2017-2018 Hot Stove

The Mets have made a front office hire, naming former GM Omar Minaya special assistant to Sandy Alderson.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 22, 2017

I'm kinda thinking the Giants are going to sign a couple more players. The thing that came up in the stuff I was reading with them trying to trade for Billy Hamilton was that they just don't have many prospects at the AA or AAA level that have much trade value.

Looking at who is out there, I would think the two free agents that might solve their issues would be maybe signing Lorenzo Cain to play center field and maybe pick up Lance Lynn. I'd think Lynn's pitching style would work in SF, as he would have that big outfield to get fly ball outs. Cain would get them a good glove with someone that can cover some ground out there.

steeling myself for the pirates sending gerrit cole to the yankees and *not* getting gleyber torres in return

Are the giants trying to be really good in 2018? I’m confused by their course of action so far this off-season.

iirc someone said the acquisition of longoria pushed their expected wins to 75

gleyber would be a lot to ask for in return for cole imo

that may be so, but fuck the yankees getting the NL MVP and a frontline starter without giving up anything of significance

meanwhile in queens

Words I’ve heard from Mets people today regarding Fred Wilpon’s decision to bring back Omar Minaya despite reservations within the current front office:

“embarrassing”

“stupid”

“undermining”

“insulting"

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) December 22, 2017

Minaya's regime did develop some of the players who won them the pennant 2 years ago

that still doesn't nec mean this was a good move

Reds signed this guy or maybe he is wanted for questioning.

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/31556.png&w=350&h=254

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/453172.jpg

why does he keep doing that

"I ate his liver in Skyline Chili and an ice cold bottle of Hudepohl."

Who was that due on the O’s? You know who I’m talking about

...dude

Ex-Slint roadie

Wade Davis to Rockies for 3 years, $52 million

Wow

godspeed to all involved

Damn, ok then

amazing

In his age 25-27 seasons, Eric Hosmer slashed .294/.359/.463 with 68 home runs. In his age 25-27 seasons, Wally Joyner slashed .287/.352/.454 with 63 home runs.

— David Laurila (@DavidLaurilaQA) January 3, 2018

wally joyner was the matthew broderick of major league baseball

ok you can't just leave it like that

http://img.ecomplatform.com/scs/images/products/116/large/wally_joyner_autographed_8x10_photo_padres_psa_dna_certified_p148288.jpg

little big league

Putting it in less vague terms: ZiPS projects 10 pitchers on the Yankees 40-man as relievers. Their projected ERA+ in descending order: 177, 159, 146, 145, 136, 129, 125, 120, 112, 112.

— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) January 3, 2018

yanks bullpen should be good

Eric Hosmer, coveted all winter by the San Diego Padres, now has another surprising small-market team going head-to-head for his services.

Yes, his old team.

The Kansas City Royals have offered Hosmer a franchise-record seven-year, $147-million contract, persons close to Hosmer told USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity since negotiations are still undergoing.

Hosmer also has a seven-year, $140 million offer from the Padres, people close to Hosmer say, which is $1 million less a year than the Royals’ deal.

this does not seem like a good small market move

he's been one of the most durable players in baseball since he came in the league so there's maybe a better than average chance that this isn't one of those long term deals where the guy is a shell of himself physically like halfway into it (especially when compared to 1B specifically). but idk how you feel good at all about giving a guy who has put up 2 replacement level seasons in the last 4 years that kind of money. it feels like the sequel to the jason heyward contract waiting to happen.

and even the heyward contract in the grand scheme of how these things can go... i'm still more optimistic about his deal than like jacoby ellsbury or shin shoo choo. nonetheless...

Barves lookin to pick off the last Marlins

https://www.talkingchop.com/2018/1/3/16847768/atlanta-braves-trade-rumors-free-agency-christian-yelich-jt-realmuto-miami-marlins-hot-stove

the nonrush to sign free agents could be here to stay

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mlb-teams-have-learned-to-wait-on-free-agents/

The best thing I can say about a Hosmer contract is that by the end, it might not look so bad due to continuing salary inflation throughout MLB. But you could say that about all contracts, so...yeah. Take him back, KCR!

I didn’t realize the braves rebuild was already in the go for it stage?

the royals have given LHP richard lovelady a non-roster invite to spring training

I wonder what the point is where the money the owners save through collusion is cancelled out by a loss of fan interest in the sport after a dead offseason

— Patrick Dubuque (@euqubud) January 9, 2018

idk, i don't think fans care nearly as much as writers with nothing to write about do

anyway, the pirates are sending gerrit cole to houston momentarily

yeah, i agree. only the diehards about this stuff, and they'll be raring to go for spring training, regardless

only the diecards ^care^ about this stuff

oh no, don't diecards

i should just go back to bed

not so fast?

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/gerrit-cole-may-or-may-not-become-an-astro/

Weird story

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22027027/mlb-agent-jason-wood-fired-reportedly-filmed-clients-showering

jay bruce back to the mets (3 years, $39 million)

Christ

whatever

i guess the 'transformed' flyball approach is key

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jay-bruce-is-fine-and-so-is-his-contract/

Mets trying to reassemble 2015 team?

https://www.amazinavenue.com/2018/1/12/16883488/mets-lucas-duda-rumors-free-agency-infield-new-york

Cole to the Astros, supposedly for realsies this time. for waaaaayyy less than i would have expected, if this is correct: Musgrove and Colin Moran.

looks like there's two more throw-ins going to Pitt – but those two are the main pieces.

that is a shitty return

ffs

oh good, some 25yo quad-a guys

An array of thoughts on the Gerrit Cole trade from 4 people whose baseball opinions I respect. pic.twitter.com/oSQdt4HAbf

— James Santelli, An All-Nonsense Guy (@JamesSantelli) January 14, 2018

Story Musgrove

oof. at least they didn't deal him to the cubs (who they were apparently talking with re: cole)

what happened to the Bucs and their Big Data?

plus now pirates fans can say "get a brain, moran" after he messes up! you can't put a $ figure on that kind of fan service