Hot Stove and Winter Meetings

Seattle wont be a factor. They keep looking for that big bat as they give up on speed and OBP. If they can't get Cano any help they just spent money on a guy that will wallow in that pit just like all the others before.
Cano just signed a contract with fine print that sold his soul for the Hall of Fame chance.

Seattle wont be a factor. They keep looking for that big bat as they give up on speed and OBP. If they can't get Cano any help they just spent money on a guy that will wallow in that pit just like all the others before.
Cano just signed a contract with fine print that sold his soul for the Hall of Fame chance.

Agreed. They haven't figured out how to play their ballpark since they left the Kingdome. They keep going after power hitters that suddenly can't reach the fences at Safeco. Beltre was the first. Then when they get solid rotation starters (Fister, Morrow etc) they trade them for a bag of peanuts and a box of crackerjacks

Seattle wont be a factor. They keep looking for that big bat as they give up on speed and OBP. If they can't get Cano any help they just spent money on a guy that will wallow in that pit just like all the others before.
Cano just signed a contract with fine print that sold his soul for the Hall of Fame chance.

Seattle may not be a true competitor for the division title, or even the playoffs for that matter. However, I wouldn't completely rule them out as a significant factor in the race, particularly when you have three other teams legitimately competing for that division title. If Taijuan Walker comes close to reaching his potential this year, Seattle will have a pretty imposing front three in their rotation; if he doesn't, they still have a dynamic front two in Hernandez and Iwakuma who can win or tie a series on their own.

Also, while I completely agree with Steve F that Seattle hasn't figured out how to maximize their park--Zduriencik hasnt figured out much at all during his tenure--I still think they have enough hitters to win some key division games in such a low offense park. If Corey Hart comes close to returning to his 2010-2012 form; and if Franklin, Seager, Miller, Zunino, Morrison, and/or Smoak improve upon their 2013 years (yes those are some ifs but there's talent there); then Cano won't be so lonesome in an offense that could--along with Seattle's solid piching--significantly upset some of their superior division rivals and significantly impact the race.

Cano just signed a contract with fine print that sold his soul for the Hall of Fame chance.

By what logic does signing with Seattle equate to selling your soul for the Hall of Fame? Hopefully I am misunderstanding what you are trying to say. Are you saying that he sold his soul for money and gave away his chance for the HOF?

If so an interesting perspective on this. If Cano goes from a near 30 HR hitter to a 20 HR hitter does that really derail his HOF worthiness in the eyes of voters? What if he drops to an average of only 15? He still finishes career with well over 300 HRs and he could still be a 40+ double guy even in that Seattle park.

And all the discussions seem to be ignoring his defense. How important is defense up the middle to winning?

I think it is a huge difference if he goes from 30HR to 20HR. Something like a 50% decline maybe? Also, Cano has gone from being on a perennial contender playing in the biggest market in MLB to being on a perennial loser playing in the middle of nowhere. If you do not think it's easier to make the HOF playing in NY, I think you are mistaken. Realistically, he probably has hurt his chances for the HOF from a numbers, contending and being in the public eye perspective. Also, offense far outweighs defense when it comes to getting in the HOF. Defense may be important to winning, but hitting is important in getting into the HOF. I live in Boston and many guys have left what is one of the best parks to hit in for more $$$$. Have they hurt their career numbers? Probably. The thing about a players legacy is they don't start thinking about it until towards the end of their career while fans think about it during his career. Towards the end of the contract when he looks back, Cano may well wish he had stayed in NY. He will then have some perspective as to how good he had it in NY(from a winning, numbers and publicity perspective) and how much it sucked(potentially) in Seattle and how he would have been a shoe in for the HOF if he had had the wisdom to stick with a good thing. I am a Red Sox fan and Cano leaving is the best thing that happened to the Red Sox all offseason.

I can recall, early in his career, Cano was considered "lazy" and not lving up to his potential. That attitude (or perceived anyway) was quickly erased almost from the get go. We'll have to see if the incredible salary, coupled with playing on a consistently bad team, impacts his overall desire to continue his run to the hall of fame.

He decided to roll the idce for the HOF. In the mean time the extra 65M or so means more to him than concern about getting into the HOF.

Is there really a difference in the lifestyle he can keep for the rest of his life between 175M and 240M? I don't think he has to worry about cutting coupons either way.

I agree with durantjerry, as a Red Sox fan I say good riddance.

I would say he has already established his credentials and unless he just flat out stinks his chances of HOF induction upon retirement is wrapped up. But even if not he may not care that much for things like that. That just does not motivate some people.

And he may not view NY as a lock for playoff contention. With the luxury tax threshold becoming an almost defacto cap for most teams including the yankees, combined with their recent record of bad decision making he may felt yankees were not going to be perennial contenders for a while. If they had signed Cano they probably do not sign Ellsbury. And if they do not get relief from Arod's contract via PED suspension that is going to hinder them for another 5 years or so. That basically kills off Cano's remaining best seasons.

If Seattle can land Cruz I think they have a legitimate chance to contend the next few years.

I think that the comments about Cano's defense is a good comment. And he is also a great singles and doubles hitter. That might be the key to his success in Seattle. It sure seems to me that you can win an awful lot of games with great defence, pitching and hitting for average, in a pitcher's park.

Just curious, what's the status of Hernandez, from a health/arm perspective? When I last checked up on how his 2013 had gone, it looked like he had some arm troubles. What's the word on Hernandez and his arm?

(I realize this question of mine exposes me as a bit of a part-time baseball fan, but I just can't keep up with everything!)

Re Walker - I am really looking forward to seeing how he does in 2014! I have him as a prospect in one of my keeper leagues!

Just curious, what's the status of Hernandez, from a health/arm perspective? When I last checked up on how his 2013 had gone, it looked like he had some arm troubles. What's the word on Hernandez and his arm?

I realize this question of mine exposes me as a bit of a part-time baseball fan, but I just can't keep up with everything!

Answer last question first. I disagree. Not knowing everything about every team does not expose you as a part-time fan. Nobody I know can keep up with every player on every team. The fact you knew something was happening to lead you to ask the first question puts you in pretty knowledgeable group from my point of view.

There were rumors early his fastball was not as fast as 2012. And rumors late that his arm might be a little tired.
Fangraphs has a grraph showing his average fastball has declined from 95 in 2007 to just 92 last year.
But then they follow that up with a graph that shows his strikeout percentage going up as the fastball velocity goes down.

You will have to interpret that for yourself. My interpretation from seeing him several times last year and the years before that is he is learning how to pitch and that you can get hitters out with location and movement as much as you can sheer velocity. Even if his velocity has declined consider ....

His 9.5 K/9 was highest of his career.
His 4.7 K/BB ratio was highest of career.
His 2.0 BB/9 was the lowest of his career.
His 0.7 HR/9 innings was dead even with his average over his career.
His HBP was lowest since his rookie campaign when he only pitched 84 innings.

As far as I am concerned the only concern looking at the results is no complete games for the first time since his rookie season. But that could be as much manager philosophy as him tiring.

My opinion he will be fine for many years barring serious injury. He will be high on my fantasy list and if I were a GM would not hesitate to back up the old bus and load it up with prospects if Seattle hinted they were willing to trade.