2025 Off-season - general thread

[tomwvr]

Sorry but the team should just be ignored by the fans the learners making 350 mil fielding a crappy team is criminal

[blue911]

Sorry but the team should just be ignored by the fans the learners making 350 mil fielding a crappy team is criminal

Our whole economy is based on people buying crappy products.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Our whole economy is based on people buying crappy products.

My Ikea sling chair resents that remark.

[imref]

IKEA products aren’t crappy

[JCA-CrystalCity]

IKEA products aren’t crappy

I once heard the Scandinavian philosophy of furniture was not to build future heirlooms but rather to expect the stuff to be replaced every few years. Cosmetically nice and fit for service, but not lasting.

[varoadking]

I once heard the Scandinavian philosophy of furniture was not to build future heirlooms but rather to expect the stuff to be replaced every few years. Cosmetically nice and fit for service, but not lasting.

When I cleaned out my mother's Illinois condo a few weeks ago, some of the items I had to get rid of were a +/-70 year old solid cherry bedroom chest and 4 poster bed.  They both appeared to be brand new...

Nobody wanted them...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

When I cleaned out my mother's Illinois condo a few weeks ago, some of the items I had to get rid of were a +/-70 year old solid cherry bedroom chest and 4 poster bed.  They both appeared to be brand new...

Nobody wanted them...

got my grandma's 1950s or 1940s bedroom set. Solid cherry.  I will guess I will have no takers.

[English Natsie]

got my grandma's 1950s or 1940s bedroom set. Solid cherry.  I will guess I will have no takers.

Just tell them it's solid cherry MDF...

[tomwvr]

People are insane and have no clue about craftsmanship and quality these days

[tomwvr]

So our big move is to sign a few minor league arms for camp???
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/washington/transactions/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So far.

[tomwvr]

Lerners are cheap ass owners - fans should boycott the team force them to sell

[Slateman]

Lerners are cheap ass owners - fans should boycott the team force them to sell

I honestly don't think it would matter. They could still fill the stadium with 18-20K fans who either just want to take the kids to a game, or fans of the opposing team.

[Dave in Fairfax]

I honestly don't think it would matter. They could still fill the stadium with 18-20K fans who either just want to take the kids to a game, or fans of the opposing team.

I imagine there is also some significant percentage of tickets bought by corporate or political lobbyists and the like.

The only times I ever went to Shea Stadium were when my firm arranged various junkets.

[IanRubbish]

I honestly don't think it would matter. They could still fill the stadium with 18-20K fans who either just want to take the kids to a game, or fans of the opposing team.

And summer concert series.

Still, hope to see some Sell the Team signs and chants this year, the Lerners are hypersensitive to bad publicity and hate that.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

And summer concert series.

Still, hope to see some Sell the Team signs and chants this year, the Lerners are hypersensitive to bad publicity and hate that.

they'll confiscate the signs.

I know - don't obey in advance  . . .

[JCA-CrystalCity]

from last night's MLBtrade rumors chat:

Christian Walker
8:20   Nationals the best guess at this point?
Mark P
8:21   I think there's enough interest in Walker from contending teams that the Nats might have to really outbid the market to convince Walker to be the new Jayson Werth

https://live.jotcast.com/chat/mlbtr-live-chat-19828.html

Also mentions Nats as a dark horse for Alonso, whose market has been slow to develop and might go for a short years, many opt out, high AAV contract. Speculates that the Nats may want a year of the young guys before big spending event though they can afford it now.

I've been sort of dismissive about Alonso, but a short contract would let them get him in and out before Woods and Crews (and Gore and Abrams if not moved) are due big money. If Walker goes to a 1B needy team in a bidding war, and teams with CBT issues decide they can try to squeeze a year out of Santana and Goldy, then Alonso's market looks smaller and a pillow contract makes sense. I prefer Walker on a 3 year and less money due to the defense, but hard to overlook Alonso's power.

[varoadking]

from last night's MLBtrade rumors chat:
https://live.jotcast.com/chat/mlbtr-live-chat-19828.html

Also mentions Nats as a dark horse for Alonso, whose market has been slow to develop and might go for a short years, many opt out, high AAV contract. Speculates that the Nats may want a year of the young guys before big spending event though they can afford it now.

I've been sort of dismissive about Alonso, but a short contract would let them get him in and out before Woods and Crews (and Gore and Abrams if not moved) are due big money. If Walker goes to a 1B needy team in a bidding war, and teams with CBT issues decide they can try to squeeze a year out of Santana and Goldy, then Alonso's market looks smaller and a pillow contract makes sense. I prefer Walker on a 3 year and less money due to the defense, but hard to overlook Alonso's power.

I'd rather they not do anything than to half-ass it again like they have been...go big or sell the team...

[HalfSmokes]

Right now, Ruiz at $5.375 million is the highest paid non-arbitration player on the roster. what is the over under on that still being true opening day?

[Slateman]

Maybe we get Alonso on a 1 year, prove it deal. Doubt it though. I'm betting he just takes whatever the Mets were offering.

[Slateman]

Right now, Ruiz at $5.375 million is the highest paid non-arbitration player on the roster. what is the over under on that still being true opening day?

100% Trevor Williams will cost more than that

[hotshot]

Maybe we get Alonso on a 1 year, prove it deal. Doubt it though. I'm betting he just takes whatever the Mets were offering.

Agree. With Soto there, that would be the smart move.

[imref]

fwiw, by this point in the 2024 offseason we only had a 21 page thread. Yet there were actual signings by this date: Senzel, Spencer Watkins, Dylan Floro,

https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=41074.500

[nobleisthyname]

Nationals 2025 ZiPS projections were posted today. Some solid projections compared to previous rebuild years with Wood, Crews, Abrams, García, and Chaparro all projected to be at least average major leaguers (though OTOH the highest projection is just Wood's 3.2 WAR). Pretty bearish on the rotation outside of Gore and especially bearish on the bullpen.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-zips-projections-washington-nationals/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nationals 2025 ZiPS projections were posted today. Some solid projections compared to previous rebuild years with Wood, Crews, Abrams, García, and Chaparro all projected to be at least average major leaguers (though OTOH the highest projection is just Wood's 3.2 WAR). Pretty bearish on the rotation outside of Gore and especially bearish on the bullpen.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-zips-projections-washington-nationals/

Also, while ZiPS only projects Young for 1.5 WAR, Szymborski notes that the system doesn't put much faith in 1 year of defensive performance as it is a number that bounces around and it marks down Young offensively due to his minor league record.  That said, he acknowledge that Young should be above average should young repeat his D. As for Chappy, it kind of depends on whether he plays 3rd, something that isn't really on the table.