GM/Winter Meetings Thread

[Tapate50]

Mutts surrendered their no 1 pick to sign Michael Cuddyer for 2 years. Not sure I'd have done that.

White Bear market being pushed - Check
Hellickson looking like ARZ is his destination - Check
Signing a big Wang for depth - Check

Lets keep the latest chatter here.

[Enscheff]

It's not just any first round pick...it's the 15th pick for crying out loud. One of the most valuable non-protected picks in the draft. Why in the world would you give up such a high pick to sign a 36 year old to a 2 year deal when you surely won't be offering him a QO at the end of his contract?

Baffling move by a team that isn't really in position to contend next year.

[thethe]

Mets are going to win 90+ games next year if Harvey is healthy. That team is loaded on the pitching side and if they get a bounce back year from Wright they are going to be damn good.

Harvey
Degrom
Wheeler
Syndergard
Niese
Gee
Colon

Thats not even all their starting pitching. They have a lot of hitters that are about ready to contribute down on the farm. Don't sleep on the Mets.

[thethe]

Thanks for starting this thread Tapate. I guess this will work for both winter and GM meetings.

[Millwood1Hitter]

Technically not the winter meetings, as they don't start until December 7-11 in Nashville, I believe. It's the GM meetings where GM's (or insert management positional name here) meet and vote on a number of organizational and business function matters amongst other things.

But at these meetings, sometimes deals do get finalized, but more likely dialogue is opened up and the framework on some larger scale deals are put together that may or may not happen, and won't be announced until later like the winter meetings or later in the hot stove signing period.

Wren during his period here, was very active at these meetings. He finalized the Uggla deal and laid the framework for the Justin Upton deal.

Edit: Sorry the Winter Meetings are in San Diego, so should be some good tanning and golfing weather for Mr. Hart

[bravesfanforlife88]

Apparently mets rockies talking tulo deal

[keithlaw]

So Rockies:Mets::Braves:Royals now?

[The Chosen One]

It's not just any first round pick...it's the 15th pick for crying out loud. One of the most valuable non-protected picks in the draft. Why in the world would you give up such a high pick to sign a 36 year old to a 2 year deal when you surely won't be offering him a QO at the end of his contract?

Baffling move by a team that isn't really in position to contend next year.

Meet the Mets.

[nsacpi]

Meet the Mets.

It only makes sense if they plan to sign another free agent with a qualifying offer.

[cajunrevenge]

Well that's 1 slot higher for all our picks.

[acesfull86]

I'm not a big fan of sacrificing the pick, but what are the alternatives? If you want an impact bat on FA, you're giving up the pick. If you go the trade route, you're giving up prospects with a greater present value than the pick. If the Mets call it an off season, I'll be left scratching my head. But if it's a sign of things to come, I can live with the move. It's beyond time that the Mets start trying to actually win games at the ML level.

[Tapate50]

Phils to move Howard "at any cost" according to sources...


Sounds like they are going full BJ Upton mode in the brotherly love city.

[Millwood1Hitter]

Phils to move Howard "at any cost" according to sources...


Sounds like they are going full BJ Upton mode in the brotherly love city.

Wonder if they are desperate to unload others as well, and being they had initial interest in BJ when he was a FA 2 years ago if there still would be potential interest to swap contracts. Highly unlikely but I would have interest in Cliff Lee or Chase Utley. It's not going to happen with the Braves, but wonder whats going to happen to Cole Hamels.

[50PoundHead]

Cuddyer's a good player. Don't know if I'd have paid him that much, but like acesfull said, you get bit either way. Age/health are always questions, but the guy is a pretty good hitter and a great clubhouse guy. I agree with thethe that the Mets could be a surprise team next year.

[Enscheff]

I'm not a big fan of sacrificing the pick, but what are the alternatives? If you want an impact bat on FA, you're giving up the pick. If you go the trade route, you're giving up prospects with a greater present value than the pick. If the Mets call it an off season, I'll be left scratching my head. But if it's a sign of things to come, I can live with the move. It's beyond time that the Mets start trying to actually win games at the ML level.

If you are going to give up the 15th pick in the draft (Heyward was drafted #14), you don't give it up to sign a defensively limited 36 year old for 2 years. You either sign a guy for 4+ years, or sign a guy for 1 year and then offer him a QO the following year to recover the lost draft pick (like Santana's case).

The signing does make more sense if they are going to go ahead and also jump at one of the upper level FA pitchers that rejected a QO, so maybe I jumped the gun with my criticism.

[Tapate50]

If you are going to give up the 15th pick in the draft (Heyward was drafted #14), you don't give it up to sign a defensively limited 36 year old for 2 years. You either sign a guy for 4+ years, or sign a guy for 1 year and then offer him a QO the following year to recover the lost draft pick (like Santana's case).

The signing does make more sense if they are going to go ahead and also jump at one of the upper level FA pitchers that rejected a QO, so maybe I jumped the gun with my criticism.

It's tbd really, but I'm not sure I do it if I'm their GM. Maybe not a bad move but not one Id have made. If I'm gonna give up the 15th it better be for a big name for 4+ years . That's just me though . Just a short term band aid.

[50PoundHead]

If you are going to give up the 15th pick in the draft (Heyward was drafted #14), you don't give it up to sign a defensively limited 36 year old for 2 years. You either sign a guy for 4+ years, or sign a guy for 1 year and then offer him a QO the following year to recover the lost draft pick (like Santana's case).

The signing does make more sense if they are going to go ahead and also jump at one of the upper level FA pitchers that rejected a QO, so maybe I jumped the gun with my criticism.

I think a lot depends on the shape of your farm system. If you believe you've got enough depth to forego the 15th pick, it's not that big a deal. I agree that the question of whether the Cuddyer is worth the 15th pick is valid, but there's more that goes into the calculation.

[Hawk]

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: One strategy for #Braves is to package Gattis with B.J. Upton. Open on Gattis, others in various combos. Most of roster in play.

[Hawk]

David O'Brien
‏@DOBrienAJC
#Braves want to add a LH hitter who could possibly platoon with 3B Chris Johnson

I really ****ing despise platoons.

[50PoundHead]

David O'Brien
‏@DOBrienAJC
#Braves want to add a LH hitter who could possibly platoon with 3B Chris Johnson

I really ****ing despise platoons.

I'm not particularly enamored with platoons, but I ****ing despise Chris Johnson (As a baseball player. He's probably a nice guy when he's not demolishing water coolers.).

I don't know who fits the bill of LHH 3B. Brock Holt? Kelly Johnson? Ryan Flaherty? Yangveris Solarte? I suppose one could move up a level and ask about Pedro Alvarez, Lonnie Chisenall, or Luis Valbuena. But if you get someone from the second group, why would you bother keeping Johnson around?