I think it's also a matter of lining up the burlap dolls at the carnie. Considering what Bryce Harper is going to get next year, it's going to be interesting to see who wants to strap on that contract for the next million years. Obviously a few teams can afford to do that, and 2 of them are in the NL-C.It's become rather obvious teams are collectively throttling the free agent market. There really hasn't been a signing that has broken the ranks in terms of years or dollars.
It'll be interesting when it's all said and done to see what the top remaining FA signed for.
For sure, you can't have half your payroll tied up in players who are league average. I think the other thing is that the Phillips-type contracts are going to be a lot less common. I think the Reds will be happier to trade Billy Hamilton than to pay him. Homer Bailey is the classic case of paying for a guy who hasn't delivered even a dozen wins, let along anchored a contending team's rotation.Bryce Harper is in a different stratosphere to most FA when it comes to what he'll get. Harper, Trout, and guys of that ilk will always break the bank. I think what we're seeing is an attempt to reign in the contracts of the players not named Bryce Harper.
I hope the guy at least shows he can hit .260 with 20 HR, more or less. That would compare favorably to Suarez.I read where Nick Senzel made the 2018 Preseason MLB Pipeline's All Defensive Team at 3rd. The kid has lived up to the hype early on.
Could be, league average is what it's all about for all but a half-dozen teams.Pirates are in full-on "rebuild" mode...remembering it took about 3 decades last time....looks like they will be competing with our Reds for the cellar in the NLC next year, if you believe Milwaukee can really pitch that well again without playing D, and the Cardinals are going to dig into (pick one or all) A) the money they didn't pay Pujols to buy a couple of expensive studs B) The farm (to trade for a couple expensive studs) or C) the farm to reload all by themselves.
The only thing I'm really convinced of in the NLC is, the Cubs can clinch in JULY if they play, or by Labor Day if they don't. Last year, they took 2/3 of the season off, and still walked into the Division. Didn't help them get to the Series, though...I expect them to re-tool a couple of pitchers spots, and try hard to broker Heyward to anyone that would take him for a promise to pay...maybe the Angels. He's a popular rah-rah guy, but he looks like Tarzan, hits like Jane. WAY overpaid.