2018 (MLB) News & Transactions

[MarcoPolo]

OK, 'bout time to start this I guess (I went looking for it and couldn't find it)

The reason I went looking was because I just noted ... the Yankees are currently under the competitive balance tax limit for 2018, AND their payroll is currently ... 7th !! The Dodgers also have dipped under the tax limit. This smells of two teams wanting to "reset" their tax levy % to 0, so that when they go over in 2018 (which should be a FA class full of studs) they won't pay the 50% rate, which they would have as multi-year repeaters of being over the threshold.

The Giants are desperately trying to do the same, I wager.

 

[calsnowskier]

OK, 'bout time to start this I guess (I went looking for it and couldn't find it)

The reason I went looking was because I just noted ... the Yankees are currently under the competitive balance tax limit for 2018, AND their payroll is currently ... 7th !! The Dodgers also have dipped under the tax limit. This smells of two teams wanting to "reset" their tax levy % to 0, so that when they go over in 2018 (which should be a FA class full of studs) they won't pay the 50% rate, which they would have as multi-year repeaters of being over the threshold.

The Giants are desperately trying to do the same, I wager.

Yeah, that’s been pretty widely reported all over all media.

Machado and Harper hitting FA the same year, combined with stricter CBT rules will tend to do that.

The CBT in baseball is beginning to act the same way the cap has worked for the NFL. The TOP talent will get ALL the money. Basically everyone else will become low-rent tenants (relatively).

 

[LHG]

Well then, I'll put this here:

 

[calsnowskier]

Tommy Joseph shown the door in Philly...

Phillies Designate Tommy Joseph For Assignment
















(Relax. I understand a DFA does not necisarily mean he is leaving the Philly org)

 

[LHG]

Tommy Joseph shown the door in Philly...

Phillies Designate Tommy Joseph For Assignment
















(Relax. I understand a DFA does not necisarily mean he is leaving the Philly org)

I could be wrong on this, but I think that Joseph had been removed from the Phillies' 40 man roster a few seasons back, when he was looking like he'd never make it to the big leagues. However, I am merely speculating, I haven't researched that at all.

 

[calsnowskier]

I could be wrong on this, but I think that Joseph had been removed from the Phillies' 40 man roster a few seasons back, when he was looking like he'd never make it to the big leagues. However, I am merely speculating, I haven't researched that at all.

That doesn’t sound familiar, and I doubt it would have happened since someone would have taken a flier on him. He has always had “light tower power”, and all teams want the chance to capitalize on that.

But if that is true, that would mean he would have the opportunity to decline an assignment. Not sure he would do that. He hasn’t played well enough to guarantee he would have a major league job elsewhere.

 

[SFGRTB]

Tommy Joseph shown the door in Philly...

Phillies Designate Tommy Joseph For Assignment
















(Relax. I understand a DFA does not necisarily mean he is leaving the Philly org)

All three players from that trade are no gone from the Phillies organization, sealing up a very lopsided trade for the Giants.

Since the trade, Pence has accumulated 10.9 WAR (baseball reference) or 14.8 WAR (fangraphs). He's had some steep decline lately, but he's always been at least a positive player.

The Phillies received Nate Schierholtz, Seth Rosin and Joseph in the trade, who combined for a -1.2 WAR (BR) or -0.4 WAR (FG) across 287 games.

Considering the players Philly gave up to get Pence in the first place, Jarred Cosart, Domingo Santana, Jon Singleton and Josh Zeid, and what Pence provided in the (basically) one season in Philly, Philly fans have to be feeling a little down.

Two players out of that collection of guys have amounted to anything, and the Phillies gave away both.

*side point, the Astros kinda screwed up as well, but it didn't stop them from winning a World Series so they get a pass. But imagine if they still had Josh Hader and Domingo Santana as opposed to Carlos Gomez, who they released mid-season after 1 year, and Mike Fiers, who they non-tendered.

 

[LHG]

 

[calsnowskier]

TINSTAAPP

 

[LHG]

That doesn’t sound familiar, and I doubt it would have happened since someone would have taken a flier on him. He has always had “light tower power”, and all teams want the chance to capitalize on that.

But if that is true, that would mean he would have the opportunity to decline an assignment. Not sure he would do that. He hasn’t played well enough to guarantee he would have a major league job elsewhere.

It did happen:

Tommy Joseph Latest Transactions
Team Date Transaction

March 12, 2018 Philadelphia Phillies designated 1B Tommy Joseph for assignment.

May 13, 2016 Philadelphia Phillies selected the contract of 1B Tommy Joseph from Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

March 3, 2016 C Tommy Joseph assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.

October 19, 2015 Philadelphia Phillies sent 1B Tommy Joseph outright to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

October 5, 2015 Philadelphia Phillies recalled C Tommy Joseph from Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

August 14, 2015 Lehigh Valley IronPigs activated C Tommy Joseph from the 7-day disabled list.

July 30, 2015 Lehigh Valley IronPigs sent C Tommy Joseph on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies.

May 12, 2015 Lehigh Valley IronPigs placed C Tommy Joseph on the 7-day disabled list. Concussion.

March 31, 2015 C Tommy Joseph assigned to Lehigh Valley IronPigs from Reading Fightin Phils.

March 21, 2015 Philadelphia Phillies optioned C Tommy Joseph to Reading Fightin Phils.
+ View More Transactions

 

[MarcoPolo]

Tommy Joseph shown the door in Philly...

Phillies Designate Tommy Joseph For Assignment

I could be wrong on this, but I think that Joseph had been removed from the Phillies' 40 man roster a few seasons back, when he was looking like he'd never make it to the big leagues. However, I am merely speculating, I haven't researched that at all.

If you aren't on the 40-man, you can't BE "designated for assignment". The *purpose* of DFA is to remove you from the 40-man: immediately.

Terms, Contracts, DFA Explained

 

[calsnowskier]

If you aren't on the 40-man, you can't BE "designated for assignment". The *purpose* of DFA is to remove you from the 40-man: immediately.

Terms, Contracts, DFA Explained

That’s not what he was saying, though. He was saying that he thinks ToJo had previously been DFAd by the Phils, meaning that he had the option of refusing the assignment and becoming a FA if he so desired.

Based on his later research, it appears that he had, in fact, been DFAd once in the past (I am not certain I trust his findings, though).

 

[LHG]

That’s not what he was saying, though. He was saying that he thinks ToJo had previously been DFAd by the Phils, meaning that he had the option of refusing the assignment and becoming a FA if he so desired.

Based on his later research, it appears that he had, in fact, been DFAd once in the past (I am not certain I trust his findings, though).

Hey, I pulled that directly from Joseph's player page on mlb.com. However, it doesn't really matter as the Rangers claimed him and, interestingly, put Clayton Blackburn on the 60 day dl to add Joseph to the 40.

 

[calsnowskier]

Hey, I pulled that directly from Joseph's player page on mlb.com. However, it doesn't really matter as the Rangers claimed him and, interestingly, put Clayton Blackburn on the 60 day dl to add Joseph to the 40.

Sorry, I wasn’t questioning your research, rather the accuracy of the source. Even if hurt, I have a hard time believing ToJo would have cleared waivers back then.

 

[LHG]

Sorry, I wasn’t questioning your research, rather the accuracy of the source. Even if hurt, I have a hard time believing ToJo would have cleared waivers back then.

No need to apologize, I didn't think I cited my source on that post.
MLB has been known to not report things correctly on their website, so I looked it up on an equally questionable website, ESPN. This is what they show for the Phillies in October 2015:

October 20, 2015 Assigned OFs Kelly Dugan, Brian Bogusevic and Domonic Brown and C Tommy Joseph to Lehigh Valley (IL).

So I went to MLB Trade Rumors and deep around to find this: Domonic Brown Elects Free Agency After Outright

Apparently, no one wanted to take a chance on him in 2015.

 

[SFGRTB]

Sorry, I wasn’t questioning your research, rather the accuracy of the source. Even if hurt, I have a hard time believing ToJo would have cleared waivers back then.

Ehh. A right-handed first baseman with only 3 homers in 45 AAA games, and a .193/.220/.301 line? TBH he was lucky to get a shot in Philly in 2016.

 

[msgkings322]

All three players from that trade are no gone from the Phillies organization, sealing up a very lopsided trade for the Giants.

Since the trade, Pence has accumulated 10.9 WAR (baseball reference) or 14.8 WAR (fangraphs). He's had some steep decline lately, but he's always been at least a positive player.

The Phillies received Nate Schierholtz, Seth Rosin and Joseph in the trade, who combined for a -1.2 WAR (BR) or -0.4 WAR (FG) across 287 games.

Considering the players Philly gave up to get Pence in the first place, Jarred Cosart, Domingo Santana, Jon Singleton and Josh Zeid, and what Pence provided in the (basically) one season in Philly, Philly fans have to be feeling a little down.

Two players out of that collection of guys have amounted to anything, and the Phillies gave away both.

*side point, the Astros kinda screwed up as well, but it didn't stop them from winning a World Series so they get a pass. But imagine if they still had Josh Hader and Domingo Santana as opposed to Carlos Gomez, who they released mid-season after 1 year, and Mike Fiers, who they non-tendered.

And let's be real, Pence brought a lot more than just WAR (yes I can rhyme). He kinda made 2012 happen.

 

[SFGRTB]

Giants signed two more international amateurs.

Wikelma Casilla, an 18 year old RHP out of Venezuela.

Julio Rodriguez, an 18 year old RHP out of Cuba.

Rodriguez signed for $300K, and Casilla is unreported due to security reasons.

This brings the total signings to 25, to my best knowledge:

Ivan Armstrong
Rodolfo Bone
Jose Cruz
Alvaro Ferreras
Jesus Gomez
Robert Gomez
Cesar Gonzalez
Jose Hernandez
Richgelon Juliana
Jesus Liscano
Luis Montero
Freddery Paulino
Jean Pena
Jose Peralta
Yohan Polanco
Samuel Quintana
Randy Rodriguez
Yorlis Rodriguez
Juan Sanchez
Carlos Sano
Luis Toribio
Sonny Vargas
Leonard Vilchez

plus Julio Rodriguez and Wikelma Casilla.

I bolded the players who signed for the max $300K, which are guys to look out for once the DSL season starts. Apparently Ivan Armstrong is a guy to keep an eye on as well.

 

[SFGRTB]

Add one more, Melvin Martinez, a 17 year old RHP

 

[LHG]

Diamondbacks Outright Albert Suarez
Sorry @calsnowskier , it looks like he won't be coming back for depth purposes.