MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[Jockey]

Can you guys believe that there's a mystery team involved in the bidding for a big money Scott Boras client!?!?

Usually, if it's a "mystery" team involved, it's the Rangers.

Boras doesn't need to hype his guys. They are gonna get paid.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Boras doesn't need to hype his guys. They are gonna get paid.

I believe Boras is Addison Russell's agent.  He may want to try to hype that one.

[Cheeks]

Should be obvious the mystery team either doesn't exist or is the Astros, his existing team.

[Pakuni]

White Sox and Rangers reportedly in talks about Nomar Mazara.
A younger, cheaper and much more 'meh' alternative to Joc Pedserson, I suppose.

[MUBurrow]

Mazara would be a good guy to take shot on.  In 2015 he was a top 20 prospect in baseball, and he's just still just 24.  His K% is only in the low 20s, he hits 20HRs per year, and hes got two years of team control left.  Sure there are blips, but there's still upside there.

Didi bet on himself with a 1 yr deal for $14M.  If you've got that money laying around, that's a fine way to spend it. He was a 4+ WAR player in 2017 & 2018, and heck, a 1 WAR player in half a season last year.  Very good chance he returns value on $14M.

[Lennys Tap]

White Sox and Rangers reportedly in talks about Nomar Mazara.
A younger, cheaper and much more 'meh' alternative to Joc Pedserson, I suppose.

At 20 or 21 I thought that guy had star written all over him. Now (as you say) he looks like the poster boy for "meh"

[Pakuni]

At 20 or 21 I thought that guy had star written all over him. Now (as you say) he looks like the poster boy for "meh"

White Sox #6 prospect Steele Walker is what's rumored to be going back for Mazara.

[Lennys Tap]

White Sox #6 prospect Steele Walker is what's rumored to be going back for Mazara.

Three years ago the Mazara was near untouchable. Now Steele Walker seems like too much.

[Pakuni]

Jon Heyman reporting Cole to the Yankees for 9 years/$324 million.
Righteous bucks.

[buckchuckler]

Jon Heyman reporting Cole to the Yankees for 9 years/$324 million.
Righteous bucks.

Wow.  9 years for a pitcher is.... well the Yanks have money.  That's for sure.

[MU82]

Wow.  9 years for a pitcher is.... well the Yanks have money.  That's for sure.

These days, teams hope for 5-6 good years for a contract like that.

I'm pretty sure the Cubs don't regret signing Lester to a contract that lasts far longer than his best years. He helped them win what they desperately wanted.

[Dish]

I wish the White Sox would have offered that to Cole.

Report is Mazara to the Sox is done...ugh, tough night. Not happy.

[buckchuckler]

I wish the White Sox would have offered that to Cole.

Report is Mazara to the Sox is done...ugh, tough night. Not happy.

The good news is they traded Steele Walker, to the Texas Rangers.  So that's fun.

[CreightonWarrior]

Jon Heyman reporting Cole to the Yankees for 9 years/$324 million.
Righteous bucks.

That's $1.38mm per biweekly paycheck.

[The Sultan]

That's $1.38mm per biweekly paycheck.

Yeah but after taxes...

[4everwarriors]

Chit, all deez dudes have fookin' one da lottery, aina?

[tower912]

Being the Yankees, his first purchase is going to have to be a razor and a haircut.    As a Tiger fan contemplating the twin albatrosses of the Zimmerman and Cabrera contracts, I am thrilled the Yankees spent so much on him.   

[The Sultan]

Being the Yankees, his first purchase is going to have to be a razor and a haircut.    As a Tiger fan contemplating the twin albatrosses of the Zimmerman and Cabrera contracts, I am thrilled the Yankees spent so much on him.   

Seriously, they still have that rule???

[tower912]

By all accounts.   I cannot find anything saying it has been rescinded.   

[Pakuni]

By all accounts.   I cannot find anything saying it has been rescinded.

It hasn't been.
Andrew McCutcheon had to shave when he was traded to the Yankees in 2018, and Dallas Keuchel spoke last year about being willing to shave his beard if he signed with the Yankees as a FA.

[Pakuni]

I wish the White Sox would have offered that to Cole.

Report is Mazara to the Sox is done...ugh, tough night. Not happy.

Sox were never going to offer that kind of deal to Cole.

As for Mazara, I think he's a very blah player, but I'm OK with what they gave up for him.
Walker as a 22-year-old slashed .284/.361/.451 in Single A last year.
Mazara as a 24-year-old slashed .268/.318/.469 in the majors last year.

[The Sultan]

It hasn't been.
Andrew McCutcheon had to shave when he was traded to the Yankees in 2018, and Dallas Keuchel spoke last year about being willing to shave his beard if he signed with the Yankees as a FA.

So weird.

[Cheeks]

It hasn't been.
Andrew McCutcheon had to shave when he was traded to the Yankees in 2018, and Dallas Keuchel spoke last year about being willing to shave his beard if he signed with the Yankees as a FA.

Marlins had similar policy, directed by the manager, under Girardi and Mattingly.

When I was with the Angels we had same policy that came from the Walt Disney company to all employees at the time, unless it was required for a movie or theme park costume appearance.

Publix didn't change their policy until last year. Chic fil a still does not allow them.  Other companies don't because of safety issues. 

[MU82]

Chit, all deez dudes have fookin' one da lottery, aina?

Yep. Except unlike lottery winners, deez dudes all have fookin' skills that no other humans have.

[Cheeks]

Yep. Except unlike lottery winners, deez dudes all have fookin' skills that no other humans have.

They better hope the RSN $$$ don't collapse, which appears to be at risk right now, or paying these contracts after 2025ish is going to be really interesting.