4hzglory

Another intriguing starter option that should be cheaper (3 yr/$30 mil projection) is Cody Ponce. His uptick in velocity and added plus splitter make him an interesting option that I'd hope we would be in on. If they could get him, go after Bregman, and spend $20ish mil on a couple higher caliber, high K pen arms I'd be extremely happy.

Yes, especially when their decision doesn't make sense. Fairbanks should have been easily tradeable on the 1 yr $11 mil contract that he would have had if they picked up the option.

I'm more on board with Bregman also. This year he wouldn't cost a draft pick like he did last year. It obviously would potentially limit some of Keith/Anderson/Lee's chances of improving (at the ML level), but would be worth it IMO and Torres is only signed for 1 year. I'd still be surprised if they are as in as they were last year on him (especially with their publicly stated focus on pitching), but I'd be very happy if they went after him. I don't know if they'd have the $ for him and Imai (long shot to get) or King as well as a competitive offer for Skubal(next year) and $15-20 mil for the pen, but if they do I'm all for it. I think pitching is the bigger need, but Bregman would definitely improve the offense significantly.

I'm hesitant on someone Tampa let go of for a relatively reasonable 1 yr $10 mil (adjusting for the buyout they gave) when his history suggests he's worth more than that. Even if they held onto him for trade value. It makes me concerned they know something.

I do think he will get the 2nd year. Especially since Helsley got what he did, and even Williams getting 3. Finnegan's numbers improved significantly and it was based on real changes, so It gives hope it is sustainable.

And Finnegan's K's went way up when he came here. They adjusted his pitch usage among other things.

Except Diaz would be at least double that per year and at least double the years. Think more like $80 mil over 4 years instead of $20 mil over 2.

I can see Davenport and Mosley as FA signings being major injury risks, and of his draft picks, Williams and Hooker. Like you said, it isn't as much of a trend as his reputation is. Now, we have been hit with numerous injuries to players who didn't have an injury history.

It sounds like Wisconsin committed to significantly upping their recruiting budget for next season - it sounds like they've been way behind and they believe it has strongly hampered Fickell's ability to recruit. In the pre-NIL era, they were ok recruiting wise, but not in the new era.

Maybe, but with the talent they lost to the draft, especially on the DL (where they haven't recruited as well (relatively) and LB , there were definitely questions of whether they would be as good as last year. As skeptical as I was about Patricia, he has drawn nothing but rave reviews from the players for how he has utilized their talents and worked around them compared to Knowles trying to force the players to play in his system. It's shocking to see how flexible Patricia has been and made the defense considerably better than last year, even if last year's was more talented (which I think it was)

Correction, the only portal is Jan 2-15. Still during the playoff which makes no sense to me.

Bichette is terrible at SS. If we are talking at 2nd or 3rd, maybe, but he is not a good SS. He also has really slow batspeed which historically has led to people falling off rapidly shortly after age 30. I don't see him as a super fit long term, nor do I think he would come here if Toronto makes him a competitive offer.

Yeah, I wanted him last year, but it doesn’t make near as much sense now.

The tiebreaker is very unlikely to come up with the Packers. Only way is if we have a tie.

I don’t see where his market is this year. Last year it was us and Boston, and I don’t see us in it for him this year. IIRC we were at 6 and 162-so 26/yr. I think the Boston deferrals actually got his AAV close to that. They gave the opt out after 1, we offered after 2. I personally don’t know if he will top that in present value (including last year) as I think his market has shrunk even more. Houston doesn’t have the $ now that to have Correa back. Maybe NYY? But they usually try and reset the luxury tax.

Can’t do that when the transfer portal is in December now.

His deal with the Red Sox had significant deferrals making it more like $30 mil/yr.

Maybe no one else was close to those years/$ and he wanted it done rather than drag on?

Rainey resigned to a minor league deal. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/tigers-re-sign-tanner-rainey-to-minor-league-contract.html

..

From the Athletic, it sounds like Tatsuya Imai wants to carve out his own place apart from the Dodgers. “Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki,” Imai told the former Boston Red Sox and New York Mets starter, “But winning against a team like that and becoming a World Champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.” “If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” Imai said. “But that’s actually not what I’m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — that’s part of what I’m excited about.” Maybe Harris will make a push for him?

It was primarily Awosika that was the issue. He gave up 2 of the 3 sacks and a number of quick pressures. Hopefully Frazier is getting ready until Mahogany comes back.

And I am the complete nemesis of most on here as I grew up an Ohio State fan and still am, but am now more a ND fan. So last year was a lot of fun.

Welcome to the light 🤪. I was actually never a fan until my son went there.

I definitely think they need to make a push for a #2/3. I am hoping they don’t go for a guy with huge injury concerns for that.