there isn't really an alternative, I just don't think it will work out until they change how they operate on a day-to-day basis. But I don't blame them for spending, they should. they also need to invest in how their franchise operates / manages / develops.
they should be looking for guys they can flip into assets, and they’re placing bets on guys whose place on the aging curve make the particularly bad lottery tickets to buy. Kikuchi has some value but they deflated it by giving him 3 years, unless there are some options in play that aren’t apparent.
I wish the Stros could have kept him. Guess that means Verlander will be getting a massive 2 year deal instead. Yaaay.
Agreed. The Tigers have done a lot of these kinds of moves over the years when they have sucked. Three years for Kikuchi is a year longer than most of those kinds of deals, so I get that critique. I guess my premise is that I don't think the point of this stuff is for it to "work out" or mean anything. They're filling a roster with MLB players until they figure out a way to find/develop actual good players. And that could take another 10 years with their owner and organizational structure, which I view as a different problem.
The pitching market seems to be incredible if these last few deals are any indication. Happy for Boyd that he got paid but I rode that roller coaster too long to think that's well spent.
It’s just frustrating as a Cubs fan because with Bellinger back it’s going to be pretty hard to upgrade anywhere else in the lineup. The only position really up in the air going into the season is 3B because there’s strong belief Matt Shaw’s bat is too good to keep in the minors and he needs somewhere on the infield to play. So there was hope from the fanbase that we’d sign Fried and have a shot at one of the top 2-3 rotations next year. That’s not happening now so I’ll pencil Cubs in for another mid 80s wins season.
if Manfred actually tried to move forward with this Golden At Bat thing, we need to start talking about revolution.
Had to google it, lol fuck that. I like the moves he's made so far (DH, pitch clock, bases) but that would be ridiculous.
I’m just imagining Boone using the golden at bat to bring Judge up in a must win playoff game for him to strike out on 4 pitches
Ha. Had to look it up and came across a Reddit thread. The banana ball foul ball rule would be hilarious (foul ball caught in the stands counts as an out).