MLB Teams Taking A Powder In 2017 So Far

Some MLB Teams have had a tough winter so far, and we take a look at why this is. We understand that not all clubs have to be in win mode, and some maybe rebuilding, however the process and mindset is what we are questioning here.  For a team that is not going all in and should be based on their limited window of winning opportunity, we also call them to the carpet.  Stop taking a powder in 2017 and give your head a shake!

MLB Teams Taking A Powder In 2017 So Far

There are certain clubs who have done a nice job improving their clubs year over year, some that have done nicely in maintaining, well, and there are teams that are not looking so hot in 2017.

Let me also qualify this in saying that the Toronto Blue Jays are dangerously close to falling into this pegging themselves.  You guys can’t seriously think that you can enter into the 2017 campaign with the Outfield trio of Melvin Upton Jr., Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera can you?

Give Jose Bautista a 1 Year Deal worth $15 MIL – with a 2nd year Team Option of $19.4 MIL – or a Buyout Clause of $2.2 MIL  The Player could also opt out if he wants to after 2017.  You may risk losing a Draft Pick at all with the way this is going Toronto.

With the 1st ED pick attached to Joey Bats. and the looming future QO’s never receiving as much again,  how could a team justify losing that high of Amateur Draft Selection for an aging 36 year old slugger.

Here is the thing though Blue Jays brass:  You need him..Both at the turnstiles and in the lineup.  He doesn’t cost you anything but money – and the guy still carried out a .815 OPS despite a rough down year.

With a chip on his shoulder, I think he will bounce back big time.  You can defensive replace him every night if you wish, or use Kendrys Morales at First, and let Justin Smoak ride pine for some DH AB to open up for Bautista.

Losing Edwin Encarnacion, Bautista and Michael Saunders is not made up by Morales and Steve Pearce fellas!  You drew 3.4 Million Fans in 2016.  Toronto will keep the faith if you bring back #19 for one more year.

Once the LA Dodgers changed ownership groups to the Guggenheim Consortium, it spelt out a death sentence for the Padres competing. It may take a run of Tampa Bay like proportion (circa 1998 – 2007 before they are even near a playoff spot again.  This doesn’t mean you should tank it outright in the process.  San Diego will pay almost as much money to players not on their roster, as they will on their 2017 roster.  A.J. Preller should have received a 6 month ban for poorly running a team and not for a medical charts disclosure.

MLB Teams Taking A Powder In 2017 So Far

San Diego Padres

If the goal is to nosedive into the basement of the National League than the ‘Pod Squad’ is having a great offseason.  Not tendering Tyson Ross is full scale dumb.

The organization has about as much money in paying players not to play for them ($24 MIL: James Shields, Melvin Upton JR., Matt Kemp, Alexei Ramirez and Jedd Gyorko as players they actually will pay to play for them in 2017 ($30.5 MIL projected).

This is a gong show, with the key Free Agent Acquisitions being SPs Jhoulys Chacin and Clayton Richard both pulling in $1.75 MIL on one year deals respectively.  The club has been linked to Jake Peavy and Jered Weaver also on low one year deals.

Honestly, this team should lose 100 Games for a few years in a row.  They may be the worst club in the Majors since the 2011 – 2014 Houston Astros.

If you are going to tank games, you might as well go balls deep eh A.J. Preller?

Texas Rangers.

I think about this team probably more than any other team on a daily basis.  I am sure that Jon Daniels has something up his sleeve to sign some more players, but you have to take a look at what the Astros and Mariners have done this winter.  Both have improved substantially, while the Rangers lost 25% of their roster.

I don’t care if they sign Mike Napoli, Mark Trumbo, Michael Saunders or Chris Carter on offense, and also Jason Hammel, Colby Lewis or Doug Fister, but they need some help and fast.

It is the last year of Yu Darvish and Jonathan Lucroy on the club. Adrian Beltre is getting older, and it is not long until you will regret that Shin-Soo Choo deal.  Spend some money pronto, and get back in this race.  It would only take a few signings.

To think you are not going to miss Ian Desmond, Mitch Moreland, Carlos Beltran, Colby Lewis – and Prince Fielder in any capacity is not wise

Philadelphia Phillies

A lot of people are high on the Phillies being better in 2017, and I am not one of them.  They will probably regress in my view.  I understand the idea of having Jeremy Hellickson and Clay Buchholz on the last year of their deals saving the younger arms innings, but this could end horribly.

Perhaps it would have been better to allocate that $30.7 MIL in more appropriate ways for the upcoming season.  Add in Howie Kendrick‘s $10 MIL salary and it gets a whole lot worse.  You don’t need an average guy with no power on this club.  Kendrick is better off on a contending club.

The best thing that could happen for the Phillies is if these veterans can all play half decent so they are all trade chips in July.  Still the club could supplant the position players with at least a few veterans with some pop.

Maybe they will sign a Brandon Moss, or a guy like Michael Saunders, however they are still short several bats in the every day lineup, and should get obliterated by the Nats and Mets Starting Staffs all year.  Miami and Atlanta are better than the Philadelphia team too.

I know these guys are waiting for other years, but at least try to add some offense for when your pitching matures.

Milwaukee Brewers

I am still calling the non-tender move of Chris Carter one of the most bone headed moves of the winter.  Eric Thames at 1st base…Yikes…To look at their Depth Chart should give no one faith for the upcoming campaign.

The Cubs are a powerhouse and reside in their Division, the Cardinals are better this season, the Pirates are still strong. and Cincinnati looked a lot better down the stretch in 2016.

I firmly think the Brew Crew will challenge the Padres for the worst record in the Major Leagues.

A big reason why Milwaukee is on this list is their payroll is listed near the $60 MIL mark for projected salary.  That is brutal.  This team can easily be in the $110 – $120 MIL range, and i pity the fans who keep plowing through the gates at Miller Park to witness this fiasco.

Trading Ryan Braun to the Los Angeles Dodgers is something the club should definitely consider, as they might as well bottom feed like the Padres, and build through the draft for years while the Cubs have their reign at the top.

The Brewers were luck to have had a breakout season from Jonathan Villar – and had Chris Carter blast an NL Leading 41 HRs.  Aaron Hill also carried the club on his back for some of the 1st half wins.  The organization traded away several of its Late inning Arms, Jonathan Lucroy (now Martin Maldonado in the off year.).  They will need breakout years from Keon Broxton and Hernan Perez just to hit their 73 victory win total.  I say they regress, end up trading anything not nailed down at the Trade Deadline, and hold onto one of the worst records both pre and post All – Star Game

By Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) 

Follow @stokes_Hunter21 @mlbreports

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A big thanks goes out to our ‘Chief Writer/Part Owner’ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured post.

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