Monthly Archives: December 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 17, 2013
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast was recorded at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.
I gave the Mariners some gambling advice and told them to executive “Operation Marlins: 1997.”
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The Kansas City Royals State Of The Union Part 2: Lineup Depth And Versatility
Mike Moustakas was a high school shortstop and was named California High School Player of the Year in both his Sophmore and Junior seasons. His teammate and left side of the infield counterpart is fellow big leaguer, and first round draft pick Matt Dominguez. He also launched 52 career home runs in high school, a California record, but then again, I launched a home run at Chatsworth, and I was a skinny pitcher who typically wasn’t allowed to hit, so take that record as you will.
Shaun Kernahan (Guest Royals Writer): Follow @shaunkernahan
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Tampa Bay Rays do it by getting career years out of castoffs like James Loney. The Oakland A’s do it with a platoon at nearly every position.
Now the Kansas City Royals will try to be the latest small market club to make a run at the playoffs with an unorthodox roster strategy, of utility and multi-positional players.
Given their roster today, the only player in any likely starting lineup the Royals will throw out there this season that has not played multiple positions in the major leagues is Mike Moustakas.
But even Moustakas has a past that includes him playing other positions.
When at Chatsworth High School, he played shortstop because current Houston Astros third baseman, Matt Dominguez, played third base on that same high school team.
Pat Venditte – Switch Pitcher Vs Switch Hitter
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 16, 2013
Photo: David Richard, USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Diamondbacks made a trade for Addison Reed, making them the latest team to fall victim to the tyranny of the closer.
Also I get mad at podcasters who misuse the term “Live.” New Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Passing The Torch From Greatest MLB Player To Player During The Years 1979 – 2013: From Brett To Cabrera
Cabrera has had back to back AL MVP seasons in 2012 and 2013. He has also won 3 straight AL Batting Titles. Cabrera is the best player offensively in the universe. He has put up 10 straight 100+ RBI campaigns, but he has racked in 276 RBI, and also 88 HRs – while featuring an OPS well north of 1.000. The 11 Year Veterans totals would have even been higher in 2013, but he fought a torn groin for the last half of the year. The 8 time ALL – Star and 5 time Silver Slugger Award Winner has improved even greater on his totals over the last decade. Cabrera has a Career 3 Slash Line of .321/.399/.967 – with 365 HRs and 1260 RBI in just 1660 Games Played.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
While watching Miguel Cabrera this year, I started thinking about the best players in the MLB over the last 33 years. I am talking the best player of the game at any point of time.
I tracked back to 1979 for this article. I may expand further back in follow-up articles. I didn’t rank defense as highly as offense when I came up with the players.
I agonized over players like Mike Schmidt, Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken for some of the years given in specific time frames. These gentlemen were given every consideration.
In the end, we are talking about the best player in the game though and it is always subject to debate and personal opinion.
The criteria had to involve leading the league in several different offensive and/or defensive categories, followed by routinely being in the top 7 in MVP balloting (if not taking home the honor), All-Star Appearances for every year I listed them for and most of them won silver sluggers and/or Gold Gloves as well.
Cabrera’s 3 HR Game – 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 15, 2013
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
It is the Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
@sullybaseball What say you? “@Slate: MLB Plans to Ban Home Plate Collisions http://t.co/rK6z3sTyog”
— Michael Shure (@michaelshure) December 12, 2013
Home plate collisions don’t rank high in my favorite baseball plays. Getting rid of them won’t break my heart.
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The Yankees Might As Well Wait Another Year For The Luxury Tax Threshold ‘Reset’
With Derek Jeter and Hiroki Kuroda coming back for one more year, plus the uncertainty of the A-ROD suspension, why not push back the reset of the Luxury Tax Threshold, since you still have a chance to do this in 2015? By then, all of your older players will be another year older, and #13 will be back to wreak havoc on your financial flexibility for years?
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Our Lead Writer Paul Sullivan (feel free to call him Sully) is right about Brian Cashman….The guy should be fired for his ineptness of stockpiling the Minor League System since taking over the reigns in 2006.
If you are not subscribing to Sully’s podcast daily (about 20 minutes), please do so here. He talks complete sense for an objective perspective.
I will also denote that I am a Yankees fan. I was one of the 1st to destroy the clubs winter last year, when they never addressed their Catching situation, and said they should do some more moves to bolster the club.
Not that Cashman listened to me at all, but he grabbed 3 players I said he should (1 reluctant player he never wanted – (good one Cash) was Alfonso Soriano).
The other 2 players he picked up were Vernon Wells and Mark Reynolds.
Yankees win the 2009 World Series
Updated Odds To Win The 2014 World Series As Of Right Now
While I believe the Dodgers will win the NL West – and also represent that league in the World Series for 2014, the odds for betting them are not there. As the favorite, you can’t make any money. The Giants (+2500), D’Backs (+3300) and Rockies (+5500) all represent great value – considering all of them have already upgraded their franchises over this winter.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
9 days ago I posted my last article on these odds. One of my captions was to pick the Mariners at +4000 for a couple of bucks considering they may land Robinson Cano.
A day later they did, and now they are trading at +3300. The M’s also picked up Corey Hart and Logan Morrison in separate transactions. I still the team is a good bet at that value mark.
If they were to trade for David Price (by packaging Taijuan Walker, Nick Franklin, another prospect and maybe a relief pitcher, they would have 3 dominant top pitchers, plus a young fireballer in James Paxton still.
This team would vaguely resemble the type of squad the Giants were in 2010. A great deal of pitching and a decent enough offense. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 14, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 13, 2013
Photos: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images – NJ.com – AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
While I deal with the fact that Pope Francis won Time Magazine Person of the Year over me, I talk a little bit about Joba Chamberlain’s future and the direction of the Diamondbacks.
It is a blessed episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 12, 2013
Chris Trotman – Getty Images
On his birthday, Jason Keidel of WFAN joins The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast to talk pessimistically about the Yankees.
It was more of a birthday gift to ME!
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Dear Santa: A Letter Sent By All 30 MLB Teams Fanbases
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
Remember when you were in grade school – and the teacher made you write a letter to Santa? Well this is kind of like that, but I will write on behalf of the clubs in the MLB.
Houston Astros: Can we have the opening day for the next 3 years in baseball – so that we can sell out at least one game?
Miami: If Jeffrey Loria is nice for the next 4,000 years maybe can he not receive a lump of coal for XMAS this year?
Can we also send the Real Estate Companies some nice computers to facilitate all the moves for the club? Also send the player wives all a nice gift basket for the same thing?
Of course, if you just want to give the Marlins fans a new owner, than great!
Chicago Cubs: Santa, this is a question already reserved for 2015, BUT can you make the prognostication of ‘Back to the Future 2 the movie’ real of the Cubs winning the World Series?
It will be the Cubbies beating Miami in 2015 World Series (yep probably 100 – 1 shot too)
The Mets Signing Colon To 2 YRs/$20 MIL – Is Just Par For The Course Of Insane!
PED use or not, Stem Cell technology, and who knows what else has aided Colon’s body over the last 3 seasons of success. Yes he was 18 – 6, with a 2.65 ERA – finishing 6th in AL Voting, however the A’s went and paid someone else to fill his spot (Scott Kazmir), and usually they are not wrong on guys. The 40 Year Old from Dominican Republic, is also a gigantic man who decimated his hamstring during a routine PFP in 2011 with the Yankees. You have to think his lucky streak is numbered sooner or later. Whether it is another failed drug test, or he blows out a ligament running anything down, or just has father time come down on him, signing this man to a 2 YR deal, for a team not probably contending in 2014, is downright absurd.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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‘Stoking The Fire’ – Week 9
The Mets are like a gambling addict that has been clean for a few years, before suffering a serious relapse.
This club is just coming off a season where they doled out $18 MIL for Jason Bay (who they released – and still owe $3 MIL in 2014) and Johan Santana ($25.5 MIL and a $5 MIL Buyout for 2014).
These are guys that never played for you during the 2013 season. Oh yeah…They still contribute annually to the Bobby Bonilla ‘liquor fund’ – thanks to a long restructured contract from many moons ago.
So now that they have altered their club to don a new era of “Strike out Champs”, they have gone overboard in throwing down a 2 YR/$20 MIL contract for a 300 LB PED user like Bartolo Colon.
“It Was A Little More Than Stem Cell Technology”
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 11, 2013
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Phillies are thinking of rebuilding. And if that is the case, they should deal pitchers Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, right?
NOT SO FAST! They might be better off just holding onto them.
Why? Listen to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Chicago Cubs State Of The Union: Fall 2013
The Chicago Cubs are still reeling from an abysmal 66 – 96 2013 season. They finished 31 games back in the NL Central, which saw three of its five teams reach the playoffs. The wheels are churning in Chicago’s farm system as it’s seeing a meteoric rise in young talent, but even with the influx of fresh faces, success is still a season or two out of reach for the city’s Northsiders. With a rebuild in the process the Cubs needed a new manager with a proven track record for player development. Dale Sveum is out. Rick Renteria is in. 2014 may not be the Cubs’ year, but they’re working on it.
Chicago Cubs State of the Union: Mired in Mediocrity
By Robert Villarreal (MLB Reports Guest Cubs Writer): Follow @robmvillarreal
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
It’s difficult to ask a Cubs fan to be patient.
The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908, and every year we’re reminded of the enormity of a centuries worth of atrocious baseball that we must all endure year in and year out.
But in 2009, a man named Sam Zell purchased the Tribune company and decided to sell off some of its parts, namely the Chicago Cubs.
Tom Ricketts, a Chicago native, stepped up and was able to realize a boyhood dream, to own his favorite team. But owning it wasn’t enough.
Cubs fans are hoping the hometown boy can help deliver a promise of a Title in the near future.
Junior Lake Highlights – Mature Lyrics So Parental Guidance is Advised
MLB Sked 2014 + Awesome Links For The 30 MLB Parks – Courtesy Of Ballpark Chasers
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
We have all 2430 MLB Games on just 1 Running Page Here
we will come out strong with a monthly schedule page for all 6 months next year, a weekly schedule for each week, a master schedule of Doubleheaders (doable as a ball park fan), and also a scheduled home doubleheader master schedule (these often come based on weather cancellations that arise early in the season and then the team puts up 2 games in one day later on.
Please Visit the Page for Mar And April Games on the 2014 MLB Schedule here ( I will keep posting them new as they come up)
May Games click here
June Games click here
July Games click here
August Games click here
September Games click here
Links:
2014 Weekly Scheduling (Coming in Mar of 2014) here
2014 MLB Season Schedule – Week 2 (April.07 – April.13/2014)
Official Home Openers At All 30 MLB Parks In 2014
Team By Team Schedule for all 30 Teams in 2014 here Read the rest of this entry
All 2430 MLB Games Schedule In 2014 (This Page) All Times Given So Far
MLB Scheduling 2014
Day + Date Away and Home, Times Start In EST
March 2014
Saturday Mar. 22/2014 (1 game)
Opening Series In Sydney, Australia (Sydney Cricket Ground)
Dodgers @ D’backs TBD
Sunday Mar.23/2014 (1 game)
Opening Series In Sydney, Australia (Sydney Cricket Ground)
Dodgers @ D-backs TBD
Week 1
Sunday Mar.30/2014 (1 Game)
TBD @ TBD
Monday Mar.31/2014 (14 Games)
1, Red Sox @ Orioles 3:05 (Camden Yards Home Opener)
2. Cubs @ Pirates 1:05 (PNC Park Home Opener)
3. Indians @ Athletics 10:05 PM (o.co Coliseum Home Opener)
4. Rockies @ Marlins 7:10 (New Marlins Ballpark Home Opener)
5. Royals @ Tigers TBD (Comerica Park Home Opener)
6. Dodgers @ Padres TBD (Petco Park Home Opener)
7. Twins @ White Sox TBD (US Cellular Field Home Opener)
8. Phillies @ Rangers TBD (Interleague) (The Ballpark In Arlington Home Opener)
9. Mariners @ Angels TBD (Angel Stadium Home Opener)
10. Giants @ Dbacks 9:40 (Chase Field Home Opener)
11. Cardinals @ Reds TBD (Great American Ballpark Home Opener)
12, Blue Jays @ Rays TBD (Tropicana Field Home Opener)
13. Nationals @ Mets 1:05 (Citi Field Home Opener)
14. Brewers @ Braves 2:10 PM (Turner Field Home Opener)
Days Off: Astros, Yankees Read the rest of this entry
While I like Granderson Signing With The Mets, I Hate The Chris Young Deal
Granderson had back to back 40 HR years in 2011 and 2012 with the Yankees – after struggling to hit with New York in 2010. Last year was an injury filled campaign for the 32 Year Old from Blue Island, IL. This 4 YRs/$60 MIL deals smells of a classic NYM overpay. I would have liked the move if the club didn’t sign Chris Young already. Granderson has the ability to walk, has hit for decent home and road splits in his career, despite the thought of him being Yankee Stadium ‘centric’. The Mets hav to hope the 10 Year Veteran can hit close to his Career 3 Slash Line of .261/.340/.828.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
I wrote an article about the Mets about 6 weeks ago. In the piece, I illustrated that I thought Curtis Granderson was a good fit for the New York NL franchise.
I still like that they acquired the guy, even though I think they paid him too much cash.
The week before this, the franchise also inked Chris Young to a one year/$7.25 MIL.
So essentially, you have signed 2 guys for $22.25 on the books for the 2014 season. Why didn’t you just sign Shin-Soo Choo fellas?
Curtis Granderson 2011 Highlights
The Winter Meetings Feel So Much Different For The Astros In 2013 Compared To 2012
2012 Winter signing Rick Ankiel hit 5 HRs in his first 40 AB with the Astros to start last year – including a huge Opening Day long bomb, but he could not buy a hit after that. The Astros released him soon after that. Ankiel was one of the acquisitions from last winter, so we can at least see the club is going after more astute players.
By Lee White (Astros Correspondent) Follow @Lee_White73
Follow MLB Reports ON Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Houston Astros haven’t been all that busy the past few years in the offseason. They’ve signed older veterans to get them through the year.
Last year’s offseason acquisitions included Jose Veras, Carlos Pena, and Rick Ankiel. However, this year, they’re actually spending real money.
They’ve traded for Dexter Fowler, and they’ve signed Scott Feldman to a three year, 30 million dollar contract.
They also brought in a former Astro Chad Qualls at two years 6 million dollars with an option for a third year at 3.5 million dollars.
Those acquisitions could just be the tip of the iceberg for the Astros as the head into the Winter Meetings.
Chad Qualls Fist Pump – Followed By A Tumble
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 10, 2013
NY Daily News – Michael Bryant/Philly.com Staff photographer
Is Roy Halladay a Hall of Famer? I think so.
And how close was Joe Torre from never being a Yankee manager? Or just manager for one season?
REALLY close!
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 9, 2013
MLB.com
After a long day (including a disgusting flight) it was time to talk baseball.
Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre are all Hall of Famers now. I have no problem with any of them in, even if I didn’t root for their teams.
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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The Nate McLouth Signing Demonstrates A Lesson Learned For Washington About Bench Players
The Nationals failed to meet expectations as the Preseason favorites to lock down the World Series in 2013. Heck, they didn’t even qualify for the playoffs. Whether it was injury, or complacency, the talent of this team didn’t maximize their potential this year. However, the club did go 24 – 12 in their last 36 Games Played, and made a late charge at the 2nd Wild Card Spot. Most of the nucleus is coming back for the 2014 year. But a most underrated facet of an NL club sometimes is their bench. Washington hopes to have a better bunch of pine riders in 2014 – than they did in 2013.
By David Huzzard (Nationals Correspondent via Citizens of Natstown.com – view website here): Follow @davidhuzzard
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
When the Nats built a bench on the cheap in 2012 it worked.
Steve Lombardozzi, Roger Bernadina, Chad Tracy, and Tyler Moore all had outstanding seasons, and the four of them combined cost less than half of what the Nationals will be paying Nate McLouth in 2014, but when they tried to do the same thing in 2013 it was a disaster.
The only back-up outfielder to have a higher than .700 OPS was Corey Brown and that was in 15 plate appearances. Hardly enough of a sample size to be trusted.
Nate McLouth gives the Nationals bench something it severely lacked in 2013, a reliable veteran. McLouth’s numbers aren’t great.
Nate McLouth Highlights in 2012 – Mature Lyrics So parental guidance is advised
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 8, 2013
It is the Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, which I recorded while doing my laundry.
@sullybaseball You mention a Red Sox Mt Rushmore. Who gets left off? Speaker, Williams, Yaz, Pedro, or Papi?
— Bob Buscaglia (@BobBuscaglia) December 6, 2013
Who belongs on the Red Sox Mount Rushmore?
I have 4 faces, each representing a different aspect of Red Sox history.
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The Houston Astros Bolster The 2014 Squad With A Couple Of Moves This Week
Truth be told, when the Houston Astros first signed Scott Feldman, I was skeptical. Still am a little bit. The more I think of it, the more I like the signing. When news of it first broke on twitter, there was a bit of a mixed reaction. If fact, mine was something like “NOOOOOO!!” I wasn’t a fan of the money, nor was I too thrilled about the years on the contract. The Yankees, Orioles, Twins, and Astros were all interested in the former Oriole. However, it was the Astros who locked him up for 3 years, 30 million dollars.
By Lee White (Astros Correspondent) Follow @Lee_White73
Follow MLB Reports ON Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Feldman isn’t a high profile signing, but he certainly makes the Astros better today than they were yesterday. He isn’t going to change this franchise, but he certainly adds some wins to the Astros this year.
Last year with the Chicago Cubs and the Baltimore Orioles, Feldman went 12-12 with a 3.86 ERA. According to Steamer, a FanGraphs projector, projects that Feldman will go 12-11 with a 3.91 ERA.
Scott Feldman Start
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 7, 2013
I recorded today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast at an airport.
While the Yankees went on a big spending spree yesterday, I pointed out that they are not addressing their main problems and this is NOT the same as 2009.
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New York Yankees Payroll In 2014 + Contracts Going Forward: Updated For The Beltran Deal
He will also make $30 MIL left in marketing bonuses should he hit escalating marketing bonuses from HRs 661 through 763. At this rate, maybe he will never collect on all of those. The base is ridiculous enough at $86 MIL over the next 4 years. The insurance paid on his ailing hip injury will not make a huge enough dent for Yankees Fans. He is the ALL-Time Active Leader for HRs , RBI and XBH At best he may turn back to a .250/.310/700 with around 50 RBI a year from 2015 – 2017. Hardly worthy of a $22.8 MIL average salary from 2014 – 2017.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With news breaking today that Robinson Cano has signed with Seattle, this has freed up the Yankees to pursue other players at the Winter Meetings – and for the rest of the offseason..
Based on the team payroll (with the A-Rod suspension being counted), the club is right around $174 MIL – $176 MIL right now for about 20 MLB Players signed – and another 5 guys that are on entry – level deals.
If A-Rod’s suspension sticks for the whole 2014 year, the club would then drop down to the $149 – $151 MIL range, which would free up the club to sign some more players.
Maybe the Yankees won’t have any choice but to hope for that very result. They still need 1 – 2 Starting Pitchers, and a relief pitcher would also be nice.
Read the end of this article – for potential candidates they could eyeball.
CC Sabathia Highlights
Brian Wilson Re-signs For 2014 With The Dodgers – And Potentially In 2015 Too
Brian Wilson was given a 1 YR/$10 MIL deal with the Dodgers, that also has him having a Player Option for the 2015 year at $9 MIL. If Wilson has a great year in 2014, it will still benefit the Dodgers, but at the same time it may have been the deciding factor in retaining ‘The Beard’s’ services. Wilson has a 3.11 ERA in 333.2 IP worth of work in career, with 171 Saves in 196 Chances for an 87.2 % conversion Rate, Wilson is a 3 Time ALL – Star and 2 time World Series Winner. His winning pedigree will continue to be cherished in the Dodgers Pitching Relief Core.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
Brian Wilson is a California guy now through and through and I couldn’t be happier that my favorite player of ALL – Time is still playing his home games as the closest park to my residence in Bakersfield, CA.
The Dodgers and Wilson both agreed on a 1 YR/$10 MIL in 2014 – with a $9 MIL Player Option in 2015 for the man originally from Londonderry, NH.
Wilson will turn 32 before next season, and has successfully returned from 2 Tommy John Surgeries to resume his career.
2013 saw him only give up 1 ER in his 24 Appearances – combining both the regular and post season in 19.2 IP – good for an ERA of 0.47 in that time frame.
Brian Wilson Contract Explained
Cano Signs With Seattle 10 YRs/$240 MIL: Do You Want A Good Team Or A Good Business?
Cano and his management posse were in the Emerald City over night – to dicker with the Seattle Brass over a supposed 9 YR contract worth around $225 – $240 MIL . But something went awry, and the Cano camp made the Seattle Mariners storm off with disgust over what the demands were originally. It has now been reported the sides agreed to a 10 YR/$240 MIL deal. This could be a colossal mistake from the club, despite seeing probable early returns on their investment and the ticket wicket and for TV Ratings. In a city where they have only had 2 winning seasons in the last 10 years, they didn’t need to put all of their eggs in just one basket. We will go through the long decade of suffering in his blog, and come up with the conclusion, that the last thing the franchise needs – is another Free Agency flop.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 (Big Credit to Paul Francis Sullivan) Follow @sullybaseball
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The deal was supposed to be 9 YRs/$225 MIL for Robinson Cano‘s services to be taken to The Pacific Northwest, and play for the home fans of Safeco Field.
Somewhere in the deliberations, the Roc Nations Sports Agency (Jay – Z’s gang) made an unruly notion for something, to which the brass of the Seattle Mariners stormed off.
It would be nice to have been a fly on the wall for that sparing off of the minds.
The two sides finally agreed this morning to a 10 YR/$240 MIL deal for the ALL – Star, SIlver Slugger 2B.
Before the deal, a neutral fan had to ask Cano really taking the M’s seriously, or was it all for show – in hopes he could draw more cash from a team he really wants to play for?
Sully’s Daily Podcast from last night – truer words have never been spoken – Listen to this 20 Min show!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 6, 2013
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I wonder why off season strategies need to be so difficult for teams.
The Mariners can get a decent second baseman without spending a quarter of a billion dollars.
The Diamondbacks could have a power hitting team if they didn’t trade Justin Upton.
And the Red Sox should look at 2014 as a rebuilding year while secretly trying to woo Clayton Kershaw.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 5, 2013
Notes On Free Agent Signings And Acquisitions Of The Last Week
Robinson Cano has seen his stock plummet down the river this winter. While he still will likely sign a deal for more than $25 MIL per year, it may have to be somewhere other than the Bronx. Meanwhile Jay – Z and his new baseball agent company is teetering with this client. The best move for that camp is to wait it out like Prince Fielder did 2 years ago. It may take for an unexpected injury – or for a team to panic after the majority of the Free Agents have signed in order for him to maximize his dollars in 6 – 7 year deal.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
2014 Winter Transactions Part 2
For part one of this transaction summary click here.
The White Sox sign 1B Paul Konerko (37) – 1 YR/$2.5 MIL (1.0 MIL deferred to 2021).
I like this deal for the White Sox. He is the team leader and can pass on knowledge to the young guys.. Expect for them to try and trade Adam Dunn halfway through the year if Konerko is playing well.
The Rockies sign 1B Justin Morneau (32) – 2 YRs/$13 MIL.
Love this move. The Rockies could potentially see this man hit 20+ HRs and knock about 30 – 40 Doubles per year. He carries a decent average too.
Justin Morneau Minnesota Twins Highlights
MLB Reports 
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