n_touch said:

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JDUB08AG said:

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Where is the breaking point? These contracts seem to be outpacing the ability of teams to increase spending.

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Already past it. Now it is just time sit back and watch the craziness until it resets.

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Dec 1, 2026 - CBA expiration date. I imagine there will be some work done on a lot of limits, taxes, and penalties.

Owners and MLB will fight hard for salary caps, CBT, penalties. etc. Players and their union will push back hard on that because they will see it as restricting the free agency market. Ultimately, the status quo will prevail as it did in the last lockout unless MLB has the guts to lose a significant chunk of the season

I have brought up the trade Bregman, sign Chapman thoughts a few times. Originally, I was against it when the rumors came out (confirmed by our very own Ketch). I think if the right deals (contract and trade) came about, it could work.

I found a pretty decent comp for Chapman.

Chris Taylor

• Hit the market at 31
• Good, not a great hitter
• Bit of a K problem
• Defensive value (versatility vs elite corner)
• Big Arm

It was only signed 2 years ago but that contract is ~4/63, +13 M option in today's money. Maybe Chapman has a higher ceiling and better WAR due to defense. If you add another 10% and make the option firm, is Chapman worth 5/85 M? It's not too far off of the Spotrac Market Value of 6/103 M.

Switching Chapman for Bregman frees up ~3 M in the CBT this year. Then Bregman would hopefully bring us a cheap controllable reliever and a mid-tier prospect. Are we worse in 2024? Maybe, but we address a need that isn't being addressed and keep a plus player at 3B for the foreseeable future. Plus Chappy has a swing that;s built for MMP (+5 HR a season per Savant). We lock down enough positions for reasonable amounts then maybe Crane will spend big to keep a Tucker or Framber around a little bit.

You can't have a hard cap without a hard floor. And I can't see owners doing that. Some want to be able to spend as little as possible.

bearkatag15 said:

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Who's the best left fielder in the game right now? #Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/2NQbg1T5bF

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 17, 2024

should be Yordan easily

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Is Lars Nootbarr some sort of Scandinavian Willy Wonka?

Man, Bryan Reynolds has certainly taken a tumble

and Yelich, dang

Ag4life80 said:

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Man, Bryan Reynolds has certainly taken a tumble

and Yelich, dang

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Somewhere on here, I projected Tucker to be a player similar to Yelich. He's gotten pretty close. An MVP this year would do it.

If we are to sign Tucker long term, I hope his career doesn't continue to follow that of Yelich.

3 years / $50mm is just nuts for Neris

Somebody will pay that and get a load of regression

Betts in the world? 🎤

Mookie moves to the top of the list at 2B on @MLBNetwork’s #Top10RightNow. pic.twitter.com/AuqRGeEBHC

— MLB (@MLB) January 18, 2024

Beat40 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Tuve #2 on the Top 10 list.

He's been top 10 10 years in a row including #1 5x.

HOF!

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They very definition the writers cite. Best or dominate for a 10-year period. He's a first ballot HOFer. When he hits the HOF nomination, it's going to be extremely interesting to see how they handle it.

It's going to piss off a lot of people either way.

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He should be a no doubt, +90% first ballot selection. Arguably top 3 all time at his position. Modern era no doubt. Guys from 1900-1920 are so hard to compare to modern era players but Hornsby, Collins and Lajoie have to be in the discussion. Then arguably the greatest playoff performer ever.

I have a private bet with myself he doesn't get in the first time.

He'll be "punished" by not getting in first ballot.

Neris for $50MM feels crazy.

Then again, so does whichever of the 10 year, $300MM contracts that were handed out last offseason like candy.

As pointed out above, really need Montero to get it together, especially in light of the Graveman news.

Problem for 2024 is we need a trader/dealer type GM. But yes for long haul we need the draft savant GM which we have.

So really need Montero to get it together.

Mathguy64 said:

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Beat40 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Tuve #2 on the Top 10 list.

He's been top 10 10 years in a row including #1 5x.

HOF!

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They very definition the writers cite. Best or dominate for a 10-year period. He's a first ballot HOFer. When he hits the HOF nomination, it's going to be extremely interesting to see how they handle it.

It's going to piss off a lot of people either way.

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He should be a no doubt, +90% first ballot selection. Arguably top 3 all time at his position. Modern era no doubt. Guys from 1900-1920 are so hard to compare to modern era players but Hornsby, Collins and Lajoie have to be in the discussion. Then arguably the greatest playoff performer ever.

I have a private bet with myself he doesn't get in the first time.

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Sadly I agree.

However, maybe by the time he's eligible enough of the old guard writers with a HOF vote will be retired by then. It does seem like the last couple of years the media has started to separate Altuve out a little bit from the rest of the 2017 team.

What pisses me off about that is the dude by all accounts is a stand up guy. It will be infuriating if the voters posture over that 2017 bs that was league wide. If they want to see a body of work there aren't gonna be many better than altuves.

Get ready to be infuriated. It's going to happen.

Only way Altuve gets the HOF is likely if he gets 3,000 hits and another title. Or just 3000

3,000 hits and 500 HR is kind of the concrete marker on auto-admission unless you tested positive for roids.

By the time he's eligible yes that will be auto admission but it won't be required. If so no one will get in again, because that's not happening going forward.

tjack16 said:

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Only way Altuve gets the HOF is likely if he gets 3,000 hits and another title. Or just 3000

3,000 hits and 500 HR is kind of the concrete marker on auto-admission unless you tested positive for roids.

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Disagree. If he has three more 2022 seasons, he will be right there with Joe Morgan except for the RBI.

IIRC David Ortiz was 1st ballot. They didn't make him "pay" for very high suspicion that he roided.

I think Omar Vizquel should get in, I know his offense was legitimately bad but 11 golden gloves at shortstop is insane.

W said:

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yep, couldn't hit a lick in Minnesota

then arrives in Boston in 2003...OPS jumps 130 points...and eventually by 200 points in the following years

remarkable

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Remember, cheaters never win....except in sports where you make $160,000,000 after turning from a dude who hits a HR every 25 AB, to a dude who hits a home run every 12.

Terminus Est said:

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I think Omar Vizquel should get in, I know his offense was legitimately bad but 11 golden gloves at shortstop is insane.

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One of -- if not the best defensive SS ever -- but he's not going to get in due to the stuff after his retirement.