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The Dodgers Will Regret The Rich Hill Deal: Yet Another Injury Prone Chucker In The Rotation
The Dodgers have spent over $300 MIL in back to back years, and are the clubhouse leaders in Luxury Tax penalties paid. At a 50% penalty, the Los Angeles forked out $40 MIL in Luxury Taxes in 2016. With an estimated $204 MIL payroll – considering there are several roster holes now created by departing players, the team will need to spend around $235 MIL in 2017 total payroll. With a 50% penalty – and an additional 45% hit for going $40 MIL over the new $195 MIL limit in 2017, I highly expect the organization will be less willing to spend 95 cents extra for every dollar spent beyond that. Because of the Rich Hill signing, it will make it tough to get back Justin Turner and land a Closer – without paying the maximum surcharges for payroll.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner)
Follow @stokes_Hunter21 @mlbreports
I don’t hide the fact that I have been a Dodgers fan for some time. I have continuously ripped the past and present management for signing players that are injury prone. For the last 4 years the Injury/Dead money the club has doled out has rivaled what some of the lowest payroll clubs on an annual basis.
So what do the brass do? They ink a guy, who is 37, and could barely toe the mound for a handful of starts due to a blister, to a 3 Year Deal worth $16 MIL per year. Didn’t they learn their lesson with the Scott Kazmir contract? How about Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-jin Ryu, Brett Anderson or Bronson Arroyo?
This is not even taking into a factor all of the positional players and Relief Guys they have taken a powder on (hit the ground and dust flies up because of being knocked out). The Franchise ate $41 MIL in 2013, $37 MIL in salary for 2014, $86 MIL in 2015, and $71 MIL in 2016.
For those scoring at home, that is a whopping $233 MIL in lost cash since the beginning of 2013, which was the Guggenheim Consortium’s first full year at the helm.
When you factor in some more penalties for exceeding the Luxury Tax Threshold, the organization is well over the $250 MIL mark in 4 seasons. Now 2017 doesn’t look to be much different – with $47 MIL in dead money already on the board.
Carl Crawford ($21.9 MIL), Alex Guerrero ($7.5 MIL), Hector Olivera ($4.7 MIL), Matt Kemp ($3.7 MIL) and Jose Tabata (250K) are not even on the active roster anymore, yet they will see some serious coin paid out by the Dodger Blue.
The Dodgers are also paying guys $10 MIL to play in the Minor Leagues. Read the rest of this entry
The New Luxury Tax Threshold Means The Top 11 Salaried Clubs Will All Be Affected In The Present + Future
The Dodgers have spent over $300 MIL on salary in back to back years, and are the clubhouse leaders in Luxury Tax penalties paid in that time frame. At a 50% penalty currently until falling under the limit for a year, the Los Angeles forked out $40 MIL in Luxury Taxes in 2016. With an estimated $193 MIL payroll already is signed and team controlled players – considering there are several roster holes now created by departing guys, the team will need to spend around $235 MIL in 2017 total payroll in order to be competitive.. With a 50% penalty – and an additional 45% hit for going $40 MIL over the new $195 MIL limit in 2017, I highly expect the organization will be less willing to spend 90 cents extra for every dollar spent beyond that.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With the new CBA being tentatively signed yesterday through 2021 – the lower payroll teams will finally see some steeper enforcement of higher payroll squads.
With several penalties that range up to a 90% max penalty for spending over the limit, the dollars finally make sense for the MLB to curtail a team going rogue on their payroll spending.
Under the new deal, the format will jump from a team’s AAV (Average Annual Value) limit of $189 MIL to $195 MIL in 2017, $197 MIL in 2018, $206 MIL in 2019, $208 MIL in 2020 and $210 MIL on 2021.
The penalty for a 1st year abuser went from 12.5% to 20%, The 2nd year Still remains at 30%, the 3rd season escalates from 40% previously to 50% already. Each campaign the team is over following 3 years, the team is nailed for 50% of money spent over the limit.
Additionally, the franchise will pay a fee of 12% for spending between $20 MIL to $40 MIL over the Threshold.
If a organization goes $40 MIL over, they are faced with a surcharge of 42%.
3rd time abusers will pay 45% for every dollar doled out past $40 MIL over.
This means a 1st time penalty would still spank a team to the tune of 60% if a club spends more than $40 MIL over the limit. Read the rest of this entry
The Week That Was In Audio/Video Casting In The BBBA
The 3nd week is well underway, and we had some great shows to listen to over the last week – courtesy of the following BBBA shows.
Sully Baseball talked about the passing of Prince, the horrible uniforms of the D’backs, and the lunacy of specialty MLB Hats On certain Days. Sully also interviews Stacey Gotsulias about the Yankees and around the league. He pulled no punches in addressing the Curt Schilling fiasco. And how sure hall of famers to be 5 years ago are not now.
Hall Of Very Good Interviewed Bobblehead Hall Of Fame founder Phil Sklar
“BBA Live” Broke down the weeks worth of action.
Jays From the Couch The guys wondered about the 1st base tandem, and also the lineup configuration with Michael Saunders.
Pirates Breakdown PBC talked about the recent acquisition of Justin Masterson, and what they need to do keep up in the NL Central with the Cubs
Gateway to Baseball Heaven weighed in on the recent Jaime Garcia pitching gem, what the squad will do when Ruben Tejada comes back, and are still worried about Adam Wainwright
MLB This Week discussed the Jacob deGrom family matters and more technology with the games being streamed. Also how a family was thrown out of a ballpark.
You can either click all of these links for the individual shows, are just scroll down past to listen to them on this post.
To see all of the updates live as they happen every week click here.
The Week That Was In Audio/Video Casting In The BBBA
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Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The 2nd week is well underway, and we had some great shows to listen to over the last week – courtesy of the following BBBA shows.
Sully Baseball talked about weather concerns, the A’s ballpark issues, a shortened season, the Hector Olivera fiasco, Pablo Sandoval, MLB’s hat maneuvers – and if it is too early to panic about certain clubs?
Hall Of Very Good Interviewed former MLB’er Dmitri Young (Da Meat Hook).
“BBA Live” Broke down the weeks worth of action – and wondered about the NL East – and about the Mets and Nats starts.
Jays From the Couch wants all the fans to calm down after a rough losing streak, and wonders if a current Jay will be the 2017 Red Sox DH.
Pirates Breakdown is taking the “Lets take it Juan Day at a time” approach after a slow week
Gateway to Baseball Heaven are loving the Cards young players, but are worried about Adam Wainwright
MLB This Week thinks Chase Utley is just a dirty player.
You can either click all of these links for the individual shows, are just scroll down past to listen to them on this post.
To see all of the updates live as they happen every week click here.
Brew Crew + Rays Eliminated From MLB Shutout Survivor 2016 – (19 Teams Left): Cubs/Rangers Step Closer To Win MLB Runs Scoring Survivor 2016
It is no surprise to our website that the Rays are struggling offensively, and were finally knocked out of the Shutout Survivor competition. How does that Infield look now – with Brad Miller and Logan Morrison hit under .100 – and barely hitting the ball at all? We said they lost their 3 best Batting Average players last year (where they still finished 14th in total team offense), and also spoke of the Starting Pitching and Bullpen being overrated – and suffering talent losses as well. We are right thus far, but we will await the rest of the year.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I said it yesterday that last year the clubs were dropping more like flies than this year. Yesterday two more clubs were zeroed off by opponents, and thus eliminated from the MLB Shutout Survivor.
The Brewers were clipped 7 – 0 by Jaime Garcia, and Danny Salazar coupled with some brilliant late inning relief, carved up the Rays for a 6 – 0 bagel. We are still awaiting outcomes for teams that were shutout in Game 8 and Game 9 – as the Tribe is only at 7 games played themselves.
The Padres are clubhouse leaders for Shutouts against for the whole MLB, and are making history in doing so. They are the first club to score jack squat in 5 of their 1st 10 contests. Good news was they played some games at Coors Field last week – or it could have been worse.
Frankly I am amazed this squad lasting so long in this competition with what kind of lineup their putting forth on a daily basis. Milwaukee did start off the 1st 2 series at hitter friendly – Mlller Park. They were handled to the tune of just one hit yesterday in their loss by Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals – who tossed a Complete Game Shutout.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 15, 2016
MLB.com
My GOD these hats are terrible. How hard is it to make decent hats?
And the Diamondbacks look horrible in their gray unis. This is nuts.
It is an ugly in many ways episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Jamie Garcia, Wilson Ramos, Ian Kennedy, Nick Castellanos, Drew Pomeranz, Brandon Belt, Ervin Santana and Jose Altuve all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball yesterday.
See the updated listing of WOB on MLB REPORTS
Read the rest of this entry
Braves Get Blanked In 8th Straight Loss: 21 Teams Left In 2016 MLB Shutout Survivor + MLB Runs Scoring Survivor Update
The Braves had themselves a bad day as an organization in the District yesterday. Not only the whole Hector Olivera situation, but they fell to 0 – 8, were eliminated from the MLB Shutout Survivor contest, and face Stephen Strasburg today.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
So the Braves have 8 straight losses to begin the year (as do the Twins) -but yesterday marked the 1st time they were bageled in those contests. Can either of the Braves or Twins take a run at the 1988 Baltimore Orioles run of 21 straight defeats from the start of a season?
Out of the 9 clubs that been zeroed in the MLB, only 3 have come from the Senior Circuit (Mets, Braves and Padres, but San Diego has seen a donut 4 times on their scoresheet already.)
6 teams have suffered a Shutout in the AL, including the Yankees and Blue Jays – who I thought may have stuck around a long time. Overall shutouts are way down compared to other years. Read the rest of this entry
National League Rookie Of The Year Odds In MLB 2016 Action
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Corey Seager is not even in the lineup to open the season but he is the overwhelming favorite to the win the NL Rookie Of The Year Award in 2016 MLB Action.
Update: I was wrong, Seager is was in the lineup for the opener. Having said this, there is no value to bet on him at the odd given, even though he is the overwhelming favorite.
Like we said the American League odds list, there is never a real need to play a whole season to win this award. That is unless you have to compete against a 2015’s winner in Kris Bryant, who was brought up in mid April last year.
Really this is Seager’s spot to lose.
I hate the odds for a guy who is injured to begin the campaign, nonetheless he would still be my pick for the Award.
Steven Matz has dubbed the 2nd favorite – along with Kenta Maeda. Both of these guys broke camp with the big club, and could make 26 – 30 starts this year.
I love the odd better for Maeda, who is slotted higher in the rotation than Matz. These odds are not glamorous to wager on either.
Perhaps the most intriguing guy on the list is Trevor Story. He is the starting shortstop while Jose Reyes is still on the inactive list – awaiting a resolution (suspension) for his part in a domestic dispute in Hawaii over the winter.
Atlanta Braves State Of The Union For 2016
Before the recent deal for Shelby Miller the Braves had been questioned on whether the rebuild they are currently going through was going to work. Now all of a sudden, the club going through trading of all veterans – starting with Jason Heyward a year ago, looks so much better. The next year or 2 is still going to be painstakingly to endure, but the organization now has a promising future. Atlanta will enter a new park in Sun Trust Park, located in Cobb County, GA for 2017 after playing one more year at Turner Field in 2016.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
John Hart knows how to build teams in the Majors. He was at the forefront of the Cleveland Indians in the 1990’s when they signed a bunch of young nucleus players to multi year extensions. It was a trend that worked out for nearly a decade.
A pile of organizations copied this template. I must admit I thought he may have been a bit past his prime when the Braves finally hired him on last year, but he seems to carrying out the mission with Atlanta as well.
Of course taking over for Frank Wren – there was not much to go but up. Dan Uggla, Derek Lowe and B.J. Upton ultimately cost the former GM his job, but it should be noted he did orchestrate 3 decent trades in acquiring Justin Upton, Michael Bourn and Javier Vasquez much earlier.
The Braves did the right thing in dismantling the 2013 to 2014 squad. It would have cost too much money to re-sign Brian McCann and Jason Heyward – and Justin Upton may soon reel in a 9 figure sum.
Atlanta also traded away Craig Kimbrel and Andrelton of late. The haul for Kimbrel was nice, while Simmons was set to make $53 MIL over 5 years. Not huge cash, but for a guy more noted for defense, and with a team rebuilding, losing the dollars owed was a more significant move.
I also can’t emphasize enough how awesome it was to rid themselves of the Melvin Upton JR. contract. Read the rest of this entry
Establishing The Freddie Freeman Trade Market
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
First of all, I think the Braves would be out of their minds to Freddie Freeman this winter – or even for a few years. This club will need some some semblance of a team heading into their new stadium in Cobb County, GA next year.
I mean what is the problem, having a First Baseman in his prime with a Career Slash of .285/.366/.466 – with 22 HRs and 91 RBI per 162 Game Average? Nothing.
Then again, maybe the team just wants to go clean slate with a full rebuild. I get that. Kind of like the Houston Astros did recently.
Truth of the matter is, Freeman could command more on the open market than a 6 YR deal worth $118.5 MIL. But at $20 MIL per year still looming, it may be a tall order for some clubs to come up with that 9 figure sum. Read the rest of this entry
Los Angeles Dodgers Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward
The Dodgers have not won or appeared in the World Series since 1988. With the spending the ownership will do in the next decade, I would be surprised if the team doesn’t rake in multiple championships. But it will take diligent finagling on the brass – to skate around the Luxury Tax with the pending CBA of 2017 coming in. Yes the ownership is willing to spend boatloads of money, but they have to be smarter than they were in 2015.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This article deals with sensitive material that will self destruct in a few years. Whether the current regime wants to be saddled with blame or not, or put most of it during the Ned Colletti days, last year’s fiscal budget was a dumpster fire.
Not only did the franchise exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold again at (over $189 MIL), they put it to shame – reeling in a lofty mark of $314 MIL in total Cap Spending.
For folks scoring at home, that is $125 MIL over the limit, and with a third year penalty at 40% now, the squad will take down a historic levy hovering around $50 MIL.
We wrote a blog back in April stating the disregard the brass took in approaching this year’s salary structure. The worst part about it was that it didn’t culminate into a World Series Birth. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 24, 2015
AP
Hector Olivera signed with the Dodgers. What does that mean for Don Mattingly’s future with the team?
It is a “Better Win Now” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 19, 2015
Getty Images
I want Cuban star prospect Hector Olivera to go to either the Giants or the Marlins? Why?
Because I want those two franchises to elbow their way into an All Time discussion for consistency as World Series champs… and I want that to make Yankee fans angry.
It is a very petty episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
MLB Reports 
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