Matt Eddy @MattEddyBA 2m2 minutes ago
In addition to re-signing Jose Campos, #Yankees also sign minor league free agents C Juan Graterol and 2B/3B Cole Figueroa.
He was a decent hitter before coming here and even initially. I don't know if it was the porch that did him in, or he just got lazy as a hitter. Either way, I absolutely can't stand him.
the shift is an abomination and should be outlawed
Yes he does. But, he also hits for a higher average and a higher OBA (more than 20 points higher in each category). I can't stand how often he strikes out these days. But, at least he still walks and goes the other way.
he hasn't OPSed below .770 since he was 19 years old. Until his injury-plagued 2013 he hit .270 or better every year since he was 19. Is he healthy and in shape? Has he been hitting over the last 14 months or did he just sit them out? If he has gotten to the point where all he wants to do is cash a paycheck I wouldn't count on him for anything, but if he is serious about his craft something in the order of a .260/.335/.415 might be doable, and frankly that is better than what Teix is giving you right now.
The difference between Teix and A-Rod is that I have to think if A-Rod comes in and gives you anything that resembles the shit sandwich that was Teix's 2nd half last year he gets DFA'ed and collects the balance of his $60 mil in AAA. Teixeira could be hitting .210 and Joe will still slot him mid-lineup and run him out there four days a week.
because who the fuck wants to see sluggers trying to hit like
Wee Willie Keeler, choking up 6 inches and slapping dribblers to the opposite field? Baseball has been dull as paint with this shit the past couple of seasons. It's a disgrace. Playing six guys on one side of the field is slo-pitch softball, not baseball.
RE: because who the fuck wants to see sluggers trying to hit like
Wee Willie Keeler, choking up 6 inches and slapping dribblers to the opposite field? Baseball has been dull as paint with this shit the past couple of seasons. It's a disgrace. Playing six guys on one side of the field is slo-pitch softball, not baseball.
I'm with Greg on this, it's a supremely shitty product to watch. I know a bunch of stat-heads with their databases get their jollies to how many steps to the left a shortstop needs to take to properly defend this hitter, but having three infielders on the right side of the second base bag takes the joy out of watching the game's most marketable hitters hit.
A professional hitter who was at the level of Teixeira shouldn't be hitting dribblers down the 3B line anyone. It is more than possible to go the other way without looking like a slap hitter. All he needs to do is try to drive outside pitches the other way. A few line drive to the LCF gap or hard grounders through the exaggerated hole on the left side make some teams back off the shift. Do it with regularity, your average jumps 20 points (or more) and the shift goes away.
Matt Eddy @MattEddyBA 2m2 minutes ago
In addition to re-signing Jose Campos, #Yankees also sign minor league free agents C Juan Graterol and 2B/3B Cole Figueroa.
Happy about the campos resigning. can never have enough good arms, was intrigued when we traded for him. Still hoping he returns to form after TJS, even if his outlook is a RP, can have good value. Still just 22 and talented, good arm to try to develop and added depth.
Dunedin, any info/reports on the other two players? I'll look them up
I dont understand the hate for this resign. He's getting below average starter money. Steamer has him as a 3.9 WAR player next year, meaning he is expected to put up in excess of $27 million in value. Given that he has averaged 4 WAR over the last 2 seasons, and had 7.2 WAR three seasons ago, that seems totally realistic.
I wish the Mets were signing 4 WAR hitters for deals like this.
But, I think players like Teixeira who continue to try to hit through it are just lazy and douchebags. That worked for Ted Williams because he was about the best lefty hitter of all time and remained an excellent hitter right through the end of his career. without the shift Teixeira couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag these days. With it, he is an embarrassment.
he hasn't OPSed below .770 since he was 19 years old. Until his injury-plagued 2013 he hit .270 or better every year since he was 19. Is he healthy and in shape? Has he been hitting over the last 14 months or did he just sit them out? If he has gotten to the point where all he wants to do is cash a paycheck I wouldn't count on him for anything, but if he is serious about his craft something in the order of a .260/.335/.415 might be doable, and frankly that is better than what Teix is giving you right now.
The difference between Teix and A-Rod is that I have to think if A-Rod comes in and gives you anything that resembles the shit sandwich that was Teix's 2nd half last year he gets DFA'ed and collects the balance of his $60 mil in AAA. Teixeira could be hitting .210 and Joe will still slot him mid-lineup and run him out there four days a week.
This is pretty much how I feel. I'm putting a little more blind faith into this, though, believing some of the stuff we've read. But, even on steroids, he was always regarded as one of the hardest working players in baseball. Throughout his suspension he was supposedly going through 2 workouts a day, concentrating heavily on bat speed and quickness of feet on defense. He is supposed to be trimmed down (expected if he is clean) and in great shape. If any of this is true, I think he should still be talented enough to be a decent player. He will never approach the player he was, nor does anyone expect him to.
.241/.341/.464 in the 1st half, 261 abs, with 17 hrs and 7 doubles. .179/.271/.302 in the second half, 179 abs, only 5 hrs.
I see reason for optimism with Tex. I was VERY surprised by his first half, he exceeded my expectations..by far. I did not anticipate any power, given his wrist surgery. He was on pace for 30 hrs with a .464 slugging. The second half was just brutal, only 5 hrs which is closer to what I was concerned would happen in April because of the wrist. That first half is pretty in line with his 2012 year of .251/.332/.475.
Now I do think he's going to miss several games with multiple ailments popping up, which is in part why you can't anticipate .464 slug over a full year. But the power is clearly there, it's just health, consistency, age etc. we all know he's a .240 avg/.330 Obp hitter at this point, can't hope for much more than that. sure I'd like to have his contract off the books and the flexibility to go year to year or replace him but fact is he's the 1b next year, if he can play closer to that first half say .240/.330/.440-.450 with very good d. I'm not expecting it, but it's not that outlandish.
While I like Headley more than most people and think the Yankees were
CLEARLY his best fit, the contract is too big. Where were his other offers that he needed 4 years @ 13 per? I love the defense and switch hitting, plus his line was good with the Yankees. The home park will elevate his power numbers to an acceptable level.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
that Teix can do anything at all with the shift, what you're probably looking at optimistically is a guy who gives you 120 games (hasn't played in more since 2011 and that wrist injury isn't something likely to completely heal) and bats somewhere in the neighborhood of .240-.250 with a prorated 25-30 HRs (so if he plays 120 games, maybe 18-22 HRs).
Pessimistically, his 2nd half is a lot closer to what you can expect from here on out and a .220 or so BA and 15 or so HR power, which doesn't get it done as a corner IF even if he still moved the way he did at 28.
RE: While I like Headley more than most people and think the Yankees were
CLEARLY his best fit, the contract is too big. Where were his other offers that he needed 4 years @ 13 per? I love the defense and switch hitting, plus his line was good with the Yankees. The home park will elevate his power numbers to an acceptable level.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
Supposedly he turned down more than 4/$52 and I wouldn't doubt it. Someone cracked that Colby Rasmus may be the best remaining hitter on the market. Then I thought about it, and he might be right.
CLEARLY his best fit, the contract is too big. Where were his other offers that he needed 4 years @ 13 per? I love the defense and switch hitting, plus his line was good with the Yankees. The home park will elevate his power numbers to an acceptable level.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
Supposedly he turned down more than 4/$52 and I wouldn't doubt it. Someone cracked that Colby Rasmus may be the best remaining hitter on the market. Then I thought about it, and he might be right.
I think whoever offered him more than what he got was saved from themselves. I like Headley a lot, but he isn't going to be a guy who provides a lot of power. If I'm paying a 3B $15 million, his absolute floor better be 20-25 HRs.
You can certainly live with the 1st option, not worth the 2015 salary but carrying hit weight as a solid batter. It's about expectations, he's simply not the batter he was 2009 and prior. Something closer to 2012 or 2014 first half is who he is, best case. His ops has been in a steady decline 2010-2012 .846, .835, .807....and .805 ops first half (opposed to .573 second half and .711 overall. But similar territory across those years
so few guys hitting FA that Jed Lowrie just got 3/$28. Jed f-cking Lowrie. He is a below average defender at SS and he OPSed .676 a season ago. Like Headley he has better seasons on his resume, but he's nowhere near a $9+ mil a season guy, he's a guy you're constantly looking to upgrade. 3B at this point has become almost as defense-orientated as SS, with only a dozen 3B OPSing .750 or higher. Over a full season Headley is a Top 10 3B on the whole, with only 7-8 guys who are definitively better two-way 3B than him and all of them either making more or soon to do so.
But, I think players like Teixeira who continue to try to hit through it are just lazy and douchebags. That worked for Ted Williams because he was about the best lefty hitter of all time and remained an excellent hitter right through the end of his career. without the shift Teixeira couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag these days. With it, he is an embarrassment.
I'd prefer they outlaw the shift as well, because one factor in not being able to go the other way is that pitchers are throwing to the inside of the plate consistently to guys like Tex. They practically force you to pull the ball. The combination makes it very difficult for some guys to compensate. Ortiz is great because he is so good at cheating and opening his hips up early so that he can get good wood on those inside pitches. But most people have a harder time at doing that.
But the shift won't be going away unless attendance and ratings drop, and baseball recognizes that the shift is the single biggest factor in boring baseball due to reduced offense over these last several years.
3B at this point has become almost as defense-orientated as SS, with only a dozen 3B OPSing .750 or higher.
Pre-integration, 3B was considered the more defensively demanding position and therefore had more all-glove no-bat guys than did SS. That era gave us the term "Hot Corner" for the position. I think defensive 3B hit its Nadir in the steroids era, both because there was less bunting (less run manufacturing) and because you could legitimately get another 35 HR guy at 3B which outweighed defense. With the general decline in hitting/power right now, the slick glove guys are making a comeback.
but I hate reactive rule changes even more. Let the game be an organic chess match. I'll suffer through this shift-shit knowing that it won't linger more than another 5 years before approaches to hitting have made an impact. The return of the Brett Barbaries!
they gave him $10 mil to ride the DL, $14 or $15 if he is healthy. That's not reestablish value money, which you would expect for a guy who hasn't pitched more than 45 IP in four years or a full season since 2009, that's the sort of money you pay to a pitcher who has already reestablished that value.
they gave him $10 mil to ride the DL, $14 or $15 if he is healthy. That's not reestablish value money, which you would expect for a guy who hasn't pitched more than 45 IP in four years or a full season since 2009, that's the sort of money you pay to a pitcher who has already reestablished that value.
Yeah I thought that was nuts as well, eliminates all upside/value. He has to produce at a pretty high level/be healthy in order to provide ROI. Josh Johnson's option I think was $4m plus incentives, that should've been the max guarantee he got, probably less because josh Johnson actually had a few healthy, cy young caliber seasons. Escalators to take it to $14m based on performance with a couple mil guaranteed, ok. I liked him too, but not at that price.
so few guys hitting FA that Jed Lowrie just got 3/$28. Jed f-cking Lowrie. He is a below average defender at SS and he OPSed .676 a season ago. Like Headley he has better seasons on his resume, but he's nowhere near a $9+ mil a season guy, he's a guy you're constantly looking to upgrade. 3B at this point has become almost as defense-orientated as SS, with only a dozen 3B OPSing .750 or higher. Over a full season Headley is a Top 10 3B on the whole, with only 7-8 guys who are definitively better two-way 3B than him and all of them either making more or soon to do so.
thank you. You are doing yeoman's work on this thread.
I think in the post HGH era it is clear that when a player's power vanishes, it ain't coming back. Rios is now a light hitting LFer. I think he was overpaid actually.
his HR numbers sucked last year and he didn't walk much, but he hit for extra bases, he stole 17 bags, his .280 average was good so the offensive production was decent enough. But his defense by most metrics is mediocre or worse, so he's not the model Royals OF.
so few guys hitting FA that Jed Lowrie just got 3/$28. Jed f-cking Lowrie. He is a below average defender at SS and he OPSed .676 a season ago. Like Headley he has better seasons on his resume, but he's nowhere near a $9+ mil a season guy, he's a guy you're constantly looking to upgrade. 3B at this point has become almost as defense-orientated as SS, with only a dozen 3B OPSing .750 or higher. Over a full season Headley is a Top 10 3B on the whole, with only 7-8 guys who are definitively better two-way 3B than him and all of them either making more or soon to do so.
Look like it's 4/28 for Lowrie.
Yeah 3/$23 with a club option for a fourth year at $5 mil...
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz 13m13 minutes ago
Am told by someone with direct knowledge: Marlins have reached 2-year agreement with first baseman Mike Morse, pending a physical.
yeah, I can't believe the contract Brett Anderson got
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal 10m10 minutes ago
#Padres have signed free-agent RHP Brandon Morrow to one-year deal, per @FollowThePadres. Team had offered about $2.5M plus incentives.
Was hoping they'd resign him as depth but was thinking more on a deal to compete in ST, little guaranteed. This feels like a lot guaranteed to me. the FA market is always inflated obviously - some of the other deals confirms that.
where he could compete in ST and be stashed as rotation depth in AAA. This essentially guarantees him a roster spot, and will have to eat the salary if they DFA him. Unless there are more details to the contract, not feeling the amount of money for him.
I mentioned this on then other Yankees/MLB thread...
"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez's days as an everyday fielder are over. At best, he hopes A-Rod will be New York's full-time designated hitter." Link - ( New Window )
Good lord. Why? Now they're going to force themselves to trot out an average at best pitcher because they threw 5 million dollars at him.
After Brett Anderson got $10 mil (potentially $14), the $5 mil for Capuano looks reasonable. He sucks but it's the going rate for a veteran innings-eater.
They could have spent a little more on someone better
or just rolled with Phelps and Warren. Completely and totally unnecessary to throw 5 million at him. Would've been much better spent elsewhere. And I guess this means that Kuroda is absolutely retiring or playing in Japan.
In addition to re-signing Jose Campos, #Yankees also sign minor league free agents C Juan Graterol and 2B/3B Cole Figueroa.
The difference between Teix and A-Rod is that I have to think if A-Rod comes in and gives you anything that resembles the shit sandwich that was Teix's 2nd half last year he gets DFA'ed and collects the balance of his $60 mil in AAA. Teixeira could be hitting .210 and Joe will still slot him mid-lineup and run him out there four days a week.
I'm with Greg on this, it's a supremely shitty product to watch. I know a bunch of stat-heads with their databases get their jollies to how many steps to the left a shortstop needs to take to properly defend this hitter, but having three infielders on the right side of the second base bag takes the joy out of watching the game's most marketable hitters hit.
In addition to re-signing Jose Campos, #Yankees also sign minor league free agents C Juan Graterol and 2B/3B Cole Figueroa.
Happy about the campos resigning. can never have enough good arms, was intrigued when we traded for him. Still hoping he returns to form after TJS, even if his outlook is a RP, can have good value. Still just 22 and talented, good arm to try to develop and added depth.
Dunedin, any info/reports on the other two players? I'll look them up
I wish the Mets were signing 4 WAR hitters for deals like this.
The difference between Teix and A-Rod is that I have to think if A-Rod comes in and gives you anything that resembles the shit sandwich that was Teix's 2nd half last year he gets DFA'ed and collects the balance of his $60 mil in AAA. Teixeira could be hitting .210 and Joe will still slot him mid-lineup and run him out there four days a week.
This is pretty much how I feel. I'm putting a little more blind faith into this, though, believing some of the stuff we've read. But, even on steroids, he was always regarded as one of the hardest working players in baseball. Throughout his suspension he was supposedly going through 2 workouts a day, concentrating heavily on bat speed and quickness of feet on defense. He is supposed to be trimmed down (expected if he is clean) and in great shape. If any of this is true, I think he should still be talented enough to be a decent player. He will never approach the player he was, nor does anyone expect him to.
I see reason for optimism with Tex. I was VERY surprised by his first half, he exceeded my expectations..by far. I did not anticipate any power, given his wrist surgery. He was on pace for 30 hrs with a .464 slugging. The second half was just brutal, only 5 hrs which is closer to what I was concerned would happen in April because of the wrist. That first half is pretty in line with his 2012 year of .251/.332/.475.
Now I do think he's going to miss several games with multiple ailments popping up, which is in part why you can't anticipate .464 slug over a full year. But the power is clearly there, it's just health, consistency, age etc. we all know he's a .240 avg/.330 Obp hitter at this point, can't hope for much more than that. sure I'd like to have his contract off the books and the flexibility to go year to year or replace him but fact is he's the 1b next year, if he can play closer to that first half say .240/.330/.440-.450 with very good d. I'm not expecting it, but it's not that outlandish.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
Pessimistically, his 2nd half is a lot closer to what you can expect from here on out and a .220 or so BA and 15 or so HR power, which doesn't get it done as a corner IF even if he still moved the way he did at 28.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
Supposedly he turned down more than 4/$52 and I wouldn't doubt it. Someone cracked that Colby Rasmus may be the best remaining hitter on the market. Then I thought about it, and he might be right.
Link - ( New Window )
Quote:
CLEARLY his best fit, the contract is too big. Where were his other offers that he needed 4 years @ 13 per? I love the defense and switch hitting, plus his line was good with the Yankees. The home park will elevate his power numbers to an acceptable level.
I still can't understand the hesitancy to re-sign their homegrown players while spending wildly for other guys. It can't just be about draft picks, which they've shown very little capability of turning into quality performers for this franchise.
Supposedly he turned down more than 4/$52 and I wouldn't doubt it. Someone cracked that Colby Rasmus may be the best remaining hitter on the market. Then I thought about it, and he might be right.
I think whoever offered him more than what he got was saved from themselves. I like Headley a lot, but he isn't going to be a guy who provides a lot of power. If I'm paying a 3B $15 million, his absolute floor better be 20-25 HRs.
I'd prefer they outlaw the shift as well, because one factor in not being able to go the other way is that pitchers are throwing to the inside of the plate consistently to guys like Tex. They practically force you to pull the ball. The combination makes it very difficult for some guys to compensate. Ortiz is great because he is so good at cheating and opening his hips up early so that he can get good wood on those inside pitches. But most people have a harder time at doing that.
But the shift won't be going away unless attendance and ratings drop, and baseball recognizes that the shift is the single biggest factor in boring baseball due to reduced offense over these last several years.
Pre-integration, 3B was considered the more defensively demanding position and therefore had more all-glove no-bat guys than did SS. That era gave us the term "Hot Corner" for the position. I think defensive 3B hit its Nadir in the steroids era, both because there was less bunting (less run manufacturing) and because you could legitimately get another 35 HR guy at 3B which outweighed defense. With the general decline in hitting/power right now, the slick glove guys are making a comeback.
Headley in. Let Moncada be next.
#Royals agree to one-year, $11 million deal with OF Alex Rios, according to @JonHeymanCBS. Good signing for them.
Yeah I thought that was nuts as well, eliminates all upside/value. He has to produce at a pretty high level/be healthy in order to provide ROI. Josh Johnson's option I think was $4m plus incentives, that should've been the max guarantee he got, probably less because josh Johnson actually had a few healthy, cy young caliber seasons. Escalators to take it to $14m based on performance with a couple mil guaranteed, ok. I liked him too, but not at that price.
Am told by someone with direct knowledge: Marlins have reached 2-year agreement with first baseman Mike Morse, pending a physical.
Speaking of guys who can't stay off the DL, anyone heard anything about Andrew Bailey lately?
#Padres have signed free-agent RHP Brandon Morrow to one-year deal, per @FollowThePadres. Team had offered about $2.5M plus incentives.
Told again, Yanks "absolutely not" in on Scherzer. So I wouldn't hold your breath. I'm a believer.
Was hoping they'd resign him as depth but was thinking more on a deal to compete in ST, little guaranteed. This feels like a lot guaranteed to me. the FA market is always inflated obviously - some of the other deals confirms that.
"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez's days as an everyday fielder are over. At best, he hopes A-Rod will be New York's full-time designated hitter."
Link - ( New Window )
After Brett Anderson got $10 mil (potentially $14), the $5 mil for Capuano looks reasonable. He sucks but it's the going rate for a veteran innings-eater.
Sources: Significant optimism that Wil Myers to San Diego gets done. Said to be very close. @Ken_Rosenthal first mentioned the trade talks.