4hzglory

I definitely wouldn’t want Pickens attitude on the Lions. He doesn’t block at all either so isn’t a fit.

With no off day until the next Thursday, they will have to call up a SP sometime and I’d be shocked if it’s not the “free man” on Thursday

No, I mean player opt out. I'm certain they wouldn't accept a team opt out

Yep, I wonder if we will see anymore 9 year contracts like that. I could see Skubal ending up around 6 - 270 if he waits until FA. So add $5 mil to each of the seasons in my original proposal and you are at 7 for $280 with the first year being his arbitration year. He locks it in 1 season early and protects himself from the chance of getting injured. 2026 - $25 mil 2027 - $45 mil 2028 - $45 mil 2029 - $45 mil 2030 - $45 mil - opt out 2031 -$40 mil - opt out 2032 - $35 mil

It depends if the contract is signed while he is still under control (this year or this offseason) or as a FA. If he continues what he has done since August 2023, can see him getting close to $40 mil/yr over 6-7 years as a FA, but may be closer to $35-7 mil average if he signed right now as his arbitration number for 2026 is probably around $20 mil. My sample proposal. 2026 - $20 mil 2027 - $40 mil 2028 - $40 mil 2029 - $40 mil 2030 - $40 mil - opt out 2031 -$35 mil - opt out 2032 - $30 mil Total 7 years $245 mil with opt out after 2030 and 2031 as well as vesting option for 2033 for $30 mi depending on innings. $180 mil over 5 years (including his last arbitration year) before opt outs. Maybe even bump 2031 and 2032 (and 2033 vesting) numbers $5 mil each if he is top 3 cy young in 2029 or 2030. If need to put opt out after 2029 to get it done, do it.

Well, he’s still only 21 so he is actually young for AA

Why not is because if we are expecting to compete for the playoffs/championship next year, we should be looking to keep/add players like Skubal rather than sell. The difference between a comp pick (similar to McGonigle) and 2 top 50 prospects is worth it for 1 season of a top 5 pitcher in the game. The Angels didn’t “not recover” from losing Ohtani for a comp pick, they weren’t good before that. If we were in the position we were 2-4 years ago, yes trading Skubal would have made more sense. Not when we are a playoff caliber team.

The allocation of the signing bonus remains hits the cap all at once when a player is traded-similar to when they’re cut. Example: player signs a 4 year contract with a $40 million signing bonus. That bonus counts $10 million against the cap for each of the 4 years even though it was paid up front. So if the player is traded after year 1, the team takes a $30 million dead cap hit immediately. If he’s traded after year 3, it’s only a $10 million dead cap hit. So if they are going to cut a player anyway, they will try and trade them. If they aren’t and there is a significant amount of signing bonus still to be allocated, they likely will not.

Exactly. And then, in a playoff game with a team with Super Bowl aspirations, who do you trust more: a guy who hasn't experienced any real game time, or a seasoned vet, who was also in your offense the year before? They were only going to activate 1 and the other would be the emergency. It really makes complete sense without necessarily saying anything about how they feel about Hooker. The fact that they didn't bring in any significant competition this offseason says more about how they feel about Hooker IMO.

Exactly. There has been talk that Buffalo was high on TeSlaa

And it’s crazy, because it felt like there was a real shot he would be cut prior to the Yankee little league game if we didn’t have the extra player that day. And then he basically ran us to that victory and has been this new player ever since.

There is a big difference between a Cy Young starting pitcher (when your rotation is what there's was) who is under control for 2 1/2 seasons and a rental. If we could get an all star calibar 3b under control for 2 1/2 seasons (Say Bregman without the opt out next season) I would likely include any one of our top 100 in a package. But would not include any in a rental. I would consider Mcgonigle or Rainer or Briceno in a deal for one of the top 2-3 closers who is under control for at least 2 seasons. But again, none for a rental.

Finally got their edge 🤪

Crazy prediction- Quin Ewers

We also don’t know the number of simulated innings and other prep they did after the season.

I’d guess we’re signing Z back

Or Sawyer

I would guess it's around 150-160 which won't take much shutting down. They can relatively easily keep moving him back a day here and there and get him in the 25-28 start range which at 6 innings per is around 150. In reality, a combination of pitches/stressful pitches/innings is more what they will base the quota on. And if they get into the post season, as long as he's continued to be spaced out is he ok to continue? If everyone is healthy they wouldn't likely need him to have starter innings this postseason, so more likely to be a couple innings here and there.

Similar was said heading into last season. Almost everyone was projecting the team to be better, but have a worse record than 2023 due to the difficult schedule. Now 15-2 is extremely, extremely, unlikely so you are almost guaranteed to be correct that they won't be 15-2, but I expect them to be competing for the best record in the conference.

I'm fine whatever they do. It seems there will be a lot of talent on the OL and DL available at 28, so no need to trade up unless, like Tater said, they want to get a specific guy they have a high grade on. They should also be able to get an OL (like Jackson who I like much more than his teammate Simmons as he was an All-American guard who arguably played better than Simmons at LT when Simmons was injured). There are also ample DL likely to be available who fit their prototype throughout the second including both Ohio State ends and DT. So moving back into the early 2nd and picking up a pick for next year wouldn't be bad either. I don't think they are going to leave the draft with 7 draft picks though as there aren't that many spots likely to be available and they are more likely to use some to move up in some rounds or acquire more capital for next year.

It was DD’s last deadline. I’d say Avila’s best trade was probably flipping Norris for Olsen.

Exactly. You compete for chances at the prize, and with the projected rotation, you have a solid chance. You don’t give that up for the equivalent of 1 additional 1st rounder (assuming you lose him for the compensation pick). And in reality, you’d be lucky to get 2 top 100 prospects for 1/2 season of Slubal anyway if recent deadlines are an indication.

Thing is, they don’t need to save the cap money this year. I’m ok doing everything you said, but trade him next offseason and you likely get the return you mentioned. It usually takes a rookie receiver most of a season to get acclimated and where they are at, it’s not a luxury they have without hurting this season’s offense significantly.

Baez is starting today

I agree-draft a receiver in the middle rounds this year and trade Jamo next offseason. Even if the lose a round or 2 of value, it’s worth it for this season