# MLB offseason 2020-2021 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [October 29, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226 "2020-10-29T18:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/141 "2021-02-16T04:37:34Z")
It’s just in case Tebow doesn’t pan out. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/142 "2021-02-16T12:20:06Z")
I thought the NL wasn’t going to use the DH this year? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/143 "2021-02-16T15:03:06Z")
No, they are not. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/144 "2021-02-17T01:33:40Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Once the first pitch has been delivered, the pitcher may throw subsequent pitches whenever he wants. If the batter fails to connect that’s a ball or a strike just like now. Problem solved. So the batter hits the ball down the line and takes off running. The pitcher is allowed to throw the next pitch before he’s returned to the batter’s box. Or after he’s fouled one off his foot. Or after he’s thrown himself to the ground to avoid being hit in the head? I don’t think you can have a hard and fast rule, but there’s no reason the catcher needs to wait until the batter’s set to give his sign. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/145 "2021-02-17T01:55:01Z")
Yeah. That wasn’t exactly a well-thought out proposal. But the goal remains that the batter cannot create delay, and the pitcher is driven by a pitch clock to not delay. The pitcher, once receiving the ball, is obligated to get rid of it pronto. The batter, once entering the box, is obligated to handle the pitch whenever it comes. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/146 "2021-02-17T17:34:09Z")
Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/147 "2021-02-18T00:51:37Z")
Breaking News: Tebow is retiring from baseball!!! > **[Tebow's baseball journey comes to an end](https://www.mlb.com/news/tim-tebow-retiring-from-baseball)** > > NEW YORK -- Tim Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who put aside football to take up a baseball career, has announced his retirement. > “I loved every minute of the journey, but at this time I feel called in other directions," Tebow... ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/148 "2021-02-18T01:53:48Z")
Tatis Jr signing a 14/340 mil freaking year extension. This is moronic. I wouldnt have signed Babe Ruth to such a contract. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlax/32/2927_2.png) [@Scarlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlax)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/149 "2021-02-18T02:06:06Z")
I’d hope not. That was a lot of money back then… That per annum salary was like 0.0035% of the gdp in 1920. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/150 "2021-02-18T02:07:11Z")
Even in the 20s The Babe could have drank 320 mil worth of beer. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/151 "2021-02-18T03:47:21Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Tatis Jr signing a 14/340 mil freaking year extension. This is moronic. I wouldnt have signed Babe Ruth to such a contract. Tatis is already worth more than $24mil a year. Is it risky, sure. But when you are the Padres (and are in the same division as the Dodgers) you have to take a few risks. I think it is a gamble worth taking. I love the aggressive moves the Pads are taking this off-season. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/152 "2021-02-18T05:13:58Z")
14 years is a ridiculous time frame. Not only is there a risk of a debilitating (but not career ending) injury, but that kind of money and security can drain the motivation that drives someone to greatness. Imo, even 7 years is a risky contract. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/153 "2021-02-18T12:18:43Z")
You are acting like long contacts don’t have opt outs. And the motivation argument is ridiculous. Plenty of players have signed decade long contracts and played just as hard, if not harder. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/154 "2021-02-18T14:55:55Z")
With Sandy Alderson running things, it may be too soon to declare the Tebow Era completely over. At the very least, expect Tim Tebow Appreciation Night, Tebow bobbleheads etc. to go along with Tebow Reality TV and Tebow for Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/155 "2021-02-18T15:17:58Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > but that kind of money and security can drain the motivation that drives someone to greatness. Got any recent examples? In other news, Trevor Bauer has some interesting no trade provisions in his contract: Can’t be traded to the other league from opening day to the All-Star Game Can’t be traded to the other league after the ASG if he’s makes ASG or pitches 80 IP prior to the ASG Can’t withhold consent to trade unless he’s under consideration for Cy Young Looks like he believes that if he wins another Cy Young award, he’s in for an even larger paycheck next year. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/156 "2021-02-18T16:08:32Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > 14 years is a ridiculous time frame. Not only is there a risk of a debilitating (but not career ending) injury, but that kind of money and security can drain the motivation that drives someone to greatness. Imo, even 7 years is a risky contract. If you’ve got any evidence on the motivation issue, I’d be happy to see it. And while 14 years is a long time, if you _ **are** _ going to give such a long contract, you probably won’t find a better risk than a 21-year-old who already has a career OPS+ of 154, who averages 1 Win Above Replacement for every 20 games he plays, and who does a pretty good job of fielding at basically the most difficult position on the field apart from catcher. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > You are acting like long contacts don’t have opt outs. What sort of opt-out are you thinking of here? The guaranteed nature of MLB contracts mean that, for the teams at least, there are very few opportunities for opting out. Tatis’ contract give Tatis a full no-trade clause, but I’ve seen no reporting of any opt-out clause for the Padres. Unless he commits some egregious violation of the morals clause, or commits a felony and gets sent to prison, or something else that would allow the team to void the contract, the Padres are basically on the hook for that money no matter what, unless they can trade Tatis to another team that is willing to pick up the cost. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/157 "2021-02-18T16:26:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > What sort of opt-out are you thinking of here? The guaranteed nature of MLB contracts mean that, for the teams at least, there are very few opportunities for opting out. Tatis’ contract give Tatis a full no-trade clause, but I’ve seen no reporting of any opt-out clause for the Padres. Unless he commits some egregious violation of the morals clause, or commits a felony and gets sent to prison, or something else that would allow the team to void the contract, the Padres are basically on the hook for that money no matter what, unless they can trade Tatis to another team that is willing to pick up the cost. Opt outs was the wrong word, I was thinking team/mutual options. Though it seems the most recent long deals (Harper, Betts) don’t include them, so maybe it isn’t in this one either. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/158 "2021-02-18T16:59:30Z")
There is risk in Tatis’s contract, but in reality not all that much. Players that good and that young rarely fail and more often then not become hall of fame level players. There is pretty good chance that Tatis will end up leaving a lot of money on the table due to the deal. It seems reasonable from both sides. On speeding up games, my concern with pitch clocks is that decreasing the recovery time between pitches could increase injuries. I don’t think there is a ton of data on that yet, but there is reason to be concerned. It makes perfect sense to me that players would want a slow implemation and to implement it in the minors first. Particularly because owners are not willing at to make other changes, like reducing inning breaks and getting a little less ad revenue. Really I don’t think length of game is a problem though. The problem is lack of action in the game as K rates and BB rates continue to climb. Baseball is theoretically deadening the ball a bit, but we are going to need more drastic changes if that is going to be altered. The other big problem is baseball is terrible at marketing their stars and teams. Every Division looks competive this year. The Padres Dodgers should be an incredible pennant race filled with stars. The Twins vs White Sox is going to be fun. The Yankees are favorites in the east, but Tor, TB and maybe even Boston are going to make noise. The NL East could be wild if things break well for the Nats and Phillies. The AL West has a villian, the small market, and Trout finally trying to get to the postseason. The NL central isn’t going to be good but wide open mediocre divisions can be fun too. MLB could make so much more money for everyone if they spent more time growing the pot long term and less on how to divide it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/159 "2021-02-18T17:06:44Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Trout finally trying to get to the postseason He’s been - his team has just never won a game while in the postseason. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226/160 "2021-02-18T20:41:28Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > The other big problem is baseball is terrible at marketing their stars and teams. Every Division looks competive this year. The Padres Dodgers should be an incredible pennant race filled with stars. The Twins vs White Sox is going to be fun. The Yankees are favorites in the east, but Tor, TB and maybe even Boston are going to make noise. The NL East could be wild if things break well for the Nats and Phillies. The AL West has a villian, the small market, and Trout finally trying to get to the postseason. The NL central isn’t going to be good but wide open mediocre divisions can be fun too. MLB could make so much more money for everyone if they spent more time growing the pot long term and less on how to divide it. This. ESPN is so addicted to the Yankees/Red Sox crack pipe. Last year, before the shit hit the fan, their Sunday night schedule had no games with the defending World Series champion Nationals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-2020-2021/924226.md?page=9)