Morning Mound Visit: sabermetrics news - 12/14/19

FanGraphs | Brendan Gawlowski: Adam Jones signed a two-year deal with the Orix Buffaloes of the NPB with an option for a third, a contract that could hit $15 million in total. That’s notable because Jones has been critical of the free agent market, and he’s the exact type of player that probably doesn’t make much in 2020.

ESPN Insider | Bradford Doolittle ($): With Rob Manfred’s plan to eliminate 42 minor league teams, there is obvious tension because the minor leagues as an entity and MLB. It’s very likely a deal gets done before the September 15th deadline, but it’s hard to say how it’d be satisfying for the minor league teams and communities, even if just a few, will have no baseball in 2021.

Bill James Online | Dave Fleming: So, how do the Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon deals look for either team? In Cole, the Yankees are a big market team getting an elite starting pitcher at the height of his career and at the peak of the team’s contention. Probably a good idea. In Rendon, the Angels are getting a great player who, depending on how long he’s stil great for, could be a good deal. Yet the team doesn’t show signs of contending in the length of time he could still be great in.