2023-24 free agency, trades, and signings

[imref]

Waiting for a “mystery team” to arrive

[imref]

https://twitter.com/alexjmoretto/status/1733157938938671553

[Vega]

I freaking DIED laughing when it came out that it was actually Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank on that plane everyone was tracking.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Barves and Angels swap fringe players / salary for non-contributor depth.

Max Stassi and David Fletcher sent to ATL for Evan White and a minor league reliever, Tyler Thomas. Intention on ATL's part is to keep Fletcher as the backup for 2B/SS/3B and flip Stassi like they've done with the extra parts to the Kelenic deal (White and Marco Gonzales).

Money shifted around, too. ATL picking up some $6 million in extra salary in this deal. I'm not even sure White plays for the Angels.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/braves-to-acquire-max-stassi-david-fletcher.html

Also, Tyler O'Neill to Boston for Nick Robertson (reliever with good peripherals but bad MLB results in short samples) and Victor Santos (non-roster pitcher in minors with unimpressive results so far)
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/red-sox-to-acquire-tyler-oneill.html

[Natsinpwc]

Atlanta has missed out on the starting pitching it needs.  Is this a precursor to a deal for Cease?

[Slateman]

Atlanta has missed out on the starting pitching it needs.  Is this a precursor to a deal for Cease?

Cease or Glasnow are definitely options. I dont know if the Braves have the juice to trade for Cease.

My money is on a Trevor Bauer deal

[Senatorswin]

Atlanta has missed out on the starting pitching it needs.  Is this a precursor to a deal for Cease?

I think an Atlanta deal for Cease is likely. The fact he's not a free agent until 2026 would seem to fit the Orioles MO and the need is there. I'm not sure the O's want to pay even the pre free agency money it would take for him though. I didn't realize until yesterday the O's don't have any contracts for more than 1 year other than Brian Mccann, the backup catcher, for I think 2 more years, and Bautista with a 2 year contract.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

With Stassi and Fletcher, the Braves took on an extra $6 million. They could pay $4 million of Stassi's contract if they found a taker for the remaining $3 million. That in effect lowers the cost for Fletcher to $3 million, and if they get a player back for Stassi at that point, then that player is added onto Fletcher as the return for that $3 million.

TB is looking for catching, so I could see Stassi as part of a Glasnow deal, but the Barves will have to eat even more of Stassi's contract. Perhaps they go after Margot, too, for OF depth.

[Slateman]

Dodgers

10 years, 700 million

https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1733579104916492574?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg

[imref]

"significant deferrals" per Passan.

[imref]

Feinsand:

Ohtani’s deal includes what one source called “unprecedented deferrals,” including the majority of his salary, which was Ohtani’s idea. Ohtani wanted to mitigate the CBT and cash-flow burdens to let the Dodgers have flexibility to be competitive.

[Five Banners]

Dodgers

10 years, 700 million

https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1733579104916492574?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg

Helps to have had the top media rights deal for years by far

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-update-the-estimated-local-tv-revenue-for-mlb-teams/

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

 

[Natsinpwc]

So is the AAV actually $70 million a year.  I can see how deferrals will help the team with cash flow but don’t see how it helps with the luxury tax?

[imref]

Angels are insane if they don't try now to move Trout and Rendon.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/09/shohei-ohtani-signs-dodgers/

[imref]

Bryce Harper is saying he wants an extension with the Phillies. He's signed through his age-38 season. I'm not sure what he is hoping to accomplish unless he's finally realizing that he's underpaid and is looking for a way around it. The Phillies have been over the cap the last two years and have absolutely no incentive to redo his deal.

[blue911]

Soto has to grinning from ear to ear.

[Slateman]

Soto has to grinning from ear to ear.

Yep. Minimum of 50 million AAV. Probably the Cubs at this point.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So is the AAV actually $70 million a year.  I can see how deferrals will help the team with cash flow but don’t see how it helps with the luxury tax?

I think that, for AAV purposes, there's a net present value calculation for the stream of payments, then that is divided over the number of playing years. That's why the CBT hit on Strasburg, Max, and Corbin is a bit less than an undiscounted average of the total dollars.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Oh, Roki Sasaki has asked Chiba Lotte to post him but that is likely to be declined.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/roki-sasaki-asks-to-be-posted-for-mlb-teams-chiba-lotte-marines-likely-to-deny-request.html

[zimm_da_kid]

bonkers.

Soto is going to get 12 yrs/$600M now with an opt out after year 5 or something.  make $250 mil over 5 years and test the market again at 31

[blue911]

Yep. Minimum of 50 million AAV. Probably the Cubs at this point.

Traded to the Bronx on top of everything else. All the band-boxes, great hitting conditions and the media attention going into his walk year.

[Vega]

Shohei is literally two players though. I’m sure agents will try, but I don’t see his contract being especially useful as a reference point for any guys who aren’t themselves elite two way players.

[imref]

Soto has to grinning from ear to ear.

Did he learn to pitch?