I think it's a good deal for the Reds. They get rid of Bailey's salary and don't have financial commitments to Kemp or Puig beyond this year. They get a decent left-handed pitcher. The Dodgers have to eat Bailey's contract - MLBN is reporting he's already been released, but they off-load Kemp's salary and Puig's baggage to make room for their younger players, and maybe go after Harper. And they get a couple of prospects from the Reds. 

APIAD wrote:

These trades confuse me

Reds got:

Kemp - 22 million
Puig - 7.5 million
Wood - 6 million
+7mill

Dodgers got:

Baily - 23 million

So if you figure a couple million dollar raise for puig and wood the red salary intake is 32.5 million when you figure in the 7 million cash they also received.

The dodgers would only save 5.5 million.  Thats not a lot of salary relief.

Puig and Wood are projected to make between $22-24M this season. Bailey’s number for purposes of the luxury tax is on $17.5M (its the AAV of his contract). The Dodgers get about $20M in luxury tax relief. Plus they create room on their roster.

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

These trades confuse me

Reds got:

Kemp - 22 million
Puig - 7.5 million
Wood - 6 million
+7mill

Dodgers got:

Baily - 23 million

So if you figure a couple million dollar raise for puig and wood the red salary intake is 32.5 million when you figure in the 7 million cash they also received.

The dodgers would only save 5.5 million.  Thats not a lot of salary relief.

Puig and Wood are projected to make between $22-24M this season. Bailey’s number for purposes of the luxury tax is on $17.5M (its the AAV of his contract). The Dodgers get about $20M in luxury tax relief. Plus they create room on their roster.

Thats a hell of raise for puig and wood but it does make the trade make sense to me.

I dont see this as doing much for the reds.  They are not going to be above average.  It does give them 2 pieces to dish out at the deadline if they produce.

Cots projects Puig at $12.5 and Wood at $9.5. Obviously those are just guesses, but they’re usually pretty close.

Here’s an interesting tidbit I got over the weekend and how it plays out will speak volumes about the front ofice’s commitment to winning versus its commitment to putting on a front for the fans

Apparently Martinez wants to close. Schildt wants him to close, and most of the coaching staff wants him to close. Martinez doesn’t want to put in the work he needs to put in to be a top of the rotation starter. He’s lazy. He doesn’t like to show up early to the ballpark and he doesn’t like attending the pregame strategy meeting to get ready for facing a lineup 3 or 4 times. Hence his inconsistency. But as the closer, he can get away with being lazy and get by on pure stuff.

Problem is the front office wants him to start. If he’s a successful starter, then Moz looks smart signing him to an extension because he’s pitching at a bargain price. If he’s in the bullpen, his salary isn’t a bargain and the extension doesn’t look as good. Since Moz has missed on most of the recent extensions, he’s desperate for a “win” even if it means forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Chad’s wish list—let Martinez close and go sign an established starter to fill the last spot in the rotation. But it’s unlikely to happen.

forsberg_us wrote:

Here’s an interesting tidbit I got over the weekend and how it plays out will speak volumes about the front ofice’s commitment to winning versus its commitment to putting on a front for the fans

Apparently Martinez wants to close. Schildt wants him to close, and most of the coaching staff wants him to close. Martinez doesn’t want to put in the work he needs to put in to be a top of the rotation starter. He’s lazy. He doesn’t like to show up early to the ballpark and he doesn’t like attending the pregame strategy meeting to get ready for facing a lineup 3 or 4 times. Hence his inconsistency. But as the closer, he can get away with being lazy and get by on pure stuff.

I believe the Orioles guy whose real name I couldn't recall was Don Stanback or something like that.  Earl Weaver called referred to him as "Full Pack."

Problem is the front office wants him to start. If he’s a successful starter, then Moz looks smart signing him to an extension because he’s pitching at a bargain price. If he’s in the bullpen, his salary isn’t a bargain and the extension doesn’t look as good. Since Moz has missed on most of the recent extensions, he’s desperate for a “win” even if it means forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Chad’s wish list—let Martinez close and go sign an established starter to fill the last spot in the rotation. But it’s unlikely to happen.

Interesting.  It seems like baseball has a history of flakes who performed well as closers for a period of time.  Grover Cleveland Alexander, though I don't know how much of my opinion of him is Hollywood, Elroy Face, and Stan the Man Unusual come to mind.  Probably the stress of being on call every day would be too great on most normal people with a decent sense of responsibly.
There doesn't seem to be much argument about Cards ownership being more concerned with keeping fans in the stands than winning it all but somehow what you've described sounds more like Mo's target audience on this issue would be DeWitt rather than the fans.
 

Last edited by Mags (12/27/2018 2:19 pm)

If martinez can be a premium closer his 11.5 million dollar price tag is probably market value.  Also, if you are attacking this from the angle of business moves what is more valuable; a underpaid average starter or a slightly overpaid good closer.

APIAD wrote:

If martinez can be a premium closer his 11.5 million dollar price tag is probably market value. Also, if you are attacking this from the angle of business moves what is more valuable; a underpaid average starter or a slightly overpaid good closer.

You've hit on it, right here.  Mozeliak wants Martinez to be an Ace, because then the contract looks like a home run.  As a closer, he's just being paid market value and that doesn't make Moz look all that smart.

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

If martinez can be a premium closer his 11.5 million dollar price tag is probably market value. Also, if you are attacking this from the angle of business moves what is more valuable; a underpaid average starter or a slightly overpaid good closer.

You've hit on it, right here.  Mozeliak wants Martinez to be an Ace, because then the contract looks like a home run.  As a closer, he's just being paid market value and that doesn't make Moz look all that smart.

Self preservation is always a factor with anyones job.  My advice to Moz would be that there is no substitute for winning.

Andujar is a butcher defensively and they can't DH him because of Stanton.  Also, Gregorious is out most of next year after having TJ surgery.

If they sign Machado, they'll look to move Andujar

APIAD wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Andujar is a butcher defensively and they can't DH him because of Stanton.  Also, Gregorious is out most of next year after having TJ surgery.

If they sign Machado, they'll look to move Andujar

Ill file it under "things i dont know about AL baseball".

According to Baseball Reference, Andujar was -30 in defensive runs saved.  To give you a point of comparison, Carpenter was +2 at third base.  -30 is really, really bad.

Pirates sign tyler lyons to a minor league contract

APIAD wrote:

Yankees get tulo for minimum

Good thinking. Replace a guy who can't play with a guy who hasn't played in over a year.