Former Giants in the Big Leagues - 2024 edition

[LHG]

This should have happened a year ago today

Brandon Crawford Announces Retirement

Giants legend and long-time shortstop Brandon Crawford has announced his retirement in a post on his personal Instagram account today. …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[tzill]

This should have happened a year ago today

Brandon Crawford Announces Retirement

Giants legend and long-time shortstop Brandon Crawford has announced his retirement in a post on his personal Instagram account today. …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

Agreed. He should have retired a Giant.

when does he become minor league roving instructor?

 

[calsnowskier]

Agreed. He should have retired a Giant.

when does he become minor league roving instructor?

I would like him to take a year and spend time with family and take a breather. But I think he would be a great coach and a perfect asset for the org in that capacity.

 

[calsnowskier]

Cubs To Sign Matthew Boyd

The Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a two-year contract with free agent starting pitcher Matthew Boyd. Get more details at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

How the hell did he get a 2/29????

Holy shit, prices are ridiculous.

 

[tzill]

Cubs To Sign Matthew Boyd

The Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a two-year contract with free agent starting pitcher Matthew Boyd. Get more details at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

How the hell did he get a 2/29????

Holy shit, prices are ridiculous.

Well, if hes healthy, he would put up 2 WAR or better. Seems about market value. The risk is health.

 

[calsnowskier]

Well, if hes healthy, he would put up 2 WAR or better. Seems about market value. The risk is health.

He hasn’t appeared in more than 15 games since ‘19. Is he really a 1M per outing pitcher?

 

[LHG]

Cubs To Sign Matthew Boyd

The Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a two-year contract with free agent starting pitcher Matthew Boyd. Get more details at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

How the hell did he get a 2/29????

Holy shit, prices are ridiculous.

Well, if hes healthy, he would put up 2 WAR or better. Seems about market value. The risk is health.

He hasn’t appeared in more than 15 games since ‘19. Is he really a 1M per outing pitcher?

It should be pointed out that his 2020 season was essentially a full year but he was awful that year and that brings me to the bigger point about him. Yes, he looked good in his return to the mound in 2024 but his broader body of work doesn't suggest that a 2 WAR season is likely, had he gotten a full 2024. So to assume that he could even replicate that over a full 2025, were he to stay fully healthy, is awfully wishful on the part of the Cubs. Yes, he has the talent but its not translated, except maybe in 2018 and 2019, when he did have seasons at 2 WAR or higher.
To further illustrate, he came back from injury in 2022 to put up some nice numbers in relief with the Mariners, so the Tigers signed him to start in 2023. He was awful in those 15 starts before going down with another injury. Seems like an awfully risky signing, not just from the perspective of staying healthy, but also from the perspective of decent production when healthy. Signing him to a multi year deal at 25 years of age after some promising starts after an injury is one thing, there is still a lot of upside there. Signing him to a multi year deal at 35 years of age, hoping something finally got unlocked after 10 years in the big leagues, is another level of goofy.

 

[calsnowskier]

I don’t really want to harp heavily on this point, but I think it should be made…

I don’t trust WAR for pitchers. His best WAR season was ‘19 (3.8), and he had a 4.56 ERA, led the league in HRs allowed and only had 185 IP in 32 starts. Basically a good #4.

 

[tzill]

He hasn’t appeared in more than 15 games since ‘19. Is he really a 1M per outing pitcher?

By that lens, bad move. However, if they believe they can get 3 WAR out of him over the next two seasons, it's FMV. We shall see.

 

[calsnowskier]

By that lens, bad move. However, if they believe they can get 3 WAR out of him over the next two seasons, it's FMV. We shall see.

It is possible that they just needed to fill 150 IP, and they didn’t really need anything impressive. I don’t think the Cubs are a contender atm, so they just needed a body.

It may be as simple as that.

 

[calsnowskier]

I don’t really want to harp heavily on this point, but I think it should be made…

I don’t trust WAR for pitchers. His best WAR season was ‘19 (3.8), and he had a 4.56 ERA, led the league in HRs allowed and only had 185 IP in 32 starts. Basically a good #4.

Tbf, that is more of a mid to lower 3 than just a good 4. If you are getting 32 starts out of your #4, you are likely a playoff team.

 

[LHG]

It is possible that they just needed to fill 150 IP, and they didn’t really need anything impressive. I don’t think the Cubs are a contender atm, so they just needed a body.

It may be as simple as that.

If they just needed innings, is Boyd really the guy that fits the bill? I do wonder if they could have landed Kyle Gibson at a similar price point.

 

[LHG]

I don’t really want to harp heavily on this point, but I think it should be made…

I don’t trust WAR for pitchers. His best WAR season was ‘19 (3.8), and he had a 4.56 ERA, led the league in HRs allowed and only had 185 IP in 32 starts. Basically a good #4.

I was surprised at his WAR for that season (and the season before as well).

 

[calsnowskier]

If they just needed innings, is Boyd really the guy that fits the bill? I do wonder if they could have landed Kyle Gibson at a similar price point.

I have no idea. I am just spitballing WAGs.

Maybe Gibson wasn’t interested in the Cubs?

 

[LHG]

I have no idea. I am just spitballing WAGs.

Maybe Gibson wasn’t interested in the Cubs?

I haven’t looked too in depth at starting pitching on the market but Gibson was just the first example I could think of. There have to be other durable innings eaters available.

 

[LHG]

Just read through a lot of this thread and I forgot how entertaining it got at times.

Also, I just learned the Cardinals released Brandon Crawford. I wonder if @msgkings322 knew this.

 

[msgkings322]

Just read through a lot of this thread and I forgot how entertaining it got at times.

Also, I just learned the Cardinals released Brandon Crawford. I wonder if @msgkings322 knew this.

Yes I saw that. Not a surprise

 

[LHG]

Tigers To Sign Alex Cobb

The Tigers and right-hander Alex Cobb are in agreement on a one-year deal, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (X …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[LHG]

White Sox Sign Mike Tauchman

December 11: The White Sox officially announced the deal today. December 10: Bruce Levine of 670 The Score (X link) …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[tzill]

Tyro signed with the Rox. 1 year