OnlyBucs

694F485D54584F59513A0 wrote: Red Sox just extended Matt Barnes for 2 more years and an option year.



He's on a 4.5 million deal avoiding arbitration this year.



He's going to get 7.25 and 7.5 for 22/23. His option for 2024 is 8 with a 2.25 buyout. He also received a 1.75 signing bonus. there's also 2 million in kickers.



I post this as someone to possibly compare Rich Rod to. Barnes would have been a FA after this season. Rich Rod has 2 years of arbitration left.



I'm guessing the Pirates could sign Rodriguez through his first FA year with an option for similar total money for twice as many years.


The question is whether the club is willing to pay for a guy to close so few games for a team that won’t be competitive for the next 2-3 years. If BC can get a player or two for him, I think he’ll go in that direction. Plus, it would give the Pirates time to groom a young guy or two for the closer role for when the team is winning again. Bednar comes to mind as a candidate.

Do the Phillies have anyone we'd be interested in in their minor league system? They lead all baseball right now in blown saves. If anyone needs a closer, they should be the ones.

2F2D373127420 wrote: Do the Phillies have anyone we'd be interested in in their minor league system? They lead all baseball right now in blown saves. If anyone needs a closer, they should be the ones.
The Phils minor league system is pretty barren when it comes to prospects. Their top rated guy was Spencer Howard, who proved he couldn't get through 3 innings without being totally gassed, and said of himself, "If I ran to 1st base, I'd be be out of breath".
Just this morning, I was listening to the local sports-talk radio show, and they were mentioning that outside of the top 2 guys there is noone even close to Triple A. Their best prospect is a SS named Stotz (sp?) .
Nothing there as far as I know.

Rich Rod is the most likely to be gone (90%). There will be a good market for him. With the extra years of control, he should get a very nice return.

Stratton could also go (40%). He also has two more years of control and has been effective in a variety of roles.

Frazier should go (70%) if there is enough market for him. His value is at its peak. CWS are the most likely buyer. I wonder if they would trade their first round pick, HS SS Colson Montgomery, or 2nd rounder Wes Kath for him. Does the CBA even allow it? A few years back, I think draft picks had to spend at least a full year with the drafting team.

I think either of Kuhl or Brault could be traded (25%) if there is a market. Brault would have to show he's healthy. But given the gap in the pitching pipeline, I think they'll be kept.

I could see Evans being tossed into a trade (10%) with one of the others as a sweetener if someone needs a UT guy.

Ignore the idea of the CWS trading one of their draft picks for Frazier. Draft picks can only be traded after the World Series ends. Any PTBNL has to be eligible to be traded at the time of the trade.

Too bad. I like both Montgomery and Kath.