MERRY STRASMAS: STRAS IS BACK

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Maybe this leaves room for multiple signings at 2d or 3d and at 1st? 

[Slateman]

Gonna guess Cole lands 8/$300 million.

I think he gets more. 9/325

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think he gets more. 9/325

somehow, this would not surprise me.  basically $36MM AAV for 2 years more than Stras . . .

[Slateman]

Maybe this leaves room for multiple signings at 2d or 3d and at 1st? 

Low end signings, sure.

[bluestreak]

All this talk of the luxury tax. Is there any chance that the luxury tax exists in its current form past 2021? I think no. Nats reset so minimal penalty if they go over in 2020 and then after that it’s moot.

[Natsinpwc]

somehow, this would not surprise me.  basically $36MM AAV for 2 years more than Stras . . .

Strasburg has a better career ERA. And FIP. And WHIP. Cole is younger or course.

[Natsinpwc]

All this talk of the luxury tax. Is there any chance that the luxury tax exists in its current form past 2021? I think no. Nats reset so minimal penalty if they go over in 2020 and then after that it’s moot.

You may be right. Or the penalties may be less. Of course no one may play at all in 2021. If so they don’t have to worry about it that year.

[Mathguy]

No - it's 7 yr, $245mil

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/12/09/stephen-strasburg-contract-nationals/245 mil

I think he gets more. 9/325

[Mathguy]

Yankees hate everybody anyway

The Yankees must hate us.

[Trea Burner]

https://twitter.com/jonheyman/status/1204146190536695808?s=21

[Smithian]

Bye, Rendon.

Pitching and defense is name of the game going forward.

[Slateman]

Strasburg has a better career ERA. And FIP. And WHIP. Cole is younger or course.

People keep bringing this up. Do you not understand that Pittsburgh freaked him up? That they kept trying to get him to throw a sinker and induce groundballs. As soon as he stopped doing that, he posted the highest K/9 of any starting pitcher, back to back sub 3 ERA seasons, a 7 WAR season, and came second in Cy Young voting

[Slateman]

No - it's 7 yr, $245mil

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/12/09/stephen-strasburg-contract-nationals/245 mil

I was speculating on Cole's contract

[Slateman]

All this talk of the luxury tax. Is there any chance that the luxury tax exists in its current form past 2021? I think no. Nats reset so minimal penalty if they go over in 2020 and then after that it’s moot.

The owners wanted the luxury tax. The players' fight will be much more focused on service time requirements.

[Natsinpwc]

People keep bringing this up. Do you not understand that Pittsburgh freaked him up? That they kept trying to get him to throw a sinker and induce groundballs. As soon as he stopped doing that, he posted the highest K/9 of any starting pitcher, back to back sub 3 ERA seasons, a 7 WAR season, and came second in Cy Young voting

That’s a simplistic notion. There is no guarantee for any pitcher that they will keep up their pace after a couple of good seasons. The post season showed that he is hittable.

At some point soon his velocity will likely diminish. We will see how he handles that.

[Slateman]

That’s a simplistic notion. There is no guarantee for any pitcher that they will keep up their pace after a couple of good seasons. The post season showed that he is hittable.

At some point soon his velocity will likely diminish. We will see how he handles that.

Its really not a simplistic notion. Not when you read about what the Astros did and how Cole changed his philosophy on pitching, it's pretty involved. Cole was a consensus number 1 pick and given the highest signing bonus ever. And he showed he had this ability in 2015 when he posted a 5+ WAR season. This isnt a fluke or some weird trick.

Cole had a lower ERA in the postseason than Stras. And he faced much better offenses.

Verlander velocity hasnt diminished. Scherzer's hasnt. Cole's has increased. He also has three plus-plus pitches he can use.

[Natsinpwc]

Its really not a simplistic notion. Not when you read about what the Astros did and how Cole changed his philosophy on pitching, it's pretty involved. Cole was a consensus number 1 pick and given the highest signing bonus ever. And he showed he had this ability in 2015 when he posted a 5+ WAR season. This isnt a fluke or some weird trick.

Cole had a lower ERA in the postseason than Stras. And he faced much better offenses.

Verlander velocity hasnt diminished. Scherzer's hasnt. Cole's has increased. He also has three plus-plus pitches he can use.

Most in baseball have changed from pitching for ground balls to going up in the strike zone the past couple of years.

You named two exceptions. Maybe Cole will be another.

[Slateman]

Most in baseball have changed from pitching for ground balls to going up in the strike zone the past couple of years.

You named two exceptions. Maybe Cole will be another.

Lol, he doesnt need to throw 97 to be great though.

[Natsinpwc]

Lol, he doesnt need to throw 97 to be great though.

It also helps to go from pitching for a shot team to one with an awesome lineup.

[Slateman]

It also helps to go from pitching for a shot team to one with an awesome lineup.

No, not really. Having a good lineup doesnt help you win an ERA title. He also did it going from the NL to the AL.

[Natsinpwc]

No, not really. Having a good lineup doesnt help you win an ERA title. He also did it going from the NL to the AL.

If you say so.

[Expos]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/strasburg-returns-to-dc/

I'll miss Tony.

That's exactly what I said a week ago.

We have replacements for Rendon. They won't come close to his stats but we have them regardless. But we don't have anyone close to the level of Strasburg as a replacement.

1- Strasburg
2- Scherzer
3- Corbin
4- Sanchez
5- Ross

That is still the best rotation in baseball.

[Slateman]

That's exactly what I said a week ago.

We have replacements for Rendon. They won't come close to his stats but we have them regardless. But we don't have anyone close to the level of Strasburg as a replacement.

1- Strasburg
2- Scherzer
3- Corbin
4- Sanchez
5- Ross

That is still the best rotation in baseball.

Pray tell, where do we have a 7+ WAR third baseman?

[imref]

Pray tell, where do we have a 7+ WAR third baseman?

Chicago.

[Slateman]

Chicago.

So we want to get a worse version