2018 Hot Stove League

[Second Base]

Corbin, Eovaldi, Richards, Lynn, Sabathia, Happ, Suzuki, Ramos......

[Jay]

26 minutes ago, Make Angels Great Again said:

Angels are striking out with free agents.

But I thought that Anaheim is Heaven on Earth!

[totdprods]

I like Hedges just because I feel he still has his best days ahead of him. He'd be a good long-term investment if the cost isn't too high. 

Should he find his potential, he could be Realmuto.

[T.G.]

Descalso to the Cubs...

[NorCal Halo]

42 minutes ago, nate said:

Global warming is going to

F the east coast

 

[TroutField]

7 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I like Hedges just because I feel he still has his best days ahead of him. He'd be a good long-term investment if the cost isn't too high. 

Should he find his potential, he could be Realmuto.

I’m sure the Padres are thinking the same thing so they are asking for a prospect haul most teams aren’t comfortable with for a player that hasn’t hit his stride in the majors. 

 

[ten ocho recon scout]

47 minutes ago, nate said:

F the east coast

I read that in what i picture a hurricanes voice wounds like.

[TroutField]

11 minutes ago, True Grich said:

Descalso to the Cubs...

Cubs fans are pissed they traded Lastella just to get Descalso. 

 

Thought that  was interesting 

[totdprods]

8 minutes ago, TroutField said:

I’m sure the Padres are thinking the same thing so they are asking for a prospect haul most teams aren’t comfortable with for a player that hasn’t hit his stride in the majors. 

Though, time is working against them, to a degree. 

With Mejia and Allen coming up from the farm, they may be reaching a point where they can get max value for him. One more 'meh' season from Hedges and strong showings on the farm might tank any real return for him.

[Second Base]

3 minutes ago, TroutField said:

I’m sure the Padres are thinking the same thing so they are asking for a prospect haul most teams aren’t comfortable with for a player that hasn’t hit his stride in the majors. 

 

Padres have stated over and over again that Austin Hedges is not on the market.  The plan for now is to have Hedges and Mejia split duty behind home plate, at least for another year until San Diego deems Austin Allen ready.  That kid is pretty freakin' awesome.  An absolutely stacked minor league system.  By most reports, Allen ranks between 15-25 of the Padres top prospects, in the Angels system, which is still pretty strong, he'd rank top 10. 

[beatlesrule]

I was born on the east coast. I visit family there every year or 2. I don't get the appeal of it.  It's really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Things are not nearly as convenient there either.  It's mind bottling.

[Second Base]

6 minutes ago, beatlesrule said:

I was born on the east coast. I visit family there every year or 2. I don't get the appeal of it.  It's really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Things are not nearly as convenient there either.  It's mind bottling.

The history located on the East Coast is pretty cool, and the fans that actually are fans and not just bandwagoners, are pretty passionate.  So playing ball out there is a different experience from out West, where it's very relaxed.  But admittedly, Summer back East sucks.  The winter, I can handle, and the Spring and Fall are beautiful.  But Summer is unbearable.  

[beatlesrule]

Oh man, fall in Jersey is amazing!!  I don't like any other season there but yeah, I'd live in Jersey just for the fall if I was mega rich. As far as bandwagoners, the Angels don't have that problem.  3 million fans for how many years in a row?  Only the Yankees have the same or a better streak.

[Angelsfan1984]

If he wanted to play on the east coast, screw him, on to the next option. Can’t fault eppler for that. I’m glad he’s not going over the top to just get someone to sign. 

[totdprods]

13 minutes ago, beatlesrule said:

I was born on the east coast. I visit family there every year or 2. I don't get the appeal of it.  It's really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Things are not nearly as convenient there either.  It's mind bottling.

I'm guessing it's partially California taxes, and also travel. 

We've seen so many minor changes during collective bargaining to provide more off-days and streamline/limit long-flights, that it makes me think some players just don't like all the flying. 

I also think that for this offseason, it's just coincidental. A lot of these guys just so happen to be from the East Coast, have a lot of playing history on the East Coast, and there are a lot of East Coast teams willing and able to throw around money.

[NJHalo]

25 minutes ago, beatlesrule said:

I was born on the east coast. I visit family there every year or 2. I don't get the appeal of it.  It's really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Things are not nearly as convenient there either.  It's mind bottling.

Lived in NJ my whole life, and have never heard that. True, we get all four seasons, but I have always considered us moderate. If it's hot here, its much hotter in DC. If it's cold here, it's much colder in Boston. Like California, we have our extreme days, but they are very few and far between. Obviously can't compare to California weather, but no state can. 

As for convenience,  I am less than an hour to anything. NYC, beaches, mountains, skiing, casino gambling, 9 pro sports teams, multiple airports, parks, etc..., with a lot less traffic. 

I guess its a matter of perspective. 

[beatlesrule]

I don't mean just Jersey. East coast in general. Most of my family has moved to North Carolina and they have one Costco 20 min away etc. Stuff like that.

[Second Base]

30 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

Lived in NJ my whole life, and have never heard that. True, we get all four seasons, but I have always considered us moderate. If it's hot here, its much hotter in DC. If it's cold here, it's much colder in Boston. Like California, we have our extreme days, but they are very few and far between. Obviously can't compare to California weather, but no state can. 

As for convenience,  I am less than an hour to anything. NYC, beaches, mountains, skiing, casino gambling, 9 pro sports teams, multiple airports, parks, etc..., with a lot less traffic. 

I guess its a matter of perspective. 

Meh, much of California is that way as well.  Within an hour of the beaches, withon an hour of the mountains, within an hour of a larger city and airports and nightlife etc....

But I do admit, LA and SF traffic is just about the stupidest thing ever. 

[Homebrewer]

This is looking very much like another offseason. What year was it that we lost out on every FA that was targeted and wound up trading for Vernon Wells?  

[UndertheHalo]

2 hours ago, Stradling said:

Why?  I mean, the team has a way of putting a value on a player.  That value is based on performance, needs of the team and probably risk of injury and or decline.  Why throw millions more because he wants to be somewhere else?  If Eppler felt he was worth $22 million he would have offered that.  

How much is that comp pick worth to you ? It’s a fair question. 

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

How much is that comp pick worth to you ? It’s a fair question. 

I would hate to lose the comp pick and the $500k in international money considering how Eppler has used that in recent years. 

[Stradling]

18 minutes ago, Homebrewer said:

This is looking very much like another offseason. What year was it that we lost out on every FA that was targeted and wound up trading for Vernon Wells?  

That was 2011.  The Cubs lost 91 games that year.  

[UndertheHalo]

6 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I would hate to lose the comp pick and the $500k in international money considering how Eppler has used that in recent years. 

Right, so that’s why I’m wondering about how much it would have taken.  Another million or 2  or 3 to keep that money and the pick ? I mean its worth thinking about.  

I think it’s greatly misunderstood how teams like the dodgers have (before the international signing rule changes) sucked up international players and in many cases manipulated qualifying offers in order to acquire additional picks.  It’s a key thing obviously and a notable part of their success. 

Edited December 18, 2018 by UndertheHalo

[Roy Hobbs]

22 minutes ago, Homebrewer said:

This is looking very much like another offseason. What year was it that we lost out on every FA that was targeted and wound up trading for Vernon Wells?  

I don't think the Cubs ever had  Vernon Wells

[T.G.]

2 minutes ago, Roy Hobbs said:

I don't think the Cubs ever had  Vernon Wells

Correct... they signed Indian Wells.