My sources tell me we were never in on Shields. Us pursuing Laroche is 100% accurate.

We are interested in Shields, just not as much after him as LaRoche

Absolutely go after the guy. 4 years is not a bad deal.

 

Cosart and Alvarez are great, but Eovaldi is not going to develop into anything better than a 5th starter. The rest of the guys from last year aren't a solution. Consider trading them or keeping them in AAA for seasoning.

 

 

This is bullsh*t. Basically all the negativity towards Eovaldi based on this last season is really driving me nuts. He's not the guaranteed future #2 like we hoped at the start of this past year, but his fastball is still great, the movement on his pitches is still solid, and he just ran into some poor luck of getting hit around hard. 2014 really feels like an outlier, and even in an outlier season he posted a 4.37 ERA, which is basically the stuff Ricky Nolasco made a living posting. He walked less people and struck out more guys in 2014 and nearly pitched 200 innings. He just got hit around at times and his ERA shows that. I feel very good in predicting that we'll see more of the 2013 Eovaldi who posted a 3.37 ERA when he pitches in 2015. I feel good in saying Eovaldi will be a better pitcher than Jarred Cosart next season and will re-establish his spot as the long term #3 behind only Fernandez and Alvarez. Really disapprove of what feels like a witch hunt against him this offseason with all this trade talk and moving him to the bullpen trash.

 

 

I'm not saying you're wrong about him being good, but Eovaldi getting hit hard was not bad luck.

This is bullsh*t. Basically all the negativity towards Eovaldi based on this last season is really driving me nuts. He's not the guaranteed future #2 like we hoped at the start of this past year, but his fastball is still great, the movement on his pitches is still solid, and he just ran into some poor luck of getting hit around hard. 2014 really feels like an outlier, and even in an outlier season he posted a 4.37 ERA, which is basically the stuff Ricky Nolasco made a living posting. He walked less people and struck out more guys in 2014 and nearly pitched 200 innings. He just got hit around at times and his ERA shows that. I feel very good in predicting that we'll see more of the 2013 Eovaldi who posted a 3.37 ERA when he pitches in 2015. I feel good in saying Eovaldi will be a better pitcher than Jarred Cosart next season and will re-establish his spot as the long term #3 behind only Fernandez and Alvarez. Really disapprove of what feels like a witch hunt against him this offseason with all this trade talk and moving him to the bullpen trash.

 

I hope Heaney is the long term No. 2 pitcher. That's more realistic than Eovaldi being a front line starter at this point.

 

 

No on Shields. Should never pay big on a non power pitcher or a pitcher in his 30's. Pitching is not what we need, get a power 1B and a solid 2B. Would love Moorse behind Stanton, and how about Cabrera at 2B. Headley also someone on the cheap.

According to Castrovince, Shields makes sense to Miami

 

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/101893438/free-agent-max-scherzer-hanley-ramirez-signing?adbid=535463807926034432&adbpl=tw&adbpr=18479513&partnerId=as_mlb_20141120_35942047

 

 

The best thing about Shields is his attitude. It'd be an awesome one to have in the clubhouse. But that's not worth the money. He's a good pitcher, but he's 32.

 

 

33 next month, yeah. And ideally he's a #2 at this stage I think. With Henderson Alvarez on the rise he might even be #3 here once Jose gets back. 20 mil-ish is a lot to pay for that, true. Imagine that rotation though, yikes.

 

Not sure what he'll make since Lester & Max have to be the biggest targets. Will be interesting to see. He's durable as hell though, that will help him.

 

 

What's BS? I said he can be a fifth starter, but it is very unlikely he becomes a cy young candidate.

 

There was nothing "unlucky" about how he pitched.

Loria has killed sooo many of our jokes the past few days.

 

he's still a bum. just because he was finally able to sign one of the players that he NEEDED to sign long term he's the best guy ever now? the team hasn't made the playoffs in 11 years

 

 

he's still a bum. just because he was finally able to sign one of the players that he NEEDED to sign long term he's the best guy ever now? the team hasn't made the playoffs in 11 years

 

 

 

Yeah I get ya. I'm just saying he's had a heck of a last week or so.

I'd invite Loria over for Thanksgiving dinner and let him have as much as he wants.

 

 

I'd invite Loria over for Thanksgiving dinner and let him have as much as he wants.

 

 

 

Shields unlikely at this point, according to Heyman.

 

Which is kind of a relief.

 

 

Paul Heyman? Never trust that guy.

 

Seriously though, Shields was unlikely considering we cut Aaron Rowand in 2012.

Paul Heyman? Never trust that guy.

 

His client conquered the streak, though.

 

 

Did we give up on this idea?

 

 

Did we give up on this idea?

 

I don't think so. I just think its still fairly unrealistic barring unforseen changes. I wouldn't say we're in it but I wouldn't say we're entirely out of it. Shields himself seems to be waiting as it is.

 

 

This would be a dumb move. We don't need to suffocate our already limited payroll with a 20 million a year starter. The money saved from getting a guy like Liriano for 10 million and less years would be a much better smarter move.

 

We already have a bunch of young starters and quite a few of those have top of the rotation upside so I don't think a huge starting pitching splash is what we need. We need someone to give us quality innings while we wait for jose to come back. Liriano is the guy I would love.

 

Pre jose rotation would be:

 

Liriano

 

Alvarez

 

Eovaldi

 

Heaney

 

Koehler

 

And then:

 

Jose

 

Liriano

 

Alvarez

 

Eovaldi

 

Heaney/Koehler

 

That is a very good deep rotation that doesnt feature our usual 1-2 crappy pitchers in our rotation. Im more concerned with getting an innings eater who will prevent us from having someone like Hand in the rotation for the first half than I am with having a proven all star lead the top of our rotation.

 

Trust our developmental people, sign a quality cheaper veteran, hope Jose comes back successfully, and hope a few out of Nicolino, Desclafani, Heaney, Urena, etc. pan out.

 

Another reason not to get Shields would be the amount of potential quality starters we have in our system. Kolek will be ready within the 5 years you would give to shields. Im just not a fan of giving 20 million to a guy playing one out of every 5 games if he isn't a star. Shields is not a number 1 starter to me.

 

 

This would be a dumb move. We don't need to suffocate our already limited payroll with a 20 million a year starter. The money saved from getting a guy like Liriano for 10 million and less years would be a much better smarter move.

 

We already have a bunch of young starters and quite a few of those have top of the rotation upside so I don't think a huge starting pitching splash is what we need. We need someone to give us quality innings while we wait for jose to come back. Liriano is the guy I would love.

 

Pre jose rotation would be:

 

Liriano

 

Alvarez

 

Eovaldi

 

Heaney

 

Koehler

 

And then:

 

Jose

 

Liriano

 

Alvarez

 

Eovaldi

 

Heaney/Koehler

 

That is a very good deep rotation that doesnt feature our usual 1-2 crappy pitchers in our rotation. Im more concerned with getting an innings eater who will prevent us from having someone like Hand in the rotation for the first half than I am with having a proven all star lead the top of our rotation.

 

Trust our developmental people, sign a quality cheaper veteran, hope Jose comes back successfully, and hope a few out of Nicolino, Desclafani, Heaney, Urena, etc. pan out.

 

Another reason not to get Shields would be the amount of potential quality starters we have in our system. Kolek will be ready within the 5 years you would give to shields. Im just not a fan of giving 20 million to a guy playing one out of every 5 games if he isn't a star. Shields is not a number 1 starter to me.

 

How did you totally forget Cosart?

 

 

How did you totally forget Cosart?

 

 

 

Idk I've been doing that since we acquired him. Proves my point even more then.

 

 

This would be a dumb move. We don't need to suffocate our already limited payroll with a 20 million a year starter. The money saved from getting a guy like Liriano for 10 million and less years would be a much better smarter move.

 

 

Maybe, but payroll is going to be bottom 2 in baseball next year, and $20-30 million away from bottom 10.

 

They can afford 1 more big contract ($17-20 million season) with the talent base they have right now and it won't really impact things if they effectuate buyouts with Yelich, Fernandez, and keep guys like Ozuna, Cosart, Realmuto, and Heaney who have years of cheap time.

 

This goes back on Loria. They could construct a good team around $60-65 million in whatever permutation, but they could also construct an amazing team for $90 (which is still bottom 10 in league in payroll).

 

I won't be mad if it's a great team at $65, but if there are clear holes and specific FA that can fill that and they don't, you have to wonder what Loria is doing. Stadium, Stanton... it's time to act like a real franchise right now. Nice steps have been made this offseason, but time to step up again.

 

Also, look at the Nationals with Jayson Werth - they probably have to give out a similar contract just for PR reasons. Shields is a great candidate to be that guy. I would not be opposed at all.

 

 

Spending more money for PR's sake is not a good way to run a business. Shields is not worth close to 20 million a year. I understand he eats innings but he's not a number 1.

 

 

Spending more money for PR's sake is not a good way to run a business. Shields is not worth close to 20 million a year. I understand he eats innings but he's not a number 1.

 

 

shields is a 4 WAR pitcher so he is most certainly worth $20m. The question is how much longer is he going to be a 4 WAR pitcher (I'd guess at least 2 more years).