More CBT, Universal DH, and JT

January 29, 2021

“Well, it’s a significant demarcation,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s a line that cannot be passed, but it’s definitely a significant consideration when you get to that level.”  Per Andy McCullough, The Athletic, “by instructing Alderson to mind the luxury-tax threshold…new Mets owner Steve Cohen has conformed with his 29 colleagues in baseball’s ownership class. The competitive balance tax operates as baseball’s de facto salary…

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CBT Threshold or De facto Salary Cap

January 27, 2021

There has been a lot of chatter about the cool reception the current group of FA’s are receiving.  DJLM got $90MM, but he is going to be spreading that over 6 years for a team favorable AAV.  George Springer turned a small bidding war between the two teams that figured to spend (Mets and Jays) into a Toronto overspend of 5 years $150MM.  That was about $25MM more than the…

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The Status of the 2021 Free Agent Player

January 8, 2021

Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Carlos Carrasco, and the BIG MARKET name, Francisco Lindor.  These four have a chance to be top tier in 2021, with Lindor in the elite class.  And they have all changed teams this offseason.  The first two names have moved the Padres into a top three NL and top four MLB team, while the second two names have moved the NYM to a significant NL East…

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Financing in MLB

December 20, 2020

The financing of a baseball season is going under the microscope this offseason and potentially into next season.  There is no question that MLB lost several billion in revenues. According to Forbes’ estimates from 2019, as gathered by the University of Michigan sports economist Rodney Fort, MLB teams made a total of $9.9 billion as follows: REVENUE (IN BILLIONS) UNDER… CATEGORY NORMAL SEASON HALF-SEASON W/O FANS* Gate receipts $2.84B $0.00B…

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Catcher Prospects! or Catcher Prospects ?

December 17, 2018

One position where the Dodgers are looking for improvement is in catcher.  I have read some who are not happy about who of Maldonado, Wieters, Lucroy, Vogt, Joseph, Mesoraco, Ellis, or Butera, Friedman will select from.  Most of the naysayers did not want Grandal back but have no recommendation for a replacement except JT Realmuto.  If it were only that easy just to want something.  The Fish are looking for…

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Yasiel Puig, Platooning, and LAD Trades

December 8, 2018

“A .209 hitter this year against left-handed pitchers, Puig was disgruntled by how he was limited to playing against right-handers, according to people familiar with his thinking who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject. The frustration was said to affect his play, and Puig is now described as distrustful of management and open to playing for another team.” – Dylan Hernandez, LA…

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Austin Barnes and ??? at Catcher in 2019

November 18, 2018

We all know that the one thing that the Dodgers must do is to find another catcher.  The Dodgers gambled that Yasmani Grandal would not accept the QO, and won this time.  They will get a supplemental pick between the 2nd and 3rd round, somewhere in the 80’s.  That will be 4 picks before the third round.  At the very least, they should get enough pool funds to be able…

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Spring Training is Just Like Christmas in February.

February 13, 2018

Okay now that Yu Darvish is signed, sealed, and delivered to the Chicago Cubs, who is the next domino to fall?  21 of the top 50 are still unsigned, and 6 of the top ten.  Interestingly, 5 of those 6 are represented by Scott Boras (JDM, Hosmer, Arrieta, Moustakas, and Holland).  Is it collusion, or is it anti Scott Boras?   So what does that mean for the Dodgers?  The…

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