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

[Tigers6884 491]

Perhaps this Ichiro/Marlins deal will be like Wade Boggs and the Devil Rays many years ago, except minus the Hall of Fame plaque cap drama.

[zpqmaowl 419]

Poor Gonzalez Germen:

-designated for assignment by the Mets on December 15.

-traded by the Mets to the Yankees for cash on December 19.

-designated for assignment by the Yankees on January 13.

-traded by the Yankees to the Rangers for cash on January 20.

-designated for assignment by the Rangers on January 21.

-claimed off waivers by the Cubs on January 23.

-designated for assignment by the Cubs on February 4.

[BBallSuperFan 5]

Man, the Nats looks scary.

Jays are gonna hit well, but have no pitching. Can Navarro net them something?

[HedleyLamarr 1,393]

I'm not worried about the Nationals. They signed Dan Uggla.....

[cubsfan2015 111]

OK,My hope for the Marlins are through the roof with the signing of Ichro. He said he wanted to see "how I will be cooked" in Miami.

But Uggla to the Nats.They've already got a good team,and Uggla will be a big part for the Nats this season.

[TheOldRoman 1,268]

^Wat.

[FGM13 766]

OK,My hope for the Marlins are through the roof with the signing of Ichro. He said he wanted to see "how I will be cooked" in Miami.

But Uggla to the Nats.They've already got a good team,and Uggla will be a big part for the Nats this season.

Except it's 2014

It's 2015.

[BBallSuperFan 5]

OK,My hope for the Marlins are through the roof with the signing of Ichro. He said he wanted to see "how I will be cooked" in Miami.

But Uggla to the Nats.They've already got a good team,and Uggla will be a big part for the Nats this season.

Except it's 2014

Kaz is drunk....... and likes Animal Crossing.

[dbadefense1990 369]

OK,My hope for the Marlins are through the roof with the signing of Ichro. He said he wanted to see "how I will be cooked" in Miami.

But Uggla to the Nats.They've already got a good team,and Uggla will be a big part for the Nats this season.

Who the hell is "Ichro?"

[cubsfan2015 111]

Time does fly by. Next thing you know,it's May.

[Alex Houston 301]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[WSU151 5,634]

OK,My hope for the Marlins are through the roof with the signing of Ichro. He said he wanted to see "how I will be cooked" in Miami.

But Uggla to the Nats.They've already got a good team,and Uggla will be a big part for the Nats this season.

If the Nats' goal is to have the most strikeouts and worst team batting average in the NL...then Uggla will definitely lead the way, especially with that huge minor league contract that he signed with the team. Granted, Uggla has to beat 3 other guys that are better than him for the 2B job, but that's nothing.

[TheGiantsFan 132]

James Shields has apparently signed a 4-year deal with the Padres.

[CS85 7,642]

Kinda glad he didn't end up going to the Cubs. The hype machine is utterly drunk right now and I think the foot on the gas floor method needs to be stifled a tad. Keep the pace and let things happen organically. Don't just empty the coffers because Has Name, Can Pitch.

[BigBubba 778]

Don't just empty the coffers because Has Name, Can Pitch.

[dbadefense1990 369]

James Shields has apparently signed a 4-year deal with the Padres.

Between the Padres getting Shields, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Will Myers and others and the regression the Dodgers have imploded upon themselves this offseason, it looks like San Diego has caught up to legitimately challenge LA for a deep, September run at the NL West division title.

[tigerslionspistonshabs 1,438]

James Shields has apparently signed a 4-year deal with the Padres.

Between the Padres getting Shields, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Will Myers and others and the regression the Dodgers have imploded upon themselves this offseason, it looks like San Diego has caught up to legitimately challenge LA for a deep, September run at the NL West division title.

Can't....under....stand....

[masterchaoss 191]

James Shields has apparently signed a 4-year deal with the Padres.

Between the Padres getting Shields, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Will Myers and others and the regression the Dodgers have imploded upon themselves this offseason, it looks like San Diego has caught up to legitimately challenge LA for a deep, September run at the NL West division title.

I don't think the Padres getting a bunch of injury prone players that can't play defense make them a playoff contender.

I would hardly call what the Dodgers did as imploding, theby became a solid defensive team and have enough offense to win, I have more faith in dodgers this year than I have past dodgers teams.

[Bucfan56 7,935]

Yeah, I actually wouldn't be surprised if the Padres regressed a bit this season. They got some big names, but they basically picked up two strikeout machines in Meyers and Upton, a former MVP who's basically been held together the past few seasons with scotch tape and used chewing gum, and now they dropped nearly $20 million a year on a pitcher who's 33 and already trending downward. They also have some pretty massive gaping holes in their bullpen, a defense that's not very good, and all the NL West teams (sans the Giants, but they're still coming off another championship) have improved around them.

I'm not buying this Padres team yet.

[pmoehrin 910]

With the addition of Shields after the Dodgers and Nationals, top to bottom I think the Padres now have the third best starting rotation in the NL.

No true number one starter, but four solid #2 and #3 pitchers in James Shields, Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross all of whom I would expect to have sub 4 ERA's.

The problem with San Diego this year is going to be offense. They have two positions in third base and short that look to be just black holes for offense. Solarte is a .250 singles hitter and I don't even know who's going to be at short for them. Clint Barmes is 35 years old, and Alexi Armarista is at best a utility infielder. But that's all the Padres have coming into the season.

Its also a make or break season for Yonder Alonso at first who to date has been a major bust for the Padres. Just 22 home runs over three seasons to go with a .268 average. If he is not able to crack double digit home runs this year I would be very surprised to see him back as the Padres starting first baseman next year and if Tommy Medica starts hitting more don't be surprised to see Alonso riding the bench more often the not at the end of the year.

Add that in with the pitcher and the Padres are coming in with a lineup every game that will have at least four spots that produce little to no offense.

Where does all this put them? I think as a solid contender for one of the two Wild Card spots. It's a flawed team on offense, but on pitching and defense they're solid and if they can go out and make a move to upgrade one of those three positions they could be serious World Series contenders.

Do I think they are better then the Dodgers? No. As mentioned before LA is one of the two teams that can match their pitching and looking at the position players head to head, left and center field are the only two positions where I see the Padres being better then the Dodgers at. Everywhere else the Dodgers are either just as good or flat out better.