While we wait for the high school and collegiate seasons to start I was wandering what some of yall's thoughts are on the big moves taking place in the last few days around ML baseball. I will post my thoughts but of course feel free to agree or disagree:
$325,000,000 for 13 YEARS-WOW!!! Actually I'm kind of torn on the Stanton contract for several reasons. It's very exciting to see a young rising superstar to get this kind of money but on the other hand I'm not sure this is the team that can afford to do this being fourth from the bottom in attendance even with a new ballpark. Boston, NY, Chicago Cubs, Angels, Tigers, Dodgers, but not too many others can survive this much payroll being given to one player. I believe the only playoff team to ever have one player take up more than 20% of the payroll was the Texas Rangers one year with Pudge Rodriquez.Miami will have to eventually pay Fernandez also so how will they have anyone around them except young cheap players? It will be interesting to watch if he doesn't end up with another club in 3 to 4 years. Hope his health holds out!
Russell Martin gets $83,000,000 from Toronto for five years starting at age 32. I think the free agent salaries are all taking a big jump this year but still feel this was an overpay based on intangibles such as pitch framing, leadership, handling of young pitchers, etc. Martin just hit the jackpot in the year in which he was a free agent. Martin had his best year in the last five but it may have been an offensive outlier. He will help a staff defensively though. Toronto seemed to have some more important holes to feel so I'm kind of surprised the Cubs lost out on Martin.
Sandoval is meeting with Boston as we speak and I have a feeling he is another guy who is going to be paid more than he is worth as a regular season player. If fans can be happy with 12-18 HRs, 65-85 RBI's and around a .280-.300 average for $90-$100 million then go for him but I think some people will be very disappointed....unless the team makes the playoffs and World Series where for some reason he turns into Lou Gehrig!! He will get $85,000,000 for sure though.
Poor Phillies! As long as R.Amaro Jr. is in charge I expect the further collapse of this once proud franchise. He has set them back for years to come.
I keep hearing the Washington Nationals may trade Jordan Zimmermann. I would trade Strasburg first! But the number of years of team control of the player will probably be the difference. And I certainly wouldn't trade either unless I felt I was getting Lester who will probably go back to Boston or Schertzer who is going to want $150 million at least since he turned down $144 million from Detroit last season.
How long is the A Rod circus going to last?-- will the Yankees have the b---s to release him if he flops in Spring training. I hope so!!
The Cardinals are always so well run and the Miller for Heyward trade just adds to that belief in my book as I feel Heyward may finally step his game up to at least most of what people predicted for him. But you know what, he is a pretty good player even if he just stays the same! The Cardinals seem to always be able to develop pitchers so I think giving up Miller isn't that big a deal although he has the potential to be a #2 at least. This trade also signals that Atlanta may be ready to go through a rebuilding phase with the Uptons and Gattis all available, although good luck finding a taker for B. J. Upton.
Anyone see any other blockbuster trades or signings in the next week or so?
