Offseason Changes / Non-Nats Hot Stove (2019-2020)

[Slateman]

Yasmani Grandal to White Sox 4 years/$73 Million

Good signing for a team with a lot of young arms. Now …. do they go all in on Castellanos? Puig? Make a deal for Starling Marte?

[Count Walewski]

Good signing for a team with a lot of young arms. Now …. do they go all in on Castellanos? Puig? Make a deal for Starling Marte?

White Sox GM said after the World Series that his priorities are a Designated Hitter, a corner outfielder, and a starting pitcher. This move arguably takes care of DH as it allows one of their other two catchers (veteran backup James McCann or freshly promoted prospect Zach Collins) move to DH. The outfielder they are most frequently linked to is Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna is younger than Marte.

White Sox fans, like fans of all other 29 teams, want Cole or Strasburg or at least Wheeler, but the owner has said he does not like to sign pitchers to long contracts and his last attempt to do so (extension for John Danks) ended in complete disaster. I suspect they will trade for an SP rather than sign one.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yasmani Grandal to White Sox 4 years/$73 Million

That's not horrific.  White  Sox are at a stage where they could use a few good vets to fill in around Moncada and start to win some.

[Slateman]

That's not horrific.  White  Sox are at a stage where they could use a few good vets to fill in around Moncada and start to win some.

Some, but they have some pitching to sort out. Lopez and Rodon looked terrible last season. Rodon is probably outba while for TJS.

Kopech is going to be on restriction. Cease will likely be on a soft restriction as well.

Now, 2021 .... that could be very interesting in the AL Central.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Some, but they have some pitching to sort out. Lopez and Rodon looked terrible last season. Rodon is probably outba while for TJS.

Kopech is going to be on restriction. Cease will likely be on a soft restriction as well.

Now, 2021 .... that could be very interesting in the AL Central.

All of which is why Lopez will get at least half a season more to figure it out as a starter.  Beyond that, bullpen. 

[Copecwby20]

The Phillies are going to throw “Sick Money” towards Gerrit Cole. I am ok with that for 3 reasons.


1.) As evidenced by the World Series, Nats feast on Cole’s pitches.


2.) After a “Stupid Money” contract that relieved DC of the Drama Queen that is Harper, a “Sick Money” contract to put the Philthies even further in hole and handicap the franchise would be awesome.


3.) Dude doesn’t even spell Garrett right. He spells it like his name was written down on a napkin at some farm to table coffee shop while his parents took pictures of their nitro cold brew for Instagram. And that is the level of douche that you expect from a philly player.

[Dave in Fairfax]

White Sox and Jose Abreu agree on a 3 year/$50 million deal.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

3.) Dude doesn’t even spell Garrett right. He spells it like his name was written down on a napkin at some farm to table coffee shop while his parents took pictures of their nitro cold brew for Instagram. And that is the level of douche that you expect from a philly player.

But how do you really feel about him?  You shouldn't pull your punches, especially if they are at Gerrit or his cousin Gerbil.

[bluestreak]

Mariners sign 1B prospect Evan White to 6 year $24 million contract with three club options. He spent all last year in AA and hasn’t yet made his MLB debut.

[Slateman]

Braves making moves

[Truconfidence]

Pirates should be selling everything that is not nailed down. the last GM made it so they are further away from contending with bad trades. They gave away all their controllable talent. The Cole trade was terrible then the Archer trade made it worse. They should move Archer, Bell, Marte, kela, for sure, get alot of young lotto tickets.

[Dave in Fairfax]

At this point last offseason, we had signed/traded for two relievers and a catcher. At this point this offseason, the Braves have signed two relievers (and re-signed one more) and a catcher. I guess we should be looking for a Corbin-level starting pitcher signing from the Braves by the Winter Meetings?

[Slateman]

At this point last offseason, we had signed/traded for two relievers and a catcher. At this point this offseason, the Braves have signed two relievers (and re-signed one more) and a catcher. I guess we should be looking for a Corbin-level starting pitcher signing from the Braves by the Winter Meetings?

There isn't one this season.

But I would expect the Braves to bring in a starting pitcher in the Ryu/Bumgarner/Wheeler category.

[rileyn]

There isn't one this season.

But I would expect the Braves to bring in a starting pitcher in the Ryu/Bumgarner/Wheeler category.

MadBum is a foregone conclusion to Atlanta.

[Elvir Ovcina]

MadBum is a foregone conclusion to Atlanta.

If that's true, it's probably not happening for a little while.  The Braves' 40-man is full, so they'd need to DFA someone (which they presumably don't want to do until after the Rule V draft, else they'd already have done it). 

[Natsinpwc]

MadBum is a foregone conclusion to Atlanta.

Based on ????  I assume like anyone else he will take the best deal for him.

[Slateman]

See, I think Wheeler is a better fit than Bumgarner. They basically got Bumgarner last season with Keuchel and that didn't seem to work. Wheeler is young enough that you would expect him to be very good for at least three seasons, which coincides with Soroka becoming an ace, and Ian Anderson and/or Kyle Wright developing into capable rotation arms.

Braves have plenty of payroll space to add another TOR guy and this is clearly their window opening.

[Slateman]

Yolmer Sanchez won a gold glove. White Sox put him on waivers.

[imref]

AJ Cole gets a minor league deal from Toronto

[Dave in Fairfax]

Drew Pomeranz, former starter turned reliever, gets 4/$34m from the Padres.

At the same time the Padres signed the former Brewer free agent, they also brokered a four-player trade with the Brewers. Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to San Diego and Luis Urias and Eric Lauer to Milwaukee. The Brewers GM went out of his way to praise Grisham and emphasize the trade had nothing to do with his WC game error.

Also, the Rangers make a 3/$30m deal for former Twin starter Kyle Gibson.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Drew Pomeranz, former starter turned reliever, gets 4/$34m from the Padres.

At the same time the Padres signed the former Brewer free agent, they also brokered a four-player trade with the Brewers. Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to San Diego and Luis Urias and Eric Lauer to Milwaukee. The Brewers GM went out of his way to praise Grisham and emphasize the trade had nothing to do with his WC game error.

Also, the Rangers make a 3/$30m deal for former Twin starter Kyle Gibson.

former starter for the Padres in 2016 before being traded to the Red Sox for Anderson Espinoza

[Slateman]

former starter for the Padres in 2016 before being traded to the Red Sox for Anderson Espinoza

I'm hoping that with the 3 batter minimum and expanded rosters that more teams will be willing to convert poor starters into relievers. Pomeranz went from a soft tossing LHP to throwing 96 with a monster hook.

[rileyn]

Drew Pomeranz, former starter turned reliever, gets 4/$34m from the Padres.

At the same time the Padres signed the former Brewer free agent, they also brokered a four-player trade with the Brewers. Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to San Diego and Luis Urias and Eric Lauer to Milwaukee. The Brewers GM went out of his way to praise Grisham and emphasize the trade had nothing to do with his WC game error.

Also, the Rangers make a 3/$30m deal for former Twin starter Kyle Gibson.

Trading Grisham HAD to have something to do with the error.  He would not live that down in Milwaukee.  I say he gets a standing O next year at Nats Park.

[imref]

Justin Bour heading to Japan

[Natsinpwc]

Justin Bour heading to Japan

Sumo?