Yo, this winter trading season has been a Bomb Cyclone, but not as in the winter storm, or a flurry of moves, but rather the Bomb Cyclone, the Coney Island roller coaster that kills one of four riders. “This doesn’t seem that rickety.” Three minutes later, “Is the wooden plank I’m sitting on supposed to be falling to the ground from 75 feet in the air?” Seriously, is this the worst offseason for player signings and/or trades? Players aren’t even signing in dribs and drabs, they’re not signing at all. My rankings start on Monday, and I have dozens of players that read something like, “Still a free agent, so this could change.” By the way, a urologist should put on his business card, “Specializes in drips and drabs.” As for Gerrit Cole being traded to the Astros, this sorta sums him up:
Astros fans: Gerrit Cole is so much better than his numbers.
Pirates fans: So glad we’re no longer the ones justifying how Gerrit Cole is better than his numbers.— Razzball (@Razzball) January 10, 2018
I might go back in on Cole if he can turn his career around from his 4.26 ERA last year, but I’m waiting for him to flip a U-ey before I hunker down in his bunker. I’ve been burned way too many times by, “Cole’s looking great in his start…Damn, if it wasn’t for that 3-run homer he allowed in the sixth, that would’ve been a solid start.” Yeah, I’m done with that. Since I wasn’t going near Cole anyway, I’m actually more disappointed by this move because it bumps Brad Peacock from the rotation. Peacock’s bloomage looked to be peaking. All of Peacock’s numbers were more attractive to me than Cole. Alas, it doesn’t matter. Peacock is out of the rotation until there’s an injury. Though, this does help solidify Trevor Williams’ place in the Pirates’ rotation. Here’s my Trevor Williams sleeper. Me likey! For 2018, I’ll give Gerrit Cole the projections of 13-10/3.78/1.23/181 in 195 IP. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this offseason for 2018 fantasy baseball:
Joe Musgrove – Went the other way in the Cole trade, along with Colin Moran. Hmm, the Pirates do seem like a bunch of Morans with this trade. Musgrove has a 92 MPH fastball and five pitches he throws. His best pitch is a slider, and he is only 25, so maybe he can surprise with a 9+ K/9 and 2-ish BB/9 like he had in the minors. Since he bounced between the bullpen and rotation last year, I doubt he can throw more than 130 IP this year. This year’s projections are 6-7/4.08/1.29/109 in 124 IP.
Colin Moran – As mentioned above, he was the other piece in the Cole trade. Here’s what Prospector Ralph said this offseason, “The 6th overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft, Moran has been a bust of epic sized proportions. I’m fine being the low man on Moran. He lacks the type of power that might help him stick at first base, the only defensive position he’s truly a fit for. His greatest attribute outside of his above average game power, is his approach, but neither add up to anything more than a late career Joe Mauer statline in my mind. Moran however is not without some rays of sunlight. He did add more loft to his swing this year, which resulted in his first .500+ slugging performance of his MiLB career. There’s just nowhere for him in Houston, perhaps there’s some opportunity elsewhere. Unfortunately, 25 year old first base/left field prospects without a track record of power production in the minors aren’t exactly desirable. Like Grey in a bathrobe.” Oh, c’mon! Moran is likely going to platoon with David Freese at 3rd, which sounds like Hooks from Police Academy, “Freese/Moran!” For 2018, I’ll give Moran the projections of 51/13/48/.251/1 in 411 ABs, which is nearly carbon copy what the Pirates would’ve received from Freese.
Wade Davis – Signed with the Rockies. I saw one immediate reaction about this saying, “That’s gonna hurt his value.” Huh? No, it’s not. A closer in Coors to a frat boy might be Tylenol PM or fentanyl. But a closer in Coors for our purposes isn’t a big deal. Last year, Greg Holland had 41 saves and a 3.61 ERA, and, trust me, shizz was pear-shaped on the reg last year for Holland. SAGNOF, and I’m not scared by Wade in Coors, or as the religious song is known, Wade In The Piss Water. For 2018, I’ll give Wade Davis the projections of 2-3/3.09/1.12/75, 40 saves in 61 IP.
Brandon Kintzler – Re-signed with the Nats to be their setup man, or their 2nd setup man, or their closer. Last year, the Nats inherited the A’s’ (not confusing apostrophes!) closing shituation with Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, so any of the three could be the closer in 2018, and likely will be. My guess is it won’t be Kintzler, but I’m holding off on projecting him for now.
Addison Reed – Signed with the Twins. The Twins have already announced Fernando Rodney will be their closer, even with Reed. What they didn’t add is, “Rodney will be our closer for two months, and look, well, respectable, then in July, shizz will go sideways, while allowing six men on for every three outs, then around August someone will say something like, ‘You realize Reed is much better than Rodney, right?’ And that person will be within earshot of Molitor, who will be telling someone about his 39-game hitting streak, but he’ll hear him, because Molitor’s ears are as good as Wade Boggs’ eyes, and Molitor will think to himself, ‘Hmm, maybe Reed should be our closer since Rodney has a 7.30 ERA.” For 2018, I’ll give Reed the projections of 3-4/2.78/1.03/69, 14 saves in 71 IP.
