2018 MLB off-season news & notes discussion thread

[PanthersPens62]

 

[Preds Partisan]

As a lifelong Reds fan I can say that Marty is as an important part of the history of the Reds as any HOF player or championship team they ever had.

I'm glad he was convinced to announce prior to his last season rather than just walking away on game 162 like he always said he wanted to. Gives the fans one last year to appreciate how much a quality announcer can keep you interested regardless of the product on the field.

 

[robert terwilliger]

plus we get to listen to him call games in which yasiel puig plays in a reds uniform. i bet he thought of retiring on the spot when he found out.

 

[Voight]

Agreed

 

[spintheblackcircle]

This is a great clip. You have fat Whitey Herzog and fatter Tommy LaSorda in all their 1980's polyester uniformed glory, Vin Scully reading LaSorda's lips, Pedro Guerrero throwing his glove in disgust, Tom Niedenfuer looking like he just walked in on Jack Clark f***ing his wife, and Jack Clark taking 2 year to round the bases.

I loved Jack Clark's swing. One of the best righty swings.

 

[tony d]

Thanks for sharing that. Scully's voice was something else. One of the most iconic sports broadcasters ever.

 

[John Price]

i'm getting pissed that talent isn't signing. taking harper and machado forever to sign and it's holding up the market. Longoria had a rant on social media about it and he's right. Sign these folks. Hurry the f*** up.

 

[BigMac1212]

Would MLB look foolish if Harper & Machado start the season in the Indy leagues?

 

[BigMac1212]

Nice to see Marty going out to style. I was sad to see his son Thom leaving the D-Backs to return to the Reds. At least the father and son will be together for Marty's final season.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Nice to see Marty going out to style. I was sad to see his son Thom leaving the D-Backs to return to the Reds. At least the father and son will be together for Marty's final season.

His first game was Hank Aaron's 714th HR to tie the Babe, talk about starting on a high note

 

[BigMac1212]

His first game was Hank Aaron's 714th HR to tie the Babe, talk about starting on a high note

I hope Marty has the last game to remember.

 

[rangerssharks414]

Would MLB look foolish if Harper & Machado start the season in the Indy leagues?

Why in the world would they risk an injury? If they aren't signed, they will sit out.

 

[tony d]

I do think Harper and Machado will sign before the season starts. Lorenzo Cain, a top free agent last year, didn't sign until Jan.25.

 

[John Price]

The notion that Keuchel, Harper, and Machado are STILL unsigned on 1/22 a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report is absolutely ludicrous.

 

[DougieSmash]

The notion that Keuchel, Harper, and Machado are STILL unsigned on 1/22 a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report is absolutely ludicrous.

Why exactly? Be patient and you won't overpaid that big.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

i'm getting pissed that talent isn't signing. taking harper and machado forever to sign and it's holding up the market. Longoria had a rant on social media about it and he's right. Sign these folks. Hurry the **** up.

Longo is dead wrong about why players are making less in free agency. It's all the cba, not analytics.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Clubs not wanting to hand out insane contracts is not the problem. And what teams are refusing to spend money?

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Teams know the cba and know they have the advantage over free agents. Teams are waiting players out because they know teams aren't going to bid against themselves. The top free agents already know what deals are out there for them, and they want more which is causing this stalemate.

Players aren't getting the contracts they want as quickly (or at all) now because the teams that actually spend the type of money these fa's deserve aren't allowed to due to outrageous luxury taxes. Instead of promoting spending, the league is telling teams to go ahead and Marlin it up.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Teams know the cba and know they have the advantage over free agents. Teams are waiting players out because they know teams aren't going to bid against themselves. The top free agents already know what deals are out there for them, and they want more which is causing this stalemate.

Players aren't getting the contracts they want as quickly (or at all) now because the teams that actually spend the type of money these fa's deserve aren't allowed to due to outrageous luxury taxes. Instead of promoting spending, the league is telling teams to go ahead and Marlin it up.

That is not what is happening. What teams are actually Marlining it up? How many are actually affected by the tax or would be affected by the tax with an additional $20+ million? You have a handful that aren't spending huge money, but they also don't have the revenue to spend big money. These players are also pretty disingenuous, as even if a club like the Royals offered a huge contract to Harper or whoever, they wouldn't entertain it.

Only solution is to get rid of the absurd amount of years of control clubs have on players, the late-bloomers get absolutely screwed, or to put in a regressive tax on the low spenders to force them to a certain payroll level. Last year 25 teams had a total payroll of $100 million or more though.

The players getting screwed aren't the big stars, it's the players that are late-bloomers that never get an opportunity to get a bigger deal. Make it like other sports where you are guaranteed free agency by a certain age.

 

[John Price]

Longo is dead wrong about why players are making less in free agency. It's all the cba, not analytics.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Cry me a river, it's not a threat to the game. The players and agents are just failing to understand that owners are no longer going to make as many bone-headed decisions. The day that Pujols signed with the Angels, everyone knew it was going to be a disaster, but now owners and GMs are finally not doing dumb stuff like that anymore.

The players just need to fight for younger players to make more money early in their career, and there is no longer an issue.

Kimbrel has a FIP over 3, he isn't going to get his monster deal, teams don't want to repeat Wade Davis. Keuchel hasn't been an elite pitcher the past 3 seasons, he isn't going to get an elite deal. Harper and Machado wanted 10 years, teams aren't going to give that term anymore.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Players need to negotiate age for free agency and payroll floors.

Here's the problem, they have already dug this hole as well as gotten no cap. They are going to have to somehow give something up in order to get either or both of those perks.

 

[trostol]

i am beginning to think these players/former players/baseball media are really..out of touch with people. Sure the owners are making more money then ever..and for the most part so are players, but players are also to blame in terms of FA as they want big money from just certain teams. I am sure both Manny and Bryce have vastly insane term offers from teams...they just might not want to be on those teams. There may be a strike/lockout looming..owners and players need to start thinking in terms though of the people that come and watch them

 

[robert terwilliger]

the players were so obsessed with getting a nicer hotel room, they forgot to ask for a bigger piece of the revenue pie.

terwilliger predicts the future: the owners will "acquiesce" and get that hard cap that they've had their eye on. tony clark will bend over and take it, so long as the players can wear different colored shoelaces if they want.

fans side with owners because "how dare the players want to be paid?"

 

[tony d]

Hoping this is the week Harper and Machado sign. Doesn't look good for the game that 2 top players are still unsigned going into February.