ADHB

If Manfred and MLB wants to prevent the players from doing this again they are going to have to work it into the CBA, otherwise the MLBPA will fight it and win.   

Yep. First in home runs in 2019. Went from 16th in team wRC+ to 3rd. 
Obviously that wasn’t the only change, but when I read the quote in the Athletic article:
“Oftentimes it takes a player to show up and be like ‘You f—— morons, you’re not doing this?’” said one American League executive.”
That’s the team and player that seem to be the most obvious fit. 

Unfortunately it wasn't Stassi. 😐
Marwin Gonzalez would be the answer then.

It stands to reason that the Indians were looking for a certain type of MLB-ready player. Since we didn’t have that type of player, it’s not surprising they were asking for more in “value” from our prospects, since well...they’re prospects. They’re not a guarantee.

Makes sense. I’m good with that too, if, and this key, they do not trade Marsh. 

According to Bollinger, Eppler said he likely can’t sign 2 free agents. If he adds two pitchers, one would have to be via trade.

Lol at “Eppler was outbid” as if he was the one who decided how much to offer.
 
This sucks, especially since it seemed like we were waiting for an opportunity like this for the last 2 years. But despite Arte claiming he’s “all in” clearly he isn’t if they’re trading away salary looking for money to spend. So if the budget has its limits, we are much better off getting multiple pieces instead of just one guy.

What if that one is Brandon Marsh. 👀

LOL Fred Roggin.  Enough said.

LOL Fred Roggin.  Enough said.

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

How convenient is it that the *one* time Skaggs OD’ed is the one time Eric Kay didn’t provide him with the drugs and participate? I mean what are the chances?

“Yes DEA agent sir, I regularly supplied Skaggs with opiates and smoked/inhaled/injected with him. Oh on the day he died? Nope wasn’t me.”

I'm assuming Stassi would have been squeezed off the roster with the Maldonado acquisition, and he's out of options.  So they had no leverage.  Unless there was a bidding war, why would it take not one but two wildcard prospects to acquire him?  Seems like he would have had to been DFA'ed.

Yes. He is also the source of the nickname “big catorce.”

So he’s going to pitch in the majors after not having pitched a single inning since high school? That’s hard to believe, unless it’s just someone who can come in and mop up in a blowout... basically like any other position player, not a “two-way player.”
In the past, haven’t people said that in order to convert to a pitcher, a position player would have to go down to the minors and start over, basically retrain themselves and come up through the system, effectively taking 2-3 years to make it back to the majors, if at all?

So he’s going to pitch in the majors after not having pitched a single inning since high school? That’s hard to believe, unless it’s just someone who can come in and mop up in a blowout... basically like any other position player, not a “two-way player.”
In the past, haven’t people said that in order to convert to a pitcher, a position player would have to go down to the minors and start over, basically retrain themselves and come up through the system, effectively taking 2-3 years to make it back to the majors, if at all?

Did you mean Cozart and Tropeano for a gray Chase Utley?

Not to mention the actual record of the MLB club in recent years reflects more on the previous GM than it does the current one.  Unless you have a Dodger type payroll where you can buy your way out of problems, there's really not much a GM can do when taking over a team with as many holes as this one had throughout the system.  The overall health of the organization is much greater now than it was when Eppler took over.  2020 and onward will be more of a reflection of the job he has done.

Not to mention the actual record of the MLB club in recent years reflects more on the previous GM than it does the current one.  Unless you have a Dodger type payroll where you can buy your way out of problems, there's really not much a GM can do when taking over a team with as many holes as this one had throughout the system.  The overall health of the organization is much greater now than it was when Eppler took over.  2020 and onward will be more of a reflection of the job he has done.

Cozart injured his left shoulder, so that’s not an issue. But I agree. His performance this year is mostly in line with his career norms. There isn’t much to him other than an average hitting middle infielder with not a lot of power.