Hot Stove 2023-2024

No it’s in London, I’ll post about it on my thread.

Steve Shasta, here’s an addition for your notebook! I’m not sure if you keep up with baseball discussion on Twitter, (I don’t blame you if you don’t, cesspool that it is), but the term used for oft-injured pitchers by the young nowadays seems to be pulled pork, example:

That arm is pulled pork, it’s time to be a family man. https://t.co/ftdgjrEVmY

— slim (shay)dy. 🍫 (@himynameis_shay) April 5, 2023

I mean you had to retire at the age of 28 because your arm was pulled pork due to your workload so I don't think you are the one to be talking down on him like that https://t.co/6j1TBBs6XY

— AdamThaSportFan (50-112) (8-9) (23-59) (@AdamThaSportFan) September 9, 2023

wow. you guys sure told HP. this board is going to be so awesome once it's been whittled down to one or two posters.

You know I wasn’t going to say anything because I have had the person in question blocked for months now but this is bizarre revisionism about someone who had to be threadbanned from last year’s Red Sox thread because he followed me there and started a fight with me - and not for the first time. It was fucking weird and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. What about our comfort? Fuck us, I guess?

But basically, Mookieproof and Tracer are great guys, and if you’re on the wrong side of both of them you’ve gone seriously wrong somewhere. If they are the two guys you’re talking about, then I promise you they wouldn’t be the only people posting here.

I had no idea about any of that. Seemed like a pile on out of nowhere for some lame dodgers fandom, without context.

I mean you don’t have to, I’m not even sure Mookieproof did know about the example I linked? But it’s kind of absurd to act like Mookieproof and Tracer are the problems here, or the only ones to criticise that person’s behaviour, or even that this was the first case of such behaviour, even if you never read that thread. I remember some bs in the regular season thread as well. Regardless, the notion that those two guys are bad for ILBB is a joke.

I just think it's cute that a Dodgers fan thinks they'll ever win a title again. I do think they'll have the most impressive IL roster of all time though.

I don’t really understand this signing but I like Joey Gallo so good for him I guess?

The Nationals and Joey Gallo are in agreement on a 1-year, $5M deal, per @andrewcgolden pic.twitter.com/0nkXxAMmhc

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) January 23, 2024

Joey Gallo talking about his picture in MLB The Show is hilarious 🤣 pic.twitter.com/jYwFl7VJuz

— ShitBallPlayersSay (@baseballshit) April 18, 2020

Have the Dodgers past the Mets for biggest payroll? It does sound like they have around 12 starters and Kershaw in the wings

Kershaw remains unsigned but like is he even going to pitch this year? I know there’s that rumour about him finishing his career in Texas, which is a wildly stupid thing for them to let happen if it does, but Texas already has DeGrom (perma-crocked), Scherzer (pulled pork) and idk if they would pick him up for a couple of months at best?

Of course, the Dodgers have the freedom to place those kinds of bets thanks to their spending capacity. Roster Resource projects the organization’s luxury tax commitments for the upcoming season at a staggering $301MM. Signing Paxton would push that number around $313MM, moving ahead of the Yankees and alongside the Mets for the highest payroll in the sport. That comes with a hefty tax bill.

Ok so this is their current rotation? Even if they do bring Monty back if the TV deal is sorted or whatever, that’s a decent amount of question marks because Eovaldi is an injury risk too albeit to a much lesser extent. Also, the Mets are paying most of the Scherzer contract but they still have to pay him $22.5m this year.

https://i.postimg.cc/sgVWhDpR/IMG-4448.jpg

So yeah I’m sure Kershaw should retire a Dodger.

I’d like to indulge in gyac-charactered post-linking of horrific behaviour myself, but I’ll indulge in some self-control this time instead.

Xp Bee, It’s 5 bonafide starters for LA at the moment, Yamamoto/glasnow/buehler/miller/paxton. Sheehan and Yarborough will bounce between AAA and MLB as 3/5 of those are extremely touchy in their health (and we’ll see how Bobby Miller ends up). Dodgers definitely going for the “we’ll have 5 all-star pitchers in the aggregate!” Strategy where they just glue two 90ip 3ERA pitchers together to make an ace for the season. Kershaw likely to come back mid season, Friedman has said he has a spot on the roster whenever he wants it, it’s just a matter of not clogging up the 40-man while he’s recovering at the moment.

This has kind of been the dodgers pitching strategy for a while, they just have never been so proactive about it. Normally it’s mid-season trades or super early rookie call-ups fixing the all-star that gets shut down in June.

Brewers picking up Rhys Hoskins., 2yr 34mil I swear the guy is an “almost” all star every year. Career 126+ wrc. If you’re not one to value defence appropriately, seems like a great deal for his consistent slug.

the brewers did a thing! Hoskins - 2 yrs, $34M. i like this deal a lot for them

xpost, oh well

opt out after 1 season. so likely a one year deal really

fwiw i don't hate H.P. or anything -- and god knows i love his cat(s) -- but maybe just tone down the front-running is all

hoskins is a good dude

Left-handed reliever Matt Moore and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Moore joins the recently signed Robert Stephenson, plus previous free agent signings Luis Garcia and Adam Cimber, in a completely overhauled bullpen.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2024

lol thanks Mookie, anyone willing to give good wishes to my cats is eternally in my good books so all barks and bites are accepted with well wishes and a turned cheek. Hell, I’ll even leave the dodgers news posting to other posters if it’s truly that irritating. I umm and ahh about that on principle because ya know, posting keeps this place alive. But I’m not trying to sour anyone’s day, and I can understand my temperament of distant levity coupled with genuine insane levels of sports-fan privilege rn aren’t a great coupling.

I’d like to follow a team that makes me less irksome! But the kids dodgers t-shirt your uncle sends ya for Christmas most years leaves its mark. It’s why I’ve steered my mates to the O’s, lord knows there’s enough dodgers fans in the world

Moore a weird one having career years at age 33 and 34, what’d he find out?

thought Hoskins would be in Philly for a long time, surprised they let him go

Mets pitching rotation will likely have to rely on some lucky rolls of the dice to work out. Senga, Quintana, Manaea, Severino, and Houser can all be great but aside from Senga, who knows how consistent any of them will actually be in ‘24. It looks good enough on paper.

phillies were out on hoskins bcuz they're moving bryce to 1B full time right?

that seems like one of the better deals of the offseason to me

yeah phils letting go of hoskins was widely expected coming into the offseason

quintana looked pretty solid in the garbage games he pitched in last season. and in the bullpen diaz should be back. idk anything about the three new guys but hopefully they'll all be better than cookie.

The Brewers are in agreement with free agent INF Christian Arroyo, according to a source. 28yo plays all over the field, spent the last four years with Boston. https://t.co/yjWtWhCKxz

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) January 25, 2024

quintana looked pretty solid in the garbage games he pitched in last season. and in the bullpen diaz should be back. idk anything about the three new guys but hopefully they'll all be better than cookie.

Passan had this article out earlier today about why the offseason is so slow:

Had two or three of Snell, Bellinger, Montgomery and Chapman signed, perhaps the cold-stove storyline wouldn't have nearly as much ammunition. But here they remain: Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young winner; Bellinger, a former MVP coming off a rebound season; Montgomery, a World Series hero; and Chapman, who owns the 10th-best WAR mark in all of baseball since his 2018 debut. Whatever warts they might have, each is the sort of player whose résumé traditionally begets a sturdy nine-figure contract.

If that kind of deal is the ultimate upshot of the delay, sources told ESPN they do not anticipate it will come anytime soon. Multiple executives interested in signing Boras' top clients agreed that none of the four is likely to sign before the calendar turns to February -- and said it wouldn't surprise them if some remained unsigned when spring camps open.

while the Yankees and Angels have dabbled in the Snell sweepstakes.

SIGNED: #Rangers have signed 1B Jared Walsh, INF Matt Duffy and LHP Blake Taylor each to minor-league contracts.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 25, 2024

That rules. DUFFMAN

Bye Joc, 2022 was golden but 2023 left a lot to be desired. Good luck in Arizona but not when you are playing the Giants.

Joc bleeds NL West; really doing the rotations! Love the guy, hope he tears it up there, probably will get a stat bump coming out of Oracle Park. Good luck to him even when he's playing the Dodgers

I want to wish joc bad luck, except when playing the cardinals. Horrible name though, his parents must have been wasted

Joc and Champ is what they picked! Gotta respect the name combo. Champ is an absolute legend, should look into him if you don't know about him.

Joctober is a real thing too. Man turns it on for the post-season and I'd put money on the dbacks getting there again

I'm assuming you meant good luck too z_tbd

Hate Neris but at least he’s out of the AL West.

Right-handed reliever Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract that includes an option for 2025, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

The $9M team option converts to a player option at 60 games. Total max w incentives: $23.25M.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 27, 2024

ottavino back? really? -_-

Was he worse than his literally-just-glanced-at stats in 2023 indicate? ETA: ok, that FIP is hideous tbfff

He’s one of 3(?) active players remaining from the 2006 draft, I read, the others are Kershaw and Scherzer.

FUN FACT: 2006 #1 pick (Luke Hochevar) has as many WS rings as Kershaw, 1/2 as many as Mad Max.

think there might be a few other 2006 draftees still kicking around. looking at the wikipedia entry, i notice tommy pham (16th round) and david robertson (17th round), at least

also whoa, paul goldschmidt, 49th round (!) but he didn't sign

Was looking at Robertson the other day and was surprised he’d made it to 20 WAR (ok, 19.9) on his career. Not a lot of career relievers get there.

The stove

SIGNED: #Angels have signed OF Aaron Hicks to a one-year, $740K contract. The #Yankees are still responsible for paying Hicks $8.76M in 2024, plus $9.5M in 2025 and $1M on a buyout for 2026.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 29, 2024

CLAIMED: #Yankees have claimed LHP Matt Gage off waivers from the #Astros.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 29, 2024

wow the yankees are paying Hicks a lot to play elsewhere!

worth every penny!

I was 99% asleep when Passan tweeted about this trade so now I can’t sleep until I find out who the four players are in the return

The Mariners and Twins are finalizing a trade that will send Jorge Polanco to Seattle, per source.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 30, 2024

MLB righties Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa along with prospects OF Gabriel Gonzalez and RHP Darren Bowen is the four player return for Polanco, per sources. Believe cash is also involved. https://t.co/GQDKtwaogh

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 30, 2024

SIGNED: #BlueJays have signed 3B/DH Justin Turner to a one-year contract.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 30, 2024

Justin Turner became a fan favorite in Boston almost immediately. Gonna miss him.

On and off the field he gave the Red Sox everything they could’ve asked for.

Played 2B at 38 to help the team. Battled through a bad heel bruise down the stretch. Sigh.pic.twitter.com/W167mMGt0S

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) January 30, 2024

I hope he's got another year left--he's 39. Is he supposed to play third or DH? Still remember him celebrating the COVID year after testing positive; I thought that would linger with him but it seems to have been forgotten.

Would expect Justin Turner to be the Jays' primary DH in 2024, with additional starts at 1B and 3B, based on what I've been told. https://t.co/bpErqv4OU1

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 30, 2024

The Red Sox were down 3-0 to Spencer Strider and the Braves.

They then hit two homers and had three hits, including this go-ahead RBI double by Justin Turner.

🎥 @RedSox pic.twitter.com/qnWDtVVBTS

— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) July 27, 2023

Temperamentally, he's definitely what the Jays need.