Hot Stove League 2014-15

Barves apparently have 'strong interest' in Jackie Bradley Jr.

rating farewell-ad sincerity

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-farewell-ad-sincerity-ranking-joe-maddon-max-scherzer-nick-markakis/

shoulder surgery for jurickson profar, might miss his second straight season

from BP chat:

AC (TX): Is there a deal that is going very under-discussed, that you feel deserves more attention? Maybe a change of scenery that you feel will do wonders?

R.J. Anderson: Someone whose opinion I trust and who works in a well-regarded FO is convinced Brett Lawrie could outplay Josh Donaldson this season. I'm not there yet (and I probably won't get there until after it happens), but that's the deal that popped to mind reading the second part of this question.

As for the first part, I'd say the Yankees' acquisition of Justin Wilson. He's a very talented pitcher who could be a monster near the back of their bullpen. Add him to Betances, Miller, Carpenter, etc. and you have the makings of a nasty group.

bochy's in the hospital getting stents put in his ticker. hope it goes well

What THE FUCK

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/gregg-zaun-says-physical-abuse-from-cal-ripken-jr--kept-him-in-line-071143606.html

not surprising, but ugh anyway

meanwhile, RIP B.J. Upton

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- B.J. Upton has opted to appease those Braves fans who have said they "don't want to see B.J." in the lineup again this year. Now, the veteran outfielder can only hope that he is capable of altering his production as easily as he has the name he will use this season.

Upton's representatives confirmed that he will go by his birth name, Melvin Upton Jr., this upcoming season. The 30-year-old outfielder has long gone by the name B.J., which is short for Bossman (his father Manny's nickname) Jr.

You figure Billy was down for whatever whenever -- even now, probably -- but Cal?

i've never been a stannish defender of cal but i'm p sure every team was doing the violent hazing thing back then

cal probably got the same treatment from zaun's uncle back in the day

also lol cal put out an anti-bullying book jfc

guys this is not hot stove unless there was fire in the hazing

plz keep off-topic complaints in the detrius thread

@JesseSanchezMLB
BREAKING - Source: Cuban INF prospect Yoan Moncada agrees with Red Sox on a deal in $30 million range. Check http://MLB.com

Jesse Spector @jessespector
I get the Red Sox signing Yoan Moncada. Always want talent. I don’t quite get Yoan Moncada signing with the Red Sox. His path isn’t clear.

whoa, ok

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/04/padres-have-completed-trade.html

Craig Kimbrel and Melvin (AKA BJ) Upton to Padres for Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Matt Wisler, and Jordan Paroubeck

the barves will also get the 41st pick in the draft, apparently

zowie

seems like a decent deal for both sides, maybe? padres get a dominant closer and a BJ, barves get to dump upton's salary, get a few guys who can be traded later, and a couple prospects?

pads felt guilty tearing a family apart

xp - Yeah, beyond the initial emotional "Kimbrel noooooooooo, come back" shock, this seems win-win. I don't know the Padres' depth chart -- will Melvin start or be an expensive bench piece?

iirc the padres still have a few dozen OFs, even after quentin and maybin

Not worth starting the in-season thread for but goddamn, everything John Kruk says during the broadcast is nails on a chalkboard.

someone should start it!

I mean Kemp might break off at both knees like the t-1000 so who the fuck knows. kimbrel seems like the "luxury" move that people were talking about re the astros not needing a closer, but not in such dire terms -- I do feel like we are past peak closer Maybe some recency bias in favor of SF but you still have to make it past them and LAD afaict

"This latest move has improved the odds of the Padres winning the World Series, going from 25/1 to 20/1, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook."

idk man...

Law says Barves win

trade makes sense for both teams (especially barves), but if i were one of the players i'd be annoyed -- they had six months to make this trade and now i've gotta move across the country on opening day?

yeah the timing seems awful for the players