October's Over: The 2014-15 MLB off-season thread.

[Still MIGHTY]

The Angels and Rays have swapped Kevin Jepsen and Matt Joyce.

Dislike

[Shumway]

The Angels and Rays have swapped Kevin Jepsen and Matt Joyce.

Dislike

I'm still not sure what to think exactly. It seems like it's a lateral move, assuming Jepsen goes back to being Kevin Jepsen. Despite his solid 2014, Jepsen's been inconsistent for the better part of a decade in Anaheim. I think trading Jepsen while his value is high and getting something in return makes at least some sense, even if now the 7th inning goes to either Morin or Salas, assuming more bullpen moves aren't on the way.

Joyce isn't much more than an outfield/DH platoon guy, but there's a good chance he's going to produce more than the 25-million dollar Josh Hamilton this season. I would've liked to have seen what Cron could do with more ABs, but I think Joyce is at least a clear upgrade over Cowgill as a 4th OF.

[Brass]

Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a minor league pitcher and cash considerations.

Braves fans, can you fill me in on Varvaro?

[cmm]

Wil Myers is heading to San Diego.

[NJTank]

I dont understand what the Rays are doing

[FGM13]

I like the fact the Rays are gonna be awful. I like this very much.

[dbadefense1990]

I dont understand what the Rays every baseball team not named the Cardinals and Giants are doing.

Fixed it.

[TBGKon]

In response to the Wil Myers deal, I too am shocked as well. My suggestion is that something went on behind closed doors with Myers and the Rays. Maybe Wil wanted a contract for $$$ (like the Longo and Moore deals) and the Rays FO didnt want to pull the trigger yet. A buddy of mine brought to my attention there have been rumblings...from not getting along with Maddon, to a lack of work ethic, or simply peaking in year 1. I don't know what's true, but it's obvious that 'something' was going on outside of the public eye, based on how they were basically shopping him.

The thing that irks me is that the Rays have cut ties with 6 guys (Hellickson, Joyce, Myers, Peralta, Molina, and Hanigan) and misinformed "fans" are all doom and gloom but the core is still there in

Longo Zobrist Escobar Loney Cobb Archer Smyly Dejesus Jennings Boxberger and Balfour with Moore (in June) and McGee in May/June returning from injuries.

,

[FiddySicks]

Of course

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/104451558/source-padres-land-catcher-derek-norris-from-as?adbid=10152929377967451&adbpl=fb&adbpr=5768707450&partnerId=as_mlb_20141219_37597027

[FGM13]

Of course

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/104451558/source-padres-land-catcher-derek-norris-from-as?adbid=10152929377967451&adbpl=fb&adbpr=5768707450&partnerId=as_mlb_20141219_37597027

Heh. What the hell, Oakland?

[cmm]

Either Oakland will be fielding a team made up entirely of pitchers and first basemen or they're stockpiling young arms to make another trade.

[JasonFromMiami]

Dodgers and A´s killed themselfes

.

I like the fact the Rays are gonna be awful. I like this very much.

Because you are a Toronto fan ?

[FGM13]

Dodgers and A´s killed themselfes

.

I like the fact the Rays are gonna be awful. I like this very much.

Because you are a Toronto fan ?

Yes, and I've always had a certain dislike for the Rays.

[Shumway]

Justin Upton is headed to San Diego as well now.

[TheOldRoman]

So... it appears the Padres are taking after the Dodgers with stockpiling outfielders. Either way, good for the Padres fans that they are really going for it this year. It's too bad "it" won't be approached in brown caps.

[DCarp1231]

So I'm just gonna assume that the Orioles outfield is going to be made up of Adam Jones and a poorly made pontoon of misfit players... (Okay Steve Pearce isn't misfit, but someone has to get my point). As Charles Barkley has said many times, "This is just turrible". Seriously Orioles, wtf are you doing? They want to go after Nori Aoki, but will probably ultimately lose the bidding war (if any), Duquette is too cheap to make a trade (he won't give up the team's top 3 or 4 prospects which I gladly agree with) but jesus, he's some special kind of dumb when it comes to making a team better. He let Nick Markakis walk away (who was a fan favorite and still is) because he wouldn't guarantee him a 4th year (WHICH ATLANTA DID!) and he let Andrew Miller sign with the dreaded Yankees. The Orioles almost landed Marlon Byrd AND Ryan Howard, but Philly ultimately backed out because the Orioles were too cheap to give a decent offer... And Brian Matusz, one of the best bullpen arms the Orioles have (and maybe in the AL), is the subject of trade talks. I'm not saying the Orioles are doomed to fail, but come on Duquette... He can do better than this.

[jrodsep]

I don't think the Orioles will be a sub 500 team but they will be an average team that hangs around the second wildcard race until the early weeks of September ultimately dropping out.

[TheOldRoman]

So I'm just gonna assume that the Orioles outfield is going to be made up of Adam Jones and a poorly made pontoon of misfit players... (Okay Steve Pearce isn't misfit, but someone has to get my point). As Charles Barkley has said many times, "This is just turrible". Seriously Orioles, wtf are you doing? They want to go after Nori Aoki, but will probably ultimately lose the bidding war (if any), Duquette is too cheap to make a trade (he won't give up the team's top 3 or 4 prospects which I gladly agree with) but jesus, he's some special kind of dumb when it comes to making a team better. He let Nick Markakis walk away (who was a fan favorite and still is) because he wouldn't guarantee him a 4th year (WHICH ATLANTA DID!) and he let Andrew Miller sign with the dreaded Yankees. The Orioles almost landed Marlon Byrd AND Ryan Howard, but Philly ultimately backed out because the Orioles were too cheap to give a decent offer... And Brian Matusz, one of the best bullpen arms the Orioles have (and maybe in the AL), is the subject of trade talks. I'm not saying the Orioles are doomed to fail, but come on Duquette... He can do better than this.

Ryan Howard is a walking hazmat site. There is no reason whatsoever to make a "decent" offer for Howard because he's horrible and has a horrific contract. I don't know the details of that trade, but the Phillies were only packaging Byrd (a decent player) with Howard because they'd have to give teams something (on top of at least $50 million in cash) just to take Howard. He's truly awful. I empathize with you on the Orioles not making moves, but them balking at paying anything more than $5 mil tops of the $60 mil Howard is owed is smart. Honestly, at this point he's a lottery ticket if some GM thinks he might rebound somehow, but you don't risk more than a mil or so a season on the worst player in baseball.

[BBTV]

So I'm just gonna assume that the Orioles outfield is going to be made up of Adam Jones and a poorly made pontoon of misfit players... (Okay Steve Pearce isn't misfit, but someone has to get my point). As Charles Barkley has said many times, "This is just turrible". Seriously Orioles, wtf are you doing? They want to go after Nori Aoki, but will probably ultimately lose the bidding war (if any), Duquette is too cheap to make a trade (he won't give up the team's top 3 or 4 prospects which I gladly agree with) but jesus, he's some special kind of dumb when it comes to making a team better. He let Nick Markakis walk away (who was a fan favorite and still is) because he wouldn't guarantee him a 4th year (WHICH ATLANTA DID!) and he let Andrew Miller sign with the dreaded Yankees. The Orioles almost landed Marlon Byrd AND Ryan Howard, but Philly ultimately backed out because the Orioles were too cheap to give a decent offer... And Brian Matusz, one of the best bullpen arms the Orioles have (and maybe in the AL), is the subject of trade talks. I'm not saying the Orioles are doomed to fail, but come on Duquette... He can do better than this.

Ryan Howard is a walking hazmat site. There is no reason whatsoever to make a "decent" offer for Howard because he's horrible and has a horrific contract. I don't know the details of that trade, but the Phillies were only packaging Byrd (a decent player) with Howard because they'd have to give teams something (on top of at least $50 million in cash) just to take Howard. He's truly awful. I empathize with you on the Orioles not making moves, but them balking at paying anything more than $5 mil tops of the $60 mil Howard is owed is smart. Honestly, at this point he's a lottery ticket if some GM thinks he might rebound somehow, but you don't risk more than a mil or so a season on the worst player in baseball.

What was this supposed trade? I can't imagine the Phillies balking at any move that resulted in them parting ways with Howard. They might just release him and eat the money at this point.

That's one of the worst (if not the worst) contracts in sports history - especially since they didn't have to even do it - he was still under contract and not eligible for free agency. They could have easily waited a year (maybe more, I don't remember) before giving him that deal.

I get that he hit 58 HR one year, and really came alive late in the seasons when the team was great, but you still don't give that kind of deal to that kind of player. He was never the same mentally after striking out looking to end the '10 NLCS, and never the same physically after tearing his Achilles to end the '11 NLDS.

One possible factor that might entice a team - it recently came out that he was dealing with a pretty bad family situation (basically his parents and bro were ripping him off and now he's suing them) so maybe that played a role in his suckiness and he could rebound with a clearer head. Probably not though - he's done.

[TheOldRoman]

I hadn't heard of a proposed Howard to Baltimore deal before. But nobody is giving the Phillies anything for him considering how awful he is and how terrible the contract is. If Howard were a free agent, some team would bring into camp on a minor league contract to see if he can rebound, but that's all he's worth. So even if the Phillies agreed to eat the entire $60 million remaining, teams still wouldn't give them anything more than a 26 year-old AA reliever. Honestly, any deal would be so insultingly bad that the Phillies should probably just keep him and hope he rebounds. Why eat his entire contract for another team and still get nothing back?