I was hoping he'd re-sign with St. Louis, but I've heard he wanted multiple years and they just weren't going to do that. He was quite good for us, but his historical numbers show he played above his ceiling, I suspect he will regress next year.
The 2021 MLB Thread
He strikes out a lot and rarely walks. But he did show some improvement as to OBP in his stint with the Mets.
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- #1,354
Yeah I know. He's a defensive upgrade I guess. Also has a 2 yr opt out in his contract as well as trade veto for 10 teams per year.
He did hit 31 HRs last year so he has some power.
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- #1,356
I saw that too. Lots of strikeouts is what you usually get with guys that hit a lot of home runs. I always thought shortstops were put the ball in play guys, at least they were when I was growing up haha.
Paxton and Hill are not sexy signings but they will help that team. The Red Sox will win a ton of their starts in the 3 and 4 spots of the rotation.
- Staff
- #1,358
assuming Paxton can stay upright. Pretty hard to have confidence that will happen.
Lockout is in effect.
Hoping something gets resolved in a relatively timely manner, but I am guessing this goes for a couple of months at least.
Hoping something gets resolved in a relatively timely manner, but I am guessing this goes for a couple of months at least.
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They have got the 3, 4 and 5 spots in the rotation done now. Rwally nothing to address the iffy at best bullpen though since very few starters go past 5 or 6 innings in todays game.
Also, their offense took a significant hit last night when they traded Hunter Renfroe for JBJ and a couple of prospects. JBJ, although a great glove, will always be a bottom of the lineup guy. And Renroe is no slouch with the glove and led the league in outfield assists ladt year. One of the prospects pretty promising but the move just kind of baffled me.
It’s arguably more show to do it now. But there are repercussions from contact between players and clubs being disallowed. For example, players who are injured can’t work with team staff on recovery / rehab. From a labor perspective it eventually creates some sense of urgency to get a deal done.
They’ve done a great job so far with this contract and the $77 mil to Eduardo Rodriguez.
Not TOO much other than players not being able to workout in team facilities, get medical attention etc.
However, the longer this drags on the more it impacts free agency and the potential of starting the season on time.
- Admin
- #1,365
Which is why the rush to all the signings. Hopefully it all ends before spring training begins or sooner
Exactly, however, still lots of big names out there!
To our Fans:
I first want to thank you for your continued support of the great game of baseball. This past season, we were reminded of how the national pastime can bring us together and restore our hope despite the difficult challenges of a global pandemic. As we began to emerge from one of the darkest periods in our history, our ballparks were filled with fans; the games were filled with excitement; and millions of families felt the joy of watching baseball together.
That is why I am so disappointed about the situation in which our game finds itself today. Despite the league’s best efforts to make a deal with the Players Association, we were unable to extend our 26 year-long history of labor peace and come to an agreement with the MLBPA before the current CBA expired. Therefore, we have been forced to commence a lockout of Major League players, effective at 12:01am ET on December 2.
I want to explain to you how we got here and why we have to take this action today. Simply put, we believe that an offseason lockout is the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season. We hope that the lockout will jumpstart the negotiations and get us to an agreement that will allow the season to start on time. This defensive lockout was necessary because the Players Association’s vision for Major League Baseball would threaten the ability of most teams to be competitive. It’s simply not a viable option. From the beginning, the MLBPA has been unwilling to move from their starting position, compromise, or collaborate on solutions.
When we began negotiations over a new agreement, the Players Association already had a contract that they wouldn’t trade for any other in sports. Baseball’s players have no salary cap and are not subjected to a maximum length or dollar amount on contracts. In fact, only MLB has guaranteed contracts that run 10 or more years, and in excess of $300 million. We have not proposed anything that would change these fundamentals. While we have heard repeatedly that free agency is “broken” – in the month of November $1.7 billion was committed to free agents, smashing the prior record by nearly 4x. By the end of the offseason, Clubs will have committed more money to players than in any offseason in MLB history.
We worked hard to find compromise while making the system even better for players, by addressing concerns raised by the Players Association. We offered to establish a minimum payroll for all clubs to meet for the first time in baseball history; to allow the majority of players to reach free agency earlier through an age-based system that would eliminate any claims of service time manipulation; and to increase compensation for all young players, including increases in the minimum salary. When negotiations lacked momentum, we tried to create some by offering to accept the universal Designated Hitter, to create a new draft system using a lottery similar to other leagues, and to increase the Competitive Balance Tax threshold that affects only a small number of teams.
We have had challenges before with respect to making labor agreements and have overcome those challenges every single time during my tenure. Regrettably, it appears the Players Association came to the bargaining table with a strategy of confrontation over compromise. They never wavered from collectively the most extreme set of proposals in their history, including significant cuts to the revenue-sharing system, a weakening of the competitive balance tax, and shortening the period of time that players play for their teams. All of these changes would make our game less competitive, not more.
To be clear: this hard but important step does not necessarily mean games will be cancelled. In fact, we are taking this step now because it accelerates the urgency for an agreement with as much runway as possible to avoid doing damage to the 2022 season. Delaying this process further would only put Spring Training, Opening Day, and the rest of the season further at risk – and we cannot allow an expired agreement to again cause an in-season strike and a missed World Series, like we experienced in 1994. We all owe you, our fans, better than that.
Today is a difficult day for baseball, but as I have said all year, there is a path to a fair agreement, and we will find it. I do not doubt the League and the Players share a fundamental appreciation for this game and a commitment to its fans. I remain optimistic that both sides will seize the opportunity to work together to grow, protect, and strengthen the game we love. MLB is ready to work around the clock to meet that goal. I urge the Players Association to join us at the table.
I first want to thank you for your continued support of the great game of baseball. This past season, we were reminded of how the national pastime can bring us together and restore our hope despite the difficult challenges of a global pandemic. As we began to emerge from one of the darkest periods in our history, our ballparks were filled with fans; the games were filled with excitement; and millions of families felt the joy of watching baseball together.
That is why I am so disappointed about the situation in which our game finds itself today. Despite the league’s best efforts to make a deal with the Players Association, we were unable to extend our 26 year-long history of labor peace and come to an agreement with the MLBPA before the current CBA expired. Therefore, we have been forced to commence a lockout of Major League players, effective at 12:01am ET on December 2.
I want to explain to you how we got here and why we have to take this action today. Simply put, we believe that an offseason lockout is the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season. We hope that the lockout will jumpstart the negotiations and get us to an agreement that will allow the season to start on time. This defensive lockout was necessary because the Players Association’s vision for Major League Baseball would threaten the ability of most teams to be competitive. It’s simply not a viable option. From the beginning, the MLBPA has been unwilling to move from their starting position, compromise, or collaborate on solutions.
When we began negotiations over a new agreement, the Players Association already had a contract that they wouldn’t trade for any other in sports. Baseball’s players have no salary cap and are not subjected to a maximum length or dollar amount on contracts. In fact, only MLB has guaranteed contracts that run 10 or more years, and in excess of $300 million. We have not proposed anything that would change these fundamentals. While we have heard repeatedly that free agency is “broken” – in the month of November $1.7 billion was committed to free agents, smashing the prior record by nearly 4x. By the end of the offseason, Clubs will have committed more money to players than in any offseason in MLB history.
We worked hard to find compromise while making the system even better for players, by addressing concerns raised by the Players Association. We offered to establish a minimum payroll for all clubs to meet for the first time in baseball history; to allow the majority of players to reach free agency earlier through an age-based system that would eliminate any claims of service time manipulation; and to increase compensation for all young players, including increases in the minimum salary. When negotiations lacked momentum, we tried to create some by offering to accept the universal Designated Hitter, to create a new draft system using a lottery similar to other leagues, and to increase the Competitive Balance Tax threshold that affects only a small number of teams.
We have had challenges before with respect to making labor agreements and have overcome those challenges every single time during my tenure. Regrettably, it appears the Players Association came to the bargaining table with a strategy of confrontation over compromise. They never wavered from collectively the most extreme set of proposals in their history, including significant cuts to the revenue-sharing system, a weakening of the competitive balance tax, and shortening the period of time that players play for their teams. All of these changes would make our game less competitive, not more.
To be clear: this hard but important step does not necessarily mean games will be cancelled. In fact, we are taking this step now because it accelerates the urgency for an agreement with as much runway as possible to avoid doing damage to the 2022 season. Delaying this process further would only put Spring Training, Opening Day, and the rest of the season further at risk – and we cannot allow an expired agreement to again cause an in-season strike and a missed World Series, like we experienced in 1994. We all owe you, our fans, better than that.
Today is a difficult day for baseball, but as I have said all year, there is a path to a fair agreement, and we will find it. I do not doubt the League and the Players share a fundamental appreciation for this game and a commitment to its fans. I remain optimistic that both sides will seize the opportunity to work together to grow, protect, and strengthen the game we love. MLB is ready to work around the clock to meet that goal. I urge the Players Association to join us at the table.
@ddec When do you think this gets done, and what concessions are going to be made?
I am guessing it happens this winter, January-February.
I think we will see some sort of the following:
I am guessing it happens this winter, January-February.
I think we will see some sort of the following:
- Universal DH
- Expanded Playoffs (My guess is they settle on 12 teams, 6 per side)
- Adjustments to Service Time rules to get players to FA quicker
- Less Harsh Luxury Tax Penalties (No Draft Pick / International Bonus penalties) - Also an increase to the Luxury Tax Threshold
- Draft Lottery to reduce the benefits of tanking
Jeez.. why expand the playoffs?? It is fine as is... It was actually fine with just one wild card.
um... Money?
Expanded playoffs are FOR SURE happening IMO, it is just a matter of how many teams
Sox dumpster diving again.
As a Brewers fan, I was quite pleased with the trade. JBJ will certainly be much better back in Boston than he was in Milwaukee. He just never seemed comfortable with the Brewers. Renfroe commented when he was still with SD that Milwaukee was his favorite park to hit in, and I read somewhere this morning that his career ballpark stats bear that out so hopefully we will see the best of him (assuming there is baseball in 22).
I get money. But they already play 2 thousand games a year.. I would be all in for a reduced season haha.
You would... but the owners and players absolutely would not.
- Staff
- #1,375
Universal DH to me is a definite.
Playoffs, MLB proposed 14, I think 12 is fine. That lets in 1 extra team on each side. Please get rid of that 1 game wild card game. It's manufactured drama and doesn't come close to the feelings generated by game 163.
The service time stuff is interesting. I don't know how much the owners will budge on the service time to reach FA. But the age part they have been talking about is rather interesting. I really can't see that number for service years getting down to the 5 years the players propose. For me, the compromise there is the change in arbitration eligibility.
I think the luxury tax is getting raised and while I want them to institute a salary floor(which I've been on for years) I don't have high hopes it happens.
It's going to be interesting. I don't think we see this get settled for a while. There has been some bad blood brewing between these sides for a bit now. Look how much effort went into even getting a season played in 2020. My guess, this gets done in February.