-year hometown discount with the Mariners. 25mill per season? Belli I’m not sure … could the Giants grab him?
If Yankees sign Snell they should get to the World Series.
The Yankees problems are over if they can do that.
The Yankees biggest problem is typically health, especially in their starting pitchers. How is adding yet another injury prone pitcher going to end their problems? Seems like that would just add to them.
Cole and Snell throw the same type of non traditional slider.
Cole and Snell BOTH couldn’t avg over a K an IP until 2018
Cole and Snell BOTH throw the Slider around 90 mph and never needed a TJ or surgery.
The Yankees know they hired Matt Blake to teach that non traditional slider in 2019 that Cole and Snell already learned in 2018 so Matt Blake will not hurt them.
Cole and Snell should by Matt Blake pom poms for the bullpen the left one with S on it and right with C.
I think it’s for ticket sales, Hey mommy there’s a guy cheerleader after every pitch in the bullpen can you get me some cotton candy, peanuts and a cherry pepsi and watch the Matty Blake rah rah show?
Why not the Dodgers, Snell might mean that Dodgers reach the world series, and a reunion with Bellinger would clinch it?
defer to 2050
My favorite National League team is obviously the Cubs. I definitely want Bellinger to sign there, he was great there last season. Why not? I’m ok with Chapman, but I’d be alright with getting someone else at 3rd also, not a Chapman guy truthfully. I feel the Yankees can offer a nice trade with White Sox for Dylan Cease. Everson Pereira, Will Warren, and Clarke Schmidt seems fair. I wonder what the Dodgers or Reds would offer for Cease.
He wasn’t actually that great once you look beneath the hood, that’s the problem. His combination of very low exit velocity but good power numbers, plus an extraordinary BABiP with two strikes, suggests a guess hitter who got lucky in his walk year. And no team knows that better than the Cubs. Also, his CF defense has been declining, they have a fantastic young one they want to play, and there are good and much cheaper 1B available by trade or free agency.
Hey 99. Why obviously the Cubs? IMO Cease will ‘cease’ to be traded till at least after Snell and Montgomery get signed. Then Getz ‘getz’ closer to his overpay asking price. If not and Cease starts the season with the WS his trade value starts to go down. Then there is the ever present injury risk in which case the fan base would burn Getz in effigy.
As far as Reds go Krall has said they are done with any big moves. Having said that if the price somehow comes down to a reasonable level then Reds may get back in the bidding.
Here is hoping Bellinger does NOT sign with the Cubs!
Go Reds!
The Reds should offer Bellinger $85 M for 3 years and give him an opt out after every season. He would rake at GABP.
MLBTR’s prediction of an AAV of 22 mil per for Bellinger I could handle.
Yeah the AAV is fine, the problem is maybe having to pay that in three years when he’s hitting something like .190/.235/.300
Not saying that’s a sure thing, just that Bellinger comes with so many red flags that I wouldn’t touch him on a long-term deal, period.
Giants have pretty much already waved the white flag on the free agency period thus far. I’m holding out for a miracle that they’ll sign Bellinger or Snell but the luxury tax comments by Johnson make me think that the “big splash” was Lee (which I’m happy with but it’s light weight for a team with their money and fan base).
Looks like they have waived the white flag on the season before spring training even starts. Just going to be competing with the Rockies for 4th place in the NL West.
No. You are the one waving the white flag on the season.
Giants will be better than the Dbacks this year. Dbacks are in line for a ton of regression as they had essentially no long term injuries of significance last year and are due some sophomore slumpage, and were only just above 500 anyway. Plus the Giants still have a big wad to spend with not a lot of teams left on the market and some excellent players out there.
I have reasons to believe in the Giants and I do believe in them. I just don’t think the ownership group and front office are as fully committed as the fans are.
Please bore us with stories of the remaining high profile free agents. Scratch the sure face trying to figure out why they haven’t signed yet. Just phase out the problem. Time to get rid of Boris. He bores us. Get some Boars Head and make a wishful sandwich or wrap it up or panini it. Yum yum. Chomp chomp.
Boars Head makes the best hot dogs.
Yes, they use REAL byproducts. Tube steaks.
Favorite Field of Dreams scene: “What do you want?” followed by a rant, “No, what do you want?” “Oh, dog and a beer.”
Bellinger is this years Stephen Drew. Crazy contract ask and player has drug issues. Pass.
What drug issues?
OK boomer.
Are people suggesting PEDs? Give me a break. He had the lowest hard hit rate of his career. Was he taking drugs to slow his bat speed?
He’s suggesting he is a lot head. Where did PED’s come from?
Isn’t he a well known cannabis user ?
No problem with that here and no idea if it’s an issue, but I’m assuming that’s what he is talking about.
I believe you are right. I have done no study how cannabis use affects baseball skills.
Speaking from personal experience, I don’t think it would be great. But as a down time thing, sure, go for your life. Just get the dose right.
I am and he is. Including admitting to getting high before games. I am not investing 100 million dollars on that guy. If you don’t think his drug use had played a roll in his ability, your an uneducated fool. Weed slows your reflexes. Proven fact.
Pre game isn’t smart. I agree. Reflexes, yes, Also a little de motivating. I once tried to run a marathon stoned. I got there, but it took me a long time.
Of course Bellinger is still out there.
Cripes I overheard one person say
I ain’t paying no 200 hundred million dollars for Cody Bellinger!!!!!
Drug issues?
Probably referring to the rumors around that Bellinger really enjoys cannabis. Not exactly issues on the level of, say, Dwight Gooden.
If there’s a MLB player out there who doesn’t partake, THAT would be a story … it’s barely even illegal anymore. I bet there are 10x more players who smoke weed than who regularly drink alcohol.
I’d be surprised if more than 25% regularly “partake.”
I’m not sure there would be that many. Better option than alcohol though, I’d agree with you there. Some partners and wives would be a lot safer. Less couches thrown around clubhouses.
Sure blame a drug for bad behavior. You must be from California or 13 years old.
I think there’s a link between alcohol and aggression. Not everyone, but many. I’m guessing we all have that friend. Don’t need to be 13 to come up with that conclusion.
Hah!
Alcohol is a depressant.
Yeah. You get them too. I know a cryer or two when they have had 1 too many.
Better option than alcohol though,
=========================
Probably neither better nor worse. Everything is moderation.
Certainly a link between alcoholism and aberrant behavior. science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aau0668
Following the Dodger’s 2020 WS win Jimmy Kimmel, in an interview, asked Cody if “people told him he looked high all the time, You look high to me”. Cody,after a pause, answered,”Not during games!” or something like that.He also added that he has looked that way since he was 12 years old.
Bellinger vs Outman?
Cubs will probably sign Bellinger, even with the trade for Busch. I just think Hoyer is waiting out Boras to drive his price down.
Agree with this, I get the strong sense both sides want it to happen. Jed and Boras just have to do the dance first.
Cubs very clearly don’t want him back.
Bellinger is still out there because he doesn’t hit the ball hard and wasn’t that good last year.
An fWAR of 4.4 is good, but based on all the money and downside, it wasn’t that good. It’s certainly not worth the risk.
Most teams are smart enough to know it.
He’s not worth what Boras is asking for, 200+ million dollars. Teams are just waiting him out.
The Red Sox have won 2 WSC since the Yankees last won a Championship plus the Stros are declining. The Yankees are going all in and will get Snell soon imo
50/50 you’re correct…..Snell, just like Bellinger is coming off a terrific walk year sandwiched around several really pedestrian years that would never command either the years or dollars each is asking for…….the Yankees just need to hang around until the trade deadline when several pitchers are going to be available assuming they don’t get traded and/or signed long term before that…….and, assuming that they don’t sign long term, 2025 might stack up to be a year where the Yankees are very busy on the free agent front……..
Are the teams on the guys’ caps ever wrong on the MLB Prospect Pipeline prospect rankings images?
Oakland better make those 4 international picks extremely well. Be nice to be competitive off the bat from Vegas. Now’s the time to stock pile the farm to do so. Go prove them all wrong boys
What is an “international pick”?
International signing period opened up today.
Snell’s camp asking for $240MM at least makes the meetings short. I think there are enough red flags for both Bellinger and Snell that teams are taking a conservative approach.
Montgomery will probably sign next. Bellinger and Snell could find themselves in a 2022 Correa-like situation if they don’t start coming down quick.
He was offered 5/150 by the Yankees and wanted at least 1 more year. This site projected 7/200/ Where did you get $240 million?
@Pads Fans – mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/blue-jays-reportedly-mo…
MLB is all about what pitcher throws the non traditional slider the best ever since 2018.
The Yankees teach it.
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Cortes/Schmidt
ALL those guys are not evening average over a K a game without it.
That means that swing and miss pitch is primarily the non traditional slider that was Cole and Snell learned it 2018 before Matt Blake was there, you want any more info, I’m the guy behind that non traditional slider. Pitchers tell me what game they threw it.
I’m RB and many of my ML pitchers have another name for it and it’s not not BS like Sweeper or Gyro or seam shifted wake, we call that one Scheme shifted Fake
One NL pitcher almost died choking on seeds when he hear the seam shifted wake. LOL
Whatever dude
The Yankees will win 115 games if they have Snell.
IN THE LONG RUN they will get Snell for 300M and they go to the World Series and Cole and Snell blow out Glasnow and the Lipstick City Boyz.
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Schmidt/Cortes
Bellinger was below the 30th percentile of hard hit rate, barrel rate, and exit velocity. He went for a very heavy contact approach and his swing and miss rate dropped from 27.2% in 2022 to 20.1% last year. His xwOBA was .327, which is still average/slightly above average, but has a large seperation between his wOBA of .370. Bellinger was also a lot better at Wrigley with a .902 home OPS vs a .860 away OPS. That’s still good, but still a 42 point difference. On top of that, he just wasn’t good at hitting in 2021-2022. I can see why teams may be skeptical about Bellinger. Not saying he won’t be good, but there’s reasonable suspicison as to if he can repeat anything close to 2023.
Bingo. If he really wants $200mm+, I’m happy if my team leaves him alone.
42 pt home road split is actually considered very low.
The league average home OPS is .743 while the league average away OPS was .726, a difference of only 17 points.
Probably a slow holiday Monday, but I’m still on board with the Yanks going after Snell. The fact that they even submitted an offer means there is interest, yes even after Stroman, which I feel like was both a fail safe and a commitment meant to lure others in. This guy wants to sign here? Let’s do it. If nothing else we have 5 for the rotation, but if we get Snell, then all the better.
As for Bellinger, to me, it’s sorta shocking this guy isn’t sign yet. Well, besides Boras shenanigans. Former MVP who fell upon drastically hard times who got it back last year. This dude almost single-handily won me fantasy last season. I get it, not the same, but the Cubs saw him first hand. He should have been day one priority to bring back.
“Priority”… at what cost?
At the cost of losing that amount of production without replacing it in anyway. 😉
Being a priority doesn’t mean the player doesn’t have a say in when he signs. Good thing is priorities can change. Both team and player can move on.
Yankees will sign Blake Snell for close to 300M and the Yankees are going to the World Series.
Cole
Snell
Rodon
Stroman
Schmidt/Cortes
That’s BLOWOUT AMERICAN LEAGUE 115 wins looking there and they even have room for injury or a stroman, rodon screwup.
It’s all about the non traditional slider Cole and Blake learned in 2018 that slider has won the World Series since Peacock and Devenski learned it in 2017.
Peacock even went from 8 k’s a game to 11 and then 13 in 2018!!
This is what MLB is about now that slider.
That slider has nothing to do with pitch design, pitching labs, sweeper Gyro, seam shifted wake all those mean zero,
A pitcher want’s to know the Grip, Tilt and Wrist action, that’s all he needs to know and they guy behind it is RB. ML pitchers reading this understand who it is.
The Yanks aren’t going that high nor what is being reported for him. They’re no longer desperate for him. They have 5 starters now. Do they want him? Yes, but the ball is no longer in Snell/Boras’ court, and if they miss out no worries.
There would be no Monty playoff run if
The Mariners Luis Castillo threw his slider as his #2 pitch instead of his changeup.
Everyone insider knows that. When the Rangers saw Castillo throwing that changeup more than the RBF Slider that was the best present they could ever dream for.
The Dbacks run was a joke, the Braves Morton and Fried were injured,
The Brewers Woodruff was out
Every baseball insider knows that.
So playing the “if” game with yourself with the benefit of hindsight makes you an “insider”? I’ll stay an outsider. Thank you.
I think every MLB insider would agree Castillo’s RBF slider is more dangerous than his nice change up.
You sound like a 12 year old. “Everyone knows it” is a dead giveaway that you know you’re wrong.
The issue with you is you can’t talk about facts, Obviously you are a low life character. You know that tho.
Even though I’m the one that owns the house, Ive agreed to shut the door while using the bathroom if my in-laws are here.
86 the in-laws ma’am
Do your football slider’s float sometimes? If so, do what any respectful human would do.
Tell him, thank’s for the input.
Astros twins or red could sign anyone of these players. Astros need to keep up their playoff run, twins a maybe in a weak division, if they want to spend the money. Reds looked improved over 2022 in 2023. Baltimore could be a long shot but with their prospects and aaa players starting to develop, spending on high priced free agents could dent the arbitration payoffs of future considerations.
Belinger signing with the cubs is just delusional. Not healthy enough to warrant that contract. Cubs need a bat, in the 4-5 year range.
I would love to see the Reds offer Bellinger $85 M for 3 years and an opt out every year. He would put up big numbers at GABP. It would also make the Reds favorites in the NL Central.
ST a month away. Sweet.
Twins need to replace Sonny Gray in the rotation. Even though they also are in financial limbo with the TV deal holdup, trading a Polanco or Kepler would offset a good portion of the AAV for a Snell or Monty. They’ve made deals in the past w/Boras. I think they’ll trade instead to try finding their #2 SP, but I wouldn’t be surprised at a splash move. They’ve been playing possum all offseason.
A twins signing of Bellinger and with Correa they would limp into the post season
Padres got the #1 player in International FA signing period again this year. 2nd year in a row.
Leo DeVries is considered to be a better prospect than Salas and after just one year in the Padres system Salas made it to AA and will likely be the #1 prospect in baseball to start the 2024 season.
“Kemp added that it’s possible the 17-year-old De Vries could join the team at Minor League Spring Training in March. From there, a quick progression would seem to be on the table.”
mlb.com/padres/news/padres-2024-international-pros…
Same path as Salas. Completely skip DSL with target of being in majors at 19.
Preller and his staff including Kemp absolutely crushes it at getting the best prospects.
He is the #1 intl baseball prospect this year, but he is not as good of a prospect as Salas was.
I’m curious if there are any studies out there showing whether it is better to spend your entire budget on one player, or spend 1/10th of your budget on ten players.
Joe, Great question. I haven’t seen one, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I will see what I can find.
I will see what I can find.
=====================
If you find out, just clue me in on any thread you see me in. This is one of the depth things where I think the right GM can make a serious difference.
And since I liken it to FB GMs trading into or out of top-5 picks, I think it is a lot more fun. I am still stunned by the haul that the Bears got last year for their #1-1.
Actually he is. He is just at a position that is more common.
Cubs will not sign Bellinger to any more than a three year contract @ $27M/yr IMO. That would be in line with his career production and not block any future prospects.
If Belli switched agents he would probably get signed sooner rather than later.
Yes the thought provides a touch of warmth. I am ready.