And if the FO spends up to the threshold now, any additions would bump them over. Not sure how the org would handle that come July. Guess it depends on how close the team is to contention and how comfortable the ownership is paying a tax penalty.
I have not heard anything, just spitballing here...
I don't know if the persistent rumors are because the two teams do indeed continue to talk, one of the teams really wants the trade to happen or that the writers are in need of stories, but the rumor refuses to die. As long as it stays at the rumor level, I'm fine with continuing to hear about the trade. However, considering the team's need, I don't think they need to acquire someone with that typing of hitting for elite defense.
The Reds want to clear room in their outfield for one of their prospects, they don't want another outfielder and they are not going to do the same thing that the Dodgers would be willing to do with Matt Kemp. Plus, with Kemp and possibly Span already on the outfield salary dump trading block, it will be harder for the Reds to flip Pence. I would think, in order for the Reds to take Pence, the Giants are going to have to trade Beede and Ramos as well.
Interesting idea. However, he's going to cost quite a bit to get. The Marlins say that they want prospects and because he is so cheap, they aren't going to be feeling the need to move him like Ozuna, Gordon or Stanton were moved. The cost would be steep. However, if the Giants go the trade route to fill in their remaining holes (in order to fit within the threshold) then we need to prepare for a farm system bloodbath.
With Zach Duke signing a one year with the Twins (which would have been what I was comfortable with the Giants doing), there is only 10 left handed relievers on the market (9 really, with Perkins certain to retire). Here's my updated rankings:
According to the author of this article, Bruce may be had at 2/30 - Predicting where the biggest remaining free-agent stars will sign
I would be thrilled with that signing.
I wouldn't mind signing Bruce if it was that short of a deal. I think anything over 2 years is asking for trouble. The amount is still too high, in my opinion, considering his defensive and on base shortcomings (and how he cannot handle lefties) but length is a bit more important than amount (to me, anyway).
Well, sure. I would love to sign him to a 1/5, but that ain’t happening. A 2/30 is very reasonable, and would only require about 3.2 WAR over the two years to be a good contract.
I wasn't thinking 5 million but 15 million does seem like a bit much. Considering his last 5 seasons have produced WARs (Baseball Reference with Fangraphs in parenthesis) of 5.3 (4.2), -1.1 (-0.8), 0.8 (0.2), 0.6 (0.9) and 2.9 (2.7), with his 2013 season being an obvious outlier, produced as Cincinnati as the home team, I don't think he'll hit that mark you suggest to make the contract good. More likely, his 2 year WAR is going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.6 to 2.
His slash against lefties in 2017 was not that good - .222/.285/.433. It was even worse in 2016 - .222/.266/.411. In fact, his slash against lefties was mediocre to bad in 2015 and 2014 as well. The numbers you mentioned since 2010 look an awful lot like what he did in 2013. I don't see someone who hits lefties decently.
