The Hosmer deal isn’t terrible, but he would have been better off in KC. He’s a below average defender and his defensive numbers are trending down. A slow transition to DH would have been the better option for him.
On the Hot Stove Stupidity front, Mets GM Sandy Alderson says he thinks Tim Tebow will play in the major leagues*, and Tebow has been invited to Mets spring training again.
This makes me think that the best hope the Mets have of seriously competing at a major league level is to demote Alderson to running the Class A Columbia Fireflies.
*He may be capable of hitting .160 in a part-time publicity stunt role.
Just to get the numbers out there, Tebow is now 30. Last year he batted .226 in the low minors with 8 home runs and 2 stolen bases. He was the worst defensive outfielder in organized professional baseball.
Wonderful prospect, that.
Oh, to be a fan of a team in the Mets’ division.
Bring him up and keep him up and give him plenty of playing time, say all the Nationals and Braves and Phillies fans out there…
I like how you left the Marlins out. Its like they have bigger issues then trying to embarrass themselves.
The Mets have had a nice off-season, it looked like they did a fair job improving the team. Then Sandy Alderson has to spew the Tebow stupidity.
I know it looks weird for a Yankee diehard to hope things work out for the Mets, but I like it when both teams are good as long as the Yanks are better. 
But when Tebow or owner stupidity is involved it is hard to root for them.
Petco is only slightly worse than Kauffman is. Last year, they ranked #29 and #27 in Park Factor for HRs.
But generally, I absolutely agree. I’m a Royals fan, and love Hosmer - he provided some amazing moments and memories the last 4-5 years watching him. But he’s just not that impressive of a hitter, and his defense has been on a big decline the last few years. I wouldn’t go so far as describing him as a “big, heavy first baseman”, but I would say he’s not worth $20 million a year. I’m sad to see him go, and it looks like the Royals have a big hole to fill at 1B, but I’m also really glad that we’re not pouring money into that contract.
I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the Padres, though - it’ll be fun to finally see Hosmer and Wil Myers play in the same lineup.
JD Rodriguez to the Bosox for $110/5 years
Martinez and Woot! It will be a fun year. Yanks and Bosox slugging it out but long term the Red Sox probably just hamstrung themselves.
5 years is not super long; I suspect Martinez wanted 7 and that was probably the hold-up. You have to figure that these kinds of contracts aren’t really going to be worth it in the last year or two in a vacuum.
He gets an opt-out after 2 years. Maybe that was the kicker that finally let Boras let him sign without looking like he caved.
Anyway, my team is now better and I’m happier.
Whatever the wisdom of the term, it makes Boston a better team in 2018, assuming they don’t now do something really stupid to make room. Martinez directly fixed Boston’s single greatest team weakness from 2017.
If they do the smart thing and find a way to get rid of Hanley, they’re much better.
Man, look at that payroll. It’s like Boston just buys championships. 
This kind of deal makes reasonable sense for both sides. Martinez can hope he has two super years, then opt out of the deal and get someone else to make him a more attractive offer or front-load another (relatively short-term) contract. The Red Sox don’t pay as much toward the end of the deal when Martinez’ output is probably declining.
If only MLB had approved a pitch clock we could look forward to relatively exciting Red Sox-Yankees games. At least there won’t be unlimited trips to the mound during “tense” situations.
Hanley says his shoulder surgery over the winter went well (“I was hitting with one arm last year”) and he’s going to be a much better hitter this year. Okay, great. Everybody feels fine in spring.
“Best shape of my life!”
I was more concerned that he’d hurt his arm signing the contract or cashing a check (unless Boras allowed the Sox to set him up for Direct Deposit), but now you have me worrying about his hamstring, too.
Someone should ask him how many arms he was hitting with in 2015.
Tampa Bay sends Steven Souza to Arizona in a three-team deal.
Yankees get Brandon Drury from Arizona, and per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the Yankees will be sending prospects Nick Solak and Taylor Widener to the Rays and Diamondbacks, respectively
Rays send Steven Souza to Diamondbacks in three-way trade with Yankees - CBSSports.com
It looks like a good pick up for the Yanks, Drury can play 2B, 3B and corner OF. He has some pop. With rookies the front running for 2B & 3B this is good insurance. Solak is a good hitting 2B prospect but not a very good fielder thus far. I honestly know nothing about Widener, a Righty starting pitcher for high A Tampa Yanks last year.
Forgot to mention; Drury is also Pre-Arb.
Baseball is back, I just watched the Tigers @ Yanks. Is it time to bank the fire and start a spring training thread?