Comments
The last twenty comments in true blog fasion, with the links to their authors and the player commented upon.
Welcome! You are invited to wander around and read all of the comments that have been posted here at Patton & Co., but as soon as you register you can see the bid limits that Alex, Peter and Mike propose for each player, and you can post your own comments. Registering is free, so please join us!
There are all kinds of surprises, comparing depth of position in the Evaluator. In the AL a grand total of four catchers earned $10 or more. In the NL eleven catchers earned at least $10. If Elias Diaz had caught in the AL last year, instead of being the 10th most valuable catcher (tied with Alfaro), he would have been the fourth (tied with Chirinos).
The 24th catcher in the NL, Kevin Plawecki, earned $4. That's not great.
The 24th catcher in the AL, Russell Martin, earned $2.
Oakland
Many people who buy the program just look at the Projector. I think they are missing out if they don't spend at least some time with the Evaluator.
As one example, open the AL file in the Evaluator. Run a doulble sort of hitters by Position and Patton $ descending. Where did Austin Romine rank among AL catchers last year?
Seventh. $7 in 5x5.
Who's next?
Gary Sanchez. $6.
Mercifully retired.
Cleveland
Baltimore
Baltimore
For me, I'm holding out with bids for both until their signing prospects get bleaker. I think R! is the last-ditch designation. And yes, pulling them out of the pool will be adding dollars to lots of players, which would need to be re-adjusted when they do sign.
Obviously the arbiter didn't believe your projection, Peter. He went with the owners.
He asked for $3.4 million, which even I admit is insane. The owners offered $2.8 million, which most of us is would agree is a lot for a pitcher who won three and lost twelve.
If that's all there was to the story. But we all know it's not.
There's a lot to like in Fulmer's stat line.
The best way to find out what it's actually worth is to make him a free agent.
But that's not going to happen for three more years. And while he waits, he's not going to starve. Even I admit that.
In any case, it's over. All the arbitration cases have been settled. Here's the scorecard as summarized by ESPN...
Players had a winning record for the third time in four years but just the fifth time since 1996 and 11th time since arbitration started in 1974.
Three starting pitchers won -- Cleveland's Trevor Bauer, Houston's Gerrit Cole and Cincinnati's Alex Wood -- along with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, Oakland closer Blake Treinen, and Tampa Bay outfielder Tommy Pham.
Players who lost included Washington outfielder Michael Taylor, Nationals reliever Kyle Barraclough and Toronto reliever Ryan Tepera lost.
Among the more than 175 players who were eligible for arbitration this year, just three agreed to contracts of more than one guaranteed season -- Yankees right-hander Luis Severino ($40 million for four years), Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola ($45 million for four years) and Minnesota outfielder Max Kepler ($35 million for five years).
Arizona left-hander T.J. McFarland and Milwaukee catcher Manny Pina agreed to contracts that included 2020 club options.
80 sounds right, Phil. And if 11 other teams don't understand that, that's your advantage. Buy Trout and Betts and then pick from the wealth of players at the end.
As for my copping out with the R1's, there will be plenty of updates. We're working out the schedule now.
The LABR Mixed Draft ran on Tuesday. Was a fun evening, with more than a few surprises. Here's the link for those interested. https://www.rtsports.com/LABR-Mixed-Draft
Kansas City
Signed a MiLC with Texas. He played college ball at UT-Arlington.
About to do one of the most useless CBS online auctions - 12 teams, points league auction for all MLB with $260 budget. Sixteen starters (C,1,2,3,S,3xO,U,5xSP,2xRP) ... 5 reserve spots also in the auction.
What's Mookie Betts or Mike Trout worth in such an auction? 80?
In answer to Syd in the Vladdy Jr. thread, all of the mega-prospects who seem destined to start the year in the minors get an R1 under AP4.
I went a step further. I made Bryce Harper, Many Machado and Craig Kimbrel R1s.
If the owners aren't going to pay them, why should I?
First in SDI among NL CF this year, Don Drooker tells us in his Rotisserie Duck blog. FWIW, he's second to Bader in the estimation of Fangraphs.
Don Drooker today, comparing the SDI ratings (SABR's Defensive Index) to the Gold Glove winners:
* CF – Ender Inciarte gave more credence as to why Dave Stewart should not have been a GM by winning the Gold Glove for a third time. Pay attention to Harrison Bader, who finished second.
Yes, Don, he is. Sickening, isn't it?
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You are right, Pancho. He signed today for $2 million.
We got that into the Projector yesterday.