News and Notes for Monday, December 9th, 2024
The free agency and trade lull should be over as the big name at the top of the market signed yesterday. That’s right, Dakota Hudson signed with the Ang... ok, ok, enough jokes. By now, you probably know that Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets.
That’s a lot of money and doesn’t sound like there are any significant defferals here, because Steve Cohen is one of the top 100 richest human beings on the planet who is also a fan of his team. So, just as you, a baseball fan, have probably entertained the fantasy of just being so rich you can get any player you want to play for your favorite baseball team, so has Cohen. The difference is he has the ways and means to make that dream a reality.
I’m pretty confident we are headed for a lengthy lockout in 2027 as MLB and the players’ union negotiate a new labor deal. As a baseball fan, I am tentatively planning on catching up on all my to-read, to-do and to-watch list that year and writing a novel I’ve had in my head for a while because we may very well miss an entire season as baseball figures out how to better spread the wealth among more players and teams. I have nothing against Soto and the players - labor getting more of what they’re due for the value they produce is always a plus in my opinion. But, I don’t think it’s sustainable for 25 teams to know they have zero shot to sign the top of the market free agents and for some players to be making more than several teams’ active payrolls.
I have seen many people say “baseball is broken,” which is silly. Baseball is obviously quite healthy given that the best hitter got a contract closer to a billion dollars than to $500 million. It’s awesome that Soto chose the Mets over the Yankees and I’m enjoying Yankee fans tears. And because of the pure nature of the very game itself, buying the 26 best players will never guarantee a team a championship. But, there’s no doubt the Mets and Dodgers are making their odds immensely better with every offseason as they spend money that other organizations and ownership groups don’t have at their disposal. There is also no doubt that just about every owner could spend MORE than what they do and will have to do so if they want to increase their odds at winning titles in the current market.
Blake Treinen did also re-up with the aforementioned Dodgers for 2 years and $22 million. He looked absolutely dominant for them as their closer in their World Series title run this season. The Dodgers also reportedly agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Michael Conforto yesterday and hope to sign Teoscar Hernandez also for a super-platoon in right field. Conforto was the only free agent outfielder I was interested in for the Guardians so I’d prefer they explore upgrading their via trade (and focus in the meantime on finding one or two starting pitchers in a deep free agent market, instead).
Rumors continue to swirl about teams like the Cubs and Reds being interested in Josh Naylor, and the Reds being interested in Lane Thomas, as well. Again, I wouldn’t put too much stock into teams being interested in either player - I’m sure they are, and I’m sure the Guardians will be happy to listen. I really doubt either player is moved unless some kind of creative deal can be reached that benefits both club’s major league roster... and that seems far-fetched.
The Winter Meetings have begun in earnest, with the MLB draft lottery at 7:30PM EDT on Tuesday and the rule 5 draft at 2pm on Wednesday. Let’s see what the next few days bring!
