MLB

[Lament]

Looks like it's Smoltz and Maddux at the top (nine a piece), followed by Schilling, Terry Mulholland, and Chan Ho Park with eight a piece. He hit five off of Glavine.

[Coach]

"Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval Deals Tip of Iceberg for Latest Red Sox Reload"
good analysis: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2279 ... sox-reload

Like this part:

Immediately, Boston's bats are much, much better than they were in 2014, a season in which the team finished 71-91—last in the American League East—and ranked in the bottom five in the AL in runs (634), home runs (123) and on-base plus slugging (.684).

[philpritchard]

As a Jays fan, I prefer reading stuff like this:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/which-pa ... d-sox-buy/

Basically: heavy hitters tend to decline earlier and faster than average-sized hitters, and hitters who make a living on O-Contact% decline earlier and faster than other hitters. Put the two together into a unique player like Sandoval, and it could get ugly. Sandoval is a massive upgrade over what the Sox had at 3B last year, but there are some huge red flags there.

[Coach]

As a Jays fan, I prefer reading stuff like this:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/which-pa ... d-sox-buy/

Basically: heavy hitters tend to decline earlier and faster than average-sized hitters, and hitters who make a living on O-Contact% decline earlier and faster than other hitters. Put the two together into a unique player like Sandoval, and it could get ugly. Sandoval is a massive upgrade over what the Sox had at 3B last year, but there are some huge red flags there.

Agree, it's risky, but if things get ugly, the Sox can always trade Panda to the Dodgers.

[BigRedLedbetter]

I fully expected the Dodgers to sign Panda.

[philpritchard]

I fully expected the Dodgers to sign Panda.

They probably would have if Friedman wasn't on board. I assume they'll continue to have a high payroll, but Friedman's job is probably to make sure the money is spent wisely rather than just throwing money at everyone.

That's not to say the Sandoval signing can't work out to be a good deal, but the last few years the Dodgers just seem to say "Hey, he's better than what we have now... give him whatever he wants!"

[philpritchard]

Your move, AL East.

[Norah]

It must be a lot more fun to be a Blue Jays fan in the winter than in the summer.

[numbers]

love this deal for Toronto.

[philpritchard]

I feel like Lawrie is ready to break out (if he can stay healthy), and I like the prospects they gave up (particularly Barreto) but they just got the best 3B in the league.

[Norah]

You just got Adrian Beltre?

[philpritchard]

Sorry, I meant the CURRENT best 3B. I should have been more clear.

Second in the AL in bWAR the last two years behind Mike Trout.

[numbers]

Donaldson has been killing it the last couple years, he's def the top 3B in the league.

[BigRedLedbetter]

As big of a Beltre guy as I am I'd have to agree that Donaldson is the probably the best 3rd baseman in the game now. Great trade for the Jays. When I heard this trade I thought they probably had to give up Marcus Stroman. Nope. Or maybe Daniel Norris or Dalton Pompey? Nope. When you make a trade like this and keep your farm from being ravaged it's a good roll of the dice IMHO.

As a Ranger backer I'm pretty excited for the winter meetings. I think some craziness is upon us. Heyward and Donaldson were both traded and neither trade involved top prospects. As stacked as the Rangers system is if they can land some pitching or a corner OF without trading Jorge Alfaro or Joey Gallo I will be thrilled.

[numbers]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

Agreed. Didn't even think of that. JoDo and Shark for Swihart, Cecchini, Ranaudo and Rodriguez sounds doable.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Just read on Twitter that Wade Boggs hit .369 in his career at Fenway. Haha that is just stupid. Nebraska boys represent!

[philpritchard]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

I don't think they had a piece like Lawrie to give up though unless they dealt Betts or Bogaerts.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Red Sox should have tried to get Donaldson and Shark from Oakland, it might have been doable without giving up Betts or Owens.

I don't think they had a piece like Lawrie to give up though unless they dealt Betts or Bogaerts.

Bogaerts would make sense in a trade like that. Lawrie is really underrated and young enough where I think he can get a lot better.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Lament Sox trying to get Shark.