Post by Twins GM (Pat) on Jan 11, 2017 0:55:52 GMT -5
CHC- Good bargains for Kendry Morales and Mitch Mooreland (3 each), strong closer in Rodney @ 2.5. Cubs doing well in all facets.
(A) Late-season strokes of bad luck could be the only things standing in the way of Cubs' title hopes in 2017.
ESPN top 50 players: 8
Trout OF, Kershaw SP, Bumgarner SP, Turner OF/2B, Sale SP, C.Gonzalez OF, Syndergaard SP, Lester SP
CIN- A paid Russell Martin (9) via trade, with aging cast of FA characters; JJ Reddick is painful @ 9.5m per.
(B-) CIN has a solid team so FA wasn't much of a need, but he added depth and a starting C so it was an overall success.
ESPN Top 50 players: 3
Blackmon OF, Polanco OF, Story SS
PIT- No grade (not much FA activity if any)
PIT appears to be another strong team in a strong division; deep lineup and starting rotation should make plenty of noise.
ESPN Top 50 players: 4
Arenado 3B, Seager SS, Kluber SP, Verlander SP
MIL- No grade (Y. Petit 0.5)
MIL adds unneeded depth to an already crowded division- can compete but not likely thru September.
ESPN Top 50 players: 2
Goldschmidt 1B, Murphy 2B, (Beltre 3B #53)
STL- Decent pickups. Not bad not remarkable (Ben Revere 2.3, Ricky Nolasco 0.5).
(C) STL looks to tread water and keep respectability until it can do more damage in a stacked NL Central.
ESPN Top 50 players: none
HOU- Wrong place, wrong time. Lop-sided signings of Hamels and Encarnacion (35,30) will not result in hopeful 2017.
(C) HOU threw its weight around and secured targets #1 and #2, but a more balanced approach could have paid off.
ESP Top 50 players: 1
Encarnacion 1B
(A) Late-season strokes of bad luck could be the only things standing in the way of Cubs' title hopes in 2017.
ESPN top 50 players: 8
Trout OF, Kershaw SP, Bumgarner SP, Turner OF/2B, Sale SP, C.Gonzalez OF, Syndergaard SP, Lester SP
CIN- A paid Russell Martin (9) via trade, with aging cast of FA characters; JJ Reddick is painful @ 9.5m per.
(B-) CIN has a solid team so FA wasn't much of a need, but he added depth and a starting C so it was an overall success.
ESPN Top 50 players: 3
Blackmon OF, Polanco OF, Story SS
PIT- No grade (not much FA activity if any)
PIT appears to be another strong team in a strong division; deep lineup and starting rotation should make plenty of noise.
ESPN Top 50 players: 4
Arenado 3B, Seager SS, Kluber SP, Verlander SP
MIL- No grade (Y. Petit 0.5)
MIL adds unneeded depth to an already crowded division- can compete but not likely thru September.
ESPN Top 50 players: 2
Goldschmidt 1B, Murphy 2B, (Beltre 3B #53)
STL- Decent pickups. Not bad not remarkable (Ben Revere 2.3, Ricky Nolasco 0.5).
(C) STL looks to tread water and keep respectability until it can do more damage in a stacked NL Central.
ESPN Top 50 players: none
HOU- Wrong place, wrong time. Lop-sided signings of Hamels and Encarnacion (35,30) will not result in hopeful 2017.
(C) HOU threw its weight around and secured targets #1 and #2, but a more balanced approach could have paid off.
ESP Top 50 players: 1
Encarnacion 1B