The Official 2024-25 MLB Hot Stove Thread

[blues_funk_reggae]

I think Vlad Guerrero would've reached 3000 hits had his back not given him issues. He also retired "young" at 36, if he would've played until..lets say 42 I think he would have hit the milestone.

Side note, I loved those Expos jerseys with the solid blue. In the late 90s some teams had a third solid color jersey, good times.

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[Remote]

The owners definitely want that salary cap.
That's a red line with the players and I would be surprised if they caved on that issue.

If they did, the owners would almost definitely have to give up their 6 year control of the players.
That would create all sorts of interesting things. Because imagine you have a player who is a free agent at 23 or 24 instead of 27.

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[VegetasHairline]

Baseball is back! The stars, teams and themes we can't wait to see in spring training

From the big-spending Dodgers and Mets to potential breakout teams such as the Cubs, Tigers and Red Sox, here's what has us most excited this spring.

www.espn.com

 

[Remote]

04
05
06
07

All terrible.

The rest were kinda cool.

 

[Trips]

04
05
06
07

All terrible.

The rest were kinda cool.

92-97 definitely the logo i liked the best. Mostly though cause I couldn't get enough of this game back in the day.

 

[Regular_P]

The owners definitely want that salary cap.
That's a red line with the players and I would be surprised if they caved on that issue.

If they did, the owners would almost definitely have to give up their 6 year control of the players.
That would create all sorts of interesting things. Because imagine you have a player who is a free agent at 23 or 24 instead of 27.

I don't understand the pushback on a cap when a floor would have to be part of that. Look at the current payrolls for the 2025 season:

2025 MLB Team Salary Payroll Tracker

A real-time look at the 2025 salary payroll totals for each MLB team..

www.spotrac.com

The average payroll is $154 million. Let's say it bumps up to $160 million when the remaining guys like Bregman sign. There are only 12 teams right now paying more than that. The money will be there.

I also agree that team control needs to be reconfigured. Personally, I think the NHL model would work best for MLB. Baseball players generally don't mature like NBA players and hit the ground running at 19-20. But, that doesn't mean they should get their service time rigged and ferried around the minors until they're 28.

The unrestricted free agency rule for NHL is guys become UFAs no matter what if they are 27 by June 30th or if they've been in the league for seven years (some guys in the NHL are playing at 18). NOBODY likes that most free agents hit the market for the first time in their 30s. If Bregman was a free agent three years ago, he would already be signed to a $200 million deal. He turns 31 at the end of March so teams are hesitant to give him a long term deal. It makes sense, but it's not fair and a terrible system.

 

[Regular_P]

Padres asked orioles for basallo,mayo and/or westburg for cease.none are available

I get negotiations, but preller be doing too much especially when we saw that mid package burnes was traded for

In a vacuum, asking for at least two of them is fair, imo. I'm not even mad at three. I know he's gonna be a free agent after the season but he's also a work horse who never gets injured in a time where 98% of starters miss time. The bust rate is way too high on these prospects too.

The Orioles aren't going to re-sign Cease though if they let Burnes walk. So, in that sense, it makes sense to hang up on that offer. But, they also aren't a serious organization and likely will never win shyt with their current ownership/GM.

 

[FaTaL]

I think Vlad Guerrero would've reached 3000 hits had his back not given him issues. He also retired "young" at 36, if he would've played until..lets say 42 I think he would have hit the milestone.

Side note, I loved those Expos jerseys with the solid blue. In the late 90s some teams had a third solid color jersey, good times.

U just don’t last long swinging like that

 

[Trips]

In a vacuum, asking for at least two of them is fair, imo. I'm not even mad at three. I know he's gonna be a free agent after the season but he's also a work horse who never gets injured in a time where 98% of starters miss time. The bust rate is way too high on these prospects too.

The Orioles aren't going to re-sign Cease though if they let Burnes walk. So, in that sense, it makes sense to hang up on that offer. But, they also aren't a serious organization and likely will never win shyt with their current ownership/GM.

There is a trade there. Just not likely with Westburg because of how much control they have on him. Mayo and Basallo are effectively blocked. I'm personally not as high on Cease as many so I think the initial asking price was too high. But, he definitely should command at least 3 prospects. Especially since the pitching market has shown what it is.

However you are correct the O's went from one cheap owner to another. New fear is this is Daniel Snyder all over again. Owns his favorite team and runs it into the ground.

 

[Regular_P]

There is a trade there. Just not likely with Westburg because of how much control they have on him. Mayo and Basallo are effectively blocked. I'm personally not as high on Cease as many so I think the initial asking price was too high. But, he definitely should command at least 3 prospects. Especially since the pitching market has shown what it is.

However you are correct the O's went from one cheap owner to another. New fear is this is Daniel Snyder all over again. Owns his favorite team and runs it into the ground.

There's legit concerns about his control but I could see him settling in like Gerrit Cole and hitting his stride very soon like Cole did once he got to Houston.

If Baltimore had re-upped Burnes, it would be a no-brainer to trade for Cease, imo.

 

[Remote]

Salary cap or salary floor?
This is the video for you.

 

[Trips]

There's legit concerns about his control but I could see him settling in like Gerrit Cole and hitting his stride very soon like Cole did once he got to Houston.

If Baltimore had re-upped Burnes, it would be a no-brainer to trade for Cease, imo.

I think they still trade for Cease, they'll just offer more prospects. Likely Mayo, Basallo, Povich and maybe two others just won't be Westburg.

 

[Remote]