tabletop

Verlander last year, in terms of WAR, wasn’t worth more than the two of them combined and Gunnar didn’t even lose his rookie status.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/astros-interested-in-andrew-benintendi.html

Ortiz isn’t high ceiling? Mateo just had 3.4 WAR last year. Ortiz is supposed to be close to his glove and a much better bat. Seems like that’s a pretty high ceiling to me.

They clearly have a type of arm that they target and they add guys they think they can fix. For every Cionel Perez there’s a Logan Allen that they aren’t able to fix. The hits are highlighted and the misses aren’t. Plus they were having the top waiver on everyone last off-season so they had first dibs on everyone. Either way, their successes have been impressive. I think to call it “luck” is a slap in the face to those who are turning waiver claims into legitimate MLB players.

Yeah, on a one year deal it’s a fine signing with where the team is.

Oh I don’t either I am just saying it’s certainly possible that they could.

Sure they can. Another poster has already stated that he’s just that and said it’s all because of Holt. They can say he was an all star, proven veteran, innings eater, etc..

“I think a lot of that’s going to comethrough our own guys going into arbitration“ I don’t know why when Elias says he wants to increase payroll everyone takes his word seriously and gets excited but when he tells you where “a lot of that” increase is coming from he’s not be believed. I hope they do spend. I think they should. In a perfect world they’d add 2 more starters and a hitter or two IMO. I just am going based off what Elias is saying.

“much of that money is set aside for arbitration raises.” They keep telling us this but some people just will not listen.

Syndergaard is better than Gibson and also has more upside. They would fit nicely as 4/5 in the rotation but they cannot be the best 2 signed.

Rangers - deGrom Angels - Anderson, Renfroe Astros - Abreu Orioles - Franchy Cordero, Kyle Gibson Yeah, it’s lift off time boys.

Thor’s not bad and has a much better track record than the current group of starters. I wouldn’t want him to be the only signing but if he’s the 3rd best they add that’s pretty good.

If we are to take Elias at his word on payroll why do you think Santander is likely traded? Elias said "We see no real strategy in moving him and we’re excited to have him back for the next two years”.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/orioles-checking-in-on-free-agent-shortstops.html

Yeah, it's fun to discuss and come up with scenarios where they add outside talent but in reality this has always been what is likely to happen. Everyone gets excited for the headline but when you read the full quotes it's obvious this won't be some crazy spending offseason.

In terms of fWAR and fWAR being worth $8 million Eflin has been worth more than 11 million every season since 2017.

It's not the total amount but the increases that they'll likely site if quotes like this are ever brought up to Elias. Mullins is expected to get 4+ million, Hays 3+ million, Mateo close to 2 million and they all made the minimum last year. Just right there with those three guys they can say they escalated the payroll. Then when you add in Santander and whoever else is also getting arbitration raises (Voth, Tate, etc.) they can say they increased payroll "significantly", site whatever percentage increase it was compared to last year, and no media member will push back on it.

Maybe that's why Ben McDonald was hyping Manaea up the other day.

Sure, it doesn't specifically mean spending but how does one "lift off" and claim to be a serious contender with a payroll lower than Tampa's?

“I think a lot of that’s going to come through our own guys going into arbitration"

Angelos is a billionaire, MASN, revenue sharing, etc.. Realistically they could spend whatever they want and they'd still make a profit every year that most people won't make in their life.

There is not a single reason that with the current openings on the roster that the payroll should be below Tampa Bay. It's still early in the offseason but if they end up spending less than the Rays it will be hard to justify after all the talk about "lifting off".

That could be a really nice signing by the Rays. He's young for a free agent pitcher and his peripherals suggest his ERA's should have been lower over the last few years. I'm sure getting him a real defense behind him will do wonders with how he pounds the strike zone. The Rays and Red Sox both offered him 3/40. Makes you wonder what the O's are doing.

Yes. In terms of WAR he will likely be worth close to that or more than that over the next 8 seasons. There's your middle of the order hitter to take all pressure off the young guys. In terms of money he would increase ticket sales, jersey sales, and help the team compete for a championship.

Why Cabrera? I get that he's talented but he has only thrown 100+ innings twice (105 last year) and he seemed pretty lucky to have a 3.01era as his xERA was 4.05 and his FIP was 4.59.