offseason 2015-16

Talk is that Brandon Phillips might be following Dusty to DC and this deal might be a precursor getting BPs replacement.

Mike Napoli, 1 year to Indians

@AdamRubinESPN
Dick Scott, who had been overseeing player development for the #Mets, is the new bench coach.

if chris davis ends up getting ~$150 million votto could get near $200 million

also grienke is 32 and just got $200 million

i don't think either of those are smart moves, but yeah i guess that's the market

tyler flowers is a barve

Yeah, that happened early last week — kicking Bethancourt to the curb was a day or 2 later.

ah. maybe he officially passed the physical and signed today then.

also

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWYBmjWU8AAT_k_.png

@Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: #Mets in agreement with Bartolo Colon on one-year, $7.25M contract, pending physical. Initial reports of deal came from DR

bartolooooooo

"pending physical," comedy gold

the MLB gifs twitter had the same thought process https://twitter.com/MLBGIFs/status/677238878344896512

I'm kinda wondering if there might be some back room deal with the Reds having the Dodgers in this trade that if Chapman clears the MLB investigation, the deal they had cooking or a variation of it happens.

i think that's pretty optimistic

no one knows if or when chapman will be cleared, the dodgers didn't really need two closers, and montas might turn into the setup guy they needed (and got for very little)

and the dodgers still have the prospects to get fernandez, assuming the marlins have any idea what they're looking for/doing

I don't think there is much optimism among Reds fans. It's not looking good right now.

japanese press reporting that the dodgers are backing out from iwakuma after a failed physical

@Ken_Rosenthal 28m
In addition to Leake, #Dodgers also on Kazmir, sources say. Told yesterday - even before Iwakuma news - they are not ruling out anyone.

@Buster_ESPN 2h
Phillies announced they signed Andrew Bailey and Edward Mujica.

@NeastWS
Chris Johnson DFA raised the Indians' projected WAR by 0.7 on the Fangraphs Depth Charts

@JAJimenez27
Where I can get more followers?

Brandon Phillips ✔ @DatDudeBP
513 to 202 ✈️ #PapaPope #OnDeck
9:09 PM - 17 Dec 2015
715 715 Retweets 682 682 likes

@suss2hyphens
notable omens:
* black cat
* shooting star
* the Dodgers have an agreement to acquire you

glad BP is bringing his crap on-base ability, aging glove and egomaniacal NATITUDE to d.c.

Chipper Jones will join the Braves' front office as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations.

Sounds like that's mainly going to entail working with the hitters full time through spring training and then checking in as needed during the season. I hope he stays busiest with the minor leaguers while they're still impressionable and their little fontanelles haven't hardened up yet.

Is this Samardzijacopypasta going to be Zito part 2???????? #behindthetimes

ryan vogelsong returns to the pirates!

38yo, career bWAR of 1.6, was above average in 2 of his 11 big league seasons, the last time was four years ago

i guess they deserve a little credit for the results of the last few seasons, but yikes. they're not *that* poor.

Ex-Fausto and Brad Penny to Jays

Those ex-Marlins seem to go to the DL for life.

premature!

@Ken_Rosenthal 22h
Sources: #Nationals moving on from Phillips, pursuing other options. Kendrick could be one; a trade could be another. Murphy low priority.

happy 67th to dave kingman, top pick of the 1970 draft

in his final season at age 37, he hit 35 homers -- third-most in the majors -- and was worth -1.0 WAR

hence KONG

@suss2hyphens
the Rockies have five salary obligations past 2016 and three of them are relievers

Ol' Lobber to PIT

okay ray searage, try *this*

fearsomely average mike leake rumored to the cardinals for ~ five years/$75m

make that 5/$80m with a no-trade clause

kirk nieuwenhuis claimed by brewers

nate schierholtz and jordanny valdespin (who turns 28 today) signed by the tigers

murph to the nationals!

huh

Mets get a compensation pick btwn 1st & 2nd rounds

Jaso to Pirates

aroldis to nyy

If they're keeping Miller and Betances, I guess they're aiming for the KC route of being basically unbeatable past the 6th inning.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb-news/4689423-lee-smith-midland-cubs-spiders-tarantulas-hall-of-fame

Smith was with the Double-A Midland Cubs in 1978 when a home game at Christensen Stadium in Texas was postponed by tarantulas. A lot of tarantulas.

"It was really strange, man. Randy Velarde's dad was the grounds crew guy there and he mixed up some kind of different chemicals for the grass and for some reason the tarantula spiders enjoyed it," Smith recalled.

Tarantulas swarmed the field, emerging from under the bleachers and climbing over the back of the outfield wall. Players scattered and fans shrieked.

"The grounds crew went out there with yard rakes trying to get these spiders off the field so we could play the game. It was crazy," Smith said. The groundskeepers' raking strategy failed and the contest was postponed.

prob was TGH (tarantula growth hormone)

I'd think a podcast where you interview ex and current pro athletes keeping it light and getting weird stories like this could find some listeners.

doyers sign kazmir, all lefty rotation apparently

48/3

JR ross wants to be the voice of the pirates, which...please god

ugh, fuck the red sox

JR would immediately be in the top third of announcers

where does he stand on 'three-rbi homers'