2020 Free Agents: Where Are They Going

[clvclv]

No problem with Ozuna except losing another early draft pick in another season of international signing penalties. Still feel Castellanos would be better bet if/when NL DH comes along and NC would always be a viable trade chip at his age and projected cost.

Can always use Riley as the DH if that actually happens before a Moose contract was up.

Definitely not ideal to give up another pick but if the Smith signing is a sign that payroll is going up (and that AA's going to finally push some chips in to try and win it all), there's no sense in trying to protect that pick at this point - you'll get the one you gave up for signing Smith back when Donaldson signs elsewhere, meaning you gave up your third-highest pick to add Ozuna, Moose, and Smith. I think most people could live with that - especially if that frees up Waters to be used in a trade for a true "Ace".

 

[jpx7]

No problem with Ozuna except losing another early draft pick in another season of international signing penalties. Still feel Castellanos would be better bet if/when NL DH comes along and NC would always be a viable trade chip at his age and projected cost.

Braves have seemingly already lost their second-highest pick; penalties diminish for each successive QO FA signed, so the toughest bullet has already been bitten. For that reason, I think it’s sensible to be less wary of QO FAs, not more wary. Ozuna and Wheeler could be good value if the Braves are willing to say “screw it” and focus on the QO guys out there.

 

[PawPawMaxwell]

Are we even sure Riley doesn't turn into Hessman part II?

 

[clvclv]

Braves have seemingly already lost their second-highest pick; penalties diminish for each successive QO FA signed, so the toughest bullet has already been bitten. For that reason, I think it’s sensible to be less wary of QO FAs, not more wary. Ozuna and Wheeler could be good value if the Braves are willing to say “screw it” and focus on the QO guys out there.

I'd prefer Ozuna simply because I'm with everybody else that hates long-term commitments to SPs if they can be avoided - and because I think that if AA is willing to finally cash some of his trade pieces in that he can go get a Kluber/Ray/Minor/Morton/Gray/Boyd-type that you can get out from under in a year or two. As long as he holds onto one or two of Newk/Wright/Wilson/Anderson, one of them should be ready to step in for one of them or Folty following 2020.

 

[clvclv]

Are we even sure Riley doesn't turn into Hessman part II?

Offensively? No. Defensively? He already offers more than Hessman ever did. If you're expecting to use one of Castellanos or Riley as a DH if that day ever comes, might as well have the one that can at least play a little defense in the event you have to use him on that side of the ball at some point.

 

[Hudson2]

The QO offer cherry has been busted and on a reliever no less. I think he knows he’s gonna get another QO guy on the market and just said the heck with it.

 

[salmagundy]

Are we even sure Riley doesn't turn into Hessman part II?

More closely to Wes the Wonder Horse Warning track power Helms. You remember to guy with the "beautiful swing whose graceful arc was seldom interupted by the ball".

 

[zbhargrove]

More closely to Wes the Wonder Horse Warning track power Helms. You remember to guy with the "beautiful swing whose graceful arc was seldom interupted by the ball".

Riley is twice the prospect Helms or Hessman ever were even with his holes

 

[mqt]

Josh Donaldson - Braves
Gerrit Cole - Braves
Anthony Rendon - Braves
Marcell Ozuna - Braves
Madison Bumgarner - Braves
Yasiel Puig - Braves
Cole Hamels - Phillies

Oops

 

[thethe]

Oops

It was a great effort at least. I was rooting for you to be right if it means anything.

 

[rico43]

Riley is twice the prospect Helms or Hessman ever were even with his holes

So does that mean he's passed the Thorman level, the Komminsk level or the Cody Johnson level?

 

[rico43]

On November 5th, here is what MLBTR predicted:

1. Gerrit Cole, Angels (went to Yankees)
2. Anthony Rendon, Nationals (went to Angels)
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (bingo)
4. Zach Wheeler, Phillies (bingo)
5. Josh Donaldson, Rangers
6. Madison Bumgarner, Twins (went to Diamondbacks)
7. Yasmani Grandal, Reds (went to White Sox)
8. Nick Castellanos, White Sox
9. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rangers (Blue Jays)
10. Jake Odorizzi, Twins (accepted qualifying offer)
11. Marcell Ozuna, Giants (
12. Didi Gregorious, Reds (Phillies)
13. Will Smith, Twins (Braves)
14. Dallas Keuchel, White Sox (bingo)
15. Cole Hamels, Braves (bingo)
16. Jose Abreu, White Sox (accepted qualifying offer, signed extension)
17. Michael Pineda, Brewers (Twins)
18. Mike Moustakas, Braves (Reds)
19. Kyle Gibson, Cubs (Rangers)
20. Tanner Roark, Blue Jays (bingo)
21. Julio Teheran, Mariners (Angels)
22. Will Harris, Cubs (Nationals)
23. Drew Pomeranz, Rangers (Padres)
24. Wade Miley, Angels (Reds)
25. Corey Dickerson, Padres
26. Travis D'Arnaud, Brewers (Braves)
27. Chris Martin, Phillies (Braves)
28. Daniel Hudson, Nationals (bingo)
29. Avisail Garcia, Marlins
30. Howie Kendrick, Twins (Nationals)

 

[Heyward]

On November 5th, here is what MLBTR predicted:

1. Gerrit Cole, Angels (went to Yankees)
2. Anthony Rendon, Nationals (went to Angels)
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (bingo)
4. Zach Wheeler, Phillies (bingo)
5. Josh Donaldson, Rangers
6. Madison Bumgarner, Twins (went to Diamondbacks)
7. Yasmani Grandal, Reds (went to White Sox)
8. Nick Castellanos, White Sox
9. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rangers (Blue Jays)
10. Jake Odorizzi, Twins (accepted qualifying offer)
11. Marcell Ozuna, Giants (
12. Didi Gregorious, Reds (Phillies)
13. Will Smith, Twins (Braves)
14. Dallas Keuchel, White Sox (bingo)
15. Cole Hamels, Braves (bingo)
16. Jose Abreu, White Sox (accepted qualifying offer, signed extension)
17. Michael Pineda, Brewers (Twins)
18. Mike Moustakas, Braves (Reds)
19. Kyle Gibson, Cubs (Rangers)
20. Tanner Roark, Blue Jays (bingo)
21. Julio Teheran, Mariners (Angels)
22. Will Harris, Cubs
23. Drew Pomeranz, Rangers (Padres)
24. Wade Miley, Angels (Reds)
25. Corey Dickerson, Padres
26. Travis D'Arnaud, Brewers (Braves)
27. Chris Martin, Phillies (Braves)
28. Daniel Hudson, Nationals (
29. Avisail Garcia, Marlins
30. Howie Kendrick, Twins (Nationals)

There's really not many high end FA's left. Ozuna, JD, Castellanos, Will Harris, Daniel Hudson, Puig and after that its slim pickings. At least the market went fast this year unlike past offseasons, although, alot of teams have money to spend this winter, not many teams had it last year.

 

[clvclv]

There's really not many high end FA's left. Ozuna, JD, Castellanos, Will Harris, Daniel Hudson, Puig and after that its slim pickings. At least the market went fast this year unlike past offseasons, although, alot of teams have money to spend this winter, not many teams had it last year.

Remaining guys that would seem to make differing levels of sense that haven't been considered as front-burner types so-far...

1.) Brock Holt (platoon partner for Camargo - hit .318 against RHPs in 2019 with a .357 wOBA, but with a high BABIP)
2.) Asdrubal Cabrera (platoon partner for Camargo)
3.) Neil Walker (platoon partner for Camargo - solid numbers in high leverage situations as a potential PH option)
4A. & 4B.) Todd Frazier & Brian Dozier (would they sign someone with pop and some of Donaldson's "edge" to be part of the 3B/PH mix?)
5.) Matt Duffy
6.) Jose Iglesias
7.) Hechavarria

If a Donaldson signing or big trade isn't in the cards, would AA try to build an incredibly deep pitching staff? Arms that are still out there that could probably be had on one year deals like Homer Bailey, Aaron Sanchez, Wood, Ivan Nova, Francisco Liriano, and Taijuan Walker could be really good swingman/multi-inning pen options to make the pen that much deeper,

 

[Skeeter31]

Remaining guys that would seem to make differing levels of sense that haven't been considered as front-burner types so-far...

1.) Brock Holt (platoon partner for Camargo - hit .318 against RHPs in 2019 with a .357 wOBA, but with a high BABIP)
2.) Asdrubal Cabrera (platoon partner for Camargo)
3.) Neil Walker (platoon partner for Camargo - solid numbers in high leverage situations as a potential PH option)
4A. & 4B.) Todd Frazier & Brian Dozier (would they sign someone with pop and some of Donaldson's "edge" to be part of the 3B/PH mix?)
5.) Matt Duffy
6.) Jose Iglesias
7.) Hechavarria

If a Donaldson signing or big trade isn't in the cards, would AA try to build an incredibly deep pitching staff? Arms that are still out there that could probably be had on one year deals like Homer Bailey, Aaron Sanchez, Wood, Ivan Nova, Francisco Liriano, and Taijuan Walker could be really good swingman/multi-inning pen options to make the pen that much deeper,

What good is having some of those arms if we have Camargo and Riley at 3B and Markakis batting cleanup? Without JD or a trade for Bryant or Arenado (or signing Ozuna) we have a massive hole in our lineup and won’t be at the same level we were last year. There’s a reason Camargo was sent to AAA this past year, he’s just not good enough at the MLB level. And Riley most likely won’t either. To have those 2 at the hot corner is a travesty.

 

[clvclv]

What good is having some of those arms if we have Camargo and Riley at 3B and Markakis batting cleanup? Without JD or a trade for Bryant or Arenado (or signing Ozuna) we have a massive hole in our lineup and won’t be at the same level we were last year. There’s a reason Camargo was sent to AAA this past year, he’s just not good enough at the MLB level. And Riley most likely won’t either. To have those 2 at the hot corner is a travesty.

I don't see any mention of that being "good" - as usual, you read *hit into whatever I post because you want to take a shot at me. Those are options AA could realistically be left with if he chooses not to meet the asking price for Arenado or Bryant and Donaldson signs elsewhere - I never mentioned anything about them being desirable options.

For all the fun most people have with their own personal wild trade proposals this time of year, plenty of folks around here struggle with understanding that their proposals aren't any more likely to happen than the craziest ideas. It has been clearly explained by others that an Arenado trade is obviously a pipe dream - signing Rendon would've made more sense. Theo's going to try to hit a homerun with any potential Bryant deal, and the FV crowd has already explained how it's going to be tough to line those numbers up without overpaying (or the Cubs becoming more realistic if they're serious about moving him). Oakland isn't moving Chapman. The Reds aren't moving Suarez. Boston's not moving Devers. DMGM isn't very likely open to moving Dozier. Andujar's defense is potentially worse than signing Ozuna or Castellanos to play LF.

There's a way more than zero-chance that if AA's not willing to meet Donaldson's asking price that those are going to be the 3B options he's left with, and those would mean he's going to have try to seriously upgrade other areas if they're serious about being legitimate contenders. If you're not going to score more runs, it makes sense to try to prevent runs from scoring.