DailyHalo

Both or the fact he said he would do one thing and then would be going back on it. We don't HAVE too acquire Cespedes but we also can't have Nave/Gentry starting going into the season. It sounds like the rest of the league is willing to spend less on him then we are on here and I don't even think 18-22MM is all that bad for him. He wouldn't even be here if he could just take a walk once in awhile or not get caught up in the moment at the worst time. Remember, a few postseason wins can go a long way for the moral of Arte and this Organization. The team as constructed, can achieve that IMO but won't make any kind of deep run without help. We don't need Cespedes to be the face of the franchise, thats what Mike and Albert are for. We need a player that can take the weight off of Mikes shoulders for a month or two stretch a season. Albert's "back" is increasingly more worn out every year and we don't need to be putting that kind of weight on Mike's Shoulder's either.

This has to be a total rumor. People don't hear about our negotiations and Heaney should be a fixture of this rotation for years.

That's probably true, I should have done some research. I suppose either way, Beane made the wrong decision and Cespedes came off as the wiping boy. Jokingly, I think neither one of our blunders were his fault though. All I'm saying is we need to stop wasting time and sign him if that was our the plan from day one. If he doesn't sign here by Today or Friday, I'd have to say were definitely out and shopping at the billionaire dollar tree.

I haven't heard anything that says Cespedes is a problem in the clubhouse. I couldn't tell you exactly what all of their though process' were but I bet they thought they were trading from a point of strength/replace-ability. Oakland traded him away in hopes that he would end their epic slide in 2014 and then Detroit traded him away when they were out of it. The Metropolitans I think are/were upset about the misplay in the World Series coupled with the fact that he didn't hit a lick either. So the real question is why did Boston get rid of him? They probably saw themselves as not competing in 2015, so they got what they wanted more specifically.....I guess.

I'm going out on a limb but I wonder if bad blood exists between Eppler and Roc Nation. The Robinson Cano debacle lead to him being shipped off too Seattle and could have left a sour taste in the current/former Yankees FO. I'm sure it didn't leave all that great of a taste in Seattle's mouth either now that I'm thinking about it. I just hope that his Agents don't push everyone's buttons too much and end up with another potentially unhappy client. I'm willing to bet Cano would give back tons of that mulla if he could be back in New York, where his heart is.

Happy belated Birthday Albert.

....Or it could be that 90% of the season ticket holders/fans in general, are holding up their end of the bargain. The fans will be here through thick-n-thin and support the team, they just want to know he will as well. I appreciate having an owner like Arte. He loves the game and he loves the team. He wants this franchise too win just as much as the next guy, I think he just fears Hamilton 2.0 . Everyone gets the threshold is more of a point of emphasis rather than a line in the sand. He should just chalk up going over the threshold this one year on the growing pains this team went through of late. He will just have another blunder under his belt, if we lose again next year because we didn't acquire a competent everyday OF/LF. I can see a trade but what we have to deal from is more for a player thats young/displaced or for a solid RP. I'd say our realistic left field options are now Cespedes, Fowler or go in with Gentry/Nava.

Anyone think the Pirates could be interested in a Santiago and pieces for Mark Melancon deal? I mean if the Yankees can make three closers work, so can we.

I think Arte trusts his front office and they have had a plan from day one. Like I said, were going to see in the next day or two if this all was a tactic or not. There is no reason for the market to stall any longer for any player willing too sign. Every day that goes by is another day for someone else to realize they need him. The Ilitch thing is a gross idea. My mind takes me to people parading endless paperwork in front of his face, helping him sign his name etc. Physically he's barely there as well but I'm referring too his mind.

.....And they all have reasons for it, justified or not. Only Davis and the pitchers have gotten more than what people have expected. I know its not some new idea or anything but the value of pitching from here on out is really going too explode. Teams want ANYONE who can get outs at the ML level and remember, the game is as profitable as ever! Baltimore got the short end of stick by having to deal with Boras on their "Home grown" perfectly fit need of a LH power bat. As for the Tigers, this is going to rub off weird but I just hope there not doing anything sketchy with an older Mr. Ilitch. I'm not accusing them of anything but I like to think I'm overly observant. Lets just say they're in win now mode. I can't possibly pull up every complain about Arte but all you need to look at is all the dysfunction and eventual Front Office shakeups. Personally, this organization is in a better place today than ever. Minor league depth is another question, I know that but you can't build that when the message is always changing. Talent plays but others have to be taught. Ward and Jones are going to be something but other players have to be caressed and groomed into their potential. Anyone who honestly thinks this team is going to be rebuilding is delusional. We have been one of the best franchises of the 21st century, that has managed to always found a way to shot themselves in the foot. We all like too think that we can learn from our mistakes and everything has to begin somewhere. No one wants to build off of someone else's image, especially if its flawed. This team needs some stability, then the organization as a whole will reap the benefits.

I don't think that money is the deciding factor here. Hes a businessman but a competitor first and foremost. He told everyone that he wouldn't go over the threshold and could feel quite adamant about that decision. Maybe he feels he will lose future negotiating power or just be viewed as a weaker man/owner for "flip flopping" on his word. You would think that he would be more embarrassed that he has meddled in the teams day to day, has acknowledged the issue and then apparently has just continued to do it. He is the man who puts his name on the checks but why hire people if you think you can do it better. When the Orioles gave Davis an ultimatum, I think they might have actually given Arte one. Yoenis was always the big name outfielder that we would sign if we went that direction. No one expected the market to take this long to establish itself but it has done nothing but help that Angels IMO. The long off-season has dwindled down the main competition and gave us ample time to really get creative and explore other possibilities. There's always the chance that the other two big FA's signed so quick here in the last couple of days, because Yoenis has already verbally agreed to a contract and is waiting on the details. If he is coming to the Angels though, you'll be hearing about in the next day or two. A deal does take a few days to consummate so..... We all got the impression, that if we went after a game changing player, it would be for someone like Cespedes. I say he gets around 5yrs/$110MM and even possibly our first ever opt-out for a player, getting it after years 2 and 3 in the contract. All we need to know is Yoenis is now the top dog on the market and we all know how Arte likes his top dogs.

For being in their market, he's incredibly creative and does something different every year. What exactly is Billy Beane's MO by the way? Josh Reddick has given everyone a pretty good idea of what kind of player he is and is also turning 29 next season. Reddick will also be another season removed from his one "Aberration" season back in 2012. Not every trade has too involve or be centered around prospects but they can always sweeten any deal. Every team is simultaneously finding their balance between contending and rebuilding. I mean, do you think 2015 was in the Houston Astros plan? I think you're also undervaluing Hector Santiago. He isn't expected to be Kershaw but he can be a nice lefty bridge, till their future arrives.

What about a deal with Oakland that starts with Reddick for Santiago?

.........Or we blow past the Threshold for one season, package Calhoun in a trade and sign two free agent outfielders! Those are my BOLD predictions.

.........is that we sign Chris Davis to a 2-3 year deal with an opt-out after the first year and then work a deal with Cleveland for Carlos Carrasco?

We'll have too wait and find out. I hope Colorado isn't trying to force our hand because then their gonna get stuck with 4 outfielders.

Cdaniel has the right idea and Tropeano isn't under anyone's radar anymore.

I don't agree with you at all. Your not making a trade with the other 29 teams, you have too find one suitor. Your either going too trade him to a rebuilding club that will part with players they don't need for their vision or you trade him to a contender where they throw him into their 4 or 5 spot in the rotation and they give you essentially nothing for him. There's probably actually a good chance he gets traded to a none contending team.

What about Carlos Gonzalez and Boone Logan for Nick Tropeano, C.J. Wilson + 10MM and Cam Bedrosian?

Hector has more value today but less years of control than Dickerson. Corey meets our specific needs and has tons of upside but also has a few concerns of his own. His home/road splits aren't so concerning too me. Instead of being a .300/.370/.550 type in Coor's, he could be a .280/.350/.500 type of player and more for us in Anaheim. Santiago although not an ace, would immediately become a front end type arm for THEM with a 2 or 3's type of track record. He could be slightly more homer prone but he also gives them cheap innings, that they then could later flip for prospects. Bedrosian fills the hole they created from moving Logan and saves them from his salary. Neal Cotts is a FA, so in terms of signing a left handed FA reliever, it's either him or Bastardo. The Milwaukee sign and trade is more complicated then I let on but something similar could be constructed with one of the protected pick teams. Neither one of their starting rotation's can get consistent outs though and that puts an unnecessary strain on the rest of their staffs. They're both in different stages of rebuilding so they want young ready position players or MLB proven/cost controlled pitching. I don't get the impression we'll be trading away any more of our young controlled pitching right now because were gonna need it. These aren't blockbuster trades but smaller, possibly even three team type of deals. Any deal involving Wilson will require us too eat 5-10MM, anything that requires us too eat more and we'll just keep him. I should have been more specific. PS, the least of our concerns right now should be the 4th and 5th slots in the rotation.

What about Corey Dickerson and Boone Logan for Hector Santiago and Cam Bedrosian? Or if we go after someone like Neal Cotts, Maybe we can work out a sign and trade with Milwaukee. Something were get Fowler and Knebel/Blazek for Wilson and Bedrosian?

Its a concern for all pitchers but your right. He was a work horse over there no doubt and my point still holds true though. By the time their big stars get their chance over here, they are burnt out. The Dodgers came out ahead in this deal regardless IMO. His base salary is of no concern, especially to a team like the Dodgers. This is gonna end up being a success for them, as long as his arm isn't just hanging on by the ligament.

Barring injuries, Maeda has the stuff to compete in the MLB IMO. When he's on the field, he's probably gonna surprise a lot of people around the League. He's more than just a 4th man in the rotation. If anything this is more a knock on Japanese baseball and its style of play. Their premier players are/seem worn out by the time they get their opportunity in the show. I'm sure the Angels signing process wouldn't have been much different, especially after all of our sure fire signings. I can't say if they would have gotten so creative with their contract or not but to also write him off seems naive.

....Hence the creative contract with incentives and opt-outs.

If we end up going for it, I'd say a create contract with Cespedes is going too be our best bet. A contract with incentives and possible opt-outs after years 2 and 3. Contract's like that could go pretty far for a team simultaneously trying too compete and make a point. As for Cespedes, he gets to reenter the market again with a 2/3 more years of proven track record under his belt and get a proper sail off into the sunset type of contract, that ends closer to 40.