Given Soto’s demands for a contract (Opt out after 3 years) shouldnt more teams be in play. If I were a team like the Pirates, Mariners, Guardians and I felt like i could get Soto for 3 and 180 why wouldnt I do it.
Player options benefit the player, not the team. It’s only 3/180 if he’s doing great, the team is stuck with the whole thing if he isn’t. 600+ million into a black hole is enough to kill alot of teams, that’s alot of risk.
I don’t see how Cleveland can trade Naylor since he is an important part of their offence. I definite see a path where Cleveland keeps Naylor for the 2025 season.
Since 2013, Cleveland has the third best winning percentage in MLB behind the Dodgers and Yankees. They care about winning and are coming off appearing in the ALCS.. They already have lost David Fry for the beginning of the season. Cleveland has kept players and spent money when contending. I can easily see Naylor playing for the Guardians in 2025.
Never said they didn’t compete. I said they don’t spend, and they generally don’t most years. They pretty much always trade guys in the last year or two of control, so they can pick up more cheap younger players and start the cycle over again.
They don’t hold players until the end because they know they won’t resign them. They can’t restock their roster without trades, so, He’s getting traded.
John – They also play in one of the two worst divisions over that same time period (NLC the other worst). Neither of the two divisions has had a WS participant since 2016, think about that.
Central teams have a hard time competing with teams on each coast because of the low per capita income. Look at how sad Cleveland’s attendance has been, even when they went to the WS in 2016 attendance was 3rd-worst!
john – Did you miss the part where I stated “over that same time period”? Ya know, the same time period that you brought up?
Hey I’ve defended this year’s ALC, as the Royals have had quite a turnaround and have gone into GFIN mode.
But come on, the AL WC race was more like a crawl at the end. Without some big signings I don’t see the Tigers continue to be a playoff team next year, but it was a great story this year.
For 2025, sure, it’s better to keep him. But, looking beyond next season, it’s not clear whether it’s better or not. It depends on what they can get in trade, as opposed to what he provides next season and then losing him to free-agency, It isn’t clear if they’ll QO him. I doubt they would, Trading him guarantees getting something in return, but again that still depends on the return.
Coming off the ALCS appearance, 2025 is exactly what the Guardians need to be looking at. I don’t see them wanting to take a step backward coming off a strong 2024. I don’t see any Naylor trade making them better.
Before Fever starts his lecture again, I have been a Guardian fan since age 7 back in 1965. I understand how they usually work. I just remind him that they have kept bats to free agency before when in a contention cycle.
Maybe the Guardians operate a little differently, you’d know better than I would. Most teams have a multi-year plan, and with a soon-to-be FA, that they probably won’t re-sign, nor offer the QO to, will try and get some asset back, rather than just letting them walk.
I suppose they could keep Naylor and go for it in 2025, and if they aren’t close at the deadline, move him then. But they’d get less in return going that route.
A Naylor trade probably wouldn’t make them better in 2025, but might in 2026. But, you may be right. I understand the win now motivation for keeping him, and that’s a legitimate strategy given their situation.
I’ll give you mine:
Fantasy- one of Christian Walker,or Tyler O’Neil
Fine- Winker, Bell, Kepler
Worse Case, what they proably will do- Gallo, Rizzo
Preferably trade Henry Davis/pitching for a bat.Torkelson, B Lowe, Nate Lowe? Robbie Hyde suggested Nate Lowe.
Sign a cheap starter/swingman as done every year
Add a good reliever and a high risk/high reward guy
Not sure about McCutchen. Would like him around but DH only hurts the lineup, still he produces more offensively than most of the lineup.
If they sign a big name, I’d imagine they just sign a reliever and call it an off-season. WIsh they’d figure out how to get Davis and Hayes productive.
I think they’re going to be good, with even a couple average bats I’d put them neck and neck w Milwaukee for the division. That pitching staff is like a cheat code for the next 2-3 years. Skenes, Jones, Chandler, and Braxton all pre-arb, not even Nutting can mess that up.
With a full year of Skenes and continuing improvement of Jones and Keller, they may surprise if they can just hit a little bit and get more stability from the pen. If not, more pain.
There’s a link on the MLBTR post announcing a ‘live chat’. Scroll up to the top of the page. Where it says “Click here to read the transcript…” is where the link will be when the chat is live. That sends you to the chat. Once it’s over that link sends you to the transcript.
Given Soto’s demands for a contract (Opt out after 3 years) shouldnt more teams be in play. If I were a team like the Pirates, Mariners, Guardians and I felt like i could get Soto for 3 and 180 why wouldnt I do it.
Because there’s a back end that is fully guaranteed if he doesn’t opt out, the contract is likely underwater.
that’s all I’m offering is a straight up 3 yr deal for 180-200
Mark – Opt outs are optional. If the player performs poorly or gets injured, he will not opt out.
Player options benefit the player, not the team. It’s only 3/180 if he’s doing great, the team is stuck with the whole thing if he isn’t. 600+ million into a black hole is enough to kill alot of teams, that’s alot of risk.
I don’t see how Cleveland can trade Naylor since he is an important part of their offence. I definite see a path where Cleveland keeps Naylor for the 2025 season.
He costs money. They don’t spend money.
Nothing is more important to them then not spending money.
He’s gone for the best offer.
Since 2013, Cleveland has the third best winning percentage in MLB behind the Dodgers and Yankees. They care about winning and are coming off appearing in the ALCS.. They already have lost David Fry for the beginning of the season. Cleveland has kept players and spent money when contending. I can easily see Naylor playing for the Guardians in 2025.
Never said they didn’t compete. I said they don’t spend, and they generally don’t most years. They pretty much always trade guys in the last year or two of control, so they can pick up more cheap younger players and start the cycle over again.
They don’t hold players until the end because they know they won’t resign them. They can’t restock their roster without trades, so, He’s getting traded.
John – They also play in one of the two worst divisions over that same time period (NLC the other worst). Neither of the two divisions has had a WS participant since 2016, think about that.
Central teams have a hard time competing with teams on each coast because of the low per capita income. Look at how sad Cleveland’s attendance has been, even when they went to the WS in 2016 attendance was 3rd-worst!
Three AL Central teams made the playoffs in 2024. Boy, that is a weak division. That is a tired narrative. Fever.
john – Did you miss the part where I stated “over that same time period”? Ya know, the same time period that you brought up?
Hey I’ve defended this year’s ALC, as the Royals have had quite a turnaround and have gone into GFIN mode.
But come on, the AL WC race was more like a crawl at the end. Without some big signings I don’t see the Tigers continue to be a playoff team next year, but it was a great story this year.
For 2025, sure, it’s better to keep him. But, looking beyond next season, it’s not clear whether it’s better or not. It depends on what they can get in trade, as opposed to what he provides next season and then losing him to free-agency, It isn’t clear if they’ll QO him. I doubt they would, Trading him guarantees getting something in return, but again that still depends on the return.
Coming off the ALCS appearance, 2025 is exactly what the Guardians need to be looking at. I don’t see them wanting to take a step backward coming off a strong 2024. I don’t see any Naylor trade making them better.
Before Fever starts his lecture again, I have been a Guardian fan since age 7 back in 1965. I understand how they usually work. I just remind him that they have kept bats to free agency before when in a contention cycle.
Maybe the Guardians operate a little differently, you’d know better than I would. Most teams have a multi-year plan, and with a soon-to-be FA, that they probably won’t re-sign, nor offer the QO to, will try and get some asset back, rather than just letting them walk.
I suppose they could keep Naylor and go for it in 2025, and if they aren’t close at the deadline, move him then. But they’d get less in return going that route.
A Naylor trade probably wouldn’t make them better in 2025, but might in 2026. But, you may be right. I understand the win now motivation for keeping him, and that’s a legitimate strategy given their situation.
there was no contention window ’55 thru ’94. just sayin’.
there was NO contention window from ’55 thru ’94.
I know that very well since I lived through most of that time.,
if anyone has any predictions on the pirates for 2025, please reply what they are
Pain
I’ll give you mine:
Fantasy- one of Christian Walker,or Tyler O’Neil
Fine- Winker, Bell, Kepler
Worse Case, what they proably will do- Gallo, Rizzo
Preferably trade Henry Davis/pitching for a bat.Torkelson, B Lowe, Nate Lowe? Robbie Hyde suggested Nate Lowe.
Sign a cheap starter/swingman as done every year
Add a good reliever and a high risk/high reward guy
Not sure about McCutchen. Would like him around but DH only hurts the lineup, still he produces more offensively than most of the lineup.
If they sign a big name, I’d imagine they just sign a reliever and call it an off-season. WIsh they’d figure out how to get Davis and Hayes productive.
I think they’re going to be good, with even a couple average bats I’d put them neck and neck w Milwaukee for the division. That pitching staff is like a cheat code for the next 2-3 years. Skenes, Jones, Chandler, and Braxton all pre-arb, not even Nutting can mess that up.
Bucs will be “better”, but I’m thinking maybe 81-81 or 82-80. They still aren’t post-season level yet.
With a full year of Skenes and continuing improvement of Jones and Keller, they may surprise if they can just hit a little bit and get more stability from the pen. If not, more pain.
disappointment
I have them down for O’Neill, and if not him, Conforto.
Who is Rayban?
He was the commentor who asked the “best Rotation” Question/Statement over and over and over and over again!!!
Hi guys, how can I join these baseball chats live? Is there like a link or a way to join these chats?
Please let me know!
There’s a link on the MLBTR post announcing a ‘live chat’. Scroll up to the top of the page. Where it says “Click here to read the transcript…” is where the link will be when the chat is live. That sends you to the chat. Once it’s over that link sends you to the transcript.
Hi, is there a way I can know what time the chats will begin or receive a notification for it to start?