OFFICIAL: 2023-2024 Offseason & Free Agency Thread

[harmony]

Columnists Tim Britton and Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic list the Mariners among the select best fits for Shohei Ohtani, Jorge Soler, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Mitch Garver and Whit Merrifield:

https://theathletic.com/5029170/2023/11 ... -mlb-list/

Subscription required.

[ddraig]

But will the M's be looking to win the WS? Or just sign one good player to make it look as if they are serious. Ohtani wants to win. Going up against the Dodgers and Rangers will be tough to convince Ohtani that the M's are serious.

[Captain 97]

From Tuesday's predictions by Jim Bowden, a columnist with The Ahtletic and former MLB general manager:

2. Ohtani will surprise many by signing with the world champion Texas Rangers. The contract includes incentives, escalator clauses and award bonuses that will make him the highest-paid player in the history of the sport. The Dodgers and Mariners finish as the runner-ups in the Shohei sweepstakes.

https://theathletic.com/5039131/2023/11 ... gs-trades/

Subscription required.

But the Rangers already have a projected payroll of 209 million heading into next year. Hasn't anyone told them that they mortgaged the future and hamstrung themselves by signing Semian and Seager? Don't they know they are supposed to stand pat and aim for 54%?

[D-train]

From Tuesday's predictions by Jim Bowden, a columnist with The Ahtletic and former MLB general manager:

2. Ohtani will surprise many by signing with the world champion Texas Rangers. The contract includes incentives, escalator clauses and award bonuses that will make him the highest-paid player in the history of the sport. The Dodgers and Mariners finish as the runner-ups in the Shohei sweepstakes.

https://theathletic.com/5039131/2023/11 ... gs-trades/

Subscription required.

But the Rangers already have a projected payroll of 209 million heading into next year. Hasn't anyone told them that they mortgaged the future and hamstrung themselves by signing Semian and Seager? Don't they know they are supposed to stand pat and aim for 54%?

Here are some live looks at that sorry team. I feel so bad for their fan base.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5 ... =937&dpr=1

[Sexymarinersfan]

Columnists Tim Britton and Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic list the Mariners among the select best fits for Shohei Ohtani, Jorge Soler, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Mitch Garver and Whit Merrifield:

https://theathletic.com/5029170/2023/11 ... -mlb-list/

Subscription required.

Loudes Gouriel along with Jemeir Candelario would be ideal fits for Seattle.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/ ... tters.html

[D-train]

Jemeir Candelario had a nice season in 2023 with a 119 OPS+ and 3.1 WAR but has been wildly inconsistent and only has a .739 career OPS.

Gurriel also had a pretty good season with 3.0 WAR but only a .309 OBP and 106 OPS+ which would rank him 9th on the 2023 team behind JKs 108 and ahead of Teo's 105

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... &pagenum=1

[D-train]

He is excited about the group of young lefty hitters. Who in the F is he talking about. Is JP young??? Does he count Cal as a lefty hitter. He is exited about JK who completely sucked again after April??? Canzone and his 80 OPS+????????

The nonsense that MFer spews is getting ridiculous at the this point.

[Donn Beach]

I don't know about perfect but realistic? You're trying to fill right field with a guy that makes contact as well as bring some power? Realistically Gurriel would seem reasonable, particularly with what is probably budget constraints

[Sexymarinersfan]

Jemeir Candelario had a nice season in 2023 with a 119 OPS+ and 3.1 WAR but has been wildly inconsistent and only has a .739 career OPS.

Gurriel also had a pretty good season with 3.0 WAR but only a .309 OBP and 106 OPS+ which would rank him 9th on the 2023 team behind JKs 108 and ahead of Teo's 105

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... &pagenum=1

Don't be surprised if we completely punt on Free Agency all together. Especially after last year's ridiculous contracts.

[D-train]

I don't know about perfect but realistic? You're trying to fill right field with a guy that makes contact as well as bring some power? Realistically Gurriel would seem reasonable, particularly with what is probably budget constraints

Please don't call it budget constraints. It is refusal to spend. The spent almost $200M in 2018 in 2023 dollars. They are only at $130M now.