Winter Meetings Thread

[Enscheff]

Eatons value was insance though. He's signed for 5 years at 38 million. As a free agency, what does he get? Well over 150 million for 6-7 years?

This gives them 2-4 win improvement over Danny Espinosa and frees up a ton of money for free agency. It is a steep price to pay, but seems to be a solid deal from both sides.

I think the Nats did very well in this deal. No serious valuation of Eaton could lead to any other conclusion than the Nats easily "won" this deal.

Eaton probably has a surplus value of $150M or more. Giolito is probably worth $70M, Lopez $30M, and Dunning less than $10M.

Robles ($75M) plus Giolito would have been much closer to "fair". Personally, I was ignorant to just how good Eaton has been and projects to be for quite some time, as well as how cheap his contract is for the next 5 years.

[dak]

Eaton is a nice all around player. 3-4 WAR player now, and maybe a 2-3 WAR player toward the end of his contract. A slightly better version of Inciarte (with different strengths) is a probably a good way to describe him. Not a bad move for the Nats, but I'm glad to see them make it given the cost to their future.

[Heyward]

Eaton is a nice all around player. 3-4 WAR player now, and maybe a 2-3 WAR player toward the end of his contract. A slightly better version of Inciarte (with different strengths) is a probably a good way to describe him. Not a bad move for the Nats, but I'm glad to see them make it given the cost to their future.

Nats probably have a 2-yr window if Harper is gone in 2 years so it's a move they kinda had to do.

[dak]

Maybe this is in reference to the PTBNL? We definitely are hurting for upper-level catching talent.

[Southcack77]

I have zero faith in a manager that doesn't see putting Swanson in the #2 hole as a lock. If he is considering anyone else, he is an idiot.

A guy with less than 150 abs, who hasn't even been around the league once, Four months before the season with an incomplete roster?

Weird post.

[Enscheff]

A guy with less than 150 abs, who hasn't even been around the league once, Four months before the season with an incomplete roster?

Weird post.

Knowing the 3/4 slots will be Freeman and Kemp, with the leadoff slot almost certainly being Inciarte, what other RHed hitter could possibly slot in the 2 spot? Garcia and his .307 career OBP? Or the 32 year old guy with a career .303 OBP that the Braves just acquired? Who else could the Braves possibly acquire that would replace Swanson in the 2 hole?

Where is the other 2 hole option I'm missing that could be beter suited for the role than the 23 year old RHed hitter that just posted a .361 OBP in 145 PAs at the MLB level after posting a career .367 OBP in the minors over 569 PAs?

So tell me, which other hitter should be under consideration for the #2 spot in the order? Which other guy could Brainiac Snitker possibly lean towards?

Weird post.

[Heyward]

A guy with less than 150 abs, who hasn't even been around the league once, Four months before the season with an incomplete roster?

Weird post.

Even though Scheff is an idiot, Swanson should bea lock for 2 spot, shouldnt take much to know that.

Top 5 of Ender, Swanson, Freeman, Kemp, Markakis.

[Southcack77]

Knowing the 3/4 slots will be Freeman and Kemp, with the leadoff slot almost certainly being Inciarte, what other RHed hitter could possibly slot in the 2 spot? Garcia and his .307 career OBP? Or the 32 year old guy with a career .303 OBP that the Braves just acquired? Who else could the Braves possibly acquire that would replace Swanson in the 2 hole?

Where is the other 2 hole option I'm missing?

Weird post.

Who says Swanson is good?

[Heyward]

Not sure what the Nats have left, Fedde, dont think that costs Robles.

Byron Kerr ‏@masnKerr
#Nats working with #Rays on Alex Colome deal "gaining steam" Source adds

[Heyward]

Who says Swanson is good?

He may not be good but he showed quite a bit of promise when he got called up.

There's really no other option at the 2 spot but Swanson assuming Ender is leadoff provided someone doesnt give the Braves a haul for him.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Could always move Freddie to 2 if you had to (not gonna happen)

[Enscheff]

Colome is controlled for 4 more years. He won't be cheap to acquire. The Rays always seem to value guys that aren't widely loved, so the return might not strike us as very good.

[Enscheff]

Could always move Freddie to 2 if you had to (not gonna happen)

Optimal lineup optimization actually calls for Freeman in the 2 hole, but this is the Braves we are talking about here. They are one of the few teams still clinging to the last threads of stone age thinking remaining in modern day baseball, so they will never bat Freeman 2nd...so I never even entertain the idea.

[mqt]

I seriously don't understand why everyone wants to trade off Albies! IMO he's a better SS than Swanson and he's going to hit and hit well. Most people are concerned with his size but that's soooo not an issue! I see him as a .300+/.380-.400/.400-.450 player in his prime with 30+ SB per season. I don't want to trade him, Acuna, Allard or Maitan PERIOD!

Two thoughts on this:

1) I don't think anybody necessarily WANTS to trade Albies. The reason his name comes up so often is that he's valuable, and makes sense as a trade piece for an elite player, though not presently for many of us.

2) I think that the idea of Albies posting near .400 OBPs is absurd and ultimately I question his ceiling given his lack of power. I think he's a very valuable piece, but him posting a slash line that good seems unlikely unless he becomes a HR threat.

[Jay212033]

Exactly how is that absurd?! He's posted near a .400 OBP at every stop including AA and he's only 19! Also if you read what I posted I said during his prime.

[mqt]

Exactly how is that absurd?! He's posted near a .400 OBP at every stop including AA and he's only 19! Also if you read what I posted I said during his prime.

The issue is that the path to a ~.400 OBP without legitimate over the fence power is insanely difficult, and although Albies has certainly been patient thus far, he hasn't taken walks at a rate that suggests he will be able to offset that lack of power like a player like Fowler has to turn in an OBP that high.

[Jay212033]

The issue is that the path to a ~.400 OBP without legitimate over the fence power is insanely difficult, and although Albies has certainly been patient thus far, he hasn't taken walks at a rate that suggests he will be able to offset that lack of power like a player like Fowler has to turn in an OBP that high.

Huh?! You're confusing OBP with OPS.

[Enscheff]

Exactly how is that absurd?! He's posted near a .400 OBP at every stop including AA and he's only 19! Also if you read what I posted I said during his prime.

Go sort the MLB stats page by OBP and tell me how many guys post a "near .400 OBP" without hitting double digit HRs. Then come back here and explain how likely it is that Albies will post such a high OBP with so little power. I'll wait for your response.

Having said that, he can still be an extremely valuable player with a .300/.350/.400 line if he ends up being an excellent defender at 2B.

[Enscheff]

Huh?! You're confusing OBP with OPS.

LOL, wow....

[Heyward]

Go Braves