The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[Bmurph]

JD is not the type of GM that makes a move simply to make one. There's been loads of articles about what the Rangers' priorities were this offseason... which is nowhere close to being over. Plenty of time.

I don't think Scot believes literally all that he types, he's already proclaimed he is bored. I think he is a bit miffed by the lack of a major move, yet knows better than to expect one, with the current landscape of the club. I think its his attempt to do a little bitching, to get it off his chest, and an attempt to stir the board up as well.

No worries here, we would all like to see something happen, and I for one am sure something does. I am one that expected JD to make the Hamels move and I bet he's got a plan for another move or two also. Thing is we won't know it, until it happens

 

[UK Cowboy]

Stros giving up Appel too?

Giles heads to Houston but the Phillies land a former No. 1 overall pick
By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer

December 12, 2015 1:42 pm

On Saturday, the Phillies and Astros finalized the Ken Giles trade, and it is larger than originally reported. It's a 5-for-2 swap and former No. 1 pick Mark Appel is among the five heading to Philadelphia. Both teams have announced the trade.

Here's a breakdown of the deal.

ASTROS GET: PHILLIES GET:
View attachment 64170 P Ken Giles
INF Jonathan Arauz View attachment 64171 P Vincent Velasquez
P Mark Appel
P Brett Oberholtzer
P Thomas Eshelman
P Harold Arauz
The deal was reported to be a 4-for-1 swap, with Velasquez, Oberholtzer, minor league outfielder Derek Fisher and an unknown fourth player heading to the Phillies for Giles.

Appel, 24, was the first-overall pick in the 2012 draft, ahead of Kris Bryant, who went second to the Cubs. Appel has struggled in his career to date, pitching to a 5.12 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 253 minor league innings. He has reached Triple-A though, and may reach the majors in 2016.

MLB.com ranks Appel as Houston's No. 3 prospect and the No. 43 prospect in baseball overall, though his stock is clearly down. He still throws hard and has good stuff, but he remains way too hittable, and batters are able to get comfortable swings. MLB.com says Appel still has a chance "to become a frontline starter in the big leagues."

With both Appel and Dansby Swanson traded in recent days, the last three No. 1 overall picks are no longer with the team that drafted them. Swanson, the first-overall pick in 2015, was part of the recent Shelby Miller trade. Brady Aiken, the 2014 top pick, did not sign with the Astros after something popped up in his physical.

Appel is the fourth No. 1 overall pick to be traded as a minor leaguer, joining Swanson, Adrian Gonzalez and Shawn Abner. Gonzalez was the top pick in 2000 and the Marlins traded him to the Rangers for Ugueth Urbina in 2003. Abner was the No. 1 pick in 1984. The Mets traded him to the Padres in the eight-player Kevin Mitchell/Kevin McReynolds deal in 1986.

Giles, 25, emerged as a top-flight setup man last season and took over as closer when Jonathan Papelbon was traded at the deadline. He had a 1.80 ERA (221 ERA+) with 87 strikeouts in 70 innings in 2015. GM Jeff Luhnow said Giles' role will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. He could serve as Luke Gregerson's setup man.

The Astros have been looking to add a high-end reliever this offseason and Giles fits the bill. Gregerson did a fine closing this past season (3.10 ERA, 130 ERA,+ 31 saves) after spending the majority of his career in a setup role. Houston also pursued Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller this winter before getting Giles.

Velasquez is the second key piece to the deal for the Phillies. The 23-year-old had a 4.37 ERA (93 ERA+) with a 58/21 K/BB in 55 2/3 innings this past season, his MLB debut. He's got a huge fastball and a bat-missing curveball, though he often battles control problems. Some think Velasquez will end up in the bullpen, though the Phillies can afford to be patient.

Oberholtzer, 26, has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Astros. He has a career 3.94 ERA (100 ERA+) in 253 2/3 MLB innings spread across 42 starts and three relief appearances. Oberholtzer is a finesse lefty who gives the Phillies a cheap innings guy for the back of their rotation. He's under team control through 2020.

Neither Eshelman nor Arauz are among the Astros' top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com. The 21-year-old Eshelman was Houston's second-round pick in 2015. He allowed five runs in 10 1/3 innings after turning pro. Arauz, 20, had a 6.79 ERA in 54 2/3 rookie ball innings in 2015.

The other Arauz, the 17-year-old shortstop Jonathan, hit .254/.309/.370 with two home runs in 44 rookie ball games in 2015. MLB.com ranked him as the No. 29 prospect in the Phillies' system and called him a "Freddy Galvis type of player."

Though both Harold and Jonathan Arauz are from Panama, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sportsreports the two are not related.











View attachment 64172
Former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel has been traded to the Phillies. (USATSI)

Not a big Phillies fan, but they've got to be thrilled with the prospects from this deal and the deal with the Rangers

 

[Bmurph]

Not a big Phillies fan, but they've got to be thrilled with the prospects from this deal and the deal with the Rangers

I hate everything Philly aside from cheesesteaks, but they're loading up prospects and gonna see what rises to the top, it appears. They are acquiring lots of potential talent, but they gotta hope some pan out

 

[DT LUNA]

[QUOTE="Bmurph, post: 7704390, member: 5029"]I don't think Scot believes literally all that he types, he's already proclaimed he is bored.I think he is a bit miffed by the lack of a major move, yet knows better than to expect one, with the current landscape of the club. I think its his attempt to do a little bitching, to get it off his chest, and an attempt to stir the board up as well.

No worries here, we would all like to see something happen, and I for one am sure something does. I am one that expected JD to make the Hamels move and I bet he's got a plan for another move or two also. Thing is we won't know it, until it happens[/QUOTE]

Agree and what difference does it make? Read or scroll. Most things are opinions anyway.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Agree and what difference does it make? Read or scroll. Most things are opinions anyway.

I guess we all feel the need to comment.

 

[scotsman1948]

[QUOTE="Bmurph, post: 7704390, member: 5029"]I don't think Scot believes literally all that he types, he's already proclaimed he is bored.I think he is a bit miffed by the lack of a major move, yet knows better than to expect one, with the current landscape of the club. I think its his attempt to do a little bitching, to get it off his chest, and an attempt to stir the board up as well.

No worries here, we would all like to see something happen, and I for one am sure something does. I am one that expected JD to make the Hamels move and I bet he's got a plan for another move or two also. Thing is we won't know it, until it happens

Agree and what difference does it make? Read or scroll. Most things are opinions anyway.[/QUOTE]

i don't i just am impatient for anything

 

[Bmurph]

Agree and what difference does it make? Read or scroll. Most things are opinions anyway.

i don't i just am impatient for anything[/QUOTE]

Kick back and R E L A X! Im sure something positive happens and after all we did win the division last year and the only team that looks collectively better could be the M's? I do expect the Astros close out more games, though I don't know how many more wins they are good for

 

[scotsman1948]

i don't i just am impatient for anything

Kick back and R E L A X! Im sure something positive happens and after all we did win the division last year and the only team that looks collectively better could be the M's? I do expect the Astros close out more games, though I don't know how many more wins they are good for[/QUOTE]


true but right now we are a worse team than when we won the division

 

[romeo212000]

Why do you fuckers keep breaking the quote box?

 

[RevSader]

Why do you fuckers keep breaking the quote box?

How does that even happen?

 

[donaldson79]

I guess we all feel the need to comment.

Not me.....ha ha ha

 

[RevSader]

true but right now we are a worse team than when we won the division

It's December 13th....so even if that is true, it's a bit early to really think about that isn't it?

 

[romeo212000]

How does that even happen?

People don't know how to pay attention to where their cursor is.

 

[romeo212000]

It's December 13th....so even if that is true, it's a bit early to really think about that isn't it?

Exactly. Little early to be calling "the sky is falling!"

 

[RevSader]

Exactly. Little early to be calling "the sky is falling!"

So far as a club they have done the least in the off season in the division. Making moves just to make moves isn't JD's style and he has 2+ months until pitchers and catchers report.

 

[DT LUNA]

Exactly. Little early to be calling "the sky is falling!"

Not if you're Scotty Little

 

[RevSader]

Did you guys see how much the Astros had to give up for a "closer." Man MLB culture can be really dumb sometimes. Ken Giles is a no doubt a stud reliever, but this ridiculous concept of "this guy is our closer" mindset leads teams to overpay for a "proven closer" when they can target good late inning relievers who have more experience pitching the 7th or 8th inning for cheaper.

Maybe some dumb team will give us a crap ton for Tolleson because he's now a "proven closer"?

 

[Bmurph]

Why do you fuckers keep breaking the quote box?

Its been happening all day even in other forums, half of todays posts in the "oil at $35 a barrel" thread were all that way

 

[Bmurph]

Kick back and R E L A X! Im sure something positive happens and after all we did win the division last year and the only team that looks collectively better could be the M's? I do expect the Astros close out more games, though I don't know how many more wins they are good for

true but right now we are a worse team than when we won the division[/QUOTE]

not sure show we are worse, but if thats what you're selling yourself, by all means don't framing pay too much!

 

[Bmurph]

See i just posted that and the site fucked it up