The Ultimate 2018-19 MLB Free-Agent Primer

[Dback Jon]

https://sports.yahoo.com/ultimate-2018-19-mlb-free-agent-primer-185030083.html

Lots of Dbacks mentioned - with Corbin and Pollock ranked in top 5.

Also mentioned:

Jon Jay (FA)
Eduardo Escobar (FA)
Paul Goldschmidt (Club Option, will be exercised)
Brad Ziegler
Clay Buchholz

 

[Dback Jon]

What’s the weakest position?
First base is a bit of a dumpster fire, with a bunch of retreads from last winter. Beyond Pollock, the only center fielder is Jon Jay, who most don’t see as an everyday guy. The real answer may be shortstop. While there are plenty of solid utilitymen available, the only everyday shortstop is Jose Iglesias, whose glove always has been far ahead of his bat. The good news for Iglesias: He’s one of the few players in the class still in his 20s.

 

[Dback Jon]

Who made himself the most money this year?
Who made himself the most money this year?
Corbin is the easy answer. Tommy John surgery kept him out in 2014. He was decent when he returned, awful the next season, solid last year and dynamic this year, with 242 strikeouts in 195 innings. Like Iglesias, age is on his side, too: He turned 29 in July.

Others: Starter Nathan Eovaldi (at 28, the youngest pitcher in the class), utilityman Eduardo Escobar (versatility, power, doesn’t turn 30 until January), reliever Adam Ottavino (dominant bullpen arm, in Colorado no less) and catcher Wilson Ramos (unlike his last foray into free agency, he hits this one coming off a monster year and healthy).

 

[AZ Native]

I think someone is going to grossly overpay Pollock. Corbin will be paid well by the Yankees but is capable of earning every penny of it there

 

[BC867]

I think someone is going to grossly overpay Pollock.

Pollock had a streak where he stepped in and stepped up well during Goldy's disappearance at-bat. D-backs fans appreciated that.

The downside is that Pollock has been trying to continue the role of power hitter and that is not his game. He could not maintain that role.

It also doesn't help that Pollock has been shuffled between cleanup and 2nd and 5th and leadoff and 3rd in the batting order since then.

What is his role? Hit into the shift? Go the opposite way? Try for a home run on every swing? Try to start rallies or move runners along?

Peralta has taken over Pollock's role and has maintained it. He has been our most consistent, dependable and clutch hitter, even more than Goldy, who is in decline again.

Peralta and Goldy are the only run producers who have gone against the system and not tried to hit everything into the shift. Pollock, on the other hand, got locked into it.

 

[DWKB]

There are a lot of posters here that would be embarrassed to look back at our discussions about buying out Pollocks arbitration years.

 

[AZ Native]

Pollock had a streak where he stepped in and stepped up well during Goldy's disappearance at-bat. D-backs fans appreciated that.

The downside is that Pollock has been trying to continue the role of power hitter and that is not his game. He could not maintain that role.

It also doesn't help that Pollock has been shuffled between cleanup and 2nd and 5th and leadoff and 3rd in the batting order since then.

What is his role? Hit into the shift? Go the opposite way? Try for a home run on every swing? Try to start rallies or move runners along?

Peralta has taken over Pollock's role and has maintained it. He has been our most consistent, dependable and clutch hitter, even more than Goldy, who is in decline again.

Peralta and Goldy are the only run producers who have gone against the system and not tried to hit everything into the shift. Pollock, on the other hand, got locked into it.

I'm not sure why you quoted my post. Pollock has been on the IR quite of bit of time and is batting under .250. Do I think he has potential? Yes? But I think he will be one of these guys who gets a huge contract and never earns it. Just my opinion. You make a lot of excuses for him but he is a professional and expected to perform in whatever role he is placed in.

 

[BC867]

I'm not sure why you quoted my post. Pollock has been on the IR quite of bit of time and is batting under .250. Do I think he has potential? Yes? But I think he will be one of these guys who gets a huge contract and never earns it. Just my opinion. You make a lot of excuses for him but he is a professional and expected to perform in whatever role he is placed in.

Actually, I was agreeing with your point, "I think someone is going to grossly overpay Pollock." because of his short period of success.

A move they are going to regret because of his early 2018 spurt. He is not a middle of the lineup hitter.

 

[AZ Native]

I misunderstood then. Free agency signings can be crazy. I would like to be Pollock now. Corbin can really excel with the Yanks. I like him a lot.

 

[Dback Jon]

There are a lot of posters here that would be embarrassed to look back at our discussions about buying out Pollocks arbitration years.

Could you expound on that?


I was very much a fan of keeping Pollock over Eaton. I know some on here weren't

 

[DWKB]

Around Sept of 2015 or so, there was a big push to sign Pollock to a 5-6 year deal, buying out his arb years. A few posters were passionately for somebody long term deal whereas I argued that Pollock is exactly the kind of player you ride arb out and let go if you’re a GM.

The DBacks smartly did just that and I think they’ve been vindicated for it.

As a fan, I somewhat get the perspective. It’s not your money.

As a backseat GM, it was a horribly shortsighted take influenced by emotion.

 

[Dback Jon]

Around Sept of 2015 or so, there was a big push to sign Pollock to a 5-6 year deal, buying out his arb years. A few posters were passionately for somebody long term deal whereas I argued that Pollock is exactly the kind of player you ride arb out and let go if you’re a GM.

The DBacks smartly did just that and I think they’ve been vindicated for it.

As a fan, I somewhat get the perspective. It’s not your money.

As a backseat GM, it was a horribly shortsighted take influenced by emotion.

I would love to have AJ back, but don't think he is worth the money he will want - too injury prone. If you told me he would play 150 games each of the next 5 seasons, yes, but he has only done that ONCE in his career, in 2015.

2016 - 12
2017 - 112
2018 - 111 to date

So in that three year stretch, he's played in less than 50% of games.
Just last two years, he is just a touch above 2/3

 

[DWKB]

I would love to have AJ back, but don't think he is worth the money he will want - too injury prone. If you told me he would play 150 games each of the next 5 seasons, yes, but he has only done that ONCE in his career, in 2015.

2016 - 12
2017 - 112
2018 - 111 to date

So in that three year stretch, he's played in less than 50% of games.
Just last two years, he is just a touch above 2/3

That was part of my argument. Along with his defense being undervalued in the arbitration process.

 

[overseascardfan]

Other than Machado & Harper, this is a pretty weak FA class. Most available FAs are going to be over the hill. Of course Corbin & Pollock will be sought after, they are among the youngest players available.