Hot Stove 2023-2024

Ok

Right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a contract, sources tell ESPN. Stroman, 32, was an All-Star with the Cubs in 2023 and had a great first half but struggled down the stretch and finished with a 3.95 ERA.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2024

I can't remember if he's ever started a game back at Rogers since leaving; if not, and under the assumption he will this year, that'll be something to see.

Stroman always been a Yankee in spirit lets be honest

In total, 23 arbitration-eligible players did not reach terms on a contract and are seemingly headed for a trial. Deals still could be worked out, either for one year or long-term. Here is the full list of players, their requested salaries and teams' requested salaries. pic.twitter.com/M3gBan7Huv

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2024

xp Clem

Stro pitched in Toronto 08/22 - 5IP, 3H, no decision. Reaction will be very different playing for NYA, I really couldn't care though - I love the guy and look forward to the tweets :D

Huh?!

BREAKING: Right-hander Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. Hicks, 27, is expected to work as a starter after spending the majority of his career in the bullpen.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2024

Stro wanted to be a yankee since he came into the league but NYY never bit on him for whatever reason

i guess with, like, adolis garcia that’s a sizable percentage gap, but why even bother taking casey mize to arbitration over $25k? that’s just being dickish — shades of when the team with the lowest arb figures won a title belt

I agree in principle that it's not worth possibly antagonizing Vladdy over $1M when you're talking about the difference between $18 and $19M. But I feel like it's even dumber with regards to Arraez, who legitimately had a great season and actually deserves to win.

More like $2M, actually.

wishing the best for hicks!

if jordan hicks is able to remain in the starting rotation for a season, that would be a good deal for the giants. he was developed as a starter in the minors but rushed to the major league bullpen due to his ability to throw 105 mph (he was also 21 years old that year and was hazed by dickish members of the cards bullpen (matheny and shildt did nothing)

but i think there are a few reasons he hasn't had success in the rotation. i think the most important is he never developed a third pitch (though the two he has, fastball/slider, are both nasty). he got a chance to start for a while in 2022 and rarely made it out of the 3rd or 4th inning, and i think part of that was just hitters adjusting to him the second time around. secondly, he walks 4 to 5 per 9 innings and anecdotally, the walks seem to come in bunches, so he's susceptible to getting run out of the game early). also he is frequently injured.

on the plus side the dude throws 105 and his slider is crazy good! even if he doesn't stick in the rotation, he's one of the few relievers who would justify a $11M/yr contract, and the giants can afford it so seems like a good deal

Shōta Imanaga opened his Cubs introductory press conference in the best way possible pic.twitter.com/pS6uNUg51u

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) January 12, 2024

I’d be surprised if Hicks stayed a starter. Everyone talks about how hard he can throw, but even as a reliever he was still hitable

xp thanks for the info, it’s an interesting signing but I guess they can flip him at the deadline if the rotation doesn’t work out & get a haul for him, cos they already have Doval to close. I think he’s maybe the third reliever I’ve read about starting in the past few weeks. Realistically they don’t need him to be anything besides an adequate innings eater because that rotation is basically Webb, Stripling (ugh), injured Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison, injured Alex Cobb, ???. Harrison is really good but had a rough debut last year but the upside is huge, so I guess they think they can take Bailey’s process and get something out of Hicks to fill some innings.

Thanks for the scouting report on Hicks everyone has I have no idea what to think of this signing

Has should be as

I will be with gyac here and be positive about all of this. Giants need another starter tho

I had to look up Imanaga's reference. When the Cubs sign me, I'm opening up my first press conference with "Let's play two!"

an introductory press conference is the perfect time to introduce your own new salsa brand

https://i.imgur.com/8GJWwuV.png

I will be with gyac here and be positive about all of this. Giants need another starter tho

Jung Hoo Lee asked if he looked handsome 😂 pic.twitter.com/1mkKrQrCup

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) December 15, 2023

Cute story re Imanaga in Chicago

Shota Imanaga listened to the roar of the crowd during the national anthem, taking in the scene before one of Connor Bedard’s first home games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Imanaga later returned to the United Center to buy a Michael Jordan jersey and take a picture next to the iconic statue.

This was early November, a few weeks before Imanaga entered the posting system created by Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. Imanaga, a fixture with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the winning pitcher in Japan’s victory over Team USA in last year’s World Baseball Classic championship game, wanted a new challenge.
…
Imanaga and his associates posted up at a suburban hotel, getting comfort food at Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese grocery store in Arlington Heights. Imanaga worked out at Bo Jackson’s indoor facility near O’Hare International Airport. Imanaga’s group now has a collection of tourist photos around Chicago that could best be described as “Where’s Shota?”

Imanaga felt so comfortable that he wanted to stay. He just wasn’t sure that the interest was mutual.

“Each team is different and it’s a long process,” Imanaga told The Athletic on Thursday through an interpreter. “One time I mentioned, ‘I hope the Cubs offer me.’ I was kind of joking just because at that time the Cubs were out of the picture.”

I forgot about Matt Carpenters salsa!!! Greatest mlb storyline of 2018.

Imanaga seems like a lot of fun. Love to have a guy playing for your team like that

I should just give in and become a Dodgers fan. I have only been back to Orange County since '03, so only one Giants World Series Championship since then. But there is only one Madison Bumgarner.

The baseball is a lot of fun to watch

xp I assume you mean since ‘13

Yeah, lol. I saw two white living in the Mission district in San Francisco.

White = while. What an incredible typo

Not really, I did move in 2003. Funny how I'm miss remembering. Old.

Actually it because I'm drinking and should not be posting, nite

Yeah you’ve made a post you’ll regret in the morning itt, night friend 👋🏻

BREAKING: Star closer Josh Hader and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a five-year, $95 million contract, a source tells ESPN.

The deal contains no deferrals. It is the largest present-day value contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2024

that’s about $317,000 per inning if all goes well

Did not expect him to sign for so much

uh, the cardinals just signed matt carpenter, 1 year, league minimum salary since he was released from the barves last month

i feel like carpenter's going to do his salsa moves after hitting a double, and nootbaar is going to do his pepper grinder after he gets on, and it's just going to spiral from there

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/each-teams-local-broadcasting-arrangement.html#google_vignette

1 Dodgers 196 million
2 Yankees 143 million
3 Phillies 125 million
4 Angeles 125 million
5 Rangers 111 million but dropped
6 Braves 100 million
7 Mariners 100 million
8 Cubs 99 million
9 Red Sox 97 million
10 Giants 93 million
11 Mets 88 million

A's @ 67 million, wow

7

lol the a's current MLB payroll obligation for 2024 is $45m

cannot believe las vegas fell for this shit

Los AngelesAngels

Surprised the Mets are that low and the Mariners that high. Good for them. The Dodgers doubling the Cubs is astonishing, all on Spectrum.

And the Blue Jays: unreported.
Ok then.

Wilpons still own SNY aiui

Ok

SIGNED: #Pirates and LHP Aroldis Chapman have agreed to a contract, pending a physical.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 23, 2024

Lotta money for 2024 Chapman. I might just not get the pirates, but this doesn’t seem like the best thing they could do with $10.5mil?

pirates have recently been seen complaining that they can't get/have to pay extra for free agents because they're perceived as losers

which i'm sure is true, but whose fault is that? this season will be the fifth with ben cherington as GM

anyway, yes, bizarre signing on a lot of levels. i guess they can point at signing a 36yo 'name' reliever as 'look, we did something!'

feel a little bad for bryan reynolds, but i myself would absolutely take $100m guaranteed to play for a shitty team going nowhere

HOLD THE PHONE 📞
MORE DODGER NEWS
JAMES PAXTON SIGNING INCOMING

Safe to say, I like it. Dodgers pitching development magic + Paxton could be something great. Syndergaard was too far gone but Paxton showed last year he still had the trappings of a quality starter. Hope it pans out

‘Member when the pirates were the best team in baseball for like a month to start the season? That was a fun time which I wish went on a little longer.

are you actively trying to make everyone here hate you/the dodgers

Would you prefer I act like the dodgers aren’t the new evil empire?

Silence, sadly, is not an option.

I dunno, I’m just having fun with it all. It’s sport.