Fwiw I do too I want Dubon to be the backup infielder and would love for the OF to get sorted out in a way where he doesn't play there at all. Every time he starts ( especially vs a RH pitcher) the team is at a disadvantage offensively.
One positive of this Dodgers’ extravagance -- everyone is turning against them, even some of the media shills (except Passan, but he made it worse with his tone deaf tweet that was mocked by every fan base). The Astros are no longer the main ‘evil empire.’ The most poetic outcome would be the Astros beating the Dodgers in the World Series again while the world cheers them on, as they did in 2017 when we were still the loveable underdogs. Some would still grump, but most fan bases would be more anti-Dodgers than anti-Astros. It would bookend this era beautifully while completely solidifying the narrative turnaround.
Hadn't thought of this until I read a suggestion somewhere the Astros should move Abreu instead of Pressly because his trade value would be higher. I think we could use Whitley and Mccullers (if lucky) in bullpen rolls to make up for it. I could see something like Jett Williams from the Mets or Jake Fraley+ prospect from the Reds. Both teams have questionable bullpens. I'm sure there are others....
They aren't moving thinking of moving Pressly because of the return, they would like to shed his salary to use elsewhere. Abreu does not have a big salary.
Yes but trading Abreu might be a way to solve their OF problem, same as trading Pressly. If a team were willing to give up a good young OF and a Top 100 prospect for Abreu (similar or greater to the return Miami got for Tanner Scott), I would think Houston should consider it.
Yes, the club control makes Abreu more valuable on the trade market. It means you can get a young cheap player who is under club control back instead of spending bigger money on older players.
Fcking dungers, man i don't even know why im surprised. My hatred for that team has far surpassed the yanks and rangers at this point. Unreal.
You are right but it would be a terrible decision and message to the team. The current goal of this organization is to get under the CBT. The secondary goal is to build the most competitive team in 2025 while being under the CBT. Trading Abreu for prospects, or unproven players does very little toward the first goal while most likely going backwards regarding the second. This team is not the Marlins.
Dodgers are buying championships. The stupid "deferred payment" stunt that Ohtani agreed to should also be looked at. This morphs the.competitive balance of the league, even if it's "legal"
The deferred money isn’t really a factor. An international draft and a stiffer luxury tax penalty (I.e. losing 1st round picks and more for going over) would solve all these issues. I was really sad and surprised when they didn’t include an international draft as part of the last CBA.
Manfred should say that teams can defer money if they want too, but the money of the contracts will be averaged out and count against the CBT.
That’d be inconsequential in terms of CBT impact, as teams would just not defer money. The deferrals are a perceived (not actual) benefit. They might have an actual benefit to the player (for tax purposes if they plan to move after the contract ends) or the team (in terms of real time cash flow), and there may be a difference in what teams value in terms of discount rate, but in reality it’s not being used as a way to circumvent the CBT.
Agreed. Imagine giving a player a first year amount of $100 mil (just to hit the luxury tax one year) then pay them $17 mil the next 6 season. $202 mil over 7 years total but paid out like a signing bonus.
Aren't signing bonuses included in the CBT calculations. It would still be $28.85M for all 7 years. I think unlikely to achieve bonuses don't count.
