This obviously isn’t true as he’s demonstrated how effective he can be as a starter. He’s also not the same pitcher now as he was in 2015-2017 when he was essentially a two pitch pitcher with only one of those being a plus offering. He has shown he can be effective with his change and now with his new cutter, so he should be less reliant on his power curve. Having to throw his power curve so often is likely what made it so hard for him to throw many innings in a given season as those pitches place a lot of stress on the body, particularly the elbow.
This obviously isn’t true as he’s demonstrated how effective he can be as a starter. He’s also not the same pitcher now as he was in 2015-2017 when he was essentially a two pitch pitcher with only one of those being a plus offering. He has shown he can be effective with his change and now with his new cutter, so he should be less reliant on his power curve. Having to throw his power curve so often is likely what made it so hard for him to throw many innings in a given season as those pitches place a lot of stress on the body, particularly the elbow.
That kind of contract would be fair if he had no upside as a starter and was seen purely as a reliever moving forward. It’s lower in AAV than the deal Will Smith got from the Braves. I’m sure the Astros would love it but there’s no way he or his agent would find that to be acceptable.
I think the Rays’ pen is plenty deep to last three days even if their starters only work for 4-5 innings. What will cost the Rays the series is that their lineup just isn’t that good right now.
He’s never been worth less than around 2 WAR in each full season he has pitched. The only way this kind of deal makes sense is if he does not expect any increase in durability in conjunction with a collapse in market value for FAs over the next four years to around half the value they would command pre-COVID. I don’t see it.
He would have to either have great doubts about his arm holding up or be a total idiot to take that though. I was worried about LMJ earlier in the season when his curve was getting hammered (even by LHB!) but I really like what I saw from him in the post-season. He used his change effectively and his cutter looks like it could be a real weapon and something more than a "show me" pitch.
Unless LMJ has no faith in his arm he should try to show that he can pitch 150+ quality innings in back-to-back seasons before he ties himself down. His market will rebound dramatically if he can do that.
It depends on whether or not you believe Profar can be a competent CF (seems like a gamble to me). His bat would play well in center and he likely could be a 2-4 WAR player there.
If I were Seattle no way would I trade Haniger without getting Whitley in return.
I think the Rays are solid defensively - probably the top ten in the league. But it’s laughable how some are now making them out as the second coming of the ‘16 Cubs after the ALCS.
Glasnow already at 100 pitches in the 5th. These guys nibble way too much with the kind of stuff that they have. Maybe part of that is knowing their team can’t hit for shit.