Buttercup

And it worked out better for us on both of those i feel.

I’m not fond of complimenting people. Would much rather run them myself. But, I have to say. Aside from Fletch your articles are about as good as anything you can read angels related.

I appreciate the work on those primers. I know the work that goes into articles like that. I was hoping for names actually being rumored and more than just speculation. I don’t see someone like Flower’s who was just resigned being traded. He hasn’t been mentioned by any sources (as incredible as that can be) as being available that I’ve seen.

We know Contreras is possibly available but who else has been floated?

One thing to know is that this will almost certainly include a huge deferred payment. The Nats always do that. Their offer to Harper was said to defer payments to when he was 60! The overall number to Cole will be huge but if it doesn’t have a deferred payment it may not be as much as we think. Still probably 290ish

Contreras or Contreras and Darvish

That bear can only mean one thing...... we’re getting Bartolo!!!!

I hate looking at projections because it’s so difficult to put faith in the future results. But, he is following a Max Scherzer trajectory with a similar arsenal.

It’ll be interesting to see how close in value Cole is to Angel Stadium.

Very true. I think the only thing we can say for sure is that Tommy John procedures are way up.

Fangraphs steamer projects those two to combine for 2 WAR next season. That’s in line with that salary. But, they have Max Stassi accumulating 1.6 WAR in only 59 games so... I’m getting worried about the catcher situation for 2020. At this point it’s down to Castro, Maldonado, Avila maybe Martin.

I didn’t find a way to track it. Seems there should be a resource for that. I found this article from 2012 https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/15967/collateral-damage-the-disabled-list-a-history/ “The present setup of 7-, 15- and 60-day disabled lists is unlikely to change. Studies of MLB players unequivocally state that injuries are up significantly from the 1960s, `70s, and `80s ,but how restrictive the disabled list was up until 1990 is rarely mentioned. Injuries are increasing, but there is no way to completely separate the almost 200 percent increase in injury rate from the liberalization of the disabled list rules. This season will again likely see a similar record or near record number of disabled list moves, and it will kill a record number of electronic trees as we cover them.”

Care to enlighten us as to why then?

Really? For one thing he would not have to complete almost every game. The game has changed. He would dominate today being so much fresher and having a bullpen to back him up. Analytics go both ways and with his work ethic he would in all likelihood benefit more than most. Sincerely, why? My best guess as to why players are on the DL at so much greater a rate is because the talent pool is deeper and playing through an injury can’t be masked as well when the game has fewer weaknesses and replacement players are better. In the original post it spoke of Cal Ripken and how that streak will never be achieved again. Is it really more demanding to be a shortstop now than in his time? They play the same amount of games, medicine is better, travel conditions are better, the strength and conditioning coaches are better... I just don’t understand why there are so many more injuries today

Does anyone else remember when Nolan Ryan would throw 300+ innings at full octane every year and still be able to swing a mean uppercut? Bob Feller put full effort into every pitch for well over 300 innings for three straight seasons and nearly five straight. Oh yeah, he went and served in the navy during WW2 for 3 years in between those prime seasons. This snowflake generation can’t pitch 30 games and half as many innings. Good thing they have their safe spaces to go hide and recover in after two times through the lineups.

Catchers like Stassi and Grandal could lose a lot of value if/when balls and strikes are called by computers.

I believe fangraphs recently introduced pitch framing to its catcher WAR evaluation. BR doesn’t include framing. Which is a huge difference.

Scioscia use to work with the catchers. Just saying...

Or if you work in retail, food, barbers, mailmen, teachers... damn, it’s going to be hard for Albert to find work after he’s done DHing. It’s the only job he can qualify for and he barely can do that. He can’t even stand long enough for the de facto retirement job, Walmart greeter

And what about keeping Ohtani around? I realize it’s a few years out but the longer you wait the more expensive he may become. If he can be healthy, which is a big if still. He may break Trouts (upcoming) record for highest annual salary. It’s a long ways out but I’m sure the front office is thinking that far ahead when looking at Harper and Trout contracts.

At least some players are trying. It’s a long season “Major League Baseball has a Cocaine Problem” https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_597b505ae4b02a4ebb75150b

Youth is where it’s at in terms of production and value since steroid use went down. If they’d allow steroids you’d see bigger contracts as players wouldn’t degrade once they hit their early thirties.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/mlb-working-toward-new-system-for-cuban-amateur-players.html It’ll be interesting to see how Eppler and Company employ this new possible stream of talent.

It’s a left handed bat with potential for a good OBP

I picture the negotiating going like this Klentak - “we’ll give you $40 million over three years” McCutcheon’s agent “even Mike Scioscia got 50 million...”