ODC Week In Review (2018 Week 3)
Jan 18, 2018 20:39:35 GMT -5
White Sox GM (Michael), Rays GM 北海道日(Will), and 1 more like this
Post by Bravos James on Jan 18, 2018 20:39:35 GMT -5
Every Friday of the 2018 year OakInc will be posting the ODC Week in review, summarizing any moves made and notable chat topics for that week.
TRADES: I thought with FA starting we'd see a lacking in big trades and a bunch of Will trades, I was wrong.
Week 3's first big trade wasn't huge, but did see a team reaching on an overpaid corner infielder (something we'll talk about much more later) as Baltimore sent Matt Davidson, Dominic Leone, and Collin Mchugh to Milwaukee in exchange for Ariel Miranda and Adrian Beltre. Is Adrian Beltre better than Matt Davidson in 2018? Almost definitely, is he 19M for the next 2 years better? I'd bet against it as he's entering his age 38 season. I get going all in, but this wasn't enough of an upgrade over Solarte for me to like it.
For the next 3 days while FA was going on, we saw a bunch of prospect, pick, and cap trades that didn't matter enough to make this week in review, then on Monday Bryan traded for Adam Wainwright and got him paid down to 3M for this year in exchange for RP Heath Hembree, a fine trade for two players of equal value. Now a lot this week we've had to hear about how good guys like Wainwright are, so this will be our first of many player comparisons for this week.
2017 Season
Player A: 123.1 IP 5.11 ERA 1.50 WHIP 10.2 H/9 7.0 K/9 2.13 K/BB
Player B: 197.1 IP 4.79 ERA 1.51 WHIP 10.8 H/9 6.9 K/9 2.56 K/BB
Put your guesses in your head
Player A: Bonafide top SP Adam Wainwright
Player B: Clayton Richard
Tigers traded Kevin Maitian to KC for 12M, I don't have a strong take because prospects are #Bad and in fact #NotGood, but i feel like 12M is fairly light.
MAXING OF THE WEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK: Good one this week in a pretty benign trade between Baltimore and Cleveland, with Cleveland Acquiring Brandon Moss for 0.5M, we got our Maxing from Jeff after talking in depth about how good Moss is we got "Accept. Moss is never gunna crack my lineup. May as well use his cap to get someone who will." 3 weeks in the maxing standings are Jeff | Justin | and Kevin |
Get ready for another player comparison folks as the O's traded Brian Mccann for 5M. Brian Mccann is fine, but we heard about how great he was all week so it's Blind Resume Player comparison time
2017 Season
Player A: 376 AB 14 HR 49 RBI .264 AVG .387 OBP .447 SLG .834 OPS 119 OPS+
Player B: 399 AB 18 HR 62 RBI .241 AVG .323 OBP .436 SLG .759 OPS 109 OPS+
Put your guesses in your head
Player A: bum ass Alex Avila
Player B: STUD Catcher that makes Sal Perez on a great contract expendable Brian Mccann
Brandon then flipped 1 year of Gerrit Cole to Bry for Clint Frazier and 2 other prospects, so because Gerrit Cole is so good I'm sure he won't fall victim to actually not being that good thanks to player comparison, Just Kidding
2016-2017 Seasons Averages
Player A: 3.94 ERA 180 IP 1.16 WHIP 8.2 K/9 2.7 BB/9 7.8 H/9 3.1 K/BB 108 ERA+
Player B: 4.12 ERA 160 IP 1.32 WHIP 8.3 K/9 2.6 BB/9 9.3 H/9 3.2 K/BB 103 ERA+
Guesses....
Player A: John Lackey
Player B: Gerrit Cole
congrats bry!
Kevin made another solid move receiving a first round pick for 8M and then made the best trade this week and probably in a while, by acquiring Salvador Perez a top 3 catcher signed on a 4 year 43.5M contract just a great contract for Maikel Franco and Chris Davis. This trade doesn't even make a lick of sense for Bryan. Trading a great catcher for really nothing here's another player comparison. Now I expect Bryan to say "hey tard i traded franco for 13M," but the problem with that is Sal Perez is worth so much more than Chris Davis and 13M and i didn't like the franco trade for Forbz because he's already lacking in depth and Franco has been fairly disappointing, but if you're bryan why are you trading a generational talent at catcher on a great contract for cap relief and a power hitter who hit .215 with 26 Hrs last season and could lose his job to Trey Mancini next year. Just illogical.
The Astros made some moves this week and boy, they were actually good. The Astros acquired Greg Holland for Matt Manning, Holland is a top 15-ish closer and closers are the key to making a run in my opinion and Matt Manning is going to be very good, but with that move combined with the sign and trade of Josh Donaldson to the White Sox for Buster Posey, Cody Allen, and Scooter Gennett the Astros had one of the best weeks you'll see in here. In that trade the White Sox pretty much acquired what I think is their final piece to create a lineup that in my opinion is much better than Jeff's at the moment. It's a big risk giving up that much depth, but talking opening day no injury lineup, I wouldn't take any over Mike's. Also upon writing this I realized that I don't love the Holland trade as much as I thought I did because Holland and Allen may be closer overkill, but I still think if he flips one of them to fill one or two of his lineup holes it makes sense.
BLOCKBUSTER OF THE WEEK: 3 way trades are usually pointless, this one wasn't. The Padres Acquired Jake Lamb, the white sox acquired the 5th pick of the 2nd round, Kenta Maeda, and 7.7M, and your's truly acquired Jedd Gyorko and Julio Teheran. A lot of Julio Teheran bashing went on in chat and we'll get to that in a second, but the Padres won this trade giving up Julio Teheran and Kenta Maeda essentially for Jake Lamb, which is very good, but let's go to the old player comparison route on Julio Teheran.
2013-2017 Season Averages
Player A: 188 IP 3.60 ERA 1.21 WHIP 3.3 K/BB 109 ERA+ 8.0 H/9 2.9 BB/9
Player B: 197 IP 3.55 ERA 1.19 WHIP 3.0 K/BB 110 ERA+ 8.2 H/9 2.6 BB/9
those 2 pitchers for a big sample size are as close as you'll get
Player A: Chris Archer
Player B: Julio Teheran
So when in chat I'm told 3 years of Teheran for 1 of Scherzer is ridiculous, think about how similar Archer and Teheran have been over a FIVE year sample.
Other than that there weren't anymore noteworthy trades, so let's get into...
FA GRADES:
Let's go position-by-position, this is just my opinion so don't get too upset, unless you're Jake, cause what the fuck was that Lawrie contact.
Catchers:
Nick Hundley: 1 year 500K (Oak to CWS S&T for Robbie Grossman) Hundley was fine last year with 9 HRs and 35 RBIs and should get a good amount of work due to posey playing more 1B this year, it's a depth signing at the minimum. Grade: C
Kurt Suzuki: 2 years 1M per year (BAL) I'd like this signing for anyone as Kurt Suzuki hit 19 HR in 276 AB good for a AB/HR equivalent with the likes of Nelson Cruz, but to combine this signing with already having the Braves other catcher in Tyler Flowers makes this a great signing as the duo combined last season for 31 HRs and 104 RBI, there's maybe 1 catcher in baseball who could match that production this season, so this is a top signing considering value.
Grade: A+
Alex Avila: 3 years 700K per year (OAK) Avila is a FA in real life at the moment, and is expected to sign somewhere as a backup, but coming off a season with an .834 OPS and rumors with signing with Colorado, it shouldn't be a bad signing
Grade: B
Russell Martin: 3 years 1.8M per year (LAA) Martin is a solid fantasy asset year in and year out, with a locked up role in Toronto and with back-to-back 20 HR seasons before a down year last year, this is a signing where John is betting on a bounceback season to flip him next season, which is almost definitely a smart move
Grade: B+
Devin Mesoraco: 3 years 1.5M per year (STL) Mesoraco can't stay healthy and is the definite backup to Tucker Barnhart with no real opportunity to get out of that role. If you're looking for a back-up catcher there were much better cheaper options. Even with Barnhart already being on STL I would have looked for a safer option at that price tag.
Grade: D
Yasmani Grandal: 4 years 4.5M per year (SD) This is going to get a lower grade than it would have if someone with a more established older catcher would have signed him at this same contract. If let's say Milwaukee whom has Yadier Molina signed just thru this season had signed Grandal to this contract I would love it, but with SD needing immediate catching production with Hedges still being a big question mark, and Grandal likely backing up Barnes for this season before seeking out a starting role next season, I don't love this signing for Noah
Grade: C-
Chris Ianetta: 3 years 3.5M per year (MIN) Starting catcher with 25 HR potential at Coors at a cheap enough contract. Yeah this was a good signing
Grade: A
Jonathan Lucroy: 4 years 6.5M per year (PIT) Pittsburgh has depth issues as is, Jonathan Lucroy was legitimately one of the worst hitters in baseball last season, let's go back to that handy dandy player comparison.
2017 season (Pre Coors for Lucroy)
Player A: 266 AB .256 AVG .287 OBP .413 SLG 8 HR 28 RBI 31 R 86 OPS+
Player B: 281 AB .242 AVG .297 OBP .338 SLG 4 HR 27 RBI 27 R 66 OPS+
Player A: Caleb Joseph
Player B: Jonathan Lucroy
4 years for an obviously declining 31 year old free agent catcher at 6.5 per year, this was a bad signing for a catcher who might not be a starter wherever he gets signed next season
Grade: F-
Derek Norris: 1 year 500K (DET) yeah minimum for a solid power threat backup catcher is fine.
Grade: C
Matt Wieters: 3 years 3.1M per year (HOU) I've liked this week a lot for Houston, this was probably my least favorite move of his. Washington has already talked about adding a catcher this offseason, and 3 years for a catcher who wasn't good last season is a bit much for me. Especially considering he'll be backing up Posey
Grade: D
First Basemen:
Yonder Alonso: 2 years 4M per year (SD) Yonder Alonso was great in the first half last year and should take over an everyday role at 1B for Cleveland, solid fantasy production is pretty much guaranteed as an everyday first basemen in that lineup.
Grade: B+
Adam Lind: 2 years 1.1M per year (PIT) Adam Lind was amazing in a limited role last season for Washington, now a FA looking for a starting job may be tough with the loaded climate of 1B at the moment, but if he can find a role as a platooning first basemen that plays about 95 games and gets about 350 ABs, he should definitely have value
Grade: B
Mike Napoli: 1 year 800K (LAD) Another FA in real life, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't find an MLB job, but it's low risk for a guy who could hit 20 HRs is fine
Grade: C
Albert Pujols: 2 years 3.6M per year (CLE) Still giving solid fantasy production coming off a 27 HR 107 RBI season, he should continue to regress, but can still put together enough over the next 2 seasons too not make this as awful as his contact in real life.
Grade: C+
Player comparison time:
2017 season
Player A: 512 AB 38 HR 85 RBI .246 AVG .353 OPB .513 SLUG .868 OPS 135 OPS+
Player B: 560 AB 38 HR 90 RBI .270 AVG .355 OBP .533 SLUG .883 OPS 128 OPS+
Player A: Logan Morrison 4 years 4.5M per year (OAK)
Grade: B+
Player B: Justin Smoak 4 years 7M per year (SDP)
Grade: C
Carlos Santana: 5 years 7.2M per year (NYM) Carlos Santana was not as good as either of the first basemen listed above last season, and although his track record is good, I don't know that he's worth more years and money as the two 1B listed above.
Grade: D+
Second Basemen:
Brandon Phillips: 2 years 3M per year (NYM) Multi positional depth with 10 HR 10 SB upside. Eh.
Grade: C
Brett Lawrie: 4 years 600K per year (LAD) The only signing that could rival the awful Lucroy signing as the worst so far, just throwing away a roster spot to a guy with the locker room presence of Jonathan Martin and the ability level of Ruben Tejada. Yuck.
Grade: F-
Chase Utley: 1 year 500K (CWS) Minimum contract for an old guy who was solid in his role as a platoon 2B last season, but might not have a team this year.
Grade: C
Freddy Galvis: 3 years 3M per year (LAD) The opposite of the Lawrie signing. A very low-risk signing for a guy who the Padres acquired to be their 2B/SS of the next few years. Definitely useful as middle infield depth with 20-20 potenital. Signed thru just his age 30 season, I see no way this turns into a bad contract.
Grade: A-
DJ Lemahieu: 4 years 13M per year (MIN) I don't hate this contract as Lemahieu has established himself as a top end fantasy second basemen. If I was Patty I would've gone with a higher money less years contract because I'm scared of him losing Coors and not being as relevant, but the first few years of this contract should be a value.
Grade: B-
Logan Forsythe: 3 years 2.9M (STL) I don't like this deal at all. Even with the multi positional versatility, 3M per year is way too much for a guy coming off a season with a .678 OPS and 6 HR in 439 PAs. Even if you're betting on a bounceback I wouldn't pay 3M per year for the 33 year old version of an already declining player.
Grade: D-
Shortstops:
Jed Lowrie: 3 years 2.2M per year (OAK) Pretty much the exact same thing as I said about Galvis except a little bit cheaper and a little bit older.
Grade: A-
Aledmys Diaz: 5 years 1M per year (DET) I really really like this contract, the talent is obviously there with Diaz it's just a matter of consistency, with Tulowitzkis recent injury history I think this could end up being one of the better values we see in this round of FA for a guy that hit .300 with 17 HRs and had an .859 OPS the season before last and is entering just his age 27 season.
Grade: A+
Alciedes Escobar: 2 years 1M per year (OAK) I overpaid to upbid bryan and forbz for my 3rd SS.
Grade: D
Troy Tulowitzki: 2 years 6M per year (TOR) Why? He was awful last year and it's not like Sanders has any chance of contending the next two years and this will be an untradeable contract. Just mind-bogglingly stupid on every level for a washed up SS. Why not spend this money on someone young with high upside like Diaz or save it for IFAs. Stupid.
Grade: F
I think Cozart and Cabrera are going to be up-bidded so i'll save it for next week, but they're both at too much money right now.
Third Basemen:
Daniel Descalso: 1 year 500K (OAK) Multi-positional depth
Grade: C
David Wright: 1 year 500K (NYM) I think there's better odds that Wright doesn't have an AB this season than of him being fantasy relevant, but with as much cap as Jack has I understand the signing.
Grade: B-
David Freese: 3 years 700K (OAK) Freese has been useful each of the last 3 years in Pittsburgh, and although Moran coming in likely takes some playing time away, he's still a consistent third basemen who's hit double digit HRs each of the last 4 years.
Grade: B-
Josh Donaldson 5 years 17M a year (HOU) This was gonna get a good grade either way, but after flipping it into Buster Posey, Scooter Gennett, and Cody Allen, it's an easy A+
Grade: A+
Justin Tucker: 4 years 14.5M a year (MIN) Over the last 3 seasons Justin Turner has been one of the most reliable third basemen in here, putting together an average season of .295 AVG 21 HR 74 RBI .878 OPS over the last three years. I see no reason his late career peak shouldn't continue over the next few years.
Grade: B+
Todd Frazier: 5 years 4.4M a year (ARIZ) too many years for a worse version of Chris Davis.
I think Moustaskas and Machado also get upbidded, so I'll wait for them until next week.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: It's Astros, to flip essentially cap for Posey, Gennett, and Allen is going to be a great move no matter what. I like the Holland move and the move to go all-in now is gutsy, but I don't disagree with it.
HM: Marlins
WORST TEAM OF THE WEEK: Cardinals, The Mesoraco signing wasn't good, and I wish he would've gone for a better 2B than Forsythe with the holes he currently has.
HM: Dodgers
BEEF OF THE WEEK: Patty-bryan
Have a good week to everyone except forbz
welcome back Alex now make forbz quit
TRADES: I thought with FA starting we'd see a lacking in big trades and a bunch of Will trades, I was wrong.
Week 3's first big trade wasn't huge, but did see a team reaching on an overpaid corner infielder (something we'll talk about much more later) as Baltimore sent Matt Davidson, Dominic Leone, and Collin Mchugh to Milwaukee in exchange for Ariel Miranda and Adrian Beltre. Is Adrian Beltre better than Matt Davidson in 2018? Almost definitely, is he 19M for the next 2 years better? I'd bet against it as he's entering his age 38 season. I get going all in, but this wasn't enough of an upgrade over Solarte for me to like it.
For the next 3 days while FA was going on, we saw a bunch of prospect, pick, and cap trades that didn't matter enough to make this week in review, then on Monday Bryan traded for Adam Wainwright and got him paid down to 3M for this year in exchange for RP Heath Hembree, a fine trade for two players of equal value. Now a lot this week we've had to hear about how good guys like Wainwright are, so this will be our first of many player comparisons for this week.
2017 Season
Player A: 123.1 IP 5.11 ERA 1.50 WHIP 10.2 H/9 7.0 K/9 2.13 K/BB
Player B: 197.1 IP 4.79 ERA 1.51 WHIP 10.8 H/9 6.9 K/9 2.56 K/BB
Put your guesses in your head
Player A: Bonafide top SP Adam Wainwright
Player B: Clayton Richard
Tigers traded Kevin Maitian to KC for 12M, I don't have a strong take because prospects are #Bad and in fact #NotGood, but i feel like 12M is fairly light.
MAXING OF THE WEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK: Good one this week in a pretty benign trade between Baltimore and Cleveland, with Cleveland Acquiring Brandon Moss for 0.5M, we got our Maxing from Jeff after talking in depth about how good Moss is we got "Accept. Moss is never gunna crack my lineup. May as well use his cap to get someone who will." 3 weeks in the maxing standings are Jeff | Justin | and Kevin |
Get ready for another player comparison folks as the O's traded Brian Mccann for 5M. Brian Mccann is fine, but we heard about how great he was all week so it's Blind Resume Player comparison time
2017 Season
Player A: 376 AB 14 HR 49 RBI .264 AVG .387 OBP .447 SLG .834 OPS 119 OPS+
Player B: 399 AB 18 HR 62 RBI .241 AVG .323 OBP .436 SLG .759 OPS 109 OPS+
Put your guesses in your head
Player A: bum ass Alex Avila
Player B: STUD Catcher that makes Sal Perez on a great contract expendable Brian Mccann
Brandon then flipped 1 year of Gerrit Cole to Bry for Clint Frazier and 2 other prospects, so because Gerrit Cole is so good I'm sure he won't fall victim to actually not being that good thanks to player comparison, Just Kidding
2016-2017 Seasons Averages
Player A: 3.94 ERA 180 IP 1.16 WHIP 8.2 K/9 2.7 BB/9 7.8 H/9 3.1 K/BB 108 ERA+
Player B: 4.12 ERA 160 IP 1.32 WHIP 8.3 K/9 2.6 BB/9 9.3 H/9 3.2 K/BB 103 ERA+
Guesses....
Player A: John Lackey
Player B: Gerrit Cole
congrats bry!
Kevin made another solid move receiving a first round pick for 8M and then made the best trade this week and probably in a while, by acquiring Salvador Perez a top 3 catcher signed on a 4 year 43.5M contract just a great contract for Maikel Franco and Chris Davis. This trade doesn't even make a lick of sense for Bryan. Trading a great catcher for really nothing here's another player comparison. Now I expect Bryan to say "hey tard i traded franco for 13M," but the problem with that is Sal Perez is worth so much more than Chris Davis and 13M and i didn't like the franco trade for Forbz because he's already lacking in depth and Franco has been fairly disappointing, but if you're bryan why are you trading a generational talent at catcher on a great contract for cap relief and a power hitter who hit .215 with 26 Hrs last season and could lose his job to Trey Mancini next year. Just illogical.
The Astros made some moves this week and boy, they were actually good. The Astros acquired Greg Holland for Matt Manning, Holland is a top 15-ish closer and closers are the key to making a run in my opinion and Matt Manning is going to be very good, but with that move combined with the sign and trade of Josh Donaldson to the White Sox for Buster Posey, Cody Allen, and Scooter Gennett the Astros had one of the best weeks you'll see in here. In that trade the White Sox pretty much acquired what I think is their final piece to create a lineup that in my opinion is much better than Jeff's at the moment. It's a big risk giving up that much depth, but talking opening day no injury lineup, I wouldn't take any over Mike's. Also upon writing this I realized that I don't love the Holland trade as much as I thought I did because Holland and Allen may be closer overkill, but I still think if he flips one of them to fill one or two of his lineup holes it makes sense.
BLOCKBUSTER OF THE WEEK: 3 way trades are usually pointless, this one wasn't. The Padres Acquired Jake Lamb, the white sox acquired the 5th pick of the 2nd round, Kenta Maeda, and 7.7M, and your's truly acquired Jedd Gyorko and Julio Teheran. A lot of Julio Teheran bashing went on in chat and we'll get to that in a second, but the Padres won this trade giving up Julio Teheran and Kenta Maeda essentially for Jake Lamb, which is very good, but let's go to the old player comparison route on Julio Teheran.
2013-2017 Season Averages
Player A: 188 IP 3.60 ERA 1.21 WHIP 3.3 K/BB 109 ERA+ 8.0 H/9 2.9 BB/9
Player B: 197 IP 3.55 ERA 1.19 WHIP 3.0 K/BB 110 ERA+ 8.2 H/9 2.6 BB/9
those 2 pitchers for a big sample size are as close as you'll get
Player A: Chris Archer
Player B: Julio Teheran
So when in chat I'm told 3 years of Teheran for 1 of Scherzer is ridiculous, think about how similar Archer and Teheran have been over a FIVE year sample.
Other than that there weren't anymore noteworthy trades, so let's get into...
FA GRADES:
Let's go position-by-position, this is just my opinion so don't get too upset, unless you're Jake, cause what the fuck was that Lawrie contact.
Catchers:
Nick Hundley: 1 year 500K (Oak to CWS S&T for Robbie Grossman) Hundley was fine last year with 9 HRs and 35 RBIs and should get a good amount of work due to posey playing more 1B this year, it's a depth signing at the minimum. Grade: C
Kurt Suzuki: 2 years 1M per year (BAL) I'd like this signing for anyone as Kurt Suzuki hit 19 HR in 276 AB good for a AB/HR equivalent with the likes of Nelson Cruz, but to combine this signing with already having the Braves other catcher in Tyler Flowers makes this a great signing as the duo combined last season for 31 HRs and 104 RBI, there's maybe 1 catcher in baseball who could match that production this season, so this is a top signing considering value.
Grade: A+
Alex Avila: 3 years 700K per year (OAK) Avila is a FA in real life at the moment, and is expected to sign somewhere as a backup, but coming off a season with an .834 OPS and rumors with signing with Colorado, it shouldn't be a bad signing
Grade: B
Russell Martin: 3 years 1.8M per year (LAA) Martin is a solid fantasy asset year in and year out, with a locked up role in Toronto and with back-to-back 20 HR seasons before a down year last year, this is a signing where John is betting on a bounceback season to flip him next season, which is almost definitely a smart move
Grade: B+
Devin Mesoraco: 3 years 1.5M per year (STL) Mesoraco can't stay healthy and is the definite backup to Tucker Barnhart with no real opportunity to get out of that role. If you're looking for a back-up catcher there were much better cheaper options. Even with Barnhart already being on STL I would have looked for a safer option at that price tag.
Grade: D
Yasmani Grandal: 4 years 4.5M per year (SD) This is going to get a lower grade than it would have if someone with a more established older catcher would have signed him at this same contract. If let's say Milwaukee whom has Yadier Molina signed just thru this season had signed Grandal to this contract I would love it, but with SD needing immediate catching production with Hedges still being a big question mark, and Grandal likely backing up Barnes for this season before seeking out a starting role next season, I don't love this signing for Noah
Grade: C-
Chris Ianetta: 3 years 3.5M per year (MIN) Starting catcher with 25 HR potential at Coors at a cheap enough contract. Yeah this was a good signing
Grade: A
Jonathan Lucroy: 4 years 6.5M per year (PIT) Pittsburgh has depth issues as is, Jonathan Lucroy was legitimately one of the worst hitters in baseball last season, let's go back to that handy dandy player comparison.
2017 season (Pre Coors for Lucroy)
Player A: 266 AB .256 AVG .287 OBP .413 SLG 8 HR 28 RBI 31 R 86 OPS+
Player B: 281 AB .242 AVG .297 OBP .338 SLG 4 HR 27 RBI 27 R 66 OPS+
Player A: Caleb Joseph
Player B: Jonathan Lucroy
4 years for an obviously declining 31 year old free agent catcher at 6.5 per year, this was a bad signing for a catcher who might not be a starter wherever he gets signed next season
Grade: F-
Derek Norris: 1 year 500K (DET) yeah minimum for a solid power threat backup catcher is fine.
Grade: C
Matt Wieters: 3 years 3.1M per year (HOU) I've liked this week a lot for Houston, this was probably my least favorite move of his. Washington has already talked about adding a catcher this offseason, and 3 years for a catcher who wasn't good last season is a bit much for me. Especially considering he'll be backing up Posey
Grade: D
First Basemen:
Yonder Alonso: 2 years 4M per year (SD) Yonder Alonso was great in the first half last year and should take over an everyday role at 1B for Cleveland, solid fantasy production is pretty much guaranteed as an everyday first basemen in that lineup.
Grade: B+
Adam Lind: 2 years 1.1M per year (PIT) Adam Lind was amazing in a limited role last season for Washington, now a FA looking for a starting job may be tough with the loaded climate of 1B at the moment, but if he can find a role as a platooning first basemen that plays about 95 games and gets about 350 ABs, he should definitely have value
Grade: B
Mike Napoli: 1 year 800K (LAD) Another FA in real life, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't find an MLB job, but it's low risk for a guy who could hit 20 HRs is fine
Grade: C
Albert Pujols: 2 years 3.6M per year (CLE) Still giving solid fantasy production coming off a 27 HR 107 RBI season, he should continue to regress, but can still put together enough over the next 2 seasons too not make this as awful as his contact in real life.
Grade: C+
Player comparison time:
2017 season
Player A: 512 AB 38 HR 85 RBI .246 AVG .353 OPB .513 SLUG .868 OPS 135 OPS+
Player B: 560 AB 38 HR 90 RBI .270 AVG .355 OBP .533 SLUG .883 OPS 128 OPS+
Player A: Logan Morrison 4 years 4.5M per year (OAK)
Grade: B+
Player B: Justin Smoak 4 years 7M per year (SDP)
Grade: C
Carlos Santana: 5 years 7.2M per year (NYM) Carlos Santana was not as good as either of the first basemen listed above last season, and although his track record is good, I don't know that he's worth more years and money as the two 1B listed above.
Grade: D+
Second Basemen:
Brandon Phillips: 2 years 3M per year (NYM) Multi positional depth with 10 HR 10 SB upside. Eh.
Grade: C
Brett Lawrie: 4 years 600K per year (LAD) The only signing that could rival the awful Lucroy signing as the worst so far, just throwing away a roster spot to a guy with the locker room presence of Jonathan Martin and the ability level of Ruben Tejada. Yuck.
Grade: F-
Chase Utley: 1 year 500K (CWS) Minimum contract for an old guy who was solid in his role as a platoon 2B last season, but might not have a team this year.
Grade: C
Freddy Galvis: 3 years 3M per year (LAD) The opposite of the Lawrie signing. A very low-risk signing for a guy who the Padres acquired to be their 2B/SS of the next few years. Definitely useful as middle infield depth with 20-20 potenital. Signed thru just his age 30 season, I see no way this turns into a bad contract.
Grade: A-
DJ Lemahieu: 4 years 13M per year (MIN) I don't hate this contract as Lemahieu has established himself as a top end fantasy second basemen. If I was Patty I would've gone with a higher money less years contract because I'm scared of him losing Coors and not being as relevant, but the first few years of this contract should be a value.
Grade: B-
Logan Forsythe: 3 years 2.9M (STL) I don't like this deal at all. Even with the multi positional versatility, 3M per year is way too much for a guy coming off a season with a .678 OPS and 6 HR in 439 PAs. Even if you're betting on a bounceback I wouldn't pay 3M per year for the 33 year old version of an already declining player.
Grade: D-
Shortstops:
Jed Lowrie: 3 years 2.2M per year (OAK) Pretty much the exact same thing as I said about Galvis except a little bit cheaper and a little bit older.
Grade: A-
Aledmys Diaz: 5 years 1M per year (DET) I really really like this contract, the talent is obviously there with Diaz it's just a matter of consistency, with Tulowitzkis recent injury history I think this could end up being one of the better values we see in this round of FA for a guy that hit .300 with 17 HRs and had an .859 OPS the season before last and is entering just his age 27 season.
Grade: A+
Alciedes Escobar: 2 years 1M per year (OAK) I overpaid to upbid bryan and forbz for my 3rd SS.
Grade: D
Troy Tulowitzki: 2 years 6M per year (TOR) Why? He was awful last year and it's not like Sanders has any chance of contending the next two years and this will be an untradeable contract. Just mind-bogglingly stupid on every level for a washed up SS. Why not spend this money on someone young with high upside like Diaz or save it for IFAs. Stupid.
Grade: F
I think Cozart and Cabrera are going to be up-bidded so i'll save it for next week, but they're both at too much money right now.
Third Basemen:
Daniel Descalso: 1 year 500K (OAK) Multi-positional depth
Grade: C
David Wright: 1 year 500K (NYM) I think there's better odds that Wright doesn't have an AB this season than of him being fantasy relevant, but with as much cap as Jack has I understand the signing.
Grade: B-
David Freese: 3 years 700K (OAK) Freese has been useful each of the last 3 years in Pittsburgh, and although Moran coming in likely takes some playing time away, he's still a consistent third basemen who's hit double digit HRs each of the last 4 years.
Grade: B-
Josh Donaldson 5 years 17M a year (HOU) This was gonna get a good grade either way, but after flipping it into Buster Posey, Scooter Gennett, and Cody Allen, it's an easy A+
Grade: A+
Justin Tucker: 4 years 14.5M a year (MIN) Over the last 3 seasons Justin Turner has been one of the most reliable third basemen in here, putting together an average season of .295 AVG 21 HR 74 RBI .878 OPS over the last three years. I see no reason his late career peak shouldn't continue over the next few years.
Grade: B+
Todd Frazier: 5 years 4.4M a year (ARIZ) too many years for a worse version of Chris Davis.
I think Moustaskas and Machado also get upbidded, so I'll wait for them until next week.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: It's Astros, to flip essentially cap for Posey, Gennett, and Allen is going to be a great move no matter what. I like the Holland move and the move to go all-in now is gutsy, but I don't disagree with it.
HM: Marlins
WORST TEAM OF THE WEEK: Cardinals, The Mesoraco signing wasn't good, and I wish he would've gone for a better 2B than Forsythe with the holes he currently has.
HM: Dodgers
BEEF OF THE WEEK: Patty-bryan
Have a good week to everyone except forbz
welcome back Alex now make forbz quit