MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[tower912]

The Yankee's new ace has cut his hair and shaved.

[buckchuckler]

The Yankee's new ace has cut his hair and shaved.

Small price to pay for more than a 200K per inning pitched.  IF he can pitch 190 innings per season for 9 years.

[buckchuckler]

Brewers are apparently close to signing Justin Smoak.  Not sure where he fits exactly.  He was good a couple of years ago, maybe he is just a lightning in a bottle signing.

[The Sultan]

Brewers are apparently close to signing Justin Smoak.  Not sure where he fits exactly.  He was good a couple of years ago, maybe he is just a lightning in a bottle signing.

There's your lefty platoon at first with Braun.  Goodbye Eric Thames.

[buckchuckler]

There's your lefty platoon at first with Braun.  Goodbye Eric Thames.

You've gotta be right, but Braun hits RHP better than Smoak.  Maybe a platoon with Braun/Avi depending on matchup and Braun floats between LF and 1B.

[Dr. Blackheart]

There's your lefty platoon at first with Braun.  Goodbye Eric Thames.

Smoak is a switch hitter, btw.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

You've gotta be right, but Braun hits RHP better than Smoak.

To be fair, almost everyone hits RHP better than Justin Smoak.  If they Brewers can use the $25M off the books to sign Donaldson, the line-up will look A LOT better than it does now.

Cain - CF
Yelich - RF
Hiura - 2b
Smoak/Braun - 1b
Garcia/Braun - LF
Narvaez - C
Urias - 3b
Arcia - SS

[buckchuckler]

To be fair, almost everyone hits RHP better than Justin Smoak.  If they Brewers can use the $25M off the books to sign Donaldson, the line-up will look A LOT better than it does now.

Cain - CF
Yelich - RF
Hiura - 2b
Smoak/Braun - 1b
Garcia/Braun - LF
Narvaez - C
Urias - 3b
Arcia - SS

That is certainly true.  Is there any indication they are involved with Donaldson?  The teams I've heard linked to him for the most part are the Nats and Braves.  The Brewers seem to be shopping in the used car lot.

[The Sultan]

You've gotta be right, but Braun hits RHP better than Smoak.  Maybe a platoon with Braun/Avi depending on matchup and Braun floats between LF and 1B.

Good thought.

Smoak is a switch hitter, btw.

Thank you.  Wasn't aware.

[Lighthouse 84]

I hope the third time's the charm for Gio and the Sox. 

https://670thescore.radio.com/white-sox-agree-sign-gio-gonzalez-cheslor-cuthbert?fbclid=IwAR0gyC_sEzwB62_TpyysYN4hiE9CIdAPGnRVksrEpj3M41c4bsub27JaSEA

[MUBurrow]

You've gotta be right, but Braun hits RHP better than Smoak.  Maybe a platoon with Braun/Avi depending on matchup and Braun floats between LF and 1B.

This is similar to how I thought Avi would be splitting ABs in left in a platoon-lite with Gamel, but Gamel, though left handed, hits LHP significantly better than he hits RHP, so his reverse platoon splits confuses matters :/

[MUBurrow]

Its worth noting that the thing that Stearns' signings this offseason seem to have in common are (for this environment) low strikeout rates.  None of Avi, Smoak, Sogard, or even Healy for his low OBP come with huge strikeout percentages.  Looks like Stearns is betting on a return of the old baseball and a regression to more typical power numbers.  If HRs drop, relying totally on three true outcomes is a less successful stragtegy.  If power is down in 2020, the way Stearns is constructing this lineup might look genius.  It will be an interesting moneyball type season in MKE.

[Pakuni]

White Sox sign Gio Gonzalez.
Terms not yet released.

Good if this is as a #4/5 starter. Nothing more than that, I hope.

[wadesworld]

Its worth noting that the thing that Stearns' signings this offseason seem to have in common are (for this environment) low strikeout rates.  None of Avi, Smoak, Sogard, or even Healy for his low OBP come with huge strikeout percentages.  Looks like Stearns is betting on a return of the old baseball and a regression to more typical power numbers.  If HRs drop, relying totally on three true outcomes is a less successful stragtegy.  If power is down in 2020, the way Stearns is constructing this lineup might look genius.  It will be an interesting moneyball type season in MKE.

He also may be relying on power coming from playing inside Miller Park.  Smoak, Avisail, and Healy all have power.

I think with the years that better offensive players are getting, Milwaukee isn't going to land/resign those guys, so hopefully find some guys who can get on base around Yeli and Keston and let them carry the load offensively.

Would love to see them sign a Kuechel or Ryu to pair with Woody at the top of the rotation and then add some middle relief (knowing Knebel is coming back at the back end of the bullpen) and turn the pitching into the strength of the team with two studs in the middle of the lineup.  But I doubt we get that top of the rotation starter.

[Lennys Tap]

White Sox sign Gio Gonzalez.
Terms not yet released.

Good if this is as a #4/5 starter. Nothing more than that, I hope.

Can't verify, but I heard 1 year, 5 million. So reasonable. Hope this isn't all there is, though.

[MUfan12]

Gio is a perfect 3/4 starter. Good clubhouse guy and will go out there and battle. If it's 1/5M I'm surprised the Brewers didn't offer.

[Pakuni]

Can't verify, but I heard 1 year, 5 million. So reasonable. Hope this isn't all there is, though.

Word is $4.5 million for 2020, with up to $1 million in additional incentives
$7 million team option for 2021, with $500K buyout.
Seems fair.

[4everwarriors]

Pretty sure eye kan pitch 5 innin's and throw a 81 mph fastball two.

[wadesworld]

Pretty sure eye kan pitch 5 innin's and throw a 81 mph fastball two.

Tinkin' yu kan knot.

[tower912]

Tigers pick up Cron and Schoop.    I see both as stop gaps, but they have got to hit better than what Detroit had last year.    Maybe the Tigers get to 50 wins. 

[Pakuni]

Jeff Passan is reporting Dallas Keuchel to the White Sox.

If true ...

[Cheeks]

Tigers pick up Cron and Schoop.    I see both as stop gaps, but they have got to hit better than what Detroit had last year.    Maybe the Tigers get to 50 wins.

CJ will look like an All Star for two weeks, then a minor leaguer for a month, followed by an all star.  Drove me crazy.

[Jockey]

Sox get Keuchel for 3 years; option for 4th.

[Lennys Tap]

Sox get Keuchel for 3 years; option for 4th.

Was hoping for Wheeler/Keuchel instead of Keuchel/Gonzalez but it's a big improvement over Nova/Covey.

[Dish]

Sox need a bat and reliever still. It'll be very interesting to see what they do with Andrew Vaughn.