MLB 2023 Season(includes Free Agency)
 

Looks like Justin Verlander cashed in with the Mets.

I'm not sure this was the best investment for them I must say, though they can probably afford him as much as anyone.

Thanks for starting this thread, monkeyman. It occurred to me as I was updating the MLB rules thread that there's no reason to wait until New Year's to be talking about the 2023 season. There's going to be a lot of interesting baseball things to talk about next year! Let's go!

Trea Turner to the Phillies. A lot of money going to the NL East today!

Yeah, but where's he playing? I thought the Phillies already had a good SS and 3B team. 2B?

Answer: 3B Alec Bohm, yes. 2B Jean Segura, yes (for now). SS Bryson Stott? Not so much. Looks like he's out of a job as a starter.

EDIT: Maybe Stott isn't so unhappy after all, because I just read that the Phillies had declined an option on Segura.

But 11 years? Turner's already 29!

1) History keeps repeating itself, or

2) The Phillies are cognizant of the risk at the back end of the contract. Basically, they are paying for whatever good seasons Turner has left and spreading it over all 11 years.

Take your pick.

I think the NL East has a do whatever it takes to sign someone so other teams in the division don't get them philosophy.

Turner has some experience in CF and the Phillies don't have anything special there... ???

The Dodgers have re-signed Kershaw, but lost one of the game's top players in T Turner, and lost a very solid - if somewhat unexpected - part of their rotation last year in Tyler Anderson... I'm wondering what their plan is. I hope it's not to simply shift Lux to SS and play Muncy & Taylor at 2B. All three of those guys were already part of the everyday lineup (usually) so that plan still leaves a huge hole at the top o' the order... And with Buehler out for the year, Kershaw no spring chicken, and Gonsolin coming off injury, they need some starting pitching depth, for sure...

Taylor was a shortstop in Seattle (battling Brad Miller for the job), so perhaps LA would simply move him there and leave Lux unbothered?

I'm thinking that they will like Taylor in more of a part-time starter in the OF, and part-time Swiss Army Knife role. And that they will want a pretty stable & permanent option at SS.

One thing mentioned is Aaron Judge to LA in RF, and Mookie moving to 2B (which puts Lux at SS). Sounds like Judge is going to SF, though, unfortunately.

Aaron Judge signed with the Yankees. apparently winning rings isn't a priority.

I realize this is 2022 data but it's a recent article so I will share it here. Sounds like more controversy. Baseball can't seem to get out of its own way if true.

https://www.insider.com/mlb-used-two...-third-2022-12

Contreras to the Cardinals, apparently. Rather have Murphy, but second best is better than what the Cards have now.

San Diego Padres: The fifth smallest media market in baseball, now have three mega contracts: Xander Bogaerts added to Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis, Jr. And, presumably, they will make an attempt to retain Juan Soto after 2024.

Whimsical thought: Sometimes I wonder how Baseball (capital "B") survives in this state.

Think of Boston fans who have idolized Bogaerts for the past 10 years. Know his stats, wear his jersey, follow his every move.

Then, boom, he's gone. Don't really care a whit about Boston; just wants more money.

Yet it seems to work somehow; most fans readily adjust their adulation to new stars, apparently. I just wonder sometimes.

I really thought Bogaerts was gonna join Betts with the Dodgers.

That's what I've been telling yous guys. Segura was gone as soon as he became a free agent. They let him walk instead of 17 million. That's why I said they had an open spot. Stott played quite a bit of 2nd and also ss. So yeah I would give Turner 10 million more than Segura's 17 to play ss.

Boston doesn't care about Boegarts either. If they had a chance to upgrade their position in a trade, they would. That's capitalism.

Brooklyn, eh? Well I've lived in close enough proximity to the borough myself, so I use the phrase, too. But it's spelled "youse guys"! :mad:(;))

I was thinking of the fans (the true ones, not the dilettantes), and not the organization. But I was also saying they will have no problem filling Fenway Park next season, even so. While some fans will mourn the loss of Boegarts, most have short attention spans.

Would've loved that (as a Dodger fan). He was my 2nd choice after re-signing Trea (which was always unlikely)... Now I'm hoping for Swanson. Unlikely, though, as it looks like LA is going to stand pat re the bigger free agents, and will probably try to snag a decent but less-impactful player - probably an outfielder - via trade...