[ayaghmour2]

November 23rd, 2018: Free Agents file today, and here is who OSA thinks is the best in no perticular odrer:

3B Josh Donaldson
LHP Dalls Keuchel
RF Bryce Harper
LHP Clayton Kershaw
1B Daniel Murphey
CF Charlie Blackmon
LHP Andrew Miller
3B Adrian Beltre
2B Brian Dozier
C Jonathan Lucroy

I have a little more then $14 million to spend on contracts for this season, which is more then I've ever had to spend with the Marlins. My plan is to spend a little on a lot of players.

November 25th, 2018: The Mets acquired 2B Jurickson Profar from the Rangers for SS Ronny Mauricio. It's an absolute steal for the Mets, considering in this game, Mauricio is a 0.5 star.

November 27th, 2018: I locked up superstar lefty Zach Britton to a 4-year, $15 million per year deal. This year was amazing for Brit, allowing just 2 runs in 42 innings with 22 saves, a 0.43 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts.

November 28th, 2018: The Nationals acquired C John Hicks from the Tigers for 2B Matt W. Reynolds. I guess it's an even deal, although neither player is that good.

November 29th, 2018: The Rays traded LF Tommy Pham to the Indians for RHP's Landon Marceaux and Luis Dorantes, as well as C Micael Ramirez. Basically, the Rays got three below average prospecs for a solid big leauger.

December 1st, 2018: Here's an interesting one, long time Dodger Clayton Kershaw signed a 7-year, $216,200,000 contract with the Minneosta Twins. The final season, 2025, is a 180 inning pitched vesting optoin. "Kid K" is a career 153-69 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 2,306 strikeouts.

More signings will follow, including the Astros signing C Jonathan Lucroy to a 5-year, $27 million per year deal. He's a career .284/.345/.439 hitter with 11 homers and 516 RBI's with the Brewers, Rangers, Rockies, A's, and Red Sox.

Boston signed LHP Dallas Keuchel to a 4-year, $24.6 million per year deal. The longtime Astro is a career 75-58 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 1,126.2 innings. He won the Cy Young award in a dominant 2015 season where he was 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

The last big signing is the Yankees agreeing to a 4-year, $65.1 million contract with CF A.J. Pollock. The former Diamondback is a career .289/.350/.473 hitter who is coming of one of the best seasons of his career, hitting .296/.370/.501 season with 26 homers, 81 RBI's, and 30 steals. He was worth 5.5 wins above replacement as well.

They then acquired LHP Kevin Chapman and RHP Victor Munoz, as well as cash considerations, from the Rays for RF Eduardo Diaz and C Dominic Mirogilo. It's a nice deal for Arizona.

December 2nd, 2018: The Cardinals sent RHP Alvaro Seijas to the Pirates for RHP George Kontos. It's a nice deal for the Pirates.

December 3rd, 2018: I made a minor deal, sending Hunter Harvey to the White Sox for RF Luis Gonzalez. I wasn't willing to protect Harvey, and he might have been selected in the Rule-5 Draft.

Gonzalez, 23, is a lefty outfielder who's a plus defener out in right with great defensive abilities. He's got excellent speed and makes a lot of contact, but is more of a singles hitter. He's got 2.5 potential and was a 3rd Round selection by the Sox in 2017.

December 4th, 2018: Busy day, as three big free agents signed as well as an extension:

The Blue Jays signed CF Charlie Blackmon to a 5-year, $16.4 million per year deal. The former Rockie is a career .305/.361/.495 hitter with 137 homers and 433 RBI's, as well as 126 stolen bases.

The Dodgers signed 2B Brian Dozier to a 5-year, $17,920,000 per year contract. The long time Twin is a career .256/.333/.464 hitter with 187 homers and 579 RBI's. Last year, he hit .288/.364/.528 with 36 homers and a league leading 140 RBI's.

The Cardinals signed former Oriole SS/3B Manny Machado to a 4-year, $98 million contract. "Mr. Miami" is a career .279/.329/.476 hitter with 173 homers and 512 RBI's. This year he hit almost that same split, .276/.329/.476 with 35 homers and 106 RBI's with the Orioles and Blue Jays.

The Red Sox extended ace Chris Sale to a 6-year, $232,000,000 extension. This deal will be in effect starting in 2020, and he can opt out after 2022. "The Condor" is one of the best lefties in the league, and has a career 3.02 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 1,768 strikeouts in 1,520.1 innings.

December 6th, 2018: It's not a big deal, but I freed up a 40-Man spot and sent Bruce Rondon to the Yankees for 3B Nate Coronado. Coronado isn't really that good, but I don't have the best infield depth.

December 8th, 2018: I added to the big league roster today, signign SS Jose Iglesias to a 1-year, $1,100,000 contract. A quality defender at short, he's a career .270/.314/.357 hitter with both Boston and Detroit. He's in line to be the Opening Day shortstop.

I also added LF Michael A. Taylor to a 1-year, $1 million contrat. The speedy 27-year-old can man all three outfield spots and he offers a ltitle with the bat. 2018 was a down year, but in 2017 he hit .271/.320/.486 with 19 homers, 53 RBI's, and 14 steals in 399 at bats.s

The Rangers signed C Yasmani Grandal to a 2-year, $11.4 million per year contract. The switch hitting Cuban native is a career .243/.338/.442 hitter with 112 homers and 352 RBI's, although 2018 was his best season, hitting .260/.333/.472 with 23 homers and 81 RBI's.

With the acquisition of Blackmon, the Blue Jays moved CF Kevin Pillar to the Athletics for RF Stephen Piscotty. I like this deal for Oakland.

December 9th, 2018: I submitted my Hall of Fame ballot today. Here's the guys that made the cut:

LF Barry Bonds
SP Roy Halladay
1B Todd Helton
CF Andruw Jones
3B Edgar Martinez
SP Mike Mussina
CF Juan Pierre
CL Mariano Rivera
SS Omar Visquel
CL Billy Wagner

December 10th, 2018: The Winter Meetings start today!

The Blue Jays kicked off the meetings announcing the signign of 3B Adrian Beltre to a 2-year, $48 millon contract. The 39-year-old has played since 1998, and is a career .287/.341/.480 hitter with 483 homers and 1,735 RBI's. He's thier Josh Donaldson replacement.

The Dodgers signed SP Charlie Morton to a 3-year, $22.8 million contract. "Ground Chuck" is 63-84 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in his 11 year career.

The Mets acquired RHP Yusemerio Petit and LHP John Rooney from the Athletics for LF Ranfy Adon (not a typo for Randy) and RHP Bryce Hutchison. It's a good deal for the Mets.

The Blue Jays acquired former draftee RHP Anthony DeSclafani and LHP Jacob Heatherly from the Reds for RHP's Nate Pearson and Graham Spraker. It's a good deal for the Jays, althoug I definitely think Pearson is underrated.

I made a deal of my own, sending Dylan Bundy to the Rays for 2B Brandon Lowe and 3B Angel Francisco Lopez.

Lowe is the headliner, a 1.5/3.5 who I had to protect from the Rule-5 draft. He just has experience at second, but I'll likely move him around the diamond either in the spring or minors. He's a plus defender with a solid bat and plus eye. The 24-year-old looks to be the heir to Jonathan Schoop.

Lopez, 19, is rated at 2.5 potential and is still developing defensively. He's got decent foot speed and nice pop, but of course, the teenager is very raw.

December 11th, 2018: I signed SP Erasmo Ramirez to a $800,000 contract. Coming off a rough season with Seattle, Ramirez is a career 35-49 pitcher with a 4.71 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 209 appearences (109 starts). He's got pinpoint control and is rated a 2/2.5.

The Nationals signed RHP Jeurys Familia to a 1-year, $5.7 million contract. He has 109 career saves with a 2.66 ERA with the Mets.

The Braves signed Trevor Rosenthal to a 1-year, $6.9 million contract as he looks to rebiuld his valule. Having not pitched since 2017, Roesnthal was a once dominant closer with the Cardinals.

The Cardinals acquired LHP Blaine Hardy and RHP Alex Faedo from the Tigers for RF Jose Adolis Garcia. I like this deal for the Cardinals.

The Yankees traded CF Keon Broxton to the Royals for RHP Nathan Karns, RHP Yerelmy Garcia, and SS Nander De Sedas. It actualyly looks like a good deal for Kansas City, but I'm not buying De Sedas' 1* potential rating.

Lastly, the Rays acquired RHP Reid Redman and RHP Grant Holmes from the A's for 1B Jack Yalowitz. I like this deal for the Rays.

December 12th, 2018: The Nationals signed LF Michael Brantley to a 5-year, $53.5 million contract. The former Indian is definitley talented, but can "Dr. Smooth" remain healthy? He's a career .294/.349/.424 hitter with 75 homers and 492 RBI's, but hasn't topped 400 at bats in the past three seasons.

Next comes four trades, starting with the Marlins shipping RHP Drew Steckenrider to the Indians for 3B Nolan Jones and RHP Brandon McCabe. It looks like a steal for the Indians.

The Rockies sent LHP Tyler Anderson to the Blue Jays for C Danny Jansen. I like this deal for both teams, but I think Jansen will do great as a Rockie.

The Pirates sent C Francisco Cervelli to the Pirates for RHP Cole Ayers, 2B Mike Osinski, and C Gamaliel Gonzalez. It's a nice haul for the Pirates.

The Braves sent RHP Aaron Balir, 3B Johan Camargo, and cash considerations for the Angels for 2B Kaleb Cowart. It's a really good deal for the Angels.

December 13th, 2018: The Winter Meetings end today!

The Indians acquired RHP Liam Hendricks from Oakland for SS Willi Castro. It's a pretty good deal for both teams.

December 14th, 2018: The Braves signed RHP David Robertson to a 3-year, $44.6 million contract. He has 132 career saves with a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 653.2 innings.

December 15th, 2018: I purchased the contract of Ryan Burr in preperation for the Rule-5 Draft.

The Angles selected CF Jacob Hannemann from my organization. I didn't make a selection.

December 19th, 2018: I signed 2B Yolmer Sanchez to a 1-year, $1,000,000 contract. I have a trade pending from yesterday, so he will remained DFA'd. He can play all around the infield, is a good base runner, and has a decent bat. The switch hitter is rated a 1.5/2 and is a career .249/.296/.375 hitter with the White Sox.

December 20th, 2018: I traded RHP's Will Harris and David Hess to the Blue Jays for LHP Ryan Borucki, SS Logan Warmouth, and CF Alberto Rodriguez.

Borucki, 24, is rated a 1.5 potential as a SP, and will probably end up in the pen, but has three solid pitches. He doesn't throw too fast, but he keeps the ball on the ground.

Warmoth, 23, was their 1st Round pick last year, and the prize of the haul. He's a 1.5/3 who's a top quality defender at either middle infield spot. He's got great speed, a great eye, and makes a lot of contact. He doesn't hit many homers, or really any at all, but he rarely strikes out.

Rodriguez, 18, is a raw prospect, who will hit a lot of homers with his fair share of strikeouts. He's best suited for CF now, but may end up shifting to left. He's got solid speed and range, but he's a long way away in developmental terms.

This makes room for Sanchez on the active roster.

December 23rd, 2018: The Reds traded LF Adam Duvall to the Yankees for LHP Jordan Montgomery. It's a good deal for the Yanks, since Monty isn't a stud in this universe.

December 24th, 2018: I signed a pair of relievers today. First was LHP Boone Logan, who agreed to a $1 million contract. He had a rough 2018, but has three plus or better pitches, and plus-plus overall stuff. He's rated a 2.5, and gives me a dependable lefty out of the pen.

I also signed RHP Kelvin Herrera to a 2-year, $4 million per year deal. The 28-year-old is rated a 3*, and has 62 saves and a 2.94 ERA in 483 career innings.

I designated Andrew Cashner for assignment, and added both new signings to the 40.

December 25th, 2018: The Blue Jays acwuired RHP's Collin McHugh and Dakota Chalmers from Oakland for RHP's Jonathan Stiever and Patrick Murphy. It's an even deal.

December 26th, 2018: The Yankees signed big international free agent Hidetsgu "Road Runner" Naksone to a 7-year, $11.9 million per year contract. The 30-year-old from the Nippon Baseball League has a devestating change up that is a perfect compliment to a plus slider. He's a control artist who throws about 91-93 with his fastball.

December 28th, 2018: I made a big deal with the Dodgers, sending LHP Tanner Scott, LF Anthony Santander, and 2B Mason McCoy in exchange for C Will D. Smith, LF Brennen Davis, and SS Gavin Lux.

Smith, 23, is the gem, a 3.5 potential catcher who's an elite defender with a respectable bat. He's got decent speed and can play a little bit of infield as well. He's got solid pop and a good eye, and has great big league upside.

Davis, 19, is rated 4* potential in LF and has plus-plus power with plus contact ability and a great arm. I'm teaching him center now, but the spot he likely ends up in is right field. He's got a lot of developing left, but he's got exterme upside.

Last is the fleet-footed Lux who's rated a 3.5 potential at shortstop. He's a solid defender who may be better suited for second or third, but he's got a great eye and makes solid contact. He's got a little pop, but hits a lot of balls on the infield dirt.

The Angels signed LHP J.A. Happ to a 3-year, $43.8 million contract. He's a career 104-83 with a 3.85 ERA and 1,308 strikeouts in 1,537.1 innings.

THe Pirates signed C Wilson Ramos to a 5-year, $46,000,000 contract. He's a career .271 hitter with 119 homers and 431 RBI's.

I added Cashner back to the active roster, since I didn't want to release him, yet...

December 29th, 2018: The Reds traded RHP Alex Powers to the Red Soxc for RHP Alex Scherff. It looks like a steal for the Red Sox.

We'll pick this back up in 2019!