MLB Chatter Thread

[Deuce]

Mike Bacsik on 105.3 today floated the idea that Dodgers might be willing to trade Matt Kemp to the Rangers for Elvis Andrus. That Jurickson Profar could then play his best position --shortstop.


Feh.

Ok. So you wouldn't want maybe the best all round player in the NL when healthy for an overpaid player at a position with the highest depth?

 

[Rev]

Ok. So you wouldn't want maybe the best all round player in the NL when healthy for an overpaid player at a position with the highest depth?

Show me the last time he played a year healthy.

Not only that its a six year contract for Kemp at age 29. At age 35 he's getting 21 million. Just not a smart move at all for Texas.

 

[Rev]

Buster Olney@Buster_ESPN
Bidding on Cuba defector Jose Abreu is expected to be for a $70 million deal, sources say. White Sox, Astros, Rangers viewed as frontrunners.


Thats the first that Ive heard the Astros being in the mix.

 

[Carp]

Thankfully the Mets have Duda, Davis, and Satin...no need to bid.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Thankfully the Mets have Duda, Davis, and Satin...no need to bid.

I was thinking the same about the Phillies.

 

[Rev]

Nolan is retiring. Sad day but not unexpected. Just too many reports out there about him and JD not seeing eye to eye. Just enjoy retirement and I'm thankful for what he did.

 

[Tony D]

Show me the last time he played a year healthy.

Not only that its a six year contract for Kemp at age 29. At age 35 he's getting 21 million. Just not a smart move at all for Texas.

35 isn't ancient. There are much, much worse contracts in baseball than that. Trust me, I know. I'd make that deal in a heartbeat, it's a no-brainer. Andrus is ok, but you can find another Andrus. I understand the concerns with Kemp. He was never 100% this year when he was even playing, but I'd roll the dice.

 

[Rev]

35 isn't ancient. There are much, much worse contracts in baseball than that. Trust me, I know. I'd make that deal in a heartbeat, it's a no-brainer. Andrus is ok, but you can find another Andrus. I understand the concerns with Kemp. He was never 100% this year when he was even playing, but I'd roll the dice.

The guy hasn't been healthy for two years. We are at the limit of our payroll and we can't afford a 20 million a year gamble. I'm saying it would be dumb for Texas and yes the Yankees could do it. They could afford that gamble.

Elvis is more than just OK. He doesn't hit for power but he does hit doubles and triples. Steals 30-40. He just had an off year at the plate and still hit higher than Kemp. Oh. Also one of the better defensive shortstops as well so I think he is better than you are giving him credit for.

 

[Genghis Khan]

My two cents:

Elvis Andrus is a career 84 OPS+ in 5 full seasons. Kemp is a career 126 OPS+.

In other words, Andrus is a terrible hitter. Not mediocre, not below average. Terrible. He does make up for it defensively, and thus you can semi-live with a bad hitting shortstop who is a good defender. And yes, he steals bases which slightly mitigates the lack of hitting. In a vacuum he is okay as your shortstop.

However, if you have a replacement for him in the organization - and this is without taking any possible trades into account - you replace him. He should be the type of guy you are constantly attempting to upgrade. If you have a potential young all-star waiting behind him, it should be a no-brainer. You play Profar, you figure out what to do with Andrus, not the other way around.

As far as the trade, keep in mind, as well as being a far superior hitter, Kemp stole 40 bases in his last full season. I get the issue with the contract; if the organization doesn't have money to burn, you have to be careful that the players you pay 20 million a year are actually on the field. If the Rangers have a limited payroll, it's a big risk. It would hurt the organization really badly if they are paying Kemp 20 mil a year for 5 or 6 years or whatever it is and he is injured all the time. I'm not sure I'd do it if I were the Rangers.

But taking the money out of it, Kemp for Andrus is an easy decision. I can't actually imagine that the Dodgers would do it.

 

[Rev]

Take 1/4 of that cent back right this minute!

 

[Rev]

Now according to mlb.com Abreu has narrowed his choices down to 3 teams. Astros, Red Sox, and White Sox.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Take 1/4 of that cent back right this minute!

My 2 cents are only worth 1 1/2 in this market anyway.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Now according to mlb.com Abreu has narrowed his choices down to 3 teams. Astros, Red Sox, and White Sox.

The Astros? What the what?

 

[Rev]

The Astros? What the what?

Yeah. That's really strange. First I heard of it was yesterday. If they sign him he will match their whole payroll of this past season by himself.

 

[Deuce]

My two cents:

Elvis Andrus is a career 84 OPS+ in 5 full seasons. Kemp is a career 126 OPS+.

In other words, Andrus is a terrible hitter. Not mediocre, not below average. Terrible. He does make up for it defensively, and thus you can semi-live with a bad hitting shortstop who is a good defender. And yes, he steals bases which slightly mitigates the lack of hitting. In a vacuum he is okay as your shortstop.

However, if you have a replacement for him in the organization - and this is without taking any possible trades into account - you replace him. He should be the type of guy you are constantly attempting to upgrade. If you have a potential young all-star waiting behind him, it should be a no-brainer. You play Profar, you figure out what to do with Andrus, not the other way around.

As far as the trade, keep in mind, as well as being a far superior hitter, Kemp stole 40 bases in his last full season. I get the issue with the contract; if the organization doesn't have money to burn, you have to be careful that the players you pay 20 million a year are actually on the field. If the Rangers have a limited payroll, it's a big risk. It would hurt the organization really badly if they are paying Kemp 20 mil a year for 5 or 6 years or whatever it is and he is injured all the time. I'm not sure I'd do it if I were the Rangers.

But taking the money out of it, Kemp for Andrus is an easy decision. I can't actually imagine that the Dodgers would do it.

Absolutely agree 100%.

 

[Rev]

Absolutely agree 100%.

if the organization doesn't have money to burn, you have to be careful that the players you pay 20 million a year are actually on the field. If the Rangers have a limited payroll, it's a big risk. It would hurt the organization really badly if they are paying Kemp 20 mil a year for 5 or 6 years or whatever it is and he is injured all the time. I'm not sure I'd do it if I were the Rangers.


Yep, and that is where it is.

 

[Deuce]

if the organization doesn't have money to burn, you have to be careful that the players you pay 20 million a year are actually on the field. If the Rangers have a limited payroll, it's a big risk. It would hurt the organization really badly if they are paying Kemp 20 mil a year for 5 or 6 years or whatever it is and he is injured all the time. I'm not sure I'd do it if I were the Rangers.


Yep, and that is where it is.

 

[Cotton]

if the organization doesn't have money to burn, you have to be careful that the players you pay 20 million a year are actually on the field. If the Rangers have a limited payroll, it's a big risk. It would hurt the organization really badly if they are paying Kemp 20 mil a year for 5 or 6 years or whatever it is and he is injured all the time. I'm not sure I'd do it if I were the Rangers.


Yep, and that is where it is.

I wouldn't touch him.

 

[Cotton]

Now according to mlb.com Abreu has narrowed his choices down to 3 teams. Astros, Red Sox, and White Sox.

Rangers hot after Abreu

The Rangers are definitely making a push for Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu. The are indications that Abreu is close to a decision and the Rangers could end up getting him. The White Sox are also hot after him but one source familiar with the negotiations said the Rangers are expected to land him.

http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/2013/10/17/rangers-hot-after-abreu/

Take it for what it's worth.

No idea who this guy is.

 

[Cotton]

I can't believe Rev hasn't posted this, but Nolan has retired.