FanSided Faux-Winter Meetings: Clean Up Hitters
This was eye-opening
This writer had a unique perspective on the Winter Meetings Simulation that we had just concluded. While on ‘normal’ days, I am but a humble writer for TomahawkTake.com, David Hill (the Editorial Director of the FanSided MLB Division (my boss)) and I acted as Commisioner and Assistant Commissioner for this event.
We saw everything. We recorded everything. There were some interesting strategies employed, and a lot of energized General Managers that really wanted to improve their teams. Let me share a few highlights.
The Stats
Hey – it’s not baseball without a few stats to throw in!
- In the 8 days that we conducted this exercise, 30 teams combined for 85 transactions of all kinds: signings, trades, releases, and even contract extensions.
- The Braves were involved in twelve transactions… including a flurry of significant moves at the deadline. Given their state this off-season, that’s probably not terribly surprising – major moves have already been made in real life; others are certain to follow.
- The White Sox made no transactions. All of the other teams had at least one.
- Who spent the most money? That answer depends on how you look at it. The Marlins imitated life by extending Giancarlo Stanton ($325 million). Somewhat surprisingly, the Braves extended Justin Upton for $220M. The Red Sox and Marlins both spent a lot in terms of single-season payroll. Oddly enough, while I questioned the Red Sox about their spending early on… life imitated art later on as the real Red Sox have been throwing money at a lot of players this week.
- Who got the big-name free agents?
- Our faux-Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, as did their real-life counterparts.
- The Nationals signed Max Scherzer
- The Red Sox signed Jon Lester and Pablo Sandoval
- The Marlins signed Hanley Ramirez
- James Shields went to the Cubs
- Jake Peavey signed with the Cardinals
- Were there any major trades? Oh my, yes.
- The Braves and Cardinals re-created the Jason Heyward trade… though with a slight twist on it as out faux-Braves were looking for future outfield help.
- Seattle’s quest for outfield bats took them to Milwaukee: Carlos Gomez was traded out west in exchange for two major prospects: Taijuan Walker and D.J. Peterson. Austin Jackson and Brewers’ prospect pitcher Taylor Jungmann were also involved. The Brewers have Gomez for 2 more years, but as a Boras client, they knew that was the limit. This offer was something they couldn’t pass up.
- Seattle also got Jordan Zimmermann from Washington so that the Nats could clear space to sign Max Scherzer. But clearly, Seattle sees a limited window of opportunity, and they went for it.
- The Cardinals opted to move Matt Holliday to Cleveland to help clear payroll so that they could (later) make a run at signing Jason Heyward for the long term.
- Atlanta exchanged catcher/DH Evan Gattis with Oakland for Josh Reddick and John Jaso. Pitchers David Hale and Cody Martin also headed west.
- The Marlins decided to spend some money to build around Stanton. In addition to signing Hanley Ramirez, they obtained Jonny Cueto from the cash-strapped Reds, got Jason Castro from Houston, Nick Swisher from Cleveland, and traded away a host of young players.
- The Padres went “all in” on Yasmany Tomas, plus they picked up Yoenis Cespedes from Boston and Chris Johnson from the Braves.
- Baltimore and Atlanta exchanged their ‘bad contracts’ – swapping Ubaldo Jimenez and B.J. Upton.
Our General Managers were clearly willing to engage in the ‘big deal’ – and that made for some robust exchanges throughout the event. In the end, you might argue around the edges about a deal or two… perhaps a contract offer or two… but all tried to make this realistic in terms of team goals and the means to fulfill them.
The Transactions
Below is a list of every transaction – sorted by team. Feel free to provide your reactions to these in the comments below – and thanks very much for following our experiment. It will be interesting now to see how reality plays out in December (or now, given that deals are already in progress!), and see how close we came to the changes each team actually makes.
"TEAM 1TEAM 2 (opt.)ACTIONDescription/Terms (1)Description/Terms (2)ASTROSBRAVESTRADEJORDAN WALDEN (TO HOUSTON)TONY SIPP, KENT EMANUEL (TO ATLANTA)ASTROSSIGNSERGIO ROMO2 YEARS, $15M ($7.5M AAV). Player option for third year @ $8MASTROSMARLINSTRADEJASON CASTRO (to MIAMI)ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, AUSTIN BARNES, CHRIS HATCHER (to HOUSTON)ATHLETICSSIGNJASON MOTTE1 YEAR, $1M. Bonus of $1M for reaching 50 innings.ATHLETICSSIGNBILLY BUTLER3 YEARS, $24M ($8M AAV)ATHLETICSBRAVESTRADEJOSH REDDICK, JOHN JASO (to ATLANTA)EVAN GATTIS, DAVID HALE, CODY MARTIN (to OAKLAND)BLUE JAYSSIGNRUSSELL MARTIN (TOR loses 1st rnd pick; comp pick to PITT)5 YEARS, $82MBLUE JAYSSIGNPAT NESHEK2 YEARS, $9MBLUE JAYSSIGNASDRUBAL CABRERA3 YEARS, $26MBLUE JAYSSIGNBURKE BADENHOP2 YEARS, $7M ($3.5M AAV), 3rd year club option at $4M (stealth bid)BLUE JAYSSIGNNORI AOKI3 YEARS, $15M ($5 AAV)BLUE JAYSSIGNCRAIG BRESLOW2 YEARS, $3M ($1.5M AAV)BLUE JAYSRANGERSTRADEJURRICKSON PROFAR, SHAWN TOLLESON (TO TORONTO)DIONER NAVARRO, KENDALL GRAVEMAN, DJ DAVIS (TO TEXAS)BRAVESASTROSTRADEJORDAN WALDEN (TO HOUSTON)TONY SIPP, KENT EMANUEL (TO ATLANTA)BRAVESCARDINALSTRADEJASON HEYWARD, DAVID CARPENTER (TO St. LOUIS)SHELBY MILLER, STEPHEN PISCOTTY (TO ATLANTA)BRAVESPADRESTRADEChris Johnson, Luis Avilan (to Padres)Ian Kennedy, Joe Ross, Abraham Almonte (to Braves)BRAVESATHLETICSTRADEJOSH REDDICK, JOHN JASO (to ATLANTA)EVAN GATTIS, DAVID HALE, CODY MARTIN (to OAKLAND)BRAVESSIGNJED LOWRIE3 YEARS, $24M ($8M AAV) with 4th year option at $8M ($1M buyout)BRAVESCUBSTRADEIAN THOMAS (to CUBS)JUSTIN RUGGIANO (to BRAVES)BRAVESPADRESTRADEChris Johnson, Luis Avilan (to Padres)Ian Kennedy, Joe Ross, Abraham Almonte (to Braves)BRAVESSIGNADAM ROSALES1 year, $0.75 Million. Team option for a 2nd year at the same rate.BRAVESRAYSTRADEDESMOND JENNINGS, GRAYSON GARVIN (to ATLANTA)JASON HURSH, J.R. GRAHAM, ALEC GROSSER (to TAMPA)BRAVESNATIONALSTRADETODD CUNNINGHAM (to WASHINGTON)ROSS DETWILER (to ATLANTA)BRAVESORIOLESTRADEDYLAN STUART, KENT EMANUEL, ROSS DETWILER, BJ UPTON, $3M (TO BALT)UBALDO JIMENEZ (TO ATLANTA)BRAVESMINORFranklin Morales, Alexi Ogando, Juan Francisco, Brad MillsMINOR LEAGUE DEALS w/SPRING INVITESBRAVESEXTENDJUSTIN UPTON10 YEARS, $220MILLION (17/18/19/20/OPT OUT/23/24/24/25/25/25. $22M AAV). LIMITED NTC (4 teams, 4 yrs.)BREWERSSIGNFRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (K-ROD)2 YEARS. $15M ($7.5M AAV)BREWERSSIGNNEAL COTTS2 YEARS, $4M ($2M AAV)BREWERSMARLINSTRADECASEY McGehee (TO BREWERS)JASON ROGERS, DAMIEN MAGNIFICO (to MIAMI)BREWERSMARINERSTRADECARLOS GOMEZ, TAYLOR JUNGMANN (to SEATTLE)TAIJUAN WALKER, AUSTIN JACKSON, DJ PETERSON (to BREWERS)CARDINALSBRAVESTRADEJASON HEYWARD, DAVID CARPENTER (TO St. LOUIS)SHELBY MILLER, STEPHEN PISCOTTY (TO ATLANTA)CARDINALSSIGNJAKE PEAVY2 YEARS, $22M ($11M AAV)CARDINALSSIGNCOREY HART2 YEARS, $9M ($4.5M AAV)CARDINALSINDIANSTRADEMATT HOLLIDAY + $2M CASH (to CLEVELAND) – player get $5M No-trade buyoutDAVID MURPHY, TYLER NAQUIN, ERIK GONZALEZ (to ST. LOUIS)CUBSRAYSTRADEMATT JOYCE, ALEX COLOME (to CUBS)ARISMENDY ALCANTARA (to RAYS)CUBSBRAVESTRADEIAN THOMAS (to CUBS)JUSTIN RUGGIANO (to BRAVES)CUBSSIGNJAMES SHIELDS4 years, $85 million ($21.25M AAV) – team option for fifth year (presumed to be at same AAV)CUBSROYALSTRADETim Collins (To Chicago)Bijan Rademacher (To KC)DBACKSMETSTRADECHRIS OWINGS (to METS)RAFAEL MONTERO, KEVIN PLAWECKI (to DBACKS)DBACKSRAYSTRADEJIMMY SHERFY (TO RAYS)SEAN RODRIGUEZ (TO ARIZONA)DODGERSMARINERSTRADESCOTT VAN SLYKE (TO SEATTLE)LUCAS LUETGE, DOMINIC LEONE (TO LAD)DODGERSMARLINSTRADEJARROD SALTALAMACCHIA (TO LAD)CHRIS ANDERSON, DARNELL SWEENEY (TO MARLINS)DODGERSSIGNEDINSON VOLQUEZ1 YEAR/$6.5M ($6.5M AAV)GIANTSCUBSTRADEKRIS BRYANT, LUIS VALBUENA (TO SAN FRAN)TIM LINCECUM, KYLE CRICK, KEURY MELLA, GEORGE KONTOS (TO CHICUBS)GIANTSRAYSTRADEJEAN MACHI, ADALBERTO MEJIA, MATT DUFFY (TO RAYS)BRAD BOXBERGER, JOEL PERALTA (TO GIANTS)INDIANSCARDINALSTRADEMATT HOLLIDAY + $2M CASH (to CLEVELAND) – player get $5M No-trade buyoutDAVID MURPHY, TYLER NAQUIN, ERIK GONZALEZ (to ST. LOUIS)INDIANSSIGNLUKE HOCHEVAR2 YEARS, $9M ($4.5M AAV). +250K/50 and 150 innings, +500K at 200INDIANSSIGNJOSH JOHNSON1 YEAR, $2M with pocket change incentives at 10 and 20 starts (100K each)INDIANSMARLINSTRADENICK SWISHER (+ $6M CASH) (to MIAMI)TREVOR WILLIAMS, JARLIN GARCIA (to CLEVELAND)MARINERSSIGNFRANCISCO LIRIANO (SEA loses 1st rnd pick; comp pick to PITT)3 YEARS, $40M ($13.333M AAV). Club Option $14m/2018.MARINERSSIGNJOE BEIMEL1 YEAR, $1.75M ($1.75M AAV). Mutual option for 2016 at $2MMARINERSBREWERSTRADECARLOS GOMEZ, TAYLOR JUNGMANN (to SEATTLE)TAIJUAN WALKER, AUSTIN JACKSON, DJ PETERSON (to BREWERS)MARINERSNATIONALSTRADEJORDAN ZIMMERMANN, STEVEN SOUZA (to SEATTLE)CHRIS TAYLOR, ROENIS ELIAS, PTBNL (2014 draftee Ryan Yarbrough)MARINERSSIGNNELSON CRUZ (SEA loses 2nd rnd pick; comp pick to BALT)3 YEARS, $40M ($13.3M AAV)MARLINSEXTENDGIANCARLO STANTON13 YEARS, $325M, OPT OUT CLAUSE AFTER 2020; NO TRADE CLAUSE (2015:$6.5m, 2016:$9m, 2017:$14.5m, 3X$25.6m. Avg. $31.14m from 2021+)MARLINSREDSTRADEJOHNNY CUETO (TO MARLINS)Brian Flynn, Anthony DeSclafani, and, Avery Romero (TO REDS)MARLINSASTROSTRADEJASON CASTRO (to MIAMI)ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, AUSTIN BARNES, CHRIS HATCHER (to HOUSTON)MARLINSINDIANSTRADENICK SWISHER (+ $6M CASH) (to MIAMI)TREVOR WILLIAMS, JARLIN GARCIA (to CLEVELAND)MARLINSSIGNHANLEY RAMIREZ (MIA loses 1st rnd pick; comp pick to LAD)6 YEARS, $120M ($20M AAV, paid at 15/18/20/21/23/23). 7th YEAR Team Option @$20M. Full No-trade clause.MARLINSPIRATESTRADESTEVE CISHEK, GARRET JONES (to PIRATES)NICK KINGHAM (to MIAMI)MARLINSBREWERSTRADECASEY McGehee (TO BREWERS)JASON ROGERS, DAMIEN MAGNIFICO (to MIAMI)MARLINSSIGNDAVID ROSS1 YEAR, $1.5MMARLINSSIGNEMILIO BONIFACIO3 YEARS, $10M ($3.33M AAV)METSSIGNZACH DUKE2 YEARS, $6M ($3M AAV)METSDBACKSTRADECHRIS OWINGS (to METS)RAFAEL MONTERO, KEVIN PLAWECKI (to DBACKS)METSSIGNSCOTT HAIRSTON1 YEAR, $2MNATIONALSSIGNMAX SCHERZER (WASH loses 1st rnd pick; comp pick to DET)7 YEARS, $175M ($25M AAV). Team Option for 8th year at $25M w/$5M buyoutNATIONALSMARINERSTRADEJORDAN ZIMMERMANN, STEVEN SOUZA (to SEATTLE)CHRIS TAYLOR, ROENIS ELIAS, PTBNL (2014 draftee Ryan Yarbrough)NATIONALSBRAVESTRADETODD CUNNINGHAM (to WASHINGTON)ROSS DETWILER (to ATLANTA)ORIOLESBRAVESTRADEDYLAN STUART, KENT EMANUEL, ROSS DETWILER, BJ UPTON, $3M (TO BALT)UBALDO JIMENEZ (TO ATLANTA)PADRESRED SOXTRADEYOENIS CESPEDES, GARIN CECCHINI, SEAN COYLE, TRAVIS SHAW (to SDP)ANDREW CASHNER, ALEX TORRES (TO BOSTON)PADRESSIGNKWANG-HYUN KIM3 Years, $6MM ($2M AAV), 2018 team option for another $2MPADRESBRAVESTRADEChris Johnson, Luis Avilan (to Padres)Ian Kennedy, Joe Ross, Abraham Almonte (to Braves)PADRESROYALSTRADEJohn Lamb, Cody Reed (to Padres)Carlos Quentin (to KC)PADRESSIGNYASMANY TOMAS7 YEARS, $105M ($15.0M AAV)PADRESYANKEESTRADEJOAQUIN BENOIT (to NEW YORK YANKEES)TYLER AUSTIN, MIGUEL SULBARAN (to SD PADRES)PHILLIESSIGNAARON HARANG2 YEARS, $5.5M EACH ($11M)PHILLIESSIGNERVIN SANTANA (PHL loses 2ND rnd pick (1st protected); comp pick to ATL)4 YEARS, $44M ($11M AAV). Another steal.PHILLIESSIGNCOLBY RASMUS2 YEARS, $16M ($8M AAV)PHILLIESSIGNCHASE HEADLEY4 YEARS $50M ($12.5M AAV, paid as $12/$12/$13/$13)PIRATESSIGNA.J. BURNETT1 YEAR, $8.5MPIRATESSIGNJASON HAMMEL2 YEARS $15M ($7.5M AAV), CLUB OPTION FOR $9M IN 2017 ($7M IN 2015, $8M IN 2016), $1M OPT. BUYOUT.PIRATESSIGNKRIS MEDLEN2 YEARS, $9M ($4.5 AAV), $3M in 2015 w/$1M bonuses at 100,150,200 innings. $6M for 2015PIRATESRELEASEIKE DAVISPIRATESSIGNJOHN BUCK2 YEARS, $3M ($1.5M AAV)PIRATESSIGNCHRIS CAPUANO1 YEAR, $2.5MPIRATESMARLINSTRADESTEVE CISHEK, GARRET JONES (to PIRATES)NICK KINGHAM (to MIAMI)RANGERSBLUE JAYSTRADEJURRICKSON PROFAR, SHAWN TOLLESON (TO TORONTO)DIONER NAVARRO, KENDALL GRAVEMAN, DJ DAVIS (TO TEXAS)RANGERSSIGNCOLBY LEWIS2 YEARS, $5M ($2.5M AAV). Performance bonuses: 2015 ($1.25M for 30GS; $0.50M @165+ IP). 2016 ($1M for 25GS; $0.25M @140+ IP)RAYSDBACKSTRADEJIMMY SHERFY (TO RAYS)SEAN RODRIGUEZ (TO ARIZONA)RAYSGIANTSTRADEJEAN MACHI, ADALBERTO MEJIA, MATT DUFFY (TO RAYS)BRAD BOXBERGER, JOEL PERALTA (TO GIANTS)RAYSSIGNCARLOS VILLANEUVA1 YEAR, $1.5MRAYSCUBSTRADEMATT JOYCE, ALEX COLOME (to CUBS)ARISMENDY ALCANTARA (to RAYS)RAYSBRAVESTRADEDESMOND JENNINGS, GRAYSON GARVIN (to ATLANTA)JASON HURSH, J.R. GRAHAM, ALEC GROSSER (to TAMPA)RAYSEXTENDBEN ZOBRIST3 YEARS, $36M ($10M/$12M/$14M from 2016-18)RED SOXPADRESTRADEYOENIS CESPEDES, GARIN CECCHINI, SEAN COYLE, TRAVIS SHAW (to SDP)ANDREW CASHNER, ALEX TORRES (TO BOSTON)RED SOXSIGNPABLO SANDOVAL (BOS loses 2ND rnd pick (1st protected); comp pick to SFG)4 YEARS, $72M ($18M AAV)RED SOXSIGNJON LESTER6 YEARS/$140M ($23.33M AAV) (guaranteed 6th year swayed the agent 🙂RED SOXSIGNGERALD LAIRD1 YEAR, $1MRED SOXSIGNMIKE ADAMS2 YEARS, $10.5M ($5.25M AAV)REDSMARLINSTRADEJOHNNY CUETO (TO MARLINS)Brian Flynn, Anthony DeSclafani, and, Avery Romero (TO REDS)REDSRELEASECarlos Marmol“]”>Carlos MarmolREDSSIGNMIKE CARP1 YEAR, $1.5MREDSSIGNCHAD BILLINGSLEY1 YEAR, $3MROCKIESSIGNBRETT ANDERSON2 YEARS, $14M ($7M AAV)ROYALSCUBSTRADETim Collins (To Chicago)Bijan Rademacher (To KC)ROYALSPADRESTRADEJohn Lamb, Cody Reed (to Padres)Carlos Quentin (to KC)ROYALSSIGNJOE THATCHER1 Year, $2.5 MillionROYALSSIGNJONNY GOMES1 year, $2MROYALSSIGNIKE DAVIS1 year, $0.75 MillionTIGERSSIGNLUKE GREGERSON3 years, $24.6 Million ($8.2 Million AAV), mutual option for 2018 at $9MTIGERSSIGNANDREW MILLER3 YEARS, $26M ($8.66M AAV), 4th YR option @ $9MTWINSSIGNWANDY RODRIGUEZ2 years, $8 Million ($4Million AAV)YANKEESPADRESTRADEJOAQUIN BENOIT (to NEW YORK YANKEES)TYLER AUSTIN, MIGUEL SULBARAN (to SD PADRES)"