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

[GriffinM6]

The funny thing is is that Beane still wants to try and trade Brandon Moss. It's like he's thinking "Hey! We choked for the third straight year. Let's trade our best players, then rebuild and wait six more years to choke in the ALDS/WC again"!

[FiddySicks]

It's funny, just last week Josh Donaldson basically called out the A's on Twitter for crying poor and pocketing the profits rather than spend a single dime on the team or facilities.

Everyone talks about how the Giants should just give San Jose back to the A's because it'd be "nice" or whatever. But what people don't realize is that Lew Wolff is basically a poor man's version of Jeff Loria. I think Major League Baseball is smart enough to realize that, too. Nobody wants the potential San Jose park to turn into the new Marlins Park.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

Let me ask something: If Billy Beane hands are really that tied as we see in Moneyball, why does he not take the offers to manage another MLB club ? There he would get a fat raise and could get the expensive players we hear the A´s can´t afford. - If the A´s had not traded Yoenis Cespedes i really believe they could have won the world series

I think so too. They were almost unbeatable before that trade.

Speaking of Cespedes, serious Detroit-Boston trade rumors flying around here. With the Red Sox outfield logjam, Yoenis Cespedes seems to be the odd man out and Dombrowski is all over it. Word is either Anibal Sanchez or Rick Porcello for Cespedes. Tigers would most likely then pay the big bucks for Scherzer, and then pick up a half-decent starter to fill out the rotation. As a Tigers fan, I would do this in a heartbeat.

The Jays look to be absolutely stacked. Better than 2 off-seasons ago when they got Reyes, Buehrle, Dickey, etc. They still have all those guys, plus the best 3B in baseball and an excellent catcher. If they don't run away with the AL East, I'd be extremely surprised.

[FGM13]

Let me ask something: If Billy Beane hands are really that tied as we see in Moneyball, why does he not take the offers to manage another MLB club ? There he would get a fat raise and could get the expensive players we hear the A´s can´t afford. - If the A´s had not traded Yoenis Cespedes i really believe they could have won the world series

The Jays look to be absolutely stacked. Better than 2 off-seasons ago when they got Reyes, Buehrle, Dickey, etc. They still have all those guys, plus the best 3B in baseball and an excellent catcher. If they don't run away with the AL East, I'd be extremely surprised.

No pitching.

[jrodsep]

If Toronto can get some starting pitcher/relievers, we could see a three team race for the AL East crown. Toronto, Boston and Baltimore would be in the race and the Yanks are the Yanks so they are always gonna be relevant in the east.

[BBTV]

I think there's a big wild card this offseason, and a potential deadline one.

The Phillies are willing to deal Cole Hamels, who IMO would have a Cy Young and possibly more on any other team. It would take a TON to get him (now that Pat Gillick is kindasorta in charge and will make sure Ruben Amaro just doesn't give him away) but it would be a major difference maker. There have been stories linking Hamels to Boston and the Cubs, but like every Phillie he has a no-trade and would have to cooperate.

Also, IF(and it's a big IF) Cliff Lee comes back strong after being shut down for most of last year, he could be an unexpected deadline prize. Of course he has a no-trade too (heck - they gave me a no-trade and I'm not even a player), and has expressed a desire to stay - of course that ususally means "pay me and I'll waive it'.

[JasonFromMiami]

It's funny, just last week Josh Donaldson basically called out the A's on Twitter for crying poor and pocketing the profits rather than spend a single dime on the team or facilities.

Everyone talks about how the Giants should just give San Jose back to the A's because it'd be "nice" or whatever. But what people don't realize is that Lew Wolff is basically a poor man's version of Jeff Loria. I think Major League Baseball is smart enough to realize that, too. Nobody wants the potential San Jose park to turn into the new Marlins Park.

Both Loria and Wolff are old as dirt, when will they realize you can´t take money with you when you go !.....well, at least it looks like Loria have seen the light.

-

A shame about Oakland, why does the team with the best uniforms in baseball have to have the worst owner ?

[Tigers6884]

It's funny, just last week Josh Donaldson basically called out the A's on Twitter for crying poor and pocketing the profits rather than spend a single dime on the team or facilities.

Everyone talks about how the Giants should just give San Jose back to the A's because it'd be "nice" or whatever. But what people don't realize is that Lew Wolff is basically a poor man's version of Jeff Loria. I think Major League Baseball is smart enough to realize that, too. Nobody wants the potential San Jose park to turn into the new Marlins Park.

Both Loria and Wolff are old as dirt, when will they realize you can´t take money with you when you go !.....well, at least it looks like Loria have seen the light.

-

A shame about Oakland, why does the team with the best uniforms in baseball have to have the worst owner ?

About that…

I rest my case. The Tigers, by the way, have the best owner in all of sports, period.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

As a die hard Tigers fan, our home uniform is better (IMO best in league), but the A's complete set is better than ours as a whole. I hate our road uniform.

[The_Admiral]

Meh, Ilitch spends a lot of money on player payroll, but he still extorts just as much public assistance as any typical sports team owner. It's just that he and his wife (and Dan Gilbert) happen to buy up lots of distressed real estate at the same time, which in concert with the public funding has basically turned Detroit into his personal fiefdom, for better or worse.

[Tigers6884]

As a die hard Tigers fan, our home uniform is better (IMO best in league), but the A's complete set is better than ours as a whole. I hate our road uniform.

We should bring back these beauties:

[JasonFromMiami]

Tigers unis are nice, but Oakland´s home uni and the alt. green (previous and present) are top 5 imo

-

Green and Gold, pretty ironic when the owner claims he has neither

[FGM13]

Nelson Cruz signs in Seattle.

[martymcfry]

Nelson Cruz signs in Seattle.

Now if they could get Ichiro.

[Tigers6884]

Nelson Cruz signs in Seattle.

Now if they could get Ichiro.

Now that would be an awesome free agent signing, to right the wrongs that resulted from the trade. Maybe Ichiro could finally lead the Mariners deep into the playoffs if he returns to Seattle.

[martymcfry]

Nelson Cruz signs in Seattle.

Now if they could get Ichiro.

Now that would be an awesome free agent signing, to right the wrongs that resulted from the trade. Maybe Ichiro could finally lead the Mariners deep into the playoffs if he returns to Seattle.

Exactly. People forget he hit .284 this past season, and I would love it if he finishes his career in Seattle.

[JasonFromMiami]

This article on mlb.com says the Braves have limited financial flexibility....is that really true ? I believed they had plenty of money to spend

Later it says: "The Braves have not discussed a potential contract extension with Upton, who will receive $14.5 million in 2015 before entering the free-agent market, where he could command an average annual salary between $20-25 million."

.

Now that is just some bull , 20 million a year for Justin Upton ? is this really a pro sports writer !

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/102885908/atlanta-braves-facing-tricky-decisions-on-justin-upton-evan-gattis

[bigbean24]

Torii Hunter goes back to the Twins. One year for 10.5 million... sheesh.

[GriffinM6]

Torii Hunter goes back to the Twins. One year for 10.5 million... sheesh.

I have no doubts he'll retire after this year. This is him saying, "Hey y'all, I'm done, so I'm gonna finish my career where it started".

[HedleyLamarr]

This article on mlb.com says the Braves have limited financial flexibility....is that really true ? I believed they had plenty of money to spend

Later it says: "The Braves have not discussed a potential contract extension with Upton, who will receive $14.5 million in 2015 before entering the free-agent market, where he could command an average annual salary between $20-25 million."

.

Now that is just some bull , 20 million a year for Justin Upton ? is this really a pro sports writer !

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/102885908/atlanta-braves-facing-tricky-decisions-on-justin-upton-evan-gattis

Yeah, the Braves haven't been the biggest of spenders in a while. They aren't exactly playing with Yankee or Dodger money.

Money's a big reason why Heyward got traded. They're paying Uggla a bunch of money not to play for them, and they're likely eating a ton of money for BJ Upton not to play for them.