2023-24 free agency, trades, and signings

[JCA-CrystalCity]

In the realm of the mighty who have fallen, Luis Patino was claimed off waivers by the Padres and Shelby Miller has signed with the Tigers[.

[Natsinpwc]

Can we call him The Admiral or does David Robinson have dibs on that?

[Senatorswin]

he also got 2 opt outs after 2029 and 2031. $27.08 million AAV. No deferrals, but payments are backloaded. There's a $50 million signing bonus.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/report-dodgers-to-sign-yoshinobu-yamamoto.html

I would never do an opt out as an owner. If the player stinks he doesn't opt out and gets paid for sub-par performance. If he does good he opts out and gets paid more.

[Natsinpwc]

I would never do an opt out as an owner. If the player stinks he doesn't opt out and gets paid for sub-par performance. If he does good he opts out and gets paid more.

True but if he is very good he would be able to get another bigger deal after 2029.  And then his performance may diminish through injury. I believe he will be 31 at the first opt out so that’s when you start taking a big risk for pitchers.  The Dodgers have him for his prime years.  Age 25-31.  The way their farm system turns out players they always have replacements.  They may lose Buelher after 2024 who will be a free agent so they are potentially replacing him with this guy. 

[nfotiu]

I would never do an opt out as an owner. If the player stinks he doesn't opt out and gets paid for sub-par performance. If he does good he opts out and gets paid more.

I'm with you on this.   If you're giving out a deal of that size you should get to enjoy the rewards if it works out.   This just puts all the risk on the team.   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Can we call him The Admiral or does David Robinson have dibs on that?

when he gets tagged for runs, will anyone say he was shot down?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Oh, hears a topic to discuss: is there a team that has not been afraid to sign free agent position players to big long term contracts that has been burned bigly more often than the Angels?  Jeff Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon?

They are supposed to be in on Blake Snell. Not a position player.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/blake-snell-rumors-angels-giants-free-agent.html

[Senatorswin]

Oh, hears a topic to discuss: is there a team that has not been afraid to sign free agent position players to big long term contracts that has been burned bigly more often than the Angels?  Jeff Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon?

They are supposed to be in on Blake Snell. Not a position player.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/blake-snell-rumors-angels-giants-free-agent.html

Anaheim is where star hitters go to die.

[imref]

Anaheim is where star hitters go to die.

San Diego checking in....

[JCA-CrystalCity]

San Diego checking in....

Machado hasn't been a bad contract. Xander performed well, too.

[nobleisthyname]

Oh, hears a topic to discuss: is there a team that has not been afraid to sign free agent position players to big long term contracts that has been burned bigly more often than the Angels?  Jeff Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon?

They are supposed to be in on Blake Snell. Not a position player.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/blake-snell-rumors-angels-giants-free-agent.html

CJ Wilson contract also didn't really work out.

[Slateman]

I think it would be easier to list the Angels' free agent contracts that did work out.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

CJ Wilson contract also didn't really work out.

I guess they haven't gone big on pitchers (Ohtani excepted) even though that was thought to be their weakness in the trout/ohtani era

[Natsinpwc]

I think it would be easier to list the Angels' free agent contracts that did work out.

This. 

[Dave in Fairfax]

Chris Sale to the Braves.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Chris Sale to the Braves.

For Vaughn Grissom. Per Jeff Passan and Alex Speier (Boston Globe).

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39208393/sources-red-sox-deal-chris-sale-braves-vaughn-grissom

Sox include $17 million to cover part of what's due Sale in 2024 ($27.5 million).

I can see why ATL did this. I assume the price for Cease was greater for the extra year of control. Question will be the innings they can get out of Sale. He went 102 IP last year, and Cease went 177. Grissom is surplus to them so was gone either way.

For the Sox, 6 years of control of Grissom gives them a nice infield - Devers / Story / Grissom / Casas. Open a hole in the rotation, but the $10 million in savings maybe let's them bring in Imanaga or bring back Paxton.

[Slateman]

Thats a pretty hefty overpay

[Senatorswin]

Chris Sale hasn't been good since 2018. I guess if the Red Sox can unload Sale, it gives hope somebody will take Patrick Corbin, although I guess the chances of Sale having a decent year is higher than Corbin having one.

[imref]

Chris Sale hasn't been good since 2018. I guess if the Red Sox can unload Sale, it gives hope somebody will take Patrick Corbin, although I guess the chances of Sale having a decent year is higher than Corbin having one.

Starting to think we can get a Soto-like haul for Corbin with some of these deals.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Chris Sale hasn't been good since 2018. I guess if the Red Sox can unload Sale, it gives hope somebody will take Patrick Corbin, although I guess the chances of Sale having a decent year is higher than Corbin having one.

Last year was pretty decent. 4.30 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 11 K/9, 2.5 BB/9. He's going to Atlanta to be a back end starter, and is being paid like that. His upside is still pretty good, which is still better than most of the guys who were available as free agents for $12 million. I still think it is an overpay, but I don't think they land a better starter for just Grissom.

[blue911]

Thats a pretty hefty overpay

Is Grissom’s defense that bad?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Is Grissom’s defense that bad?

he just has to play 2nd. He earned his bad D rep at SS. That said, his arm was his best defensive asset, so the shift may not help much.

My thought is he fills in at 2nd for this year. If Mayer, Yorke or someone else is ready next year, Grissom can slide to LF when O'Neill leaves. If they don't want to keep him in the lineup, then he can hang on the bench at MLB minimum.

[Slateman]

Is Grissom’s defense that bad?

He didn't impress in 2023. But his feel for contact is pretty fantastic.

This deal kind of works if Sale can pitch 150 innings. But he hasn't done that in a while. Braves should consider it lucky to get 100 innings out of him. Again, this seems like a lot for a guy who might give you 100 innings of high 3 ERA and 17 million dollars. The Braves offseason has been kind of baffling. They've added payroll on what amounts to bounce back candidates. And while they will likely coast to another division title, I can't help but be skeptical. Especially of the health of that pitching staff. Strider has now pitched 300 innings at an average of 97 mph. Fried could only go 77 innings last year. He missed time in 2021. Charlie Morton is going to be 40. Sale will be 35 and has a pretty substantial injury history.

And they have traded some of their pitching depth.

[GataNats]

Sale is as washed as they come

[imref]

Fangraphs now has the Braves with both the #1 projected rotation and lineup. They project sale for 140ip