I tried to read the section about the changes to the process governing qualifying offers and ended up with an ice cream headache.
I'm going to lie down now.

A 5mill cap is small.  Maybe im misunderstanding but 5 million is a shock to me.  This explains why the cardinals were more aggressive in the past draft.

I agree with artie.  The compensation is confusing.  To me it really doesnt discourage teams from signing a player anymore which im sure was the players unions goal. 

Im not sure how the luxury tax works.  It isnt something the Cardinals deal with.  So if the dodgers are 40million over the cap and have to pay a 92% tax they write mlb a check for 37 million dollars?

don.rob11 wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I tried to read the section about the changes to the process governing qualifying offers and ended up with an ice cream headache.
I'm going to lie down now.

 
I'll probably do like I usually do , and just watch the games , and let all that other stuff just take care of itself .

I enjoy the strategic building of a mlb franchise.  I think it sets baseball apart from other sports.

APIAD wrote:

A 5mill cap is small. Maybe im misunderstanding but 5 million is a shock to me. This explains why the cardinals were more aggressive in the past draft.

I agree with artie. The compensation is confusing. To me it really doesnt discourage teams from signing a player anymore which im sure was the players unions goal.

Im not sure how the luxury tax works. It isnt something the Cardinals deal with. So if the dodgers are 40million over the cap and have to pay a 92% tax they write mlb a check for 37 million dollars?

Couple of thoughts: 

Yes, the international cap is really small and apparently inflexible.  I'm sure the idea was to try to give all 32 teams a chance.  A few years ago the Red Sox signed a kid to a $30M+ bonus.  That can't happen now.  I think the take-away from this is that the players' union doesn't give a crap about the international amateurs.  Also (and I could be wrong about this), but I don't think it applies to the older international players.  So with someone like Jose Abreu, for example, I think teams can still engage in a bidding war because he's an international free agent.  I think this affects the teenagers.

Two things about the free agent tender: 1) I think it makes it a lot less likely teams will tender marginal guys.  With the reward being only a 3rd round pick, it's not really worth taking a chance that a player like Brendan Moss accepts the tender.  2) This will absolutely free up player movement (a big win for the players).  Players like Kyle Lohse, Nelson Cruz and Kendrys Morales made it through the entire off-season unsigned because teams weren't willing to give up a first round pick.  I doubt many teams will fret over losing a 3rd rounder.

As to the luxury tax, yes, the Dodgers would write a check to MLB for $37M and that money is then redistributed to the small market teams.  

forsberg_us wrote:

Garcia traded to the Braves for 2 minor league pitchers and a minor league 2B (Lenny Dykstra's kid)

Good call by mo to pick up his option.  These are basicly free players for the cards system.  Idk what the braves are doing.  They have a very injury prone staff.

forsberg_us wrote:

Garcia traded to the Braves for 2 minor league pitchers and a minor league 2B (Lenny Dykstra's kid)

Let's hope the apple falls very far from the tree.

Just looking at their stats, it doesn't look like the Cards have gotten anything significant in return.  But I've learned through experience that stats aren't too reliable when it comes to minor leaguers.  At the same time, these are 3 guys that have been floundering in the minor leagues below one of the worst major league teams we've seen in years.

My guess is that it's a salary dump on Mo's part with a cheap way to add some depth to the minor league rosters.  He was probably on the phone shopping Garcia well before they actually exercised the option.

From the Braves standpoint, it's a rather expensive gamble that they hope will give them a few quality starts at the cost of 3 guys who don't figure into their long range plans.
 

artie_fufkin wrote:

Does my sanity qualify as "significant?"

There was probably a time when it would have.
 

I doubt that any of these players are significant prospects, and this was clearly the plan when Moz exercised Jaime's option.  They got something rather than nothing.

I don't know if "floundering in the minors" is a fair characterization.  Ellis was drafted in 2014, started last season in AA and finished in AAA.  He was only in the Braves organization a year as he was acquired as part of the Andrelton Simmons deal.

Gant actually pitched in the big leagues last year.  Someone reminded me that he pitched against the Cardinals early in the year, and there was some question about the legality of his delivery because he has a funky double leg kick.  I sort of remember that, but don't remember being overly impressed with his stuff.

Dykstra was drafted in 2014 and played his first full season of minor league ball last year.  He hit over .300, but it appears to be almost impossible to walk him (6 walks in 230 plate appearances).

The pitchers are just depth guys--they replace Cooney and Lyons as AAA starters.  Although I've read that Ellis' fastball/slider may translate better as a reliever.

 

Wouldn't it be something if he shines for the Braves and they get another haul at the deadline like they did with Miller? And if it's the Cubs? And THEN his arm falls off?

I agree that the braves (if they dont win) might be a place garcia thrives.  I find it interesting the braves are in the bidding for sales.  I am sure they wont win but say they did.

Sales
Dickey
Garcia
Colon
???

Wtf kind of roation is that.

APIAD wrote:

Maness was not offered a contract.  They must not think he will recover from his elbow surgery.  I didnt see this coming.  Figured he was for sure to stay with the team.  Overall, not a big factor.

He probably doesn't have a spot on the team.

Barring a trade, the rotation looks something like Martinez, Lynn, Wainwright, Leake, Reyes/Wacha. The bullpen is Rosenthal, Oh, Siegrist, Cecil, Bowman, Broxton, Wacha/Reyes.

And that doesn't account for Weaver, Gonzalez, the guys they just got from Atlanta or anyone else from last year's Memphis roster.

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

Maness was not offered a contract.  They must not think he will recover from his elbow surgery.  I didnt see this coming.  Figured he was for sure to stay with the team.  Overall, not a big factor.

He probably doesn't have a spot on the team.

Doesnt look like a bad  list.  Just a matter of what version of each player shows up.

Barring a trade, the rotation looks something like Martinez, Lynn, Wainwright, Leake, Reyes/Wacha. The bullpen is Rosenthal, Oh, Siegrist, Cecil, Bowman, Broxton, Wacha/Reyes.

And that doesn't account for Weaver, Gonzalez, the guys they just got from Atlanta or anyone else from last year's Memphis roster.

APIAD wrote:

Holliday to the yankees for 13 mill, one year.

The word "conflicted" comes to mind. As in, seeing a really, really good guy go to a team I loathe makes me conflicted.