Where will Bauer sign?

[Pancake Bear]

For bonus points, predict the contract. 

[T.G.]

On the dotted line.

BIG contract.

Edited January 20, 2021 by T.G.

[Angel Oracle]

Based on Arte not going over the threshold, ChiSox for 5 years/$150 million.

[Slegnaac]

1 year deal with the Angels, $25M.

Many will compare it to the Harvey signing and call it an overpay.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Slegnaac

[Second Base]

I voted White Sox but am now under the impression that every major free agent and player on the trade block is headed to the San Diego Padres.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Second Base

[tdawg87]

Giants.

[Pancake Bear]

At this point, I genuinely have no idea. It could be anybody. It's possible it'll be a 1 year deal at this point and almost any team that has reasonably deep pockets and can at least claim to be a contender could be a possibility.

Angels: Have the need, but do they have the money?

Mets: Absolutely could, but it's unclear if they have a rotation spot open. 

Jays: Having just spent 150m on Springer (and signed Kirby Yates), it's hard to see them going out and spending another 30m on Bauer. 

Padres: Rotation is by any calculation full.

Phillies: If Realmuto signs elsewhere, it's possible they splurge on Bauer, but given how adamant they've been about lowering payroll, it's hard to imagine them signing Bauer unless the price drops.

Dodgers: They just won the WS, already have a fantastic rotation. Always possible for a team like them, though, especially if the price drops for lack of suitors.

Yankees: Similar to the Dodgers, they obviously have the money, but they've been hesitant to bust over the luxury tax this season. Could change at any time, though. 

White Sox: With Lynn, Keuchel, Giolito, and Kopech, hard to see them seriously going after him. With La Russa, hard to see him all that interested in them.

A's, Rays: No money.

Orhers: E.g. Boston, SF, AZ, etc: Not contending this year. 

I hope the Angels are still interested, but I'm not optimistic. I almost feel like it could be the Dodgers at this point, given how the market is shifting. 

[rafibomb]

I voted Angels but commenting Giants.

Edited January 20, 2021 by rafibomb

[Pancake Bear]

On a side note, while Bauer seems intent on a record aav, seems like he might have better luck going for a lower aav on a longer term deal.

[Docwaukee]

1 minute ago, rafibomb said:

I voted Angels but commenting Giants.

I love that scene.  

Not my prison shank!!!

[Bronson]

It’s gonna be either the White Sox or the Angels. Whoever it is, they are gonna massively overpay. 
 

I could see something ridiculous in the realm of 6 years 220 million.

[Pancake Bear]

2 minutes ago, Bronson said:

It’s gonna be either the White Sox or the Angels. Whoever it is, they are gonna massively overpay. 
 

I could see something ridiculous in the realm of 6 years 220 million.

I don't see any chance of that at this point. There just aren't enough bidders who have need + money. I have difficulty finding even one team willing or able to give anything close to that at the moment. 

[Stradling]

Our old friend Claude just had a tweet that was 100% on brand for that dude, it simply stated:

#BauerNotComingToAnaheim 

if you miss him follow him on twitter.  

[Stradling]

Angels 6 years $168, if it is more than that then Arte will do something he hasn’t done yet.  Defer some money.  

[tdawg87]

Just now, Stradling said:

if you miss him follow him on twitter.  

Nah I'm good.

[Inside Pitch]

Of all the FAs in FA history that I had no clue where he would end up going Bauer is at the top of the list.  No effing clue.

[T.G.]

2 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Our old friend Claude just had a tweet that was 100% on brand for that dude, it simply stated:

#BauerNotComingToAnaheim 

if you miss him follow him on twitter.  

Not a chance. 

Funny that you do though...

[ten ocho recon scout]

Somebody stupid like the brewers. And we will hit 18 pages yelling about it.

[Bronson]

8 minutes ago, Pancake Bear said:

I don't see any chance of that at this point. There just aren't enough bidders who have need + money. I have difficulty finding even one team willing or able to give anything close to that at the moment. 

I sincerely hope you’re right. Bauer is just built different. His whole free agent process is just different. From the agent all the way to the videos. I have no idea what’s gonna end up happening. 

[tdawg87]

He should go to Japan as the ultimate troll.

[T.G.]

Cardinals 

[tdawg87]

Mariners

[Stradling]

8 minutes ago, T.G. said:

Not a chance. 

Funny that you do though...

I don't.  I was reading a tweet from Brent Maguire and he had a reply.  

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

Mariners

Would not surprise me at all

[Second Base]

I think Bauer wants to be part of a young, up and coming team that's also willing to massage his ego and let him take the spotlight, while also not having to pitch in a homer happy home field. 

Whatever you can find that fits that description, go ahead and run with it. Angels won't massage his ego, SF doesn't have the farm, Dodgers would, but they already have six starters. 

The Mariners actually make a ton of sense here, and I would like him even less than I do right now. He's an egotistical prick that calls out cheaters and fires freaking fastballs over the CF wall when he's pissed, and hires his hot ex girlfriend to be his agent. Kind of both awesome and awful at the same time.