That sparkling tweet nicked off @BillJames. He's a pretty funny guy in Tweet mode.
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JEAN SEGURA
Dipoto has a video up on the M's website. Well, it's a figure of speech, but still. His opinion of Segura is interesting here ... he had Segura in Anaheim before the 2012-13 trade. (That means the Terminator has detailed files, LrKrBoi29.) 2014-15 taught Segura how tough the game is, both emotionally and on the field technically. 2016 was the result of Jean Segura evolving and finding his true self.
Which would be okay with me. I'm willing.
Stat of the day: Segura slugged .499 last season from shortstop, with 200+ hits to lead the NL. You knew that. What you might not have noticed: that Segura slugged .561 in August. And .609 in September. With a much improved EYE in September.
His batting AVG was the same 1st half and second half. But he hit 23 doubles and 14 homers in the second half, for a .572 SLG versus .441 in the first. Other players with that profile in AVG and PWR: Edgar Martinez. Also the new Jose Altuve, the one with power. Also Kyle Seager. Jean Segura is the player Dipoto says he is, his next contract is going to start with a 2.
...
There are posts up with titles like "Six moves that could put the M's in the postseason," which is great. There is ONE move that is worth about 7 wins to the M's, and that would be the one Jerry Dipoto thinks he made. Seven extra wins would have been helpful in the last week of 2016.
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EDWIN DIAZ
You know I'm good with Greg Johns Mailbags. He relays that Diaz is in the bullpen to stay. (That sound you heard was a few of our top Think Tankers who ran screaming out into the night.) The M's don't believe that Diaz can sustain wipeout stuff in the rotation, but that he can in the bullpen.
The argument for 180-210 quality innings per year, stands.
Taro's argument, however, for [$180M per season rent-a-closers] also stands. If you wanted Edwin Diaz winning 17 games in the rotation, you can console yourselves that an "automatic" reliever has become priceless in today's game.
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CHRIS ARCHER
In case you missed it, the Rays want a Sale-type package. They like him even better than anybody else does. Or so says the buzz this week. McCutchen for Paxton, Diaz, O'Neill plus, the price on Sale ... I think the GM's are on to the fact that HOF'ers are a moneyball opportunity.
The Taijuan for Segura thing is looking better and better.
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ZACH BRITTON, CLOSER TRADE TARGET
Jeff Sullivan said, in his Fangraphs chat, that the Orioles' logical play is to --- > move into the 2017 season and deal Britton if they're not in the hunt. "He's not going to lose any value between now and" July.
Which, there was a great article along those lines we read somewhere, that teams will give you $60-90M for a couple of months' worth of a closer. If that's true, I guess we can fuhgeddaboudit on big trades for relievers.
Speaking of which, Greg Johns sees Ariel Miranda for the Mike Montgomery role next year. It's a cool thought. Not sure whether Miranda is now --- > where Mike Montogomery was last offseason, but it's a cool thought.
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MARINERS CORNER OF
Some wag axed, "Does Haniger block O'Neill?," to which Jeffy sez "there's another corner. And O'Neill is a year away anyhow." Second opinion reasonable, first opinion gold. It's 5-to-make-3 in the outfield; if Mitch Haniger hits his UPside he's in there for anybody, up to and including the King of Spalding.
BABVA,
Dr D
