The Official 2024-25 MLB Hot Stove Thread

[Spence]

Nobody wants to give the Astros any props about signing the best defensive 1b in the league to a team friendly deal who also has a bat. We are now an outfielder and bench bat away from running it back

Retool, not rebuild

Bregman is

We still have payroll room to fit a Santander/Hernandez and even a budget pitcher should Verlander choose to not come back

 

[Trust Me]

I'm not mad at it.

I'm for the players but sometimes it has to go both ways.

It doesn't make sense for teams to waste their time chasing a player who doesn't want to be there anyway.

If Philly was a viable destination for Sasaki his agent would have been pushing them.

But we can all laugh at Philly tho

 

[Dipsey Doo]

I missed out on the CBA discussion, but I’d like to add my two cents.

To me it’s simple, Owners have a responsibility as stewards of the game to field competitive teams. But I understand that Pittsburgh and Milwaukee for example face significant challenges that Los Angeles and New York don’t. It’s tough to compete with hedge funds basically owning teams. And then the TV money and the future of RSNs make it more daunting.

I’m all for players getting their worth, but I think the players have a responsibility for helping to ensure the health and vitality of the game for players well into the future. It’s almost obscene to me that we are at the point of some players getting billion dollar contracts. When is enough, enough? Boras has definitely contributed by pushing the envelope when it comes to salaries.

What I truly hope is that the owners and players have enough vision to forge an economic system that helps level the playing field so fans in smaller markets have hope to compete and retain their own stars. Having the same 3-4 teams in the championship mix is unhealthy for the sport overall.

 

[Remote]

I missed out on the CBA discussion, but I’d like to add my two cents.

To me it’s simple, Owners have a responsibility as stewards of the game to field competitive teams. But I understand that Pittsburgh and Milwaukee for example face significant challenges that Los Angeles and New York don’t. It’s tough to compete with hedge funds basically owning teams. And then the TV money and the future of RSNs make it more daunting.

I’m all for players getting their worth, but I think the players have a responsibility for helping to ensure the health and vitality of the game for players well into the future. It’s almost obscene to me that we are at the point of some players getting billion dollar contracts. When is enough, enough? Boras has definitely contributed by pushing the envelope when it comes to salaries.

What I truly hope is that the owners and players have enough vision to forge an economic system that helps level the playing field so fans in smaller markets have hope to compete and retain their own stars. Having the same 3-4 teams in the championship mix is unhealthy for the sport overall.

I think that's fair.

It can't possibly be good for the game to have a franchise exist with no chance for a playoff appearance or a world series title.

 

[Remote]

Manaea and Alonso still unsigned.

I'm a little surprised.
Are the Mets really intent on going after Vlad next winter? If they are, that has to take them out of the running to bring back Alonso.

But if the Blue Jays really are going to try to keep Vlad, the Mets kinda have to bring Alonso back quickly. I'm not sure what other teams might want him now that Christian Walker went to Houston.

Do the Yankees really want to give Pete a contract with a bigger AAV than Walker got? Because you gotta know he's asking for like 30M per, if Walker got 20M at his age.

 

[Spence]

Manaea and Alonso still unsigned.

I'm a little surprised.
Are the Mets really intent on going after Vlad next winter? If they are, that has to take them out of the running to bring back Alonso.

But if the Blue Jays really are going to try to keep Vlad, the Mets kinda have to bring Alonso back quickly. I'm not sure what other teams might want him now that Christian Walker went to Houston.

Do the Yankees really want to give Pete a contract with a bigger AAV than Walker got? Because you gotta know he's asking for like 30M per, if Walker got 20M at his age.

It’s possible they do a 1 year deal with an opt out/mutual 2nd year? That would free them up to go after Vlad and if it doesn’t work out you might still have your guy on the hook if no trade happens at the deadline.

 

[Remote]

It’s possible they do a 1 year deal with an opt out/mutual 2nd year? That would free them up to go after Vlad and if it doesn’t work out you might still have your guy on the hook if no trade happens at the deadline.

If I'm Pete Alonso, I definitely don't want to be on the market the same year as Vlad.

Hell, if that's the case, Alonso better take all the damn PEDs he can get his hands on in 2025 and hit 50 HR again. LOL

 

[Trust Me]

Manaea and Alonso still unsigned.

I'm a little surprised.
Are the Mets really intent on going after Vlad next winter? If they are, that has to take them out of the running to bring back Alonso.

But if the Blue Jays really are going to try to keep Vlad, the Mets kinda have to bring Alonso back quickly. I'm not sure what other teams might want him now that Christian Walker went to Houston.

Do the Yankees really want to give Pete a contract with a bigger AAV than Walker got? Because you gotta know he's asking for like 30M per, if Walker got 20M at his age.

Obviously I don’t have any inside info.. but this is my opinion on these two.

I think the Mets like Manea and would like him back, but at a certain price. I kind of feel like his agent is tryna cop a BAG bag. I don’t see Stearns paying him ace money when he’s a solid #2 and great #3.

As for Pete, I don’t think we have to bring him back. There’s been hella chatter of moving Vientos to 1st. There’s some rumors of traction with Bregman, which I’m cool with as long as the number comes down. And it seems like it might.

Worse case scenario, we roll with Mauricio/Baty at third to start the year and figure it out as we go. (We could resign Iglesias too and he could platoon at 3rd also.) Or hell.. Acuña played a bit of 3rd. Throw him in the mix, since we need to build McNeil’s value back up before we ship him off.

Next year.. Vientos can either go back to 3rd or DH like it’s been said, is where he’ll likely end up anyway.

 

[god shamgod]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-rumors-blue-jays-vladimir-guerrero-jr-talking-contract-extension-with-realistic-range-above-500m/

 

[Spidey Man]

PhiLLy running it back. City been in shambles since Lindor crushed the buildings

 

[Trips]

I missed out on the CBA discussion, but I’d like to add my two cents.

To me it’s simple, Owners have a responsibility as stewards of the game to field competitive teams. But I understand that Pittsburgh and Milwaukee for example face significant challenges that Los Angeles and New York don’t. It’s tough to compete with hedge funds basically owning teams. And then the TV money and the future of RSNs make it more daunting.

I’m all for players getting their worth, but I think the players have a responsibility for helping to ensure the health and vitality of the game for players well into the future. It’s almost obscene to me that we are at the point of some players getting billion dollar contracts. When is enough, enough? Boras has definitely contributed by pushing the envelope when it comes to salaries.

What I truly hope is that the owners and players have enough vision to forge an economic system that helps level the playing field so fans in smaller markets have hope to compete and retain their own stars. Having the same 3-4 teams in the championship mix is unhealthy for the sport overall.

I think that's fair.

It can't possibly be good for the game to have a franchise exist with no chance for a playoff appearance or a world series title.

I think it does indeed suck that there are teams that outside of superior scouting are always just going to be hanging around with no real chance at competing for a World Series. But, at the same time, we can't fault some teams spending excessively when other teams aren't spending shyt. I don't know what the medium is. But, one of the things prevalent in all of the major sports are shyt owners who have no intentions of spending money. But, will threaten the city they are in to fund their new stadiums etc., or they are leaving.

 

[King P]

I missed out on the CBA discussion, but I’d like to add my two cents.

To me it’s simple, Owners have a responsibility as stewards of the game to field competitive teams. But I understand that Pittsburgh and Milwaukee for example face significant challenges that Los Angeles and New York don’t. It’s tough to compete with hedge funds basically owning teams. And then the TV money and the future of RSNs make it more daunting.

I’m all for players getting their worth, but I think the players have a responsibility for helping to ensure the health and vitality of the game for players well into the future. It’s almost obscene to me that we are at the point of some players getting billion dollar contracts. When is enough, enough? Boras has definitely contributed by pushing the envelope when it comes to salaries.

What I truly hope is that the owners and players have enough vision to forge an economic system that helps level the playing field so fans in smaller markets have hope to compete and retain their own stars. Having the same 3-4 teams in the championship mix is unhealthy for the sport overall.

Respectfully: I'm not tryna hear non of that shyt. Nobody is forcing some of these owners to run their teams like a Mom & Pop shop. They're choosing to do that on their own accord.

I be looking at these owners like when they try to convince fans they don't have the means to sign these players. Bet if you made them open the books, you'd see they on some

The truth is that some of these owners do not care to spend because they don't care about winning. They just wanna make a profit. And it's more profitable for them not to field a competitive team because they'd have to spend more money to do so, which would affect their bottom line

 

[Dipsey Doo]

Respectfully: I'm not tryna hear non of that shyt. Nobody is forcing some of these owners to run their teams like a Mom & Pop shop. They're choosing to do that on their own accord.

I be looking at these owners like when they try to convince fans they don't have the means to sign these players. Bet if you made them open the books, you'd see they on some

The truth is that some of these owners do not care to spend because they don't care about winning. They just wanna make a profit. And it's more profitable for them not to field a competitive team because they'd have to spend more money to do so, which would affect their bottom line

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but ultimately owning a MLB is a business and these owners aren't in the business to lose money or dip into their own personal fortunes to fund expenses and payroll.


I'm sure Pittsburgh/Milwaukee/Kansas City have the means to sign a Soto or Ontani to a mega contract no doubt. Factoring in market size, television money and revenue sharing, it makes it a poor investment for those teams. Mets and Dodgers payrolls are rounding errors for those organization

 

[Regular_P]

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but ultimately owning a MLB is a business and these owners aren't in the business to lose money or dip into their own personal fortunes to fund expenses and payroll.


I'm sure Pittsburgh/Milwaukee/Kansas City have the means to sign a Soto or Ontani to a mega contract no doubt. Factoring in market size, television money and revenue sharing, it makes it a poor investment for those teams. Mets and Dodgers payrolls are rounding errors for those organization

Listen, if these owners want to nickel and dime or try to maximize their profits, they can just sell their franchises. Every single one of them is worth at least one billion.

That's a lump sum that's more than they'd make in decades slumming it up with bargain basement payrolls.

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but ultimately owning a MLB is a business and these owners aren't in the business to lose money or dip into their own personal fortunes to fund expenses and payroll.


I'm sure Pittsburgh/Milwaukee/Kansas City have the means to sign a Soto or Ontani to a mega contract no doubt. Factoring in market size, television money and revenue sharing, it makes it a poor investment for those teams. Mets and Dodgers payrolls are rounding errors for those organization

These owners would see their stadiums filled up if they actually spent money on their team. The Pohlads are always said to be in the top 5 richest owners in baseball yet always cry poor. It's an insult to the fans to say you have payroll concerns when you could pay your payroll 10x over and still have a billion left over.
There are factors that won't let teams spend like the Yankees and Dodgers, but there's no reason a team like the Twins is constantly cutting payroll. Fans show up when you put a competitive product on the field. When so many of these owners throw their hands up in the offseason and all the excuses during the regular season as to why surprising teams "can't add payroll" is a bad look in a league that has no cap.

I know they can run these team like businesses but there's a lot of rich cock suckers out there who would actually invest some of their money instead of just trying to squeeze out every piece of profit they can. fukking capitalism