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MLB 2025

#22
The Mariners haven't done much of anything except let people go. Maybe they think their farm system is going to fill the roster. They seem to have some pretty good prospects, but they are prospects for now, not major leaguers just yet.

Less than 77 days to go.
 
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#23
The off-season is always interesting. Just hoping the Yankees don't go cheap and also can get it together this season after that abysmal World Series...they always seem to have just enough to not win it all recently.

Oh, and re-sign Soto.
 
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#24
Gaolee said:
Spring Training Countdown

103 days, but who is counting? The Dodgers are not even home yet. That is fine. When I said it would be a couple of weeks, well, that may have been incorrect.

Time for the hot stove and pathological optimism. This is the year! You all know what I mean.
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Out Pirates, apparently are enjoying their offseason by doing nothing meaningful, much like the not doing anything meaningful for the last 20 years. So far they have discharged their director of Latin American player development, that produced exactly one player that made it to the majors since his hire. And….

With much consternation and heavy thought, extreme effort like passing a stubborn turd, after 5 year of being the worst hitting ball club in the majors, after exploring every possible reason (valid or not) to keep him on the payroll, Andy Haines was let go.

But, upon telling him he’d been let go, the GM sent the following memo to all the other teams that may be interested in employing him:

While we had to part with one of our valued employees due to a cost cutting measure, I wish to send this introduction for Andy Haines. he’s been a faithful dedicated employee, and was an important part of the franchise. After 5 years I can highly recommend this man with no qualifications whatsoever. Consider yourself most fortunate to get him to work for you.

Signed Ben C.
 
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#26
thisheregiraffe said:
Angels signing Kikuchi to a three year $63 million deal.

Dodgers signing Blake Snell! Five year $182 million guarantee, but there are some deferrals.
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Some rumors are starting to float that the organization may be considering a change in the pitching coach and staff. Finally. There is too much talent that either starts the season hurt, or only makes it a few months in and then breaks down. Not sure what the answer is. But the injury situation over the last five years shows or so that it needs to improve. Prior seems nice enough. But there is too much money at stake to continue with the current system, whatever it is.
 
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#29
MCF said:
Soto, on advice of his greedy agent Boras, turned down a 15 year 440 million deal from the Nats in ‘22. I really hope the Yankees sign him. And the Dodgers stay clear of him; he doesn’t fit that them. He’s a good player. But not worth that kind of money IMO.
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As long as the Yankees have an astronomically priced, utterly dysfunctional lineup, I'm OK with it. If it came down to the Astros and the Yankees, it would be a tough call on which is worse, but probably Yankees. They have been that way forever. The Astros were actually somewhat respectable for a while. And kinda awful. May the be awful again soon.
 
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#34
Wowzers that’s a lot of money..! Especially for a guy who offers limited defensive value and doesn’t steal bases. But I guess Steve Cohen is doing alright financially so he isn’t too worried about it 😆 They’re paying Soto to be the best hitter in baseball.

No deferrals, and an opt-out after five years. But the Mets can void the opt-out by increasing the value of the deal. Soto can take home over $800 million buckaroos if it all goes his way.

I hope it works out nicely for the Mets and they win a World Series or two in the next 5-10 years. The latter years of the contract could start to get ugly. But it will have all been worth it if they win while he’s still in his prime.
 
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#36
Gaolee said:
Well, 3/4 billion dollars for 15 years is... uh, what is that going to be anyway? Good? Bad? Something the Browns would do if they were a baseball team?
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Steve Cohen was worth $14 billion when he bought the Mets. He's now worth $22 billion. He doesn't care about the money. Now it's up to Stearns to fill out the roster. Having a front office that's actually supported by team ownership is not something the Mets have had for nearly 40 years.
 
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#38
On the plus side the Mets will stop paying Bobby Bonilla just 4 years before Soto's contract expires! 🤣
From a competitive balance standpoint I'd think a lot of the other teams might be a little shell shocked as that's Cohen saying he doesn't really care about salary cap luxury tax issues - because you simply can't when one player alone represents more than a quarter of the limit. Since there's still work to be done on that roster - especially starting pitching - there's some more check signing shoes to be dropped. While Soto, when not hurt, has shown he can hit anywhere it may not be an issue but he won't have Judge batting behind him next year so there is that. In any case that's just jaw dropping to me but nobody put a gun to Cohen's head so more power to Soto.
 
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#40
GregC said:
Regarding competitive balance: On PTI today, they said Soto's contract value is more than Pittsburgh has spent on its entire team over the past 10 years!
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I'm not sure how it compares to the Mariners' payroll, but I'm sure it is similar to the comparison to the Pirates. Supposedly, the Mariners will have a bit more salary space to work with this season. Meaning what? DiPoto hasn't been making endless trades this off-season. Considering how the last few years of trading worked out, that might be a good thing. The farm system is loaded, especially with pitching, but also with decent every day prospects. Maybe the Mariners will build from within for a change. The results of their internal system have been promising lately, and the trades haven't worked out well at all.
 
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