57 Comments

That's some creative accounting by the Dodger's, they must have hired Donald Bender as soon as he was available.

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It’s why baseball is unique compared to the other 3 majors…it’s free enterprise, it’s capitalism at its core, it’s the American dream and cashing in. I don’t care who you are the goal is to make as much as humanly possible. The branch of the Shohei family tree that never has to worry about money will last a century…maybe more.

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Bucs sign Ryder Ryan to a minor league deal with a non roster invite tonight. RH reliever. Was drafted by Cleveland went to the Mets then Texas. Was signed by Seattle then outrighted off the 40 so he elected FA. No nothing about him. Anyone have any insight? Might be interesting at least.

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A lot of this whining reminds me of the reactions to the whining at the signing of AJ Burnett. And the whining at the signing of Francisco Liriano. And the whining at the signing of Russell Martin. And the whining about the signing of Francisco Cervelli.

Majority of Bucco fans whined about the trade acqusition of Joel Hanarahan, and Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke for a one year Pirate, CF wonder.

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The Russ Martin signing gave me the bump I needed to get season tickets for the 2013 season. Hell of time.

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I don’t actually remember any of that whining. None at all.

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i confess to complaining about Martin signing

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I did about Operation Shutdown. And whenever we got Andy LaRoche.

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This Shohei news is absolute horseshit, I hate it and am irate. Guess Im drinking on a monday

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I'm with you. Busch ice all around

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Busch ice for some busch league maneuvering, i like it

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I hope he gets plunked every time at bat

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I hope theres some sort of action or movement against the dodgers for this. He was such a likeable guy but this feels so underhanded and gross to me. Maybe im just mad cause we wouldnt never do this idk

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I don't see how adding a modern Babe Ruth on $2 M dollars to the richest team in baseball is any sort of competitive advantage.

You know what was a competitive advantage? The Pirates signing Josh Bell for $5 M in the draft. That deserves a complete overhaul to the system.

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Yep

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Per the CBA…

Deferred money is limitless.

I’m pretty sure the interest will get this over a billion when it’s all said and done.

Good on Ohtani for living the American dream

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so much horseshit

they should pay the price with a lousy rotation for investing their money this way

if Ohtani wants to win and take less money, then $2mil should be his total take home

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They probably already have Yamamoto and Sasaki in the fold.

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New rumor is that yamamoto is their next target of course

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I'm sure he is lol

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10/500 with 490 deferred incoming

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Probably only 2 years for $20 million, then an extention for 10/500 with $400 million deferred. He doesn't have the endorsements yet lol

Don't think the Dodgers want to pay his NPB club that much. $4 million would be much more palatable for them.

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I see where Ohtani will only get paid $2 million/yr while playing and $68/million/yr from 2034-2043 with no interest added. Me thinks this will get renegotiated with interest to lessen the hit to the payroll by the time 2034 rolls around and what the rules of the CBA is and who all else is on the payroll at that time. Could end up being a major albatross for the Dodgers. Time will tell.

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It would be good if the other teams would refuse to travel to LA to play. Go ahead and forfeit the Dodgers home games, plus they save on travel and lodging. I wonder if the Dodgers would miss the revenue from 81 home games. They can be the LA Globetrotters.

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I like this idea. Can't imagine other owners are gonna be too happy about this

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Their TV dollars would be hurt a bit, advertisers would love paying for 162 games but only getting 81.

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Unfortunately, still probably a drop in the bucket for how much Shohei will do for the team both on and off the field. Would take some league level action to make this palatable imo

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I don't think it is realistic at all and it might be against bylaws for the league but it would be awesome if the other teams could organize to do it.

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Even just the middle finger effect would be pretty amazing lol

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The luxury tax hit is still $46M/yr.

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That is what I mean between the 680 mill owed and if the repayment gets renegotiated with interest to extend the deal to lessen the annual outlay plus the extended luxury tax hit, it could really hurt after 2033 depending on the rest of the payroll and no benefit of his services

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If you subtract $68MM from the payrolls that teams like the Dodgers and Mets have been paying you're still around the median payroll for the league, and that's in today's dollars. So at worst they'll be forced to play with rosters that are paid around league average which, as well-run as they are, won't keep them from contending.

In any case, I don't hate this. How many players would do what Ohtani did, deferring that much money just so his team can continue to add players? And I hope the Dodgers win a couple of WS titles with him, just not in years when the Pirates are contending.

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"How many players would do what Ohtani did, deferring that much money just so his team can continue to add players?"

The only problem with that take is that it's an unfair advantage if he didn't offer that to other teams bidding for his services. But the other problem is baseball is a monopoly and the other owners wouldn't dare upset the apple cart bringing a lawsuit.

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Reporting this morning suggests that he did offer similar deferrals to other teams but also that he wanted to play with the Dodgers. Some think that had the NL had the DH when he first came to MLB, he'd have signed with the Dodgers then. I don't see anything wrong with a player getting to play with the team he wants to play with, and then structuring a contract so that the team has a better chance to win.

Do I like MLB's structure that allows some teams to spend 5x more than other teams? Of course not. There should be a payroll minimum for owners like Nutting and a maximum for owners like Cohen. But any anger should be with MLB's overall system and not the Dodgers or Ohtani who are simply working within the system to win. If only our team would do everything within the rules to win.

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What you say makes sense and staying on the West coast makes sense for Shohei. And I think he would be willing to do that for any team.

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I see where the Reliever who shall remain nameless was deported to Venezuela back on 12/1. Good riddence!

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Dec 11Edited

Pirates also signed Daviel Castillo, a 6’4, 19yo, Dominican RHP. No info beyond that.

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Hedges trade money?

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just had a piñada the other day

id add that to any holiday beverage list

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AM- I definitely did not read the don't get weird disclaimer in that line so expect weird tier lists from now on

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Easy mistake. Could happen to anyone lol

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Pirates re-signed Hunter Stratton, which is good.

Also signed IF Sergio Alcantara and RHP Ryder Ryan. Alcantara has a career wRC+ of 72, so he’ll probably have a shot at playing first and batting cleanup.

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Odd that they were able to get Stratton back but not Yerry. Of the two, I’d easily take Stratton. Always liked Yerry, but he was horrible in AAA this year and, despite a good ERA, his peripherals with the Pirates were awful.

Stratton’s had big swing-and-miss stuff but couldn’t throw enough strikes. He really seemed to turn a corner about July and pitched well in the majors. I thought he’d get claimed, so this is good.

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He's 6'4 so maybe they just wanted someone that Cruz didn't have to bend over so far to talk to.

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Couldn't Alcantara also eliminate the need for Cutch as full time DH?

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No!

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Sorry... mine was sarcasm based off of Wilbur's Alcantara stat line.

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I should apologize for thinking you were serious, lol. I was too busy trying to find when the transaction took place because I didn't remember the ground shaking here in Central Pennsylvania lately.

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I think they'd be looking for somebody with a wRC+ below 50.

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Wow.. I'm back in play. I wonder if my age being higher than my wRC+ will concern them. On a surprisingly serious note, I don't mind them stashing a glove only SS in AAA. It can make it easier to recall them for a week or two (any longer and the situation is bad) and not worry about losing them when they are sent back down. Stratton resigning was good news and Ryan's stat line for a PCL pitcher was decent last year.

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Highly recommend Almond Milk Egg Nog for us lactose weary individuals.

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i´ll take the over that Marco has a better year than Rich Hill´s 2023 in PIttsburgh

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Hill was 22 Starts, 119 IP, maybe a 4.65 ERA. If Gonzo can get us this, and Mitch Keller has the same form as he had in 2023, I think this Rotation will have a fighting chance to get to July. Still thinking Jared Jones, Andre Jackson, and Quinn Priester or Luis Ortiz as our 3, 4, 5 guys. Using 14 months as the bare minimum, possible Bru, Burrows by early June?

Max Kranick?

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just enough to trade Mitch by August

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Dec 11Edited

I’d take the over that he’ll have a better year than Jonathan Sanchez or . . . Jonathan Sanchez.

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Trax farms is where you need to go for warm apple cider

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