SoCalTiger

Here is how I would "fix" MLB and settle the upcoming labor negotiations : 1. Eliminate all deferrals . 2. We don't need a salary cap but we do need a Floor. This will spread the signing of free agents to ALL teams and not just five or six. There are only 30 teams and if you can't spend at the minimum sell and get out. This makes all teams better. 3. Have a "Cap Tax" that is 2 times the floor. Say the floor is 200 million then the "Cap Tax" starts at 400 million and is 100 % tax on the overage and the teams first round pick in the next seasons draft. The tax stays the same each year but more draft picks are lost for habitual abusers. 4. TV and radio revenue share. 40 % of every teams media revenue is put into a pot and distributed to all the teams. 5. No more draft gimmicks. Worst team drafts first etc. Given the "Floor" tanking is less likely. 6. Eliminate the international signing period and have a second Draft instead or roll both drafts into one. 7. Each year the Final four teams must offer a portion of the 40 man roster to the non playoff teams. This would be two rounds. The World champion can freeze 25 players, the runner up 30 players and the other two 35 players Each. It would be an exciting event at the conclusion of the year and help teams be competitive. 8. Arbitration is limited to years 4 and 5 and players are free agents after year five. No draft pick lost or gained. 9. Rosters expanded to 28 and pitchers to 15 to help wear and tear. We need out star hurlers on the filed and deeper bullpens help smartly managed teams. 11. Eliminate the runner on second ( larger rosters assist this) until the 13th inning. 10. Make the contract 10 years.

And Bonuses.

"EX GM"

Ok I'll bite. My guess is your thinking trade Skubal to the Mets and we get Tong and another player goes to the Brewers who send us Peralta and we then sign Suarez ??

I think the Tigers “ mindset “ might possibly be wait until the new labor contract is set and/ or Baez is off the books before spending on a large free agent contract.

IIRC Bassitt is also quite good out of the bullpen. Harris is probably trying to get him for one year with an option as Bassitt looks for two years.

So JHM to the Rays for $$$. Why do I feel uncomfortable ? But I do wish him the best. seems like a real solid person.

The criticism of Harris 2025 trade deadline deals was that he did not trade any of his "non top five" prospects which I guess were Lee, Anderson, Jayden Hamm, Franyearber Montilla , Malloy, Jace Jung and Andrew Sears. But the question nobody asks , and I don't know, is how valuable were they to other teams ? Is it possible nobody wanted them in comparison to what other teams offered ? And how valuable are they today? Maybe Harris was handcuffed with requests for only his top five ?

Not keeping candy was the right choice then and the right choice now and if anybody has regrets, I think you can get them from Cincinnati for a Song.

All true. If you only build through the draft then you're a scouting/farm director and not a PBO. But I think he is a very good PBO and will do all in time and at the right value. If not then we get the pitch forks out 😀

This is very fair. He is rigid ( it has been reported as well )but has talked about taking risks beginning with his introductory press conference. So we wait and assume it will be calculated and beneficial.

I "think" that situation, last off seasons trade deadline results, and this off season so far are all related. Harris has a very clear process on "value' and does not deviate from it. He thought Erod would ok the LA deal and was willing to gamble (and lost) because other deals did not match his return. Last off season he wasn't trading our core prospects and after our top five the league did not value the rest as much as he did so no deals. As for Free agency I don't think he believes the prices are a good value. He has plan and a process and we have to allow him to play it out and hopefully "revise" it should that be prudent. I think he will. His press will be bad because he simply does not talk to them. Luck or not he has two consecutive playoff appearances and 2026 will be number three.

El Mago will play everywhere and could platoon with Meadows in center.

Thank you sir.

San Diego - March 26 2026 1. Torres 2B 2. McGonigle SS 3. Greene LF 4. Carpenter DH 5 Tork 1B 6. Keith 3B 7. Dingler C 8. Perez RF 9. Meadows CF Skubal P

Boras is working his PR game. Probably wants the Pistons to offer 350 so he can take it to Free agency as a starting bid. I don't trust him.

Yes I was surprised Elias made that trade after refusing to trade prospects when he had Burnes and the Orioles were having a hot season. Perhaps pressure from the new owner. Maybe Harris will also have a change of heart.

If the Tigers have in fact decided to play Keith at 3B and not sign or trade for somebody else I would like to see them commit to Keith and play him every day or at least 120 games. We have to remember the mistake of Issac Parades who we moved around and played only in spurts only to find out with extended playing time he was solid.

I don't follow the NFL so it's hard for me to comment.

Super post. bang on. If I may add dominant "Villain " teams are actually good for the league overall. Fans love the drama and passion they bring. It's why the Yankees and Dodgers sell out their away games as well. It's not going to change because even the cheap owners benefit from it and the League sure as heck is not killing their golden goose and getting fired for it. So yes "pay to play" and draft and develop are the only option. And "rigid" Harris is following through. We are lucky to have him despite the sloooooow process.

Skubal will be pitching for Detroit in 2026 for many reasons so let's enjoy that. It's not the same as Ohtani because the Angels were not in the playoffs the preceding two years like we were. Nor were they playing in a weak division. Plus it's always easier to push off hard decisions to a later date. Maybe the new collective bargaining agreement will bail them out in some manner. Harris is probably relieved to pass the hot tamale over to Chris.

If the new CBA limits years then someone will offer Skubal 60 million a year. The limit has to be total salaries and that's a cap and it's kryptonite for a deal. Maybe there can be added bonuses for losing free agents. Perhaps multiple draft picks. Maybe the team signing the highest contract loses a player off their 40 to the team that lost the player ? Or both. I think all is possible with the union provided salaries are not overly suppressed or capped.

Yes and none of those you listed is a shortstop except Rainer who is 3 years away. Heck none really play third. They are all second baseman except Cruz who is still a long shot poor man's McStinky.

So why not cut Lee and protect Petit ?

I included Baez to off set Lindor's salary as an "off the hip" thought. Maybe it can be massaged to work but as you say directionless unless Stearns is indeed totally reshaping the Mets. But it's more in my long standing hope to fix the left side of the infield which is the one complaint I have with Scot Harris who I still support though a bit more impatiently to be fair. We need a shortstop and Third baseman so very badly.