What Free Agent would you sign?

[DocJJ]

Honestly, not really thrilled with any of the position players.   The best ones are all shortstops and we have 4 of our very top prospects able to play that position.  Everyone else is just old or just not really good enough to justify the expense....

 

There are only 2 position players that I think would really help us and neither is the least bit realistic- Aaron Judge- who can play for the highest bidder (which most certainly wouldn't be us!) and Wilson Conteras.  And why would Contreras sign with us to be a backup when he can start on any other team?

 

I'd sign one FA starting pitcher.  I like Rodon, but doubt he stays healthy... 

so I'd spend a boatload and try to sign Koudai Senga!!!!

[Bahama O's Fan]

One free agent, probably Rodon.

[PHRESH]

A stud SP. 

[Bahama O's Fan]

7 hours ago, PHRESH said:

A stud SP. 

Which one, based on age, experience, injury history, cost, etc...?

[Frobby]

19 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

Which one, based on age, experience, injury history, cost, etc...?

Whichever one will win 17+ games each of the next 3 years.  The trick is to guess which one.   Honestly I wouldn’t care too much about cost if we actually got the result.  

I figure Verlander may want a deal like Scherzer got, and may get it.   Are there three quality years left in his 39-year old arm?

Rodon is almost a decade younger and will cost less per season, but he’s not a workhorse and gives off a bit of an Alex Cobb vibe, durability wise.   Do you risk that he’ll stay healthy for the 5+ years it will take to sign him?

DeGrom looked like 85% of his old self when he came back from his surgery.  He’s probably getting 5 years too, at $35 mm+/yr.

Personally I think I’d like deGrom the best of that group.   He’s young enough to be good for several more years, and pretty reliable prior to his surgery.   He’ll be the most expensive of the three in term of total dollar commitment, and I’ll be shocked if we sign him.  
 

[crowmst3k!]

Rodon would be awesome. He'll be expensive, but that's the market.  

If they offer a shorter term deal to Verlander, that would also be exceptionally cool.  

Rodon, Verlander, GRod, Kremer, <5th starter until Means is ready to roll> would be a legit rotation.  

Then, it's just about augmenting the offense. 

[Aristotelian]

12 hours ago, DocJJ said:

Honestly, not really thrilled with any of the position players.   The best ones are all shortstops and we have 4 of our very top prospects able to play that position.  Everyone else is just old or just not really good enough to justify the expense....

 

There are only 2 position players that I think would really help us and neither is the least bit realistic- Aaron Judge- who can play for the highest bidder (which most certainly wouldn't be us!) and Wilson Conteras.  And why would Contreras sign with us to be a backup when he can start on any other team?

 

I'd sign one FA starting pitcher.  I like Rodon, but doubt he stays healthy... 

so I'd spend a boatload and try to sign Koudai Senga!!!!

Agree with this thought process. Another option is trading a quality (non-elite) prospect and/or controlled player for a 1-2 year rental.

I don't think it is necessary to "pick a player", otherwise you get trapped into overpaying. We want the best guy at the best price. We don't know what the players are asking, nor what other teams are bidding. I would be asking about any of Clevinger, Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Syndergard, Bassitt. Of course I would also dream on Degrom and Rodon. Any of these guys would be upgrade so it just depends on price and who might outperform.

One player I think would make a ton of sense for the O's is Shohei Ohtani. Angels may be looking to rebuild. Ohtani has said he didn't like playing there last year. He would fill SP and MOO Bat which is exactly what we need. They would probably need something like Holliday and Westburg to even pick up the phone. That's a lot for two years of Ohtani, but if you believe Joey Ortiz and Norby are legit, why not go for it? 

[Can_of_corn]

Yes the most valuable player in the league would be a good player to add.

 

I think your statement that he said he "didn't like playing there last season" is not entirely accurate.  He did sign a deal with them for next season.  If I were a player that was trying to get traded I wouldn't have.

[Jim'sKid26]

If I'm signing a FA SP I would go with Verlander. I'd give him 3 years and $120M. 

He's already thrown 185 innings this year and he just had an 11K playoff game. None of his metrics indicate that he is declining. He was a 6+ WAR player this year and he's likely to win the AL CYA. 

Go big or go home.

[wildcard]

1) Best starting pitcher that the O's can sign that will not cost a draft choice.

2) Abreu at DH.

3) A better backup catcher than they have. Don't know if that will be a FA.

Edited October 22, 2022 by wildcard

[Aristotelian]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

Yes the most valuable player in the league would be a good player to add.

 

I think your statement that he said he "didn't like playing there last season" is not entirely accurate.  He did sign a deal with them for next season.  If I were a player that was trying to get traded I wouldn't have.

Here are the comments. I agree there is some openness to interpretation but there is some implication he'd rather be playing on a winning team. Of course, what professional athlete wouldn't? 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/shohei-ohtani-left-with-negative-impression-from-angels-but-recognizes-his-own-good-season/

And yes, he's the MVP, but not only that, he fits our needs perfectly, unlike, say, Correa. So there is arguably a better case for an overpay. 

[MarCakes21]

9 hours ago, Bahama O&#x27;s Fan said:

Which one, based on age, experience, injury history, cost, etc...?

My assumption is that we can't get Verlander or deGrom.  For me, if we could, those are options 1 and 1a.

However, Option 2 is Rodon.  I'll open it up for him, and assume the risk, given our payroll can afford it.  Obviously you don't want to look foolish with an overpay, but I don't mind being the highest bidder.

Option 3 is Bassit.  He's certainly not an ace, but he's a solid and durable 2/3.

[MarCakes21]

8 hours ago, Frobby said:

Whichever one will win 17+ games each of the next 3 years.  The trick is to guess which one.   Honestly I wouldn’t care too much about cost if we actually got the result.  

I figure Verlander may want a deal like Scherzer got, and may get it.   Are there three quality years left in his 39-year old arm?

Rodon is almost a decade younger and will cost less per season, but he’s not a workhorse and gives off a bit of an Alex Cobb vibe, durability wise.   Do you risk that he’ll stay healthy for the 5+ years it will take to sign him?

DeGrom looked like 85% of his old self when he came back from his surgery.  He’s probably getting 5 years too, at $35 mm+/yr.

Personally I think I’d like deGrom the best of that group.   He’s young enough to be good for several more years, and pretty reliable prior to his surgery.   He’ll be the most expensive of the three in term of total dollar commitment, and I’ll be shocked if we sign him.  
 

So let's talk about cost, assuming your predictions are good, and any of them would sign with the O's:

- deGrom for 5 @ $35 per

- Rodon for 5 @ $25 per

- Verlander for 3 @ $40 per

Who do you pick?  At those cost, probably deGrom for me.

[crowmst3k!]

6 minutes ago, MarCakes21 said:

So let's talk about cost, assuming your predictions are good, and any of them would sign with the O's:

- deGrom for 5 @ $35 per

- Rodon for 5 @ $25 per

- Verlander for 3 @ $40 per

Who do you pick?  At those cost, probably deGrom for me.

All three. No salary cap in Baseball. 

[Frobby]

12 minutes ago, MarCakes21 said:

So let's talk about cost, assuming your predictions are good, and any of them would sign with the O's:

- deGrom for 5 @ $35 per

- Rodon for 5 @ $25 per

- Verlander for 3 @ $40 per

Who do you pick?  At those cost, probably deGrom for me.

Me too.