2021 MLB Season / 21-22 Offseason Thread

[Your Mom]

We just swept the Dodgers and DMN isn't around so I can rub it in his face  

[The Buscher]

Angels are releasing Albert Pujols.  Was hitting .198 with 5 home runs over 86 at-bats.

Anyone who wants him can sign him for the league minimum since the Angels have to foot the bill for his regular salary this year.  But he could well have played his last game.  Amazing career.

[gunnar hendershow]

He's not even a replacement level player anymore. Not to say someone won't take a look at him as injuries pile up and teams try to avoid starting service accrual clocks on players, but it's not like he'll be in high demand. 

[Maxx]

If he wants to keep playing some team that needs star power will sign him since he won’t cost anything.  If he wants another playoff run, that’s probably not happening.

[Mx. Canadian Destroyer]

I'd love for him to get at least a 1 day contract with the Cards, get an at-bat and then retire.

[Your Mom]

Ok apparently I don't know how to post pictures or gifs but pretend this is the Jeter kid tipping his cap  

[MalaCloudy Black]

4 minutes ago, Your Mom said:

Ok apparently I don't know how to post pictures or gifs but pretend this is the Jeter kid tipping his cap  

Pujols is surely a HOF lock, right?

[Mx. Canadian Destroyer]

[DYSI]

[The Buscher]

There have been longstanding rumors around the league that Pujols is two or three years older than listed, and if that's true his career trajectory makes even more sense.  Obviously most players' skills start to erode in their mid-30s, but there are those rare legendary hitters who stay productive until they're nearly 40.

In terms of a traditional stat line, his last good season was 2016 (.268/31/119) and that was his age 36 season but might've really been his age 38/39 season which is even more impressive.  Plus he was still belting close to 20 home runs a year into his 40s.

[gunnar hendershow]

Pujols certainly continued to produce at an older age than Miguel Cabrera. Everything after his 34th birthday has been just sad to watch.

[The Buscher]

It really is.  He's 11 home runs away from 500 and 128 hits away from 3,000 but at the rate he's going he will be limping to those achievements.  And he still has two years, $64 million left on his deal after this season.  I don't think they'll pull the rug out before he hits those milestones but maybe a deferred buyout and a personal services contract or something ends up being the route they go.

[gunnar hendershow]

He went from surefire first ballot Hall of Famer (which he probably will be anyway) and in discussion for one of the 10-15 greatest hitters ever to having to claw his way to the milestones. Surely Detroit thought with his latest contract he'd close in on 3500-3600 hits and 650 HRs before he was done, and they'd get the ticket sales from that enthusiasm. Instead he is going to finish with career numbers that look a lot more like Eddie Murray than Hank Aaron.

[Maxx]

His Triple Crown is his ticket to being first ballot.  Probably also helps a little that in the next 25 years or so (or even longer who knows) he and Verlander are about the only two players coming out of Detroit that have a chance at going into the hall.

[gunnar hendershow]

34 minutes ago, Maxx said:

His Triple Crown is his ticket to being first ballot.  Probably also helps a little that in the next 25 years or so (or even longer who knows) he and Verlander are about the only two players coming out of Detroit that have a chance at going into the hall.

Hey now, one day they'll write the wrong or not inducting Lou Whitaker.

[gunnar hendershow]

Today is one of our most treasured holidays. It's been 5 years since Bartolo made the impossible happen.

[The Buscher]

I love how SNY added it to its rotation of Mets Classic games even though it was a largely boring game aside from one moment.

And less than a month later, James Shields got traded to the White Sox for a yet-to-make-his-professional-debut Fernando Tatis Jr.

[MalaCloudy Black]

If every time Tatis launches a homer the announcers don't scream "FERNANDO TATERS", well, something's wrong

[gunnar hendershow]

James Shields for Tatis Jr is really going to be an all-timer. He wasn't particularly good before the trade and was dreadful in Chicago. The team he was brought in to help push over the edge instead imploded and dealt away all their veterans (except for Shields since SD was paying a ton of his salary) within a year and a half.

[SeanDMan]

Crazy how some pitchers fall off a cliff while others go for ages.