Not sure if the GM’s caught a lot of sleep during the Winter Meetings but they might have. Not a lot of activity. However, the stove is heating up and should reach a boil as we approach the holidays.
The Angels, and everybody else, await Shohei Ohtani’s decision. Word on the digital street is that decision will come this weekend.
Once Ohtani makes his decision, folks expect Japanese phenom #2 to make his. The market for the young flamethrower is heating up and a big money decision looms.
The Angels added two more relief pitchers this week, welcoming back Luis Garcia and taking a buy low chance on Adam Climber. The key theme for all three bullpen acquisitions this off season has been ground ball rate. And Perry might not be done with the bullpen.
Perry also signed Willie Calhoun to a minor league deal and is aggressively scouting the trade market for pitching.
One player guaranteed to be an Angel next season is Mike Trout.
The biggest news this week came from both coasts when after a slight delay Juan Soto was traded from San Diego to New York. This follows the MFY acquisition of Alex Verdugo to form a new outfield.
In all the Yanks shipped out seven arms in those deals then lost another three in the Rule V draft.
One of my Perry wishes is off the board as Jeimer Candelerio signed for more than expected with the Reds. This gives Cincy a bounty of infield talent. Could a one of them be on the move to the grass or a new team?
Eduardo Rodgriguez took his talents to Phoenix. D’backs have a nice looking 1 through 3 now and that link is worth a read.
The Baltimore Orioles had a resurgent season and now might be purchased by a billionaire. He might get to cut the checks to new closer Craig Kimbrel, a signing I don’t see going well.
News is coming in faster than daily links can post, so please link what I’ve missed below.
I’ll be checking MLBTR plenty this weekend while spending time with my family at Knotts Merry Farm. Snoopy is the coolest thing going right now for my son and I can’t wait to see the smile on his face. The fact grandparents are included is even better.
Hey Morosi, plan on any strolls through Toronto in the near future? 😆 You might hear some disgruntled baseball fans who would like to have a few words with you.
This makes me like Ohtani less and also makes me hate Anthony Rendon even more.
The contract contains no opt outs, and according to Rosenthal: “theOhtani deal with Dodgers, per source, includes “unprecedented” deferrals – the majority of his salary. The deferrals were Ohtani’s idea to ease the Dodgers’ luxury-tax and cash flow burdens to give the team the flexibility needs to be as competitive as possible, the source said.”
Will the deferrals lower the AAV of a 10 yr contract? I think it only helps immediate cash flow, but not luxury tax implications.
I’m glad you are on this. It’s something I really would like a clear answer to.
Most of it deferred. New Bobby Bonilla day???/
My lights dimmed earlier today…….the Doyers started the “Money Printer” in the stadium basement.
Maybe minority here but glad for him and the Angels. I loved having him here but this just isn’t the team that can pay that kind of money, Dodgers got their guy and won’t let that contract stop them from making the necessary moves to shore up other needs. Guessing this means he is might be closer to pitching than thought.
Agree completely.
In fact, I want to see the greatest player of all-time (or least the most talented) win one on the big stage. Even if it’s with the f*cking doyers.
Arte and Perry better respond or just sell the team tomorrow
I AM SO FUCKING GLAD WE DID NOT GIVE HIM 70 MILLION A YEAR
HOLY FUCK
30 years old, 2 TJ surgeries, 70 million a year.
…what.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck
(Jan 2023 – Dec 2023 allotment)
$700M ? I don’t begrudge Ohtani for taking the cash and not looking back, but $700M is obscene for a baseball player. The negotiations on the next CBA will be a doozy.
Noooo!!
I mean whew!
Wait, this sucks!
No wait, good dodge, Perry!
No wait, give me a break Perry!
Bummer – Ohtani to the Dodgers. If that’s not a massive F-U to Arte, I don’t know what is.
10 year, $700M (from Passan). Fucking insane.
You dont think Arte didnt bid up the price for the Doyers?
What a bunch of dumb asses.
Now we find out if Perry has a strategy and is auditioning for his next job, or if he’s in way over his head.
700 million!!!😲 Enjoy The Latrine, Shohei, and The Latrine fans.
Fuck!
If we have a repeat of Ohtanigate today, maybe we can make it up to a thousand comments.
I’m hopeful Ohtani speeds things up given the circus that erupted.
Well someone is sure as hell enjoying this.
With his weirdness issue with the public, would not surprise me he announces like 2:00am. I still think it’s Toronto and someone spilled the beans. He wants to announce on his terms. As Kiyo says, may wait for Yamamoto to announce.
NY teams are going gaga after Yamamoto. Yankees are back to being the Evil Empire and will face a battle in the Octagon with Cohen. Good stuff.
I agree. They may also still be negotiating the final details of the contract. My Daughter-n-Law works for a branding Company that was commissioned to develop the Bryce Harper to Phillies announcement back in 2019 weeks ahead of the official announcement. During that time Borass’ office and the Team repeatedly denied that there was a deal. I think this happens all the time just normally not under so much scrutiny.
For all we know Ohtani could right now be laying in MRI machine in some medical office down near Hoag completing his physical for the Blue Jay hired medical staff.
Wow, 350 comments.
I wonder if one of the masthead called in an anonymous tip this morning about seeing Ohtani boarding a jet….
😄
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m not a n the masthead, I mean ….errrrrr, Nobody would do that. 😄
It was me. I needed the comments.
Evan White – another DiPoto special.
BREAKING NEWS:…….Why would they?
You were right Rex…Fullerton Del Taco the whole time. `;~}}
Apparently Evan White is owed 17M over the next 2 years according to the braves SB Nation site. https://www.batterypower.com/2023/12/7/23992430/atlanta-braves-free-agency-roster-moves-angel-perdomo-evan-white
Yikes. 8.5 million per year for Evan White?
It was a Jedi arbitration avoidance lock up contract that blew up in the Mariners face. But he did win a gold glove.
Maybe Washington knows something that we don’t. The Braves didn’t even have White on their 40 man roster.
They did the same thing with him that we did with Fletch (who now can refuse an assignment) . The Braves preferred to have the flexibility of an opening on the 40 man roster and since White still has 2 options left they can move him down to AAA without impunity. And since he doesn’t have enough service time yet, like Fletch he cant object to being taken off the 40 man roster. Of course any team can claim him when he passes through waivers but why would they with that salary?
Thomas is a controllable and potentially viable MLB Lefty reliever that the organization desperately needs since Torres and Ingram have been big disappointments to date.
The other small benefit is that this move opens up two 40 man roster spots (now at 39) and the Angels need at least one of them for the Cimber & Garcia signings.
White was on the Braves roster for 6 days. White never played for Washington in Atlanta
It would appear this trade only saves us about $4.5 Million over 2 years.
The biggest difference is Thomas and Mr. White have minor League options left. Stassi and Fletcher do not.
That’s not worth it in retro. Thought it was a better salary purge.
Perry got took
Naw. The net gain is 4.5 million + addition by subtraction on the roster front.
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/07ab3e8f-7521-4823-a848-9438340e756b/gif
I just saw that Fletch and Stassi were traded. Two guys who have lost their shine and were overpaid. Did not even bother to see what was coming back.
Pain. But I guess he doesn’t play MIF or C so it’s a bonus because we obviously don’t want competent backups at those other spots.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, after all, middle infield and catcher are valued defensive positions. Minasian feels like the guy I always fleece in my fantasy baseball leagues.
But he has an ‘in’ with the Braves! 😂😂
Holy shit. That makes this feel absolutely awful.
I don’t think it is as awful as you think. We save a little, and also we probably were having a roster crunch where we couldn’t option either of them… we’d end up just DFA them and lose them for free.
Your zen place?
Actually not my zen place at all. I hate feeling this way. But I find nothing about this Org and team to be excited or happy about if I analyze with non-partisan eyes.
Ohtani may not be ready to play next year. My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with the girl who saw Ohtani pass out at 31 Flavors on Katella last night. I guess it’s pretty serious.
And he liked a Tweet from some dude in Boston so obviously he’s going to the Red Sox.
SAVE OHTANI
Braves take Fletcher and Stassi’s contract, we take Evan Whites contract. Neither team gets any better at baseball.
We’re better by subtraction.
Except Braves are already great and the Angels still suck.
Infield depth gets even more shallow.
Pure salary dump of Fletcher.
And Stassi
The Braves will fix Fletcher
Of course they will.
Fletch doesn’t need to be ‘fixed’, just appreciated for what he is and can contribute. He’s the ultimate team player. Able to contribute in so many ways. I wish him the best!