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Art Deco · 11-16-2021, 11:51 PM

Well there it is, the big trade we've been working on:

Joey Bart has found a new home. The trade was unpopular with the fans and with the players, who considered him a team leader, but a $6M backup catcher is a luxury we really couldn't afford. The return was very good, starting with Levi Kelly. The righty has premium stuff and decent control and movement:

These are his ratings as a reliever, his stuff only drops to 65 as a starter. You could say we now have 9 starters with the main 5 from last season, Kelly, the recently-acquired JT Ginn, Luis Garcia and Matt Peacock, so we're building up a glut there and another trade could be made. But this deal just wasn't about Kelly, it was also about Ed Howard:

The 23-year old was a first round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2020 and although he's moved off short (which he can still play when needed), he's an excellent 2B and with Brandon Lowe's contract up after next year, we needed an heir apparent at that position (although last year's draftee Brendan McNair has a shot as well). As you can see above, this is a well-rounded profile and although he won't be the slugger Lowe is he's no banjo hitter either.

We did also have to give up Sandy Gaston and Mason Miller, both of whom are C+ prospects with Gaston having a shot at 4th or 5th starter-dom. Miller has a great curveball but has a lot of developing to do.

December 9: The first MLB free agents of significance signed with Patrick Corbin going to the Cardinals on a 3/32 deal and former Rays bullpen stalwart Diego Castillo inking a 3/9.7 deal with the Mets. Also the Braves have traded off 2 of their starters with Bryse Wilson (who is coming off a lousy year) to the Pirates for prospects, and Kyle Wright (who is coming off a good year) to the Nationals for prospects as well.

December 11: Veteran reliever Blake Treinen, who resurrected his career with a 31-save season in Colorado last year, signed for 2/12.6 with Atlanta. Meanwhile the Nationals, having acquired Joey Bart, dealt their catcher from last year Jackson Reetz to the White Sox for OF Blake Rutherford. Both are solid .260-15-70-types who play good defense.

December 18: Added C Corey Collins, OFs Andrew Greckel, Nick Schnell and Jhon Diaz, 3B/P Kelly Crumpton and P Ryan Bergert to the 40-man roster.

Rule 5 time. Collins and Greckel didn't have to be added to the 40-man but I expect both to be on the active roster with Greckel a starting OF (at least against RHP) and Collins the backup catcher. I've talked about Greckel but Collins is a quality catching prospect we drafted in the 2nd round in 2023 who's moved rapidly through the system. He has 25 HR power and he's a 60 defensively and he can hit .240-.250. Schnell and Diaz are good OF prospects I didn't want to lose; Schnell could hit .260 with 20 homers and good speed and defense while Diaz is an outstanding defender with developing power. Crumpton is likely a full-time 3B and he has potential 75 power although he's a mediocre defender. Bergert has pitched very well in the minors with a 4.1 WAR season in AA, although his ceiling is probably 4th/5th starter.

December 19: Although 7 players were taken in the Rule 5 draft, none were from us with a couple of vets (Danny Santana and Kole Calhoun) being picked.

December 20: Boston and Houston hooked up on a pretty decent-sized trade with utilityman Chris Taylor going to the Astros for pitcher Robbie Ray.

December 23: In former Rays pitcher news, Ryan Yarbrough signed a 3/27 deal to stay with the Cubs where he pitched decently last season and he will be joined by former teammate Collin McHugh as the righty, who had a nice year in Detroit's rotation, signed for 1/3.5.

December 26: Another former Rays pitcher on the move as Mike Clevinger goes to Colorado for 2/7.6, we wish him luck with the altitude.

December 31: The biggest free agent signing yet came today as Atlanta inked 3B Yoan Moncada to a 6/103 pact.

January 5: Two more former Rays relievers on the move, both heading to Boston: Alex Colome for 2/5 and Rafael Dolis for 1/2.5.

January 9: Chad Green, who had closed for the Dodgers the last couple of years, signed a big 3/33.9 deal to do the same for the Cubs. Speaking of the Dodgers they brought back Max Muncy, who had spent two years in Colorado, for 4/67.2.

January 15: The Hall of Fame voting is, and we have one inductee:

Congrats to CC Sabathia for making it on his first year of eligibility. I thought Carlos Beltran would make it after coming close last season but he's crept up from 65-68-72 so he probably gets in next year. Manny Ramirez made a good run in his penultimate year of eligibility as well.

January 18: Blockbuster trade, especially as the AI goes with the Dodgers sending Keibert Ruiz to the Braves for Max Fried, with Atlanta picking up some of his salary. Also there was a BNN story reporting rumors that Nick Anderson was looking to sign in Detroit.

January 28: I wasn't expecting this, but OK:

Not exactly a major media market, and that's now 4 teams in Texas, but OK.

February 3: Speaking of new teams in Texas, the San Antonio Alamos signed Trevor Story on a 2/31.2 deal.

February 4: The White Sox appear to be in a rebuild as they shipped one of the better starters in the AL, Dylan Cease, to the Phillies for 3 prospects. Cease was entering his last year of team control.

February 7: And there goes Nick Anderson. Not to Detroit but to the Mets for 2/23.6, in my opinion not a good deal at all as Anderson is no longer the dominating reliever he was a few years back. His stuff has dropped from 80 to 65 while his movement remains terrible at 40, a blown save waiting to happen.

February 9: Filling their Trevor Story-sized hole at SS, the Rockies signed Didi Gregorius to a 2/26 deal.

February 11: This one shocked me, as the Cardinals signed SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a massive 7/135 contract. IKF is coming a big year that saw him hit .353 in San Antonio and earn 4.0 WAR, but he's probably more a .280 hitter and a 2.5 WAR guy.

February 12: Jorge Polanco leaves after spending his whole career in Minnesota to take a 4/40.2 deal with the Royals.

February 17: The biggest name left on the free agent market finally signed as Jose Abreu leaves Boston for Texas for 2/37.6. Abreu is now 38 but is showing now signs of slowing down, averaging .300-30-100 during his two years in Beantown.

11-16-2021, 11:51 PM	#349
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,544	2024-25 Offseason, Part 2 Well there it is, the big trade we've been working on: Joey Bart has found a new home. The trade was unpopular with the fans and with the players, who considered him a team leader, but a $6M backup catcher is a luxury we really couldn't afford. The return was very good, starting with Levi Kelly. The righty has premium stuff and decent control and movement: These are his ratings as a reliever, his stuff only drops to 65 as a starter. You could say we now have 9 starters with the main 5 from last season, Kelly, the recently-acquired JT Ginn, Luis Garcia and Matt Peacock, so we're building up a glut there and another trade could be made. But this deal just wasn't about Kelly, it was also about Ed Howard: The 23-year old was a first round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2020 and although he's moved off short (which he can still play when needed), he's an excellent 2B and with Brandon Lowe's contract up after next year, we needed an heir apparent at that position (although last year's draftee Brendan McNair has a shot as well). As you can see above, this is a well-rounded profile and although he won't be the slugger Lowe is he's no banjo hitter either. We did also have to give up Sandy Gaston and Mason Miller, both of whom are C+ prospects with Gaston having a shot at 4th or 5th starter-dom. Miller has a great curveball but has a lot of developing to do. December 9: The first MLB free agents of significance signed with Patrick Corbin going to the Cardinals on a 3/32 deal and former Rays bullpen stalwart Diego Castillo inking a 3/9.7 deal with the Mets. Also the Braves have traded off 2 of their starters with Bryse Wilson (who is coming off a lousy year) to the Pirates for prospects, and Kyle Wright (who is coming off a good year) to the Nationals for prospects as well. December 11: Veteran reliever Blake Treinen, who resurrected his career with a 31-save season in Colorado last year, signed for 2/12.6 with Atlanta. Meanwhile the Nationals, having acquired Joey Bart, dealt their catcher from last year Jackson Reetz to the White Sox for OF Blake Rutherford. Both are solid .260-15-70-types who play good defense. December 18: Added C Corey Collins, OFs Andrew Greckel, Nick Schnell and Jhon Diaz, 3B/P Kelly Crumpton and P Ryan Bergert to the 40-man roster. Rule 5 time. Collins and Greckel didn't have to be added to the 40-man but I expect both to be on the active roster with Greckel a starting OF (at least against RHP) and Collins the backup catcher. I've talked about Greckel but Collins is a quality catching prospect we drafted in the 2nd round in 2023 who's moved rapidly through the system. He has 25 HR power and he's a 60 defensively and he can hit .240-.250. Schnell and Diaz are good OF prospects I didn't want to lose; Schnell could hit .260 with 20 homers and good speed and defense while Diaz is an outstanding defender with developing power. Crumpton is likely a full-time 3B and he has potential 75 power although he's a mediocre defender. Bergert has pitched very well in the minors with a 4.1 WAR season in AA, although his ceiling is probably 4th/5th starter. December 19: Although 7 players were taken in the Rule 5 draft, none were from us with a couple of vets (Danny Santana and Kole Calhoun) being picked. December 20: Boston and Houston hooked up on a pretty decent-sized trade with utilityman Chris Taylor going to the Astros for pitcher Robbie Ray. December 23: In former Rays pitcher news, Ryan Yarbrough signed a 3/27 deal to stay with the Cubs where he pitched decently last season and he will be joined by former teammate Collin McHugh as the righty, who had a nice year in Detroit's rotation, signed for 1/3.5. December 26: Another former Rays pitcher on the move as Mike Clevinger goes to Colorado for 2/7.6, we wish him luck with the altitude. December 31: The biggest free agent signing yet came today as Atlanta inked 3B Yoan Moncada to a 6/103 pact. January 5: Two more former Rays relievers on the move, both heading to Boston: Alex Colome for 2/5 and Rafael Dolis for 1/2.5. January 9: Chad Green, who had closed for the Dodgers the last couple of years, signed a big 3/33.9 deal to do the same for the Cubs. Speaking of the Dodgers they brought back Max Muncy, who had spent two years in Colorado, for 4/67.2. January 15: The Hall of Fame voting is, and we have one inductee: Congrats to CC Sabathia for making it on his first year of eligibility. I thought Carlos Beltran would make it after coming close last season but he's crept up from 65-68-72 so he probably gets in next year. Manny Ramirez made a good run in his penultimate year of eligibility as well. January 18: Blockbuster trade, especially as the AI goes with the Dodgers sending Keibert Ruiz to the Braves for Max Fried, with Atlanta picking up some of his salary. Also there was a BNN story reporting rumors that Nick Anderson was looking to sign in Detroit. January 28: I wasn't expecting this, but OK: Not exactly a major media market, and that's now 4 teams in Texas, but OK. February 3: Speaking of new teams in Texas, the San Antonio Alamos signed Trevor Story on a 2/31.2 deal. February 4: The White Sox appear to be in a rebuild as they shipped one of the better starters in the AL, Dylan Cease, to the Phillies for 3 prospects. Cease was entering his last year of team control. February 7: And there goes Nick Anderson. Not to Detroit but to the Mets for 2/23.6, in my opinion not a good deal at all as Anderson is no longer the dominating reliever he was a few years back. His stuff has dropped from 80 to 65 while his movement remains terrible at 40, a blown save waiting to happen. February 9: Filling their Trevor Story-sized hole at SS, the Rockies signed Didi Gregorius to a 2/26 deal. February 11: This one shocked me, as the Cardinals signed SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a massive 7/135 contract. IKF is coming a big year that saw him hit .353 in San Antonio and earn 4.0 WAR, but he's probably more a .280 hitter and a 2.5 WAR guy. February 12: Jorge Polanco leaves after spending his whole career in Minnesota to take a 4/40.2 deal with the Royals. February 17: The biggest name left on the free agent market finally signed as Jose Abreu leaves Boston for Texas for 2/37.6. Abreu is now 38 but is showing now signs of slowing down, averaging .300-30-100 during his two years in Beantown. Last edited by Art Deco; 11-17-2021 at 09:47 PM.