MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[GB Warrior]

FBM, I'm not disagreeing totally with you. Moving Hader would be OK IF you are getting at value back at positions where it is needed and then put dollars into several FA relievers.

Seems like it'd be easier to keep your bird in hand and just sign position players.

[The Sultan]

Seems like it'd be easier to keep your bird in hand and just sign position players.

Not if other people think your bird in hand has more value than you do.

[Lennys Tap]

I get what you're saying, and that washed up player coming to the Sox mentality certainly did (does) exist. Hamels has made it known he loves Chicago and wants to stay here. His podcast with Garfien is basically him lobbying to sign with the Sox. They need a veteran guy to eat innings, if it's not going to be Keuchel or Baumgarner, Hamels makes some logical sense. He's not late 20's Cole Hamels, but I can see their thinking with him as their fifth starter.

He was good enough to post the 3rd highest WAR (3.0) on that vaunted Cub staff last year.

[Pakuni]

I get what you're saying, and that washed up player coming to the Sox mentality certainly did (does) exist. Hamels has made it known he loves Chicago and wants to stay here. His podcast with Garfien is basically him lobbying to sign with the Sox. They need a veteran guy to eat innings, if it's not going to be Keuchel or Baumgarner, Hamels makes some logical sense. He's not late 20's Cole Hamels, but I can see their thinking with him as their fifth starter.

Don't hate it, but prefer a longer-term deal with Keuchel.
Sox seem infatuated with Wheeler, though. That I don't entirely understand, but hope by skepticism is proven wrong (if they land him).

As always with Nightengale, take it with a grain of salt, but he's reporting that in addition to negotiating with Wheeler, the Sox again are trying to make a deal for Joc Pederson.

[buckchuckler]

I'd be very disappointed if Hamels was the Sox big pitching acquisition.

He's very clearly better than what they've been running out, but it would feel like a pretty blah headline move.

[Lennys Tap]

I'd be very disappointed if Hamels was the Sox big pitching acquisition.

He's very clearly better than what they've been running out, but it would feel like a pretty blah headline move.

I hope he's not the "big" pitching acquisition, but I'd be OK if he's the #2 one. Like Pakuni, I'm a little scared of Wheeler especially at 5 years/north of 100 million. The Sox are at best a long shot, but Cole at 8/250 actually seems like the best deal of the "big 3".

[Lennys Tap]

Don't hate it, but prefer a longer-term deal with Keuchel.
Sox seem infatuated with Wheeler, though. That I don't entirely understand, but hope by skepticism is proven wrong (if they land him).

As always with Nightengale, take it with a grain of salt, but he's reporting that in addition to negotiating with Wheeler, the Sox again are trying to make a deal for Joc Pederson.

Dodgers have a ton of outfielders, wouldn't mind Joc in RF.

Keuchel at 3/45 would be reasonable.

[Dish]

Don't hate it, but prefer a longer-term deal with Keuchel.
Sox seem infatuated with Wheeler, though. That I don't entirely understand, but hope by skepticism is proven wrong (if they land him).

As always with Nightengale, take it with a grain of salt, but he's reporting that in addition to negotiating with Wheeler, the Sox again are trying to make a deal for Joc Pederson.

I feel like the Pederson to the Sox rumor comes up every 6 months (not by you, but by some national writer).

Wheeler at 5 years/$100 mil or more is no bueno. I'd rather explore the trade market than go there.

Completely unrelated, I'd like to see the Sox take a flyer on Aaron Sanchez.

[Lennys Tap]

I feel like the Pederson to the Sox rumor comes up every 6 months (not by you, but by some national writer).

Wheeler at 5 years/$100 mil or more is no bueno. I'd rather explore the trade market than go there.

Completely unrelated, I'd like to see the Sox take a flyer on Aaron Sanchez.

If the Astros don't tender Sanchez I'd be on board but he's more for '21 and beyond. Don't know if he pitches at all in '20.

[Jockey]

If the Astros don't tender Sanchez I'd be on board but he's more for '21 and beyond. Don't know if he pitches at all in '20.

He was non-tendered.

[buckchuckler]

I feel like the Pederson to the Sox rumor comes up every 6 months (not by you, but by some national writer).

Wheeler at 5 years/$100 mil or more is no bueno. I'd rather explore the trade market than go there.

Completely unrelated, I'd like to see the Sox take a flyer on Aaron Sanchez.

I had heard it was at the "done deal" level last year when it got leaked, and Joc had some appearance that evening and the leak caused an uproar, and caused the Dodgers to sink the deal.  He makes a lot of sense for the Sox.  Though so does anyone in RF with a pulse.  Souza?

I'm also in on Sanchez.

[buckchuckler]

I hope he's not the "big" pitching acquisition, but I'd be OK if he's the #2 one. Like Pakuni, I'm a little scared of Wheeler especially at 5 years/north of 100 million. The Sox are at best a long shot, but Cole at 8/250 actually seems like the best deal of the "big 3".

In a perfect world, Strasburg is the guy I'd want.  Though I see no way that Cole or Stras are anything close to realistic.  You may as well wish for a time machine and peak Pedro Martinez to walk through the door. 

Wheeler is a risk, but may be realistic.  He could play up to a good number 2 pitcher with Giolito.  Sure seems like he is going to be overpaid, but he fits the Sox better than the other guys. 

[🏀]

I predict bad off-season acquisitions for everyone.

[buckchuckler]

I predict bad off-season acquisitions for everyone.

Seems about right.  Contracts that are instantly untrade-able.

[Lennys Tap]

I predict bad off-season acquisitions for everyone.

I predict this will be the best off season prediction in this thread.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Jeff Passan, through sources, has said the brewers are also open to trading Cain.

Of course they are but who's going to want the rest of that deal?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

He was good enough to post the 3rd highest WAR (3.0) on that vaunted Cub staff last year.

Fangraphs has him at 5th, behind every other member of the Opening Day rotation.
Henricks 4.1
Quintana 3.5
Lester 2.8
Darvish 2.6
Hamels 2.5
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=6&season=2019&month=0&season1=2019&ind=0&team=17&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

[Pakuni]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source confirms: Cole Hamels in agreement with #Braves on one-year, $18M contract. First reported: @JeffPassan.

[buckchuckler]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source confirms: Cole Hamels in agreement with #Braves on one-year, $18M contract. First reported: @JeffPassan.

Phew.

[Dish]

$18 mil for a year of Hamels is a hard pass. But if he's getting $18 mil, the free agent pitching market is going to be rough sledding.

[MUBurrow]

Alex "no such thing as a bad one year deal" Anthopoulos

[WI inferiority Complexes]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source confirms: Cole Hamels in agreement with #Braves on one-year, $18M contract. First reported: @JeffPassan.

If one WAR is $8M, I guess the money's right.  I guess I'd rather overpay for one year of Hamels vs. being saddled with a longer contract.

[GB Warrior]

Great, so now we're all colluding to prove that we weren't colluding during the past offseasons. All very confusing.

[Pakuni]

$18 mil for a year of Hamels is a hard pass. But if he's getting $18 mil, the free agent pitching market is going to be rough sledding.

Yup.
On the bright side, likely this means the Braves won't be a player for Keuchel.

[buckchuckler]

Sounds like the Braves bailed on Bumgarner after his price tag exceeded 100 Mil.  Don't know if that was where he bidding is, or what his asking is, but if Wheeler is over 100, I can see why Bumgarner feels like he has earned more than Wheeler.