2013 MLB Season Thread

I'm on Jeter watch this year. 3000 hits. I may try and get tickets if he does it in Baltimore.

Prediction - Phillies aren't going to win it all this year. SOMETHING will go wrong.

vlad the impaler signed by the O's for 8M. sounded expensive at first, but then seeing his production its actually a nice pick up at a great price for the Oriels. They have stars at position players but need to luck out and develop an Ace starter from the minors/draft. I wonder if they could trade for Zach Grienke. Seems like they could pull it off and he'd be amendable to play in the maryland market. my redsox are strong pitching wise, but pitching is rarely bought sucessfully, its better to develop like they did with Papelbon (who's now iffy), Bucholdz (breakout going on Ace), and Lester (ace). it sucks that pettite retired because now the yankees will never let Joba go. Joba could be great if developed properly.

Im wondering where the Phillies' bats are supposed to come from.

I can't imagine the Brewers trading him away. With him and Gallardo one and two on their staff, they have a legitimate shot at winning the NL Central. (The Brewers are my team, so maybe that's too optimistic. But I'm excited about their chances this year.)

true. I was just thinking its a "seattle 2010 situation" in brewer country then the brewers have a ton of assets to trade away before the deadline to get a ton of prospects. that said it would be nice for the brewers to be awesome this year with that excellent 1-2 starting rotation plus the NL central is wide open. here's some scary scenarios: - albert pujos negotiations break down - seattle sucking again (and F. Hernandez gets dangled) - the brewers don't make a playoffs push and dangle any of their young stars (braun, fielder, grenkie, Gallardo). obviously the yankees would be willing to trade the farm for any Ace. The redsox actually have a young pitcher (Clay B.) and prospects to trade for a Pitcher and or Prospects and Ellusbury for a position player. i also think San Fran knows that it can make a push to add another ace and just ride their pitching again by trading using their farm (surprisingly deep).

The Brew's are going to be MAJOR players on the trade market this year. I bet that pretty much everybody except Braun will be expendable. Fielder will definitely go and I actually think he'll end up in San Fransisco. That's a perfect fit for them.

I agree, Fielder will almost certainly be leaving. That's a shame, because he's really been the face of the franchise, despite Braun's great performance. Also agree that Braun's not expendable. As for the rest, I hope you're wrong. I think everything's going to depend on the quality of the Brewers' pitching this year. I'm still a bit nervous about three through five.

They are going to finish in third, like always.

I hope you are right.

Lalalalala can't hear you lalalalala

The Brewers woiuld have to be way out of it for the team to trade assets they just got. That division is wide open so I suspect even if the Brewers get off to a slow start, if they are within 10 games at trde deadline, noone gets dealt. Brewers GM subscribes to theory that you need 3 strong starters in playoffs. He has 2 if Grienke head stays in the game. Their bullpen and catching situation will be interesting to watch how it develops.
Big exception to trade above is Fielder. But how many teams will want to pick up a $15M contract that will expire at season's end. And he has Boras as an agent right? Ouch. That limits him but maybe those playoff bound teams will look at renting him for 6-7M for last few months of season and playoffs.

Watch Buchholz. His picthing coach is gone and so is his catcher. The guy most credited with his development was down in double A so maybe Farrell didn't have much to do with his success last year. Just don't know if Saltimacchia can handle pitchers. Veritek can but how much will his bat allow him to play. Starting job is Salty's for the taking.

Fielder/Boras are supposed to be looking for looking for a $180M contract similiar to Teixeira. Wow. Lot of money and long term to put into a guy that does not get on base as often as Teixeira, doesn't field like him and has a body type that has proven to flame out fast when players hit their 30s. Who can afford that. And would even the Sox or Yankees pay that for a DH? Angles are less set at 1B but Morales is signed for 1 year at 2.5-$3M is. Think they could resign him for a lot less than Fielder. And they have a good 1B prospect in minors.

Think other teams would try to steal Hosmer from Royals or Yelich fromthan pay $180 for Fielder. And Reds have Alonso as a trading chip. Seems like Fielder has a lot of competition at much less lower cost. Good luck getting an long term $180M contract.