Put Me In Coach

And at last, here we are at the start of spring training. This offseason was anything but an off season for big league managers and front offices. The looming questions that needed answers such as who to sign, how much to pay them, how long to sign them for, who’s worth giving up a first round draft pick, and the list of questions goes on. With Ian Desmond possibly going to the Rockies to fill in for Jose Reyes while he is suspended and Dexter Fowler resigning with the Chicago Cubs, the list of “talent” still out there is not all that good. It’s no big surprise teams are trading for prospects instead of inking deals with the free agents still out there. Last week the Brewers continued their rebuilding by trading Khris Davis to the Oakland A’s for prospects Bubba Derby (RHP) and Jacob Nottingham (C). Why not go to the free agent pool and sign a veteran or two? In all honesty, would it really hurt a team like the Brewers, Reds, Phillies, or Orioles to sign some of these guys?

The answer is yes it would and heres why. Owners are not willing to give up a first round draft pick unless it comes with a huge discount. These teams are all loading up on prospects that they want to coach and get playing time to dial in their  skill set. If you deviate from that plan it will stunt the growth of these young players. The unsigned free agents out there remain unsigned for a reason, they are just not that good. Baseball is a young mans game and just because the players are known names, doesn’t mean owners and managers want them on their rosters. Their wins above replacement (WAR), although they might look good on paper for a team that is in a rebuilding phase, are not the way to go. If you take a team the like the Phillies, that has almost nothing but young players that have yet to prove them self on a big league level, the WAR for a veteran is going to be skewed. Take those same players WAR on the Toronto Blue Jays or the New York Mets and you will find different results. MLB is all about PECOTA these days, but it too has yet to prove anything since it’s seldom correct. In fact, former big leaguer and MLB Analyst, Harold Reynolds, thinks baseball should get rid of PECOTA all together. You have to stick to your plan of rebuilding, even if it means going into a season your team is looking at 60-65 wins. Here’s a full list of players that remain on the unsigned.

With that being said, this does not mean that these players will remain unsigned. Keep in mind that spring training injuries will open the door for players to come prove themselves to a club. There will also be injuries during the season or players that just don’t cut it on the big league level. Last year, Adam Wainwright went down early on for the Cardinals so they had to rely heavily on their pipeline of talent. If that happens to a club this year they could look to a pitcher like Tim Lincecum or Jeremy Guthrie to eat innings and hopefully contribute in the rotation. Looking at the list of players, there are guys that could step into a role on a team at almost every position. One of the issues teams are facing is how much these players are wanting to be paid. After having a career year in 2015, Fowler turned down a qualifying offer from the Cubs for $15.8 million to test the market. He eventually resigned with them for $13 million and other options not yet released to the press.  Unfortunately MLB did this to themselves by paying these players ridiculous contracts. They let super agents like Scott Boras inflate these players heads and strong arm teams into paying their ungodly contracts. Just wait until Bryce Harper comes up for contact in a couple years. The discussions of him being the first player in MLB history to be paid over $500 million dollars have already started. Baseball needs to remember this game was built around the fans loyalty not the players salaries. When ticket prices soar and beers cost $30 a pop, attendance will surely drop.

 

 

NL CENTRAL

St Louis Cardinals

• 2015: 1st (100-62)
• Key additions: Jedd Gyorko(INF), Mike Leake(P), Brayan Pena(C), Seung Hwan Oh(P)
• (Roster) (Prospects) Although the Cardinals lost Jason Hayward and John Lackey to the Cubs, they are eyeing returns from Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Carlos Martinez, and Matt Adams. Waino, Molina, and Holliday are no spring chickens, but a full season from all of these All-Stars would help any club be a contender. The Cardinals added Gyorko to reduce some playing time for Matt Carpenter, Jhonny Peralta, and Kolten Wong throughout the season. Peralta and Wong had a noticeable drop off in production after the All-Star break last year so this is a good acquisition by the Cardinals. The St Louis faithful however weren’t too happy that it came at the cost of trading a club favorite in Jon Jay, but that’s the business of baseball today. Now, add in highly touted players Randal Grichuk, Stephen Piscotty, and Tommy Pham and you have another solid roster for the Redbirds. We have seen what all these players are capable of, so the key to their success is going to be staying healthy in 2016 to be contenders. And let’s not forget,  Mike Matheny has lead his club to the postseason in each of his four years at the helm. (Transactions)
• Projection: 2nd (91-71) The Cardinals surpassed all regular season expectations last year, but it seems the Cubs have finally arrived and will edge out the Cards for the NL Central in 2016. My preseason pick for the NLCS is the Cardinals taking on the Cubs to go to the World Series. Now, anyone that knows me absolutely knows it pains me greatly to say that, but alas I’m a fan of the game, and I know a great ball club when I see it. Here’s to hoping my boys prove me wrong this year.

 

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

• 2015: 2nd (98-64)
• Key Additions: Jon Niese(P), John Jaso(1B), Jason Rogers(1B), Ryan Vogelsong(P), Neftali Feliz(P)
• (Roster) (Prospects) The Pirates are coming off a yet again another stellar season in 2015. They had a busy offseason with the additions listed above to replace the losses of players such as Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, Charlie Morton, and Vance Worley. In a move that stunned the Pirates players, they traded Neil Walker to the Mets for Jon Niese on December 9th. In the past two seasons the Pirates have had the unfortunate task of facing red hot Jake Arrieta(Cubs) last year and Madison Bumgarner(Giants) in 2014 to advance to the NLDS. They came up short in both winner take all play in games. The club is looking for Jung Ho Kang to come back healthy from his injury and build off of his success from last year, while Josh Harrison needs to find his stride from 2014 to help the club stay in the NL Central race. (Transactions)
• Projection: 3rd (87-75) Unfortunately for the Bucs, they are in the best division in baseball right now and the Cubs and Cardinals are looking to build off their successful seasons from last year. The Redbirds have big pieces to the puzzle returning from injuries and the Cubs have added some serious depth which will keep the Pirates from advancing to the playoffs in 2016.

 

Chicago Cubs

• 2015: 3rd (97-65)
• Key Additions: Jason Heyward(OF), John Lackey(P), Ben Zobrist(2B)
• (Roster) (Prospects) The Cubs have shown the world that they have arrived and they aren’t backing down until they win it all. After a 2015 campaign that got them all the way to the NLCS, they look to their new faces to take them all the way home this year. The club signed big names to the likes of Jason Heyward, John Lackey, and Ben Zobrist this offseason. They also traded Starlin Castro to the Yankees for Adam Warren(P) and Brenden Ryan(2B). Last season the North Siders made quick work of the Pirates in a one game playoff before disposing of their rival, the St Louis Cardinals, three games to one in the NLDS. By all accounts, it would seem the Cubs are primed to finish what they started last season.  The club is relying on their crop of young talent as well as their veterans to win their first World Series since 1908. I’m not sure anyone outside of Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein knew how good this club would be this quick. (Transactions)
• Projection: 1st (98-64) As I stated earlier, I foresee the Cubs and Cardinals playing to go to the show. I’m picking the Cubs to beat the Cardinals and go to the World Series to take on the Houston Astros. The Cubs are my selection to win their first championship since 1908.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

• 2015: 4th (68-94)
• Key Additions: Chris Carter(1B), Aaron Hill(2B), Chase Anderson(P)
• (Roster) (Prospects) When thinking of where the Brewers were at just a few short years ago in 2011, facing the St Louis Cardinals to go to the World Series, it’s tough to see where they are now. Their name has not been mentioned in a positive light since their Golden Boy, Ryan Braun, got caught using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED’s) in June of 2013. The club hasn’t seem to rebound as of yet. They traded away speedster Jean Segura to Arizona, Adam Lind to Seattle, Francisco Rodrigues to Detroit, Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to Houston, and finally Aramis Ramirez to Pittsburgh. In most of these transactions they received prospects so they can rebuild with a younger core of players. The hope of Brewer nation, is to see some of these players bring them back to glory and eventually to win a World Series. (Transactions)
• Projection: 4th (74-88) Although the Brewers have a ton of young talent, they have yet to prove themselves on the Big League stage. This is going to be another rebuilding year for the Brewers. If the club hopes to have the success they long for, Ryan Braun needs to lead the young talent with an All-Star performance this year.

 

Cincinnati Reds

• 2105 Last (64-98)
• Key Additions: Jose Peraza(2B), Rookie Davis(RHP)
• (Roster) (Prospects) The Cincinnati Reds have had a tough go of it the last couple of seasons. In 2015 they had injuries to the club that decimated their lineup, then the fire sale started and the club just never got it going. They lost big names like Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, Marlon Byrd, and finally Mike Leake(who now plays for the Cardinals) to either trades or free agency. The Reds do have some good news however. The club has Devin Mesoraco(hip), Homer Bailey(elbow), Zack Cozart(knee), and Billy Hamilton(knee), all returning from injury and will be ready for the start of the season. They still have their big bat in Joey Votto, who is my pick to finish number one on the club in batting average, homeruns, and RBI’s. I think we all know Hamilton has stolen bases locked up. (Transactions)
• Projections: Last (61-101) The club struggled mightily last year and this year is not projected to be any better unfortunately for them. The loss of Frazier’s bat and three of their better pitchers is going to hurt. They are a good two years away form competing in the toughest division in baseball. Rebuilding is a part of the game, but rebuilding with zero prospects in the top 30 is going to be a daunting task in the NL Central.

Opening Day

So, here we are 79 days away from opening day already. With an off season filled with just as much drama and excitement as the players being on the field, there is still much to be done in preparation for the upcoming 162 games of action we are all looking forward to. From major players like, Jason Heyward switching between arch-rivals  (pun intended there) to big name signings like, Alex Gordon, who will remain the Kansas City Golden Boy. We now look to a Colorado outfield that is going to leave an odd man out.

Who stays?

Who goes?

The biggest question yet, where do they go?  The Chicago Cubs have so far made the biggest splash in a huge free agent market to shore up holes that need to be filled, in what looks to be a knock down drag out season long battle between themselves and the St Louis Cardinals for NL Central supremacy. You could almost feel the tide turn when Jason Heyward signed with the north siders. However, the Cardinals remain adamant they’re happy with what they have returning to the field this year. It would seem that, everyone located outside of Pittsburgh has already forgotten where they finished last year and has given the NL Central title to either the Cubs or the Cardinals. Given the way the Bucs have played the last couple seasons, they look to prove themselves and turn the doubters into believers. Make no mistake, this is going to be a three horse race to the end of the year.

There are still some big names floating around on the free agent market like Justin Upton, Chris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes, and Dexter Fowler who could assuredly help a team in search of a bat. The Oriole’s reportedly have an interest in Cespedes as reported earlier today, but for now, let’s take the White Sox, for example, who struggled mightily for run support last year, and finished far under any expectations they had set for themselves. A bat like Chris Davis to serve as Designated Hitter would fill a gaping hole in their line up. Even after the signing of Todd Frazier, White Sox fans are still nowhere near happy… Especially if you compare what the Sox have done this off season, to what the Cubs have done. Simply put… They want a home run hitting machine in their lineup and they want one now. Or head out west to an Oakland A’s team, who seems to be feast or famine year in and year out. There are a couple of teams that baffle me still. The Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers with their all around lack of support for their clubs. Not from the fans, but from their ownership. Cincinnati seems to be willing to give away all their talent to rebuild while the Brew Crew seems to just give away their talent period. The Brewers did make signings like Chris Carter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis and have a farm system that is up and coming, but they have yet to put a quality product on the field since Ryan Braun got suspended for PED’s. With so many potential fits for these remaining free agents, it’s hard to say what will happen in the coming days of the off season. One thing is for sure though, there will be plenty of action in regards to signings and trades. Heck, the Cardinals might even realize that they need to sign another bat since the Cubs played T Ball off of their pitching in the postseason last year. As we all know, the game isn’t played on paper, and the Cardinals found out first hand last post season what the Cubs are capable of. The Cubs are a team with no lack of power, and let’s face it, Joe Maddon took Mike Matheny to the wood shed last October. Obviously, the Birds on the Bat need more bat to stay ahead of the race in the NL Central; The Cardinals averaged just four runs per game last year and that was with Jason Hayward in STL still. Now let’s just sit back and see what unfolds with the remaining big names on the market and enjoy the drama.