It's Time Again for the Hot Stove League!
Anybody save the SI season preview from 2015? The one that anointed the Phillies as the 2018 world champs?
The easy pickin's one--I am guessing Tanaka will opt out of his Yankees contract. He will wind up with the Phillies, Angels, or Dodgers, with an outside shot being with the Rangers or Brewers.
Why are the Dodgers on the list? Because they are going to part ways with Yu Darvish.
Do the Mets plan on addressing 3rd base this year? Mike Moustakas? Frazier? Reyes? Expect Wright to play again?
if they sign Moustakas, it would be a terrible omen for the season. He's a poor fielder, and for a team supposedly built on pitching, would not be helpful. Frazier would be better, and even with his low BA last year, he walked enough to have a good OBP. I think they need to sign at least a 3B or a 2B because the solutions on their roster aren't good enough. Bring back Walker at 2B and play Flores at 3rd, or sign Frazier for 3B and have Flores play 2B. With Rosario at SS, and one decent glove at 1B and either 2B or 3B, it will be a huge upgrade over last year's IF defense. And Cabrera's option isn't that expensive, so bring him back as a potential utility IF and PH.
The team can't count on Wright to come back. If by some miracle he does, he can be the backup at 3B, and part of a platoon at 1B with Dom Smith.
I'm a big fan of Flores. I think he should play 2B and 1B against lefties. His arm didn't seem strong enough for 3rd. I would like Frazier, and bring back Cabrera as utility. He played a decent 3rd base.
Mets are exercising their option on Cabrera, so that is one infielder locked up. Assuming he stays at shortstop, they still need a second baseman and third baseman. I agree Wright is not in the picture. Even if he does return, he will be a shadow of his old self and prone to injury again.
The Mets have about $60M coming off their payroll, which gives them room to do some signings. But they have so many needs, especially with the starting rotation blowing up so spectacularly last year. Will they make a run at JD Martinez? Big dollars if they do. Arrieta to help stabilize their young rotation? He came back well last year. I don't see Hosmer settling for a fairly moribund franchise like the Mets.
I do see them signing Nunez, and possibly bringing back Walker because both are so flexible on positions and hit well. I agree that Flores should be a keeper for the same reason.
mfpark said:
Mets are exercising their option on Cabrera, so that is one infielder locked up. Assuming he stays at shortstop,
my head is exploding at the thought that someone is assuming that. At this point in Cabrera's career, I probably have as much range as he does at SS. If he's regularly playing SS for the Mets next year, it means Rosario is injured or gets sent down. And it also would mean a 90+ loss season.
I hear you. Not a lot of good options on the FA market either. Cozart will be expensive and he is better than Cabrera but has also lost a few steps to age. Nunez, Reyes, Tejada all are role players now and not starting shortstops for a full season.
Is Rosario ready?
Rosario has to play. He has to. What can they do at catcher? Is there any catcher out there who can actually hit? I'd sign Colon as a reliever. He likes the big stage, and the players love him.
d'Arnaud had a decent year--pretty typical for him, with a bit more pop than usual. He handles pitchers well. Given their need for outfielders and infielders, my guess is they stick with d'Arnaud and focus elsewhere.
He's ready to save them 30 runs a year in the field compared to Cabrera. That means he's ready
mfpark said:
I hear you. Not a lot of good options on the FA market either. Cozart will be expensive and he is better than Cabrera but has also lost a few steps to age. Nunez, Reyes, Tejada all are role players now and not starting shortstops for a full season.
Is Rosario ready?
No opt out for Tanaka. Guess he felt with his arm questions to take the bird in hand.
Just saw that. He was looking at perhaps four years and $100M from the Phillies or Dodgers, but as you say he went with three years and $67M guaranteed with the Yankees. Hard to feel sorry for the dude.
He has a full no trade clause, so Yankees fans get to watch him age out in the Bronx.
ska said:
No opt out for Tanaka. Guess he felt with his arm questions to take the bird in hand.
mfpark said:
Just saw that. He was looking at perhaps four years and $100M from the Phillies or Dodgers, but as you say he went with three years and $67M guaranteed with the Yankees.
My guess is that the Phillies are a year away from spending big on free agents (hello, ballyhooed Class of 2019), and that when they do, Hamels will be back in red pinstripes.
The odd thing about trying to improve the Mets is that a lot of their guys have a lot of potential, they just can't seem to realize it. So, do you spend big to take a chance that a free agent isn't already past his prime, or keep these guys and hope they play well. I mean, I like Flores, Rosario, Smith, Cespedes, and Conforto. I'm not a D'Arnaud fan, but who better is available? Maybe I'd try to get Bruce back and some relief pitching, but what about the starters? Degrom and four "ifs".
Curious to see if anyone takes a run at Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins are looking to dump salary (seems to happen every year with them) and Stanton and Ozuna are prime candidates to be moved. Gonna take a team that has a ton of prospects ready for the Bigs plus the ability to swallow either Stanton's $295M contract or the more affordable Ozuna's $25M/2 year contract.
If I were a GM that wanted Stanton I would try to make the Marlins eat a significant chunk of his salary.
mfpark said:
Curious to see if anyone takes a run at Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins are looking to dump salary (seems to happen every year with them) and Stanton and Ozuna are prime candidates to be moved. Gonna take a team that has a ton of prospects ready for the Bigs plus the ability to swallow either Stanton's $295M contract or the more affordable Ozuna's $25M/2 year contract.
That's what I have heard. Also hearing the Cardinals are taking a serious look, although Stanton has a full no-trade clause and reportedly wants to be on the West Coast where he is from. He said he wants to be on a contender and not a rebuilding team. Between the contender desire, a West Coast preference, and finding a team that has the MLB-ready prospects to trade (as well as room for Stanton in the outfield), it might be tough to find a fit this off-season. Perhaps the Angels, although they never seem to do well with their big free agent signings. My guess is the Marlins trade Ozuna and wind up keeping Stanton for at least another year.
yahooyahoo said:
If I were a GM that wanted Stanton I would try to make the Marlins eat a significant chunk of his salary.
mfpark said:
Curious to see if anyone takes a run at Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins are looking to dump salary (seems to happen every year with them) and Stanton and Ozuna are prime candidates to be moved. Gonna take a team that has a ton of prospects ready for the Bigs plus the ability to swallow either Stanton's $295M contract or the more affordable Ozuna's $25M/2 year contract.
I looked up Marcel Ozuna, and one of the first google results was video of his wife crushing a HR in a softball game:
This also illustrates the Marlins' problem. The seats are almost empty for Marcell's HR.
ml1 said:
I looked up Marcel Ozuna, and one of the first google results was video of his wife crushing a HR in a softball game:
but the game was in Tampa, so it makes sense for the seats at Marlins Park to be empty
Stanton's contract numbers get insane - not sure any team other than the Red Sox taking a chance.
Mets have too many holes to fill to spend all their money on someone like Martinez. I think they are more likely to go after Jay Bruce. They also have no clue which pitchers will be able to rebound from last year.
I think the yankees will try to sign Sabathia to a one year deal with an team option for a second year. - I do not see the Yankees making a big splash and they still have several really good prospects.
The Angels still owe Pujols $114 million over 4 years. Plus they owe Trout $99.75 million over the next 3 years and will need to decide whether to resign him. Trout is almost 2 years younger that Stanton and under contract for only 3 years versus 11 years.
Stanton's contract is probably the 3rd dumbest contract in baseball history after Alex Rodriguez Albert Pujols.
Stanton's contract for first three years was a bargain (all under $15,000,000/year) but jumps to 25 million next year and keeps going up till it hits 32 mill and than back to 25 mill. Other NL teams must be thrilled that he is under contract for so long -- and ties up a large percentage of their payroll.
Unless new Marlins ownership is willing to pay a 1/3 of the money owed I am doubtful anyone will take him off their hands - except for maybe the red sox, who despite finishing first would like to get a big slugger again.
if I were the Mets I would take Stanton off their hands if they also give up Realmuto. Then again it's not my money...
jfinnegan said:
if I were the Mets I would take Stanton off their hands if they also give up Realmuto. Then again it's not my money...
wilpon's are too cheap, but they are suckers. if Jeter can get the mets to take Stanton's contract, we will have found a new Barnum.
Roy Halladay’s death is hitting me hard. He wasn’t a Phillie for very long, but is one of my all-time favorites. My wife and son (I had to work) will always cherish bearing witness to his playoff no-hitter against the Reds.
What a joy to watch Roy’s mastery on the mound. What a joy to hear him share his thoughts off the field.
Damn.
Dave Schmidt--very much agree. Always liked watching him work, regardless of the team he was on.
So sad that his wife was opposed to him getting this model of plane, then relented and they made a sales video for the company showing how and why she changed her mind. Turns out two senior engineers for the company that makes the plane died recently in a crash of the same model in California.
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