I think you are all underrating Wheeler. He had a major injury and it took him a while to recover, but the last two years he made 60 starts with a FIP of like 3.35. That’s pretty good. He doesn’t look as dominate because the Mets decided that defense ability is optional, but stuff is still elite. He looks like a two starter with upside, which isn’t commonly available. That seems a reasonable use of 22 million a year in modern baseball.
Meanwhile the Mets got a platoon center fielder so yay?
Considering the state of the market, it looks like we will probably get Strasburg back (is anyone outside DC is really comfortable with his history of injuries except maybe the Padres?).
Rendon looks like he might go home to Texas.
Donaldson would be nice but the Reds signing Moustakas really churned the 3B market. Part of me wonders whether Boras got Moose to sign with one of the teams that are NOT looking for a 3B to heat up the market for Rendon.
There are a ton of decent 3B’s out there to plug the hole defensively. But if you lose Rendon, you need a big bat from somewhere. I’m hoping for Mookie Betts.
I remain absolutely floored that the Red Sox haven’t signed Betts for the rest of his career.
But the infielders also need to know the information for defensive purposes. If the ball is being pitched outside, you need to be in a different position than if it’s going inside.
Do they? Other than calling a middle infielder to 2nd for a pick off, wouldn’t the defenders shifting to a different location for a specific pitch be the easiest tell of all time for someone attempting to steal signs?
What are they doing now? Are all the basemen (and shortstop) in a position to see every sign? (I’m not denying this is true but that seems hard to do.)
And if so, headsets for all infielders seems fair. Or maybe just earpieces for those other than catcher and pitcher. The NFL has been doing that stuff for years.
Infielders do not reposition pitch to pitch in the major leagues.
I think the Nats are talking with them about trading Betts last year of control for Eaton plus other stufrf (maybe prospects, maybe money, maybe Robles. Betts has made it pretty clear that he doesn’t want to stay in Boston. I don’t know what the Nats could possibly offer but they are apparently also talking to Betts (probably to see if he would sign a longer term deal to make a trade they make worthwhile).
Listen, I’m a Red Sox fan and big fan of Mookie Betts. But I get it. He’s turned down what I think are reasonable extension offers. I know $200M/8yrs was confirmed. They put themselves in a bit of a bind with what they’re paying pitchers. Sale, Price and Eovaldi will cost nearly $80M/yr for the next few years. Not to mention JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts each at 20M+.
All that said, I don’t know what is considered a reasonable return for a year of Mookie Betts.
Schilling did get hurt but I don’t remember how exactly. Looking at his pitching line they wouldn’t have taken him out. He hadn’t even given up a hit.
ESPN out with their Sunday night schedule. The Nationals, as the defending World Series champs, don’t even get a slot as a visiting team. Going to be a very cold night on April 12 at Wrigley, April night games suck and ESPN games drag on forever.
Speaking of the Nats, looks like Strasburg is coming back.
Wow. I take back what I said about the Nats never overpaying.
Strasburg has had ONE great healthy season in his career.
More power to them, but that contract is going to seem stupid before it is done. 31 years old and injury prone to boot. 7 years at $35 million per season.
What the hell is Gerrit Cole going to get now?* (age=29, 4 of the last 5 years pitched over 200 innings.)*
I agree that he may become an albatross one day if his health issues continue but the Nats understand that he is a glass cannon and know how to play him to extend his useful life.
If they paid much less for Strasburg, there’d’ve been a lot of pressure to sign Rendon to a big dollar deal as well. Now the DC area is going to be happy with half a cake. Maybe we will get Donaldson and pick up another bat somewhere. The kid in me is hoping for Mookie Betts.
ESPN is reporting that the Yankees offer to Gerrit Cole is supposed to eclipse the Strasburg deal
Obviously as he is younger and better. Looks like he will decide this week too. Lets go Angels!
My guess is somewhere in the 300/8 range. Younger than Strasburg, better injury history. 35 a year for 8 years is 280, and I think he might get more than that per year now. If Cole’s contract had come out first, I’d think 35 per year would be about right. If they (Yankees, Dodgers, or Angels) gave him 320/8, would any of us really be all that shocked?
Funny how much these values in professional sports depend on other contracts. I’m in the middle of trying to convince some Texans fans (because Something Is Wrong On The Internet!) that they don’t want to wait a year on extending Laramy Tunsil or Deshaun Watson, when that extra year means another blockbuster contract is just going to drive their eventual price higher. But then they think it’s hunky-dory that the Texans are going to go without a GM in 2020, so I think I’m wasting my time…
Didi Gregorius to the Phillies on a one-year deal.
Man, this one hurts a lot. It makes good business sense, but I loved that dude. Heart and soul of the team. So long, Sir Didi.
Gerrit Cole is a Yankee. 324/9.
This will sting. I hope that assuages some of the pain from losing Gregorius. LOL.