MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[Dish]

I know the Cubs need to wait for the Bryant service time decision to fully come through, but it's pretty clear this isn't an all-in year and that they are going to try to retool on the fly while they wait out a few contracts.
The pitching staff: God love him, Lester's best days are behind him. Q is a fine 3 or 4, but hasn't become a big game pitcher.  I love Hendricks and he's locked up.  Yu's contract went from an albatross to an asset somehow with the new pitcher contracts.  Looks like it's either Chatwood or Adzolay for the 5 unless Bryant gets dealt for a Max Fried type.

The lineup - Rizzo's contract isn't being extended. Heyward will keep playing his out.  I don't see Contrares being dealt, and they overvalue Schwarbs so I think (as reported) Bryant is the most likely to go given the pay day he will be due with Boras as his man.   Javy will be extended at some point.
This middle group is so tough to call:  Bote, Happ, Almora, primarily.  If that's your bench, fine, but there will be holes to be filled and they are going to have to fill them.
I'd be pretty surprised if we got Castellanos back.

The pen: You're stuck with Kimbrel.  You've got Wick and Ryan.  Also Wieck and Cotton.... they don't really know what they have here.

Not that he's holding still because of this, but are Theo's eyes already on the door?

It's funny you mention that about Darvish, the other day I thought the exact same thing, he's somehow become their best trade chip (if they wanted to go that route, and I don't think they will). If the Cubs had pitching coming up in their system, I think Darvish would bring back a ton. I also think a Quintana trade back to the Southside would make sense. Neither of these will happen, the Cubs aren't trading either of those guys. If their year goes South, both guys could be dealt come July, but I see the Cubs contending for the NL Central next year, even if they don't do much of anything this offseason.

[Dish]

I'm surprised Avi got $10 mil per, good for him. I thought he'd get $7 mil per max, especially with the other options out there.

[BM1090]

Not sure how I feel about bringing in Garcia with the whole Prince Fielder thing. Going to be a tough guy to cheer for.

[jsglow]

Not sure how I feel about bringing in Garcia with the whole Prince Fielder thing. Going to be a tough guy to cheer for.

Some story?

[jsglow]

I've got no problem with a 2 year deal.

[tower912]

Some story?

Avi was reportedly messing around with Mrs. Fielder when they were teammates in Detroit.  Legend has it that the resulting trades of Fielder, Garcia, and Doug Fister were because of it.

[buckchuckler]

Avi was reportedly messing around with Mrs. Fielder when they were teammates in Detroit.  Legend has it that the resulting trades of Fielder, Garcia, and Doug Fister were because of it.

What's the deal with Fister?  The other two I get in that situation.

[Pakuni]

Sports fans love few things more than a "Play A is sleeping with Player B's wife" rumor.

[BM1090]

Sports fans love few things more than a "Play A is sleeping with Player B's wife" rumor.

Agreed. But there seems to be a lot of smoke here given the immediate trades and filing for divorce.

https://thesportsdaily.com/2013/12/22/wait-that-s-why-they-traded-prince-fielder/

[ZiggysFryBoy]

What's the deal with Fister?  The other two I get in that situation.

Fister? I hardly know her.

[Pakuni]

Agreed. But there seems to be a lot of smoke here given the immediate trades and filing for divorce.

https://thesportsdaily.com/2013/12/22/wait-that-s-why-they-traded-prince-fielder/

So on the same day Garcia and Cabrera get into a clubhouse melee, the Tigers work a three-team, seven-player deal to ship Garcia out of town (nice of the Red Sox and White Sox to cooperate).
And this all just so happens to go down on the same day as the trade deadline?
Hmmm.

But the source on this story is "a guy who knows a lot of guys who knows a lot of guys." That's rock solid.

[BM1090]

So on the same day Garcia and Cabrera get into a clubhouse melee, the Tigers work a three-team, seven-player deal to ship Garcia out of town (nice of the Red Sox and White Sox to cooperate).
And this all just so happens to go down on the same day as the trade deadline?
Hmmm.

But the source on this story is "a guy who knows a lot of guys who knows a lot of guys." That's rock solid.

Fair enough. It isn't fact, but combined with comments made by Torii Hunter afterwards, players confirming that there was more to the story about Cabrera being injured, etc. I'm buying it. This has been circulating for years.

Maybe it isn't true. But Prince confirmed he was dealng with some serious personal issues right around that time.

[The Sultan]

So why should we care that this guy may have slept with a teammate's wife years after he was on the Brewers?

[BM1090]

So why should we care that this guy may have slept with a teammate's wife years after he was on the Brewers?

I don't care much that the teammate was a former brewer. His actions, if true, just make it harder for me to cheer for him.

[MU82]

Sports fans love few things more than a "Play A is sleeping with Player B's wife" rumor.

By far, the best was the Yankees' Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich trading wives in 1972. Actually, I'm selling this short -- they traded entire families, including pets!

Peterson and the former Mrs. Kekich are STILL married, believe it or not. Kekich and the former Mrs. Peterson are no longer a couple.

The former teammates haven't spoken to each other in years.

As you might imagine, this was quite a scandal in 1972. There has been talk of a movie being made, but it hasn't happened yet.

[4everwarriors]

I don't care much that the teammate was a former brewer. His actions, if true, just make it harder for me to cheer for him.

Ewe don't have many to cheer four den, aina?

[The Sultan]

I don't care much that the teammate was a former brewer. His actions, if true, just make it harder for me to cheer for him.

Oh.  I guess I'm not interested in worrying about a purity test for the people I cheer for. 

Ewe don't have many to cheer four den, aina?

Exactly.  Humans do dumb and immoral things.  Athletes are human.  Ergo...

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I always thought Avi's swing was very, very smooth.  Maybe moving him to Miller Park will work wonders.
I'm not a MIL fan, but did find the move a little strange; seems like their needs are 1B (Braun?) 3B, and SP.  The OF is getting crowded.

[BM1090]

Oh.  I guess I'm not interested in worrying about a purity test for the people I cheer for. 


Exactly.  Humans do dumb and immoral things.  Athletes are human.  Ergo...

It's a bit different for me when it's the assumption that an athlete has done bad things vs. actual information being out there.

Anyways, I was just making a passing comment that he'd be tougher to cheer for. I still hope he rakes in Milwaukee.

[Lennys Tap]

By far, the best was the Yankees' Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich trading wives in 1972. Actually, I'm selling this short -- they traded entire families, including pets!

Peterson and the former Mrs. Kekich are STILL married, believe it or not. Kekich and the former Mrs. Peterson are no longer a couple.

The former teammates haven't spoken to each other in years.

As you might imagine, this was quite a scandal in 1972. There has been talk of a movie being made, but it hasn't happened yet.

Kekich and the former Mrs. Peterson weren't a couple for very long.

[buckchuckler]

If they can add another bat, the Reds just might be the favorite in the NL Central next year.

[wadesworld]

If they can add another bat, the Reds just might be the favorite in the NL Central next year.

Heard the same thing last offseason.

[buckchuckler]

Heard the same thing last offseason.

Really?  I certainly never did.  Hard not to like their pitching.  Castillo-Gray-Bauer-Miley- DeScalfini is a pretty good 1-5.  They had trouble in the pen last year, but I'd expect Iglesias to be better this season. 

They have also added Moustakas.  Another bat makes them scary I'd say.  Who knows if it'll happen.  But they'll be better.

[Lennys Tap]

Really?  I certainly never did.  Hard not to like their pitching.  Castillo-Gray-Bauer-Miley- DeScalfini is a pretty good 1-5.  They had trouble in the pen last year, but I'd expect Iglesias to be better this season. 

They have also added Moustakas.  Another bat makes them scary I'd say.  Who knows if it'll happen.  But they'll be better.

Ageed - nobody that I know of had them as favorites in the NL Central last year. I wouldn't put that mantle on them in 2020 either but they'll (on paper) be better. Long time until April, but right now the Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals and Pirates look like they'll be worse.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

PECOTA had the Reds as a .500 team before last season