[lex24]

Dodgers are moving backwards.  Scherzer and Seager are gone.  Kershaw, Taylor and Jansen are still free agents.

BTW, Jay Jackson is a loss.  His numbers were absurdly good.  

And finally, the Collective Bargaining Agreement is over at 9 p.m. on Wed., 12/1, at which point the league will enter a lockout.  That will mean a league-wide transaction freeze.  Some points:

1) Players want more at the top and bottom.
2) They want reduced penalties for large-payroll teams.
3) Owners want expanded playoffs.
4) Universal DH is on the table.

Pitchers and catchers don't report for 2.5 months, so there's time to negotiate.

The top issue for players is actually reducing the years of team control, i.e. reaching arbitration/free agency earlier so that the majority of players able to establish their true market aren't past their prime. This will be the key issue to resolve, the rest are tradeoffs that are already understood and will happen.

The very aggressive contracts being extended thus far can only be read as being a good sign in terms of management being bullish about the industry which should result in flexibility re labor.

I've long believed that the NFL rookie contracts (4 years, plus often a club option for a 5th year) are abusive for simple reason that most NFL careers are 3+ years.  The players should be entitled to earn free market salary after 2 years . . . max.  And I still believe that.

It just may be true that team control over players' careers in MLB is even more abusive.  Reducing the years of team control should be imposed by the Commissioner, if it's not agreed to during CBA.  That will never happen, of course, but it should.

Team control issue is big.  It is abusive and has to change.  There is time to reach a new CBA.  But MLB is so poorly run - on both sides- that they probably wii f it up.  Missing games would be catastrophic.  They can’t allow that to happen .  But they just well might.

---

Good call on Jackson but they had to reduce the roster because of Delaplane. He has plenty of upside. Still sweating out the Rule 5 for Corry. A club without much chance might claim him and swallow the roster spot. A club like the Orioles.

So... Webb, Disco, Wood, Cobb and ? What do you guys think? Is it in the realm of possibility that they offer Kershaw? In ancient Giant history they signed Spahn and Carlton and Randy J at the end of their careers and not much good happened.

Jackson was terrific at AAA.  Inconsistent with Giants.  Logical guy to let go. 

No to Kershaw.  He has some significant arm and back issues. If, as suspected, they sign Wood, they still need to add at least 1 and preferably 2 starters. I’m thinking they do a deal with A’s for Montas, Bassit or Manea.

Chris Taylor is another priority. But with Seager leaving, he’s more likely to resign with Dodgers. Plus I read he’s now looking at around 75 million for 5 years. Which is similar to Marte (78 for 4 I believe). Taylor is younger and can play both inf and of. But Marte is the better hitter. Has better speed. And would not have cost a compensation pick (Taylor will).

It’s very early. But the Giants badly need to pick up a RH outfield bat and a couple more starting pitchers. It may be more difficult once the lockdown hits.

[lex24]

Dodgers are moving backwards.  Scherzer and Seager are gone.  Kershaw, Taylor and Jansen are still free agents.

BTW, Jay Jackson is a loss.  His numbers were absurdly good.  

And finally, the Collective Bargaining Agreement is over at 9 p.m. on Wed., 12/1, at which point the league will enter a lockout.  That will mean a league-wide transaction freeze.  Some points:

1) Players want more at the top and bottom.
2) They want reduced penalties for large-payroll teams.
3) Owners want expanded playoffs.
4) Universal DH is on the table.

Pitchers and catchers don't report for 2.5 months, so there's time to negotiate.

The top issue for players is actually reducing the years of team control, i.e. reaching arbitration/free agency earlier so that the majority of players able to establish their true market aren't past their prime. This will be the key issue to resolve, the rest are tradeoffs that are already understood and will happen.

The very aggressive contracts being extended thus far can only be read as being a good sign in terms of management being bullish about the industry which should result in flexibility re labor.

I've long believed that the NFL rookie contracts (4 years, plus often a club option for a 5th year) are abusive for simple reason that most NFL careers are 3+ years.  The players should be entitled to earn free market salary after 2 years . . . max.  And I still believe that.

It just may be true that team control over players' careers in MLB is even more abusive.  Reducing the years of team control should be imposed by the Commissioner, if it's not agreed to during CBA.  That will never happen, of course, but it should.

Team control issue is big.  It is abusive and has to change.  There is time to reach a new CBA.  But MLB is so poorly run - on both sides- that they probably wii f it up.  Missing games would be catastrophic.  They can’t allow that to happen .  But they just well might.

---

Good call on Jackson but they had to reduce the roster because of Delaplane. He has plenty of upside. Still sweating out the Rule 5 for Corry. A club without much chance might claim him and swallow the roster spot. A club like the Orioles.

So... Webb, Disco, Wood, Cobb and ? What do you guys think? Is it in the realm of possibility that they offer Kershaw? In ancient Giant history they signed Spahn and Carlton and Randy J at the end of their careers and not much good happened.

Jackson was terrific at AAA.  Inconsistent with Giants.  Logical guy to let go. 

No to Kershaw.  He has some significant arm and back issues. If, as suspected, they sign Wood, they still need to add at least 1 and preferably 2 starters. I’m thinking they do a deal with A’s for Montas, Bassit or Manea.

Chris Taylor is another priority. But with Seager leaving, he’s more likely to resign with Dodgers. Plus I read he’s now looking at around 75 million for 5 years. Which is similar to Marte (78 for 4 I believe). Taylor is younger and can play both inf and of. But Marte is the better hitter. Has better speed. And would not have cost a compensation pick (Taylor will).

It’s very early. But the Giants badly need to pick up a RH outfield bat and a couple more starting pitchers. It may be more difficult once the lockdown hits.