MLB 2019 Offseason Thread

[Isgrimnur]

And MLB suspended the replay operator for a year, and he can't have that job next year. A harsher punishment than Alex Cora got.

[El Guapo]

Well I for one am glad that the Red Sox got rid of the two lone bad apples in the organization.

[El Guapo]

BoSox lose a second round draft pick due to cheating. Second round? That's some pretty weak tea.

Apparently that's because the investigation concluded that the Red Sox's violations were more episodic and less egregious.

Commissioner Rob Manfred's report states the Red Sox staffer "on at least some occasions during the 2018 regular season, illegally utilized game feeds in the replay room to help players during games -- an undertaking less egregious than the Astros' famed 2017 sign-stealing scheme." Watkins previously played in the minor leagues and served as an artillery officer in the United States Army. Watkins has been a behind-the-scenes mainstay at Fenway Park during the past few years, and was originally drafted by the team in the 10th round in 2012 as a catcher out of West Point.

On game days, Watkins has worked with the coaching staff to prepare the team for opponents, while also checking on video in the replay room whenever needed. Watkins is noted for his ability to pick up on signs, and passed along additional information about any new signs to update the information he'd provide to players from his previous pregame analysis.

"Communication of these violations was episodic and isolated to Watkins and a limited number of Red Sox players only," Manfred wrote in his report.

Manfred said he felt Watkins was in a tough spot as a staffer assigned to decode signs before games while also monitoring the team's video replay room.

"He was placed in the difficult position of often knowing what the correct sequences were but being prohibited by rule from assisting the players by providing the correct information," Manfred wrote. "While this does not excuse or justify his conduct, I do believe that it created a situation in which he felt pressure as the Club's primary expert on decoding sign sequences to relay information that was consistent with what he naturally observed on the in-game video."

[Hrothgar]

Since opening day, no Astros have been hit by pitches. I'd have to say this season is going better than expected.

[Jaymann]

I'm watching the Lions vs the Dinos in Korean baseball in an empty stadium on ESPN 2. That's some desperation right there.

[Scuzz]

I'm watching the Lions vs the Dinos in Korean baseball in an empty stadium on ESPN 2. That's some desperation right there.

I watched a few innings as well. Hey, KBO is better than no baseball at all.

[Isgrimnur]

CBS Sports

MLB's and the MLBPA's negotiations regarding the 2020 season are reaching a critical stage. MLB hopes to start the season in early July, which would mean beginning spring training 2.0 in mid-June, and time is running out. The two sides have about a week to work out an agreement on salary and safety issues, among other things.

In March MLB and the MLBPA agreed to prorated salaries in 2020, and the same agreement gives commissioner Rob Manfred the unilateral ability to schedule the season. That allows the owners to effectively hold the season hostage as they try to get players to accept further salary reductions. MLB proposed a sliding salary scale last week and the union is not planning to respond.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, some MLB owners are "perfectly willing" to go with the nuclear option and cancel the 2020 season should players not agree to additional pay cuts.

[Jaymann]

Cheap ass greedy mother humpers are going to kill the golden goose.

[pr0ner]

I would be shocked if there was an MLB season in 2020.

[Isgrimnur]

Presented without comment.

Court: Len Dykstra’s Reputation Is So Bad He Can’t Be Libeled

[Scuzz]

Cheap ass greedy mother humpers are going to kill the golden goose.

You have players who want to be paid millions, literally millions, for not playing. You have owners looking at a massive revenue drop because TV money will be way down and there will be no attendance or concession money.

So who are the unreasonable ones here?

[El Guapo]

Cheap ass greedy mother humpers are going to kill the golden goose.

You have players who want to be paid millions, literally millions, for not playing. You have owners looking at a massive revenue drop because TV money will be way down and there will be no attendance or concession money.

So who are the unreasonable ones here?

Somehow I suspect that the owners will come out of this ok.

[Scuzz]

Cheap ass greedy mother humpers are going to kill the golden goose.

You have players who want to be paid millions, literally millions, for not playing. You have owners looking at a massive revenue drop because TV money will be way down and there will be no attendance or concession money.

So who are the unreasonable ones here?

Somehow I suspect that the owners will come out of this ok.

Most of them. But you do need to remember that the great profit to being an owner comes from the appreciation of the team when it comes time to sell. Until just a few years ago many teams were losing money, recent TV deals changed that, but still. Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing? I do think their pay should be pro rated based on the number of games played. That would still be better than a system based on pure percentage of revenue.

[stessier]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

[pr0ner]

Presented without comment.

Court: Len Dykstra’s Reputation Is So Bad He Can’t Be Libeled

I heard that on the radio and laughed.

[LawBeefaroni]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

Yep. If the owners want to buy out the contracts they probably can. If they want to keep them, they need to pay them.

Also, if you think that the top (aka the highly paid) players are just sitting around eating donuts you're crazy. They are still working out at high levels to maintain fitness and skills.

Franchises have tossed out MiLB players like yesterday's trash because they can.

[Scuzz]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

I have been told that the basic contract says there would be no pay for games not paid. Probably designed to prevent payment during a strike but it would apply now as well.

[Scuzz]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

Yep. If the owners want to buy out the contracts they probably can. If they want to keep them, they need to pay them.

Also, if you think that the top (aka the highly paid) players are just sitting around eating donuts you're crazy. They are still working out at high levels to maintain fitness and skills.

Franchises have tossed out MiLB players like yesterday's trash because they can.

But unlike the NFL contracts MLB contracts are guaranteed money. A "tossed out" player will still get paid for the full amount of his contract. Just google Bobby Bonilla.

[Jeff V]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

I have been told that the basic contract says there would be no pay for games not paid. Probably designed to prevent payment during a strike but it would apply now as well.

I suspect so, which is even more reason for the owners to dig in. They will probably lose less money tanking the season if the players refuse to be reasonable and split whatever revenue is available.

[LawBeefaroni]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

Yep. If the owners want to buy out the contracts they probably can. If they want to keep them, they need to pay them.

Also, if you think that the top (aka the highly paid) players are just sitting around eating donuts you're crazy. They are still working out at high levels to maintain fitness and skills.

Franchises have tossed out MiLB players like yesterday's trash because they can.

But unlike the NFL contracts MLB contracts are guaranteed money. A "tossed out" player will still get paid for the full amount of his contract. Just google Bobby Bonilla.

Yeah, that's why I said they'd have to buy them out. MiLB =/=MLB.



Bonilla restructured his contact for the extended payout. The Wilpons thought Madoff would continue to make them 20% a year and figured they were getting the better end of it. The Wilpons were wrong.

[Scuzz]

I think you have a situation where the union wants a season as much as the owners. The catch is the owners are asking for something that is not in the player contracts, and that is a reduction based on the lack of revenue. Legally the players probably don't have to agree with that, but I also think most of them know that if there is no season there are no paychecks. Small market teams will suffer the most in either case as they probably need the attendance and concession money more than the big boys with nice TV contracts.

Basketball is supposedly looking at restarting with only 22 teams playing. Hockey is considering the same type plan.

[Scuzz]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

Yep. If the owners want to buy out the contracts they probably can. If they want to keep them, they need to pay them.

Also, if you think that the top (aka the highly paid) players are just sitting around eating donuts you're crazy. They are still working out at high levels to maintain fitness and skills.

Franchises have tossed out MiLB players like yesterday's trash because they can.

But unlike the NFL contracts MLB contracts are guaranteed money. A "tossed out" player will still get paid for the full amount of his contract. Just google Bobby Bonilla.

Yeah, that's why I said they'd have to buy them out. MiLB =/=MLB.



Bonilla restructured his contact for the extended payout. The Wilpons thought Madoff would continue to make them 20% a year and figured they were getting the better end of it. The Wilpons were wrong.

If they don't play they don't have to buy them out. If they do play they just play under existing contracts with paychecks only for games played.

Why would a team buy them out anyway?

[LawBeefaroni]

Is that really an excuse for the players to get paid for not performing?

If that is how the contracts are written, yes.

Yep. If the owners want to buy out the contracts they probably can. If they want to keep them, they need to pay them.

Also, if you think that the top (aka the highly paid) players are just sitting around eating donuts you're crazy. They are still working out at high levels to maintain fitness and skills.

Franchises have tossed out MiLB players like yesterday's trash because they can.

But unlike the NFL contracts MLB contracts are guaranteed money. A "tossed out" player will still get paid for the full amount of his contract. Just google Bobby Bonilla.

Yeah, that's why I said they'd have to buy them out. MiLB =/=MLB.



Bonilla restructured his contact for the extended payout. The Wilpons thought Madoff would continue to make them 20% a year and figured they were getting the better end of it. The Wilpons were wrong.

If they don't play they don't have to buy them out. If they do play they just play under existing contracts with paychecks only for games played.

Why would a team buy them out anyway?

The service time clock is still running so there may be some incentive depending on the player and contract. Not saying it's likely bit it's an option. Plus they are getting paid per the current agreement. It's peanuts, I think the MLB is disbersing $170M, but it's something with zero revenue coming in.

[Isgrimnur]

ESPN

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN on Monday that he is "not confident" there will be a 2020 baseball season and that "as long as there's no dialogue" with the MLB Players Association, "that real risk is going to continue."

In a conversation with Mike Greenberg for ESPN's "The Return of Sports" special, Manfred walked back comments made to ESPN last week, when he said "unequivocally, we are going to play Major League Baseball this year" and pegged the likelihood at "100 percent."
...
The chance that there will be no season increased substantially Monday, when the commissioner's office told the players' association that it will not proceed with a schedule unless the union waives its right to claim that management violated a March agreement between the feuding sides, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by the Los Angeles Times.
...
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark issued a statement Monday in response to Manfred's comments that read, "Players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told Players and fans that there would '100%' be a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season. Any implication that the Players Association has somehow delayed progress on health and safety protocols is completely false, as Rob has recently acknowledged the parties are 'very, very close.'
...
On Saturday, the day after MLB delivered a return-to-play proposal that called for a 72-game season and guaranteed 70% of players' prorated salaries (with a maximum of 83%), MLBPA lead negotiator Bruce Meyer said in a letter to MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem: "Given your continued insistence on hundreds of millions of dollars of additional pay reductions, we assume these negotiations are at an end."

Clark followed with a statement asking the league to use its right from the sides' March 26 agreement to set a schedule, saying: "It unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile. It's time to get back to work. Tell us when and where."

[Jaymann]

...when he said "unequivocally, we are going to play Major League Baseball this year" and pegged the likelihood at "100 percent."

I don't think that means what he thinks it means.

[stessier]

The chance that there will be no season increased substantially Monday, when the commissioner's office told the players' association that it will not proceed with a schedule unless the union waives its right to claim that management violated a March agreement between the feuding sides, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by the Los Angeles Times.

Why in the world would the players ever agree to this?

[Hrothgar]

The chance that there will be no season increased substantially Monday, when the commissioner's office told the players' association that it will not proceed with a schedule unless the union waives its right to claim that management violated a March agreement between the feuding sides, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by the Los Angeles Times.

Why in the world would the players ever agree to this?

They wouldn't. It's called a poison pill. That doesn't mean they shouldn't make a new agreement that supersedes the March agreement. Full player salaries in empty stadiums doesn't make sense. Nor should the players bear all the financial losses from empty stadiums. There should be an agreement somewhere between those extremes.

[Isgrimnur]

Bleacher Report

Following months of negotiations and impasses, Major League Baseball's owners are ready to proceed with the initial March agreement they made with the players.

David O'Brien of The Athletic shared the league's statement saying it is "disappointed" the players rejected its framework for a 60-game season with expanded playoffs and a universal designated hitter. As a result, the owners unanimously voted to proceed with the March agreement.

They also asked the players to respond by Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET and to make clear in that response whether they can report to camps by July 1 and whether they agree to the health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, there is a "strong expectation" that the MLBPA will approve of the league's latest plan:
...
The March 26 agreement allows commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a shortened season that guarantees players fully prorated salaries. Whether the salaries would be fully prorated was a sticking point for some of the ensuing proposals, but the negotiations shifted to things such as the number of games of late.
...
ESPN's Buster Olney said Manfred implementing a shortened version of the season could trigger multiple dominoes, including some players sitting out and the players association filing a grievance saying the owners did not negotiate in good faith based on the March agreement:

[Jaymann]

I like the sense of urgency of a 60 game season. It's like instant playoff intensity with some dark horse possibilities. How many times has your team gotten off to a hot start, and you thought: if only the season ended today...

[Jeff V]

So can we look forward to some midsummer training camps in the Covid-free I mean hotspots of Florida and Arizona?

[Scuzz]

So can we look forward to some midsummer training camps in the Covid-free I mean hotspots of Florida and Arizona?

The Phillies already have had to close up their camp in Florida due to positive tests. I think the Mets and Yankees have decided to train in New York instead of going to Florida.

[Octavious]

Ya I don't see any reason why the Mets and Yankees wouldn't stay local at this point. I predict the Mets will take the series so that it feels tainted. I kid I kid... The DH rule should help the Mets a lot as they have a lot of solid bats that they have no place to play. I think a short season could be really fun as every game is going to matter a heck of a lot more. I would think this will favor teams with strong pitching, but we shall see.

[pr0ner]

So can we look forward to some midsummer training camps in the Covid-free I mean hotspots of Florida and Arizona?

No. All teams are holding their training camps at their home ballparks.

[Jeff V]

So the Marlins, Rays, Diamondbacks, Padres, Dodgers, Giants, Astros and Rangers are having theirs in Covid cesspools. I hope they plan to only play each other.

Already you have New York talking about banning travelers from Florida and other unmanaged states. Do they have a contingency for team planes being denied access to airport gates?

[LawBeefaroni]

This is going to get a damned clown show.

Also, we could go 5 years with just 2 legit WS champions. And that's including the Cubs.

[pr0ner]

So the Marlins, Rays, Diamondbacks, Padres, Dodgers, Giants, Astros and Rangers are having theirs in Covid cesspools. I hope they plan to only play each other.

Already you have New York talking about banning travelers from Florida and other unmanaged states. Do they have a contingency for team planes being denied access to airport gates?

LOL to all of this.

Do you ever do any research on things on your own before making posts like these?

[El Guapo]

I kind of want a team with a longstanding draught (I think the Indians are the longest at this point?) to win, so that we can get endless "yes, we finally won!" vs. "Yeah, but not really" fan arguments.

[pr0ner]

I kind of want a team with a longstanding draught (I think the Indians are the longest at this point?) to win, so that we can get endless "yes, we finally won!" vs. "Yeah, but not really" fan arguments.

I kinda want to see the Marlins get hot and make the playoffs.

[Jaymann]

I kind of want a team with a longstanding draught (I think the Indians are the longest at this point?) to win, so that we can get endless "yes, we finally won!" vs. "Yeah, but not really" fan arguments.

The Padres went in '84 and '98 but lost both times.

[Octavious]

I kind of want a team with a longstanding draught (I think the Indians are the longest at this point?) to win, so that we can get endless "yes, we finally won!" vs. "Yeah, but not really" fan arguments.

I kinda want to see the Marlins get hot and make the playoffs.

NL East is going to be down to who beats the Marlins the most.