2014 Offseason Plans Thread Pt2

[Windingmywatch]

Did I just dream this? I swear that within the last week it came out that Feliz was the closer and it was his job to lose.

Here's where you got the "Felix ... closer ... job to lose" idea. T.R. Sullivan ... which makes it one step more credible than EG ... but it isn't Wash.

Y! SPORTS

 

[Justinkm83]

Rangers have inquired about Chris Denorfia from the Padres. I'm not really sure why, unless it's to be the 4th OFer

 

[RevSader]

Rangers have inquired about Chris Denorfia from the Padres. I'm not really sure why, unless it's to be the 4th OFer

I almost posted that. I still have the tweet info ready to paste from earlier. He had a good season last year. The tweet I read said the Rangers and Red Sox were among several interested teams.

Chris Cotillo @ChrisCotillo Follow Also from @Pgammo: #Padres Chris Denorfia drawing trade interest from many teams, including #Rangers and #RedSox
[ame="https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/statuses/418899151431024641"]6:18 PM - 2 Jan 2014[/ame]

 

[Justinkm83]

I just don't see the point of acquiring him unless JD has a bigger trade in mind.

 

[RevSader]

I just don't see the point of acquiring him unless JD has a bigger trade in mind.

No one said JD was actively trying to do so.

 

[Windingmywatch]

I almost posted that. I still have the tweet info ready to paste from earlier. He had a good season last year. The tweet I read said the Rangers and Red Sox were among several interested teams. ]

I freakin love JD's intrigue. When a contender gets interested in someone TEX seems to always jump in on it too just to see what the asks are and figure out what the opposition is doing.

Then again ... if 2014 is Alex Rios' last year playing for TEX (more than likely) ... then moving Rios and acquiring Chris Denorfia separately would save $10mil for effectively a similar slash line but higher WAR potential.

Might be 4OF interest ... but that is going to disappoint Engle Beltre a whole lot.

 

[Justinkm83]

Nelson Cruz's market seems almost non-existent in the eyes of Fangraphs' Jeff Sullivan, who goes through every team in baseball to try and find a home for the outfielder. Twenty-nine teams are "stretches" or "not a fit," while only the Orioles are a "decent" candidate, and Kendrys Morales might be a better fit for them. A return to the Rangers would be a "stretch," and GM Jon Daniels recently said that he expects Cruz to sign elsewhere now that Shin-Soo Choo is in the fold.


Maybe, just maybe, he'll be in bad enough shape to come back here as the DH, and part time OFer.

 

[Duane1952]

Sounds like Cruz is needs to drop his price.

 

[Justinkm83]

Sounds like Cruz is needs to drop his price.

It's that, having to give up a pick, and the PEDs. I would gladly slot him right back in the 5 hole.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

It's that, having to give up a pick, and the PEDs. I would gladly slot him right back in the 5 hole.

Me too and at 3 years at the most.

 

[Justinkm83]

Me too and at 3 years at the most.

I think 3/42 would be my limit with him. I think that would get it done if we has a spot in the field for him. I assume he's not signing anywhere until Tanaka comes off the board.

 

[Duane1952]

I heard when he asked for 4 years and 75 mil a lot of teams backed off.

 

[Justinkm83]

I heard when he asked for 4 years and 75 mil a lot of teams backed off.

He probably has offers. He's just waiting to see if teams plans change when they miss on Tanaka.

 

[Windingmywatch]

It's that, having to give up a pick, and the PEDs. I would gladly slot him right back in the 5 hole.

Wonder if JD's "I think he'll sign elsewhere" line sends a message to the other GMs that "if TEX doesn't want him then maybe we ought to not want him either". So he stays on the market ... TEX signs him for 3/42 as full time DH.

Then TEX can fill the 4OF with someone like Adduci who can field all three spots, can backup Fielder at 1b and is almost as fast as Gentry. This would save a roster spot for another bat.

OT: How the heck did Adam Rosales contract stay alive through all his waiver pickups? Is he TEX UIF for 2014?

 

[Justinkm83]

The Diamondbacks consider Masahiro Tanaka to be their "No. 1 target" and are serious suitors for the Japanese ace, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports. Had Arizona not acquired Mark Trumbo, the Snakes were open to spending the $140MM that agent Scott Boras said it would've taken to sign Shin-Soo Choo, and Rosenthal notes that D'Backs management could instead invest that money (the $20MM posting fee and a $120MM contract) towards landing Tanaka.


What I took from this is how the Angels helped us. Not only did they trade Trumbo to get a pitcher they already traded (Skaggs), but they allowed us to get Choo. It looks like ARI was prepared to offer more than we were for Choo.

 

[Justinkm83]

Will somebody that's an ESPN Insider post Olney's top 10 teams?

 

[romeo212000]

You are likely right on there. OU shouldn't have been in over Oregon.

You were saying?

 

[WilltheThrill]

Will somebody that's an ESPN Insider post Olney's top 10 teams?

Tigers
Dodgers
Cardinals
Red Sox
A's
Rangers
Braves
Nationals
Royals
Pirates

Rays, Reds, DBacks, Indians, and Angels got honorable mention.

I think he's got the A's and Royals overrated and Rangers and Rays underrated.

 

[darrylgann]

You were saying?

Atta boy Sooners! What a game!

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Will somebody that's an ESPN Insider post Olney's top 10 teams?

1. Detroit Tigers

Some of the teams that employ advanced metrics determined at the end of the last regular season that the Tigers were the best team in the American League -- by far. This, in spite of a bullpen that repeatedly went through changes at closer, and in spite of what was widely regarded as the worst defense in the majors. The Tigers won the AL Central for the third straight year, and again they couldn't win the World Series, losing to Boston in the ALCS. And since the end of the season, Detroit GM David Dombrowski has gone about the business of plugging the holes.

Buster's top 10s
The full schedule
Dec. 26: Top 10 lineups
Dec. 27: Top 10 rotations
Dec. 28: Top 10 bullpens
Dec. 29: Top 10 defenses
Dec. 31: Top 10 teams
Jan. 1: Top 10 2014 storylines
He allowed Jhonny Peralta to depart, cementing Jose Iglesias' spot at shortstop. He traded Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler, a change that will upgrade the Tigers' defense, because Miguel Cabrera now moves to the position he should play: first base. With Rajai Davis taking over in left field as part of a platoon with Andy Dirks, Detroit should now have a really good outfield, as well as more team speed.

And Dombrowski also added arguably the best available closer, Joe Nathan, who posted a 1.39 ERA in 2013. Some teams have concerns that Nathan, who turns 40 in 2014, will lose his stuff in the next couple of years. But the Tigers are more of a win-now team than any other in baseball, with a team designed not only to make the postseason, but to take the final step for owner Mike Ilitch and win the World Series. The Tigers have the ability to make that happen next season, with their dominant rotation, their shored-up bullpen and defense, and their more functional lineup -- under the guise of new manager Brad Ausmus.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

They haven't really made a big move yet this winter, re-signing Juan Uribe, Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell, and pinning down Dan Haren on a one-year deal. But even if they don't land another pitcher -- Masahiro Tanaka, Matt Garza or David Price -- they'll have an excellent pitching staff, and of course, the money and the motivation to get better and address holes during the regular season. One GM said that when you consider building a championship team, you have to factor in an additional 5 to 10 percent: The amount of money you can take on to fill needs that develop through injury and unexpected performance lapses. The Dodgers certainly have that.

If the Dodgers play the Tigers in the World Series, it'll be a match of the two teams currently placing the highest value on winning a championship.

They have Yasiel Puig, too, whose talent is as scary as his driving – which is why the Dodgers talked to him after his latest incident. The Dodgers are holding their breath over Puig, writes Bill Plaschke.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

They have the best collection of power pitching in baseball, with Michael Wacha, Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller, Carlos Martinez and others, on a staff led by Adam Wainwright. The offense could be as good as it was last year if Jhonny Peralta hits the way the Cardinals believe he will and Matt Adams and Kolten Wong transition into effective regular players.

4. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox's front office drew upon lessons learned from the past and maintained their discipline in the offseason, not feeling the need to try to top the magic that Boston accomplished in 2013.

They haven't surrendered any draft picks, they haven't boxed themselves in with long-term deals; payroll flexibility continues to be management's mantra. However, the cost of doing business this way will come to bear during the regular season if Boston's lineup safety nets do not materialize next summer.

If Jackie Bradley Jr. doesn't develop into a serviceable big leaguer quickly, they'll have a hole in center field and in the leadoff spot. If Xander Bogaerts doesn't realize stardom quickly -- and the expectation of rival evaluators is that he has a chance to make a rapid ascent, like a Manny Machado -- then Boston's infield will have problems. The Red Sox have a major unknown before them: Clay Buchholz was among the game's best pitchers in the first half of the season, and missed most of the second half due to injury, and Boston really has no idea what production he will provide.

But the bet here is that as part of Boston's new-found discipline, the front office is prepared to maintain a steady, big-picture course, rather than pursue a frenzied (and perhaps a little irrational) chase in trying to win the World Series again -- in the first 3 1/2 months of the season, at least. If the Red Sox are well-positioned again in July and have holes, that would be the time for them to be aggressive.

5. Oakland Athletics

In some respects, Oakland's back-to-back division championships with a payroll of half of its main competitors is more impressive than a World Series win would be for most other teams. This is the dance Oakland must do, and the Athletics should again have a strong team, with a deep pitching staff (including one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball) and a lineup filled with walks and home runs.

It will be crucial for them that Josh Donaldson and Jed Lowrie continue to be lineup anchors, because the Athletics aren't really structured to absorb regression in these two key players. It would help a lot if Yoenis Cespedes had a bounce-back season.

6. Texas Rangers

They needed offensive help and merely added two players who ranked among the top 40 in OPS in 2013 in Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder. Choo will help the top of the lineup, Fielder will help the middle. Rival evaluators say that while Jurickson Profar is not close to making an instant impact at the level of a Bryce Harper or a Mike Trout, he could become a really good player, and he could take a major step forward after feeling his way around big league pitching in 2013.

The Rangers' pitching should be strong, although they have major X factors in Matt Harrison, who is coming back from back trouble, and Neftali Feliz, who will try to return to his role as closer.

The Rangers owners OK'd the Fielder and Choo deals, as Drew Davison writes.

7. Atlanta Braves

Their budget lines are all but immovable, and as the Braves' impressive young players have begun to climb into their arbitration years, Atlanta had some tough decisions to make this winter, allowing Brian McCann and Tim Hudson to walk away. But the Braves have three high-end position players in first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and right fielder Jason Heyward, as well as the game's best closer (Craig Kimbrel) and what should be a good rotation. There are three major questions on this roster:

1. What will the team's highest-paid player, B.J. Upton, provide after hitting .184 last season?
2. Will Dan Uggla bounce back after batting .179 and being left off the postseason roster?
3. Will Justin Upton be as good as he was early in the year, or just an average player, as he was in the middle of the season?

8. Washington Nationals

They were heavy favorites to make the postseason last year and never really challenged the Braves for the division title after Atlanta started strongly. The Nats' lineup was strangely ineffective, with the coaching staff greatly concerned about what they perceived to be a passive approach from too many hitters, and injuries hurt them in key spots.

So Washington GM Mike Rizzo made one of the best trades of the winter in dealing for Detroit's Doug Fister, added outfield depth by signing Nate McLouth and bolstered the bullpen by dealing for Jerry Blevins. The issue that could nag them is the relative health of some of their primary players, who have extensive injury histories.

9. Kansas City Royals

The Royals have been building for the season to come for many years, and after taking a step forward last season, they will try to break through and make the playoffs, as the Pirates did last year. Their bullpen is among the very best, and so is their defense, and their lineup should be improved by the addition of Norichika Aoki and Omar Infante. The major issue for the Royals -- besides playing in the same division as the Tigers and Indians -- is the question of who will make up for the production of Ervin Santana.

It may still be possible that the answer to that is Santana himself, if his diminished free-agent market compels him to try to work out a deal with the Royals, who would be open to this if it's on their terms.

If Santana does come back, the Royals may well have their most complete team since the 1985 version that won the World Series.

10. Pittsburgh Pirates

They broke through to make the postseason last season, and their strong core remains in place, built around Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte, their bullpen, and starters Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton.

Pittsburgh's front office showed it would be aggressive in aiding the team if it thought it had a chance to win, and it's still possible the Pirates will augment their roster for next season. But Pittsburgh is good enough to contend already, and it may be the Pirates' most significant augmentations will happen next season, as their needs become more acute.