My Plan to Expand MLB to 32 Teams: Part 1

About a year ago I thought it would be fun to take a look at whether it would be a good idea for Major League Baseball, or whether it would be conceivably possible, to expand to 32 teams much like the NBA and NFL. The key word to that first sentence is that this was done for fun so if you have constructive criticism or something that I missed or that could be improved on by all means let me know in the comments section but just keep that in mind, this is all hypothetical. I felt the need to update this post with the recent events in the world surrounding the diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba with potential exhibition games, spring training games and possibly more coming to the native island that sits just 85 miles off the coast of Miami.

My reasoning for this post was that ever since the second Wild Card in each league was added the fun has been taken out of the July 31st trading deadline. As a Yankees fan I used to constantly refresh MLBTradeRumors and such waiting to see who the Yankees would acquire or trade for every season and I used to love getting on my Playstation on August 1st and trading all the players on my MLB game to keep the rosters current (before online game play really got popular). The fun of the July 31st trading deadline has been taken out of the game because with the second Wild Card there are just too many contenders and pretenders and not enough sellers in the market.

MLB wants five playoff teams in each league and wants the television ratings that come along with it (this is a business after all) then have no fear because I have a solution. Rather than contracting teams like the Miami Marlins and the Minnesota Twins, which has been discussed in years past under the Bud Selig regime, why not add two more teams? You turn three divisions of five teams each into four divisions of four teams each and go back to a single Wild Card winner. You can always go to the eight teams making the playoffs like the NFL later on if you would like, although I don't think that works in MLB unless you want World Series games in December.

What lucky cities would be presented with the new franchises you ask? I'm glad you asked!

To be continued.....

The Martin Prado Fire Is Heating Up & It Started Here

The Martin Prado to the New York Yankees rumors started here when my friend Bryan Van Dusen wrote about in a piece a few weeks back, see HERE and see below:

While Prado's batting line so far in 2014 is not impressive (.274/.318/.377, with only 1 SB in 2 attempts), he's hit pretty well this month (.307/.338/.427). Along with having a solid bat, Martin's versatility would work well in New York, since last season he played over 200 innings at both 2B and LF, while playing almost 900 innings at 3B.

Improving in the infield may not be the Yankees most pressing need, but Yangervis Solarte's fall from grace and Brian Roberts being... well... Brian Roberts, should make Brian Cashman take a hard look at Prado.

I then touched on it and tweaked the idea a little turning my attention to Prado replacing the Yankees Kelly Johnson and not Brian Roberts, seen HERE and below:

The first reason for not wanting Prado to replace Roberts is this is a typical Yankees move signing a veteran guy long term to block a prospect like Rob Refsnyder. The second reason is I do not believe Alex Rodriguez can be effective in 2015 after basically sitting out for two consecutive seasons late into his 30's. The third reason is Kelly Johnson needs to go and go now. Roberts plays adequate defense and is a switch hitter, if worse came to worse for Roberts he could be a pretty damn good bench guy for the Yankees. Johnson is basically a bench guy for the Yankees and is not having a great time at it.

Johnson was brought in because of his versatility and potential for pop and RBI's at the bottom of the order. Johnson has played 810 games at second base, 133 games in left field, 43 games at third base, and 27 games at first base in his career making him a good guy to have around. Prado on the other hand has played 374 games at third base, 252 games in left field and one game in right field, 245 games at second base,  56 games at first base, and 16 games as a shortstop. Losing the versatility of Johnson is not only replaced but improved upon if you add Mr. Prado.

Many thought we here at The Greedy Pinstripes were just pulling this awful idea out of our behinds and then Pinstripe Alley, one of the biggest and best Yankee blogs, wrote a piece on it. Now The New York Daily News and Billy Madden wrote about it. Now it's on MLB Trade Rumors. The fire is spreading, remember where you heard it first.

Can David Price Be The Yankees New Ichiro?

Anyone else constantly refreshing MLB Trade Rumors hoping that David Price gets traded before tomorrow night so the Yankees don't have to face him AND Chris Archer in the same series? Maybe it's just me. That line of thinking got me wondering, what if the Yankees pulled a 2012 when they traded for Ichiro Suzuki while in Seattle to play the Mariners?The cost would be substantial but the immediate impact and upgrade over Vidal Nuno would be even more substantial.

This is a pipe dream but wouldn't it be nice?

MLBTR: Yankees Could Get David Price In Trade

According to MLB Trade Rumors there is an outside shot the New York Yankees could acquire the Tampa Bay Rays ace starting pitcher David Price. Shut up and take my prospects...

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has made it clear that he will provide GM Brian Cashman the resources he needs to make a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline, and the Yankees won't be seeing the postseason if they don't deal for another legitimate starter who doesn't have health or decline questions. The Yankees' system is loaded, and though they would decline the inclusion of Dellin Betances, the Rays' first choice, they would give up what they have to in the minor leagues to acquire Price. The Rays have a long-term need at catcher, and Gary Sanchez would be the perfect acquisition in a Price deal. Sanchez would benefit from being developed behind the Rays' Ryan Hanigan, who did a great job influencing Devin Mesoraco in Cincinnati before his trade to Tampa Bay. The Rays would also need a pitcher back in the deal, with Luis Severino being a top target. The 20-year-old is dominating the South Atlantic League, with a strikeout per inning and an ERA under 3.00. And because the Yankees would have to overpay -- they're in the Rays' division and don't have an Aaron Sanchez to deal -- they also might have to toss in power-hitting prospect Peter O'Brien, who continues to hit towering home runs at an alarming rate (23 already between High A and Double-A).

The Yankees could afford to lose Sanchez, Severino, and O'Brien and still survive with Murphy, Romine, and Cervelli along with Brian McCann signed long term. The Yankees have Yangervis Solarte, Dean Anna, and Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez still signed long term as well. The Yankees pitching is stacked, whether the ESPN's of the world admit it, and could swallow the Severino loss, especially if Manny Banuelos returns from Tommy John surgery better and stronger.

So the question is, would you?

Yankees get David Price

Rays get Gary Sanchez, Peter O'Brien, and Luis Severino

YES PLEASE!

My Plan To Expand MLB To 32 Teams: Part One

It's a tad outdated with an old Florida Marlins logo but you get the point. 

Just for fun I wanted to take a look at whether it would be a good idea for Major League Baseball to expand to 32 teams, much like the NBA and NFL, and whether it would work or not. The keyword to that first sentence is that this was done for fun. If you have constructive criticism or something that I missed or that could be improved on, by all means let us know in the comments section. If you just want to be a douche and tell me this will never work or happen and don't have reasoning to back it up then please don't bother and derail this post, thank you in advance.

My reasoning for this post was because ever since the second Wild Card was added the fun has been taken out of the July 31st trading deadline. As a Yankees fan I used to constantly refresh MLBTradeRumors and such waiting to see who the Yankees would acquire or trade every season. I used to love getting on my Playstation on August 1st and trading all the players on my MLB game to keep the rosters current (before online game play really got popular). The fun of the July 31 trading deadline has been taken out of the game because with the second Wild Card there are just too many contenders and not enough sellers.

MLB wants five playoff teams and wants the ratings (this is a business after all) then have no fear, I have a solution. Rather than contracting teams like the Marlins and the Twins, which has been discussed in years past, why not add two more teams? You turn three divisions of five teams each into four divisions of four teams each and go back to a single Wild Card winner. You can always go to the eight teams making the playoffs like the NFL later on if you would like, although I don't think that works in MLB unless you want World Series games in December.

What lucky cities would be presented with the new franchises you ask? I'm glad you asked!

To be continued.....