EastCoastAgNc said:

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Now that first baseman Pete Alonso's camp has told the New York Mets he is willing to accept a three-year contract with opt-outs, other prominent free agents are contemplating whether to follow suit.

At least two right-hander Jack Flaherty and outfielder Anthony Santander are open to considering short-term deals with high average annual values, according to league sources briefed on their discussions.

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I'd love for the Astros to snag Bregman or Santander on a deal like this.

Bregman's ego would never let that happen

Ag4life80 said:

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Bregman's ego would never let that happen

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His wife and wallet may make the decision, not his ego.

Blake Sabol designated by the Giants. I'd love to pick him up, especially if we move Caratini. He's not a good catcher but could be a lefty PH / DH when Yordan is in the field and emergency 3rd catcher.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Name a better duo than a Houston team owning a team from Los Angeles in the postseason. You can’t.

— User Not Found (@astros_dude) January 12, 2025

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Aggie football vs expectations (too soon?)
Pena vs the outside slider
Jim Crane vs contracts that exceed 6 years
Yankees vs their own defense in October
Cowboys weeks 1-8 vs cowboys weeks 9-playoffs

Edit: wrong emoticon since the last two aren't sad

Marvin said:

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tjack16 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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Name a better duo than a Houston team owning a team from Los Angeles in the postseason. You can’t.

— User Not Found (@astros_dude) January 12, 2025

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Aggie football vs expectations (too soon?)
Pena vs the outside slider
Jim Crane vs contracts that exceed 6 years
Yankees vs their own defense in October
Cowboys weeks 1-8 vs cowboys weeks 9-playoffs

Edit: wrong emoticon since the last two aren't sad

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Brother, you might need a vacation...

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100% I do … We've got a few sports road trips this year coming up with Yankee stadium in August and South bend in September … took a while to convince my wife to visit Indiana since she knows nothing about college athletics

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Now that first baseman Pete Alonso's camp has told the New York Mets he is willing to accept a three-year contract with opt-outs, other prominent free agents are contemplating whether to follow suit.

At least two right-hander Jack Flaherty and outfielder Anthony Santander are open to considering short-term deals with high average annual values, according to league sources briefed on their discussions.

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with opt-outs for whom?

the Mets or the player?

Context

The early opt-outs are more appealing for the remaining free agents with QOs Alonso, Santander, right-hander Nick Pivetta and third baseman Alex Bregman. The collective bargaining agreement prohibits a player from receiving qualifying offers twice.

Update on Billy Wagner's HOF voting:

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With 73.8% of the vote last year, former flamethrowing closer Billy Wagner just missed election to Cooperstown. Now he's on his 10th and final BBWAA ballot. Will he seal the deal?

Wagner is currently at 84.9%, and Sardell projects him to finish comfortably over the election threshold at 83%. He's been steadily gaining support over the years, making his biggest year-over-year jumps from 2019-20 (16.7% to 31.7%) and from 2022-23 (51% to 68.1%).

Eighth on the all-time saves list with 422 (two behind John Franco for seventh), Wagner was a seven-time All-Star and posted a 2.31 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate over 16 MLB seasons with the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Braves.

In 1999, he finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting after turning in a 1.57 ERA with 39 saves for Houston.

Wagner had an even better campaign with Philadelphia in 2005, when he finished with a 1.51 ERA and 38 saves. In 2010 -- his final season in the Majors -- he posted a 1.43 ERA with 37 saves for Atlanta in his age-38 campaign.

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I see Boston getting new green city connect uniforms. When do ours come out?



Should have never gotten rid of ours....they're awesome

Was waiting for him to start making out with his bat.

THis

There are old school ML managers who would pull him on the spot and bury him on the bench for that.

I'd be curious to hear y'all's opinions but let's say all 29 teams (excluding the Astros) offered you personally right now a 10 year 300 MM deal… where would you sign and want to play for?

I'd probably go Boston for baseball purposes. Also San Diego would be nice on a personal level with having great weather, scenery, and family fun stuff to do.

I think I'd pick Atlanta.

Mr.Bond said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'd be curious to hear y'all's opinions but let's say all 29 teams (excluding the Astros) offered you personally right now a 10 year 300 MM deal… where would you sign and want to play for?

I'd probably go Boston for baseball purposes. Also San Diego would be nice on a personal level with having great weather, scenery, and family fun stuff to do.

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Arizona or Colorado Without hesitation

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Same

Atlanta. Great organization

Atlanta would be pretty tempting as well. I'd imagine it's one of the better places and states to raise a family as well being in the southeast

I hate to say it, but if you as a player want to win a ring, you want to go to LAD. They are stacked now and have such a competitive edge financially over every other team in MLB that they will stay competitive for a long time.

From a "place to live and play for 10 years" standpoint, maybe Miami. Hard to beat winter on South Beach. Or SD.

tjack16 said:

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I'd be curious to hear y'all's opinions but let's say all 29 teams (excluding the Astros) offered you personally right now a 10 year 300 MM deal… where would you sign and want to play for?

I'd probably go Boston for baseball purposes. Also San Diego would be nice on a personal level with having great weather, scenery, and family fun stuff to do.

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Think I'd pick SD. Great city to live in if you're rich. Quick trip to spring training. But I'm an old man now so those are the kinds of things I think about.

Interesting question. Colorado seems like a good answer... if you don't care about winning and making a name for yourself in the playoffs. I've spent enough time in Atlanta to not want to live there, so I can't agree with that one either.

St. Louis is not the best town, but that's a great fanbase. I actually like Cleveland as a city, which I suspect is a minority opinion.

All that said, I would have to pick Boston. Lots of sane/normal people outside the city limits, and it's a great sports town.

Biased pick but Minnesota

Summers are amazing, beautiful outdoor park. Solid fanbase and sports town, great golf.

And winters you can just go to your second home somewhere warm

I'd defer $290 million and play for the Dodgers

Overall pick would be Arizona. Love the area and the front office doesn't appear to be complete idiots.

Based on front office philosophy I would also consider Baltimore and Atlanta.

From a baseball tradition and fan base standpoint, Cubs or Red Sox, but can't see myself living in either of those cities.

This is all assuming Boras isn't my agent of course

I had lunch at the Scottsdale Airport today and wondered if this was you?