MLB Hot Stove 2019-20

[MUBurrow]

They didn't get pitching, but they got an impact player.  Hell of a move.

And on the same day that they signed Sano to a three year deal!  It really shows the value they think they're getting on the Donaldson deal that they made both moves with another year of Nelson Cruz at $12M.  Which, based on last year's production, is a contract they will almost surely see surplus value on. 

I assume this move forecasts shifting Sano to 1B.  Assuming he's passable there, with the relative weakness of 1B vs 3B right now, there's value written all over these deals for the Twins.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I give the Twins a lot of credit for opening the purse; that's a big contract for someone that age with injury problems.  I sincerely hope it works out for Minnesota; I've always found it easy to root for them.

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
Donaldson is 34. His deal with #MNTwins is second-largest for a player 33 or older. Only one larger: Kevin Brown's 7-year, $105M deal with the #Dodgers from 1998.

Bob Nightengale
@BNightengale
The #Twins currently have a $121.8 million payroll for their 20 signed players, the largest in the AL Central.

[JWags85]

I give the Twins a lot of credit for opening the purse; that's a big contract for someone that age with injury problems.  I sincerely hope it works out for Minnesota; I've always found it easy to root for them.

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
Donaldson is 34. His deal with #MNTwins is second-largest for a player 33 or older. Only one larger: Kevin Brown's 7-year, $105M deal with the #Dodgers from 1998.

I give Donaldson and his agent credit.  Taking 1 year (granted nice sized deals, but still) as he worked through injuries and decreased production.  Heck of a comeback.

[Jay Bee]

BOMBA SEASON

[ZiggysFryBoy]

It's cute that amyone thinks athletes avoid reporters by "writing" for the Players Tribune.
Or that anyone sees the Players Tribune as anything more than a PR firm.
Or that anyone, you know, reads it.

And Cheeks understanding of how this story broke is painfully inaccurate, it seems. He should ask his friends at the Athletic.

I read things in the players tribune much more frequently that in SI, the athletic, etc.

Yes its ghost written.  But the ghost writers do a good job of keeping the POV and tone of the athlete.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Beltran gowne

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mets-fire-manager-carlos-beltran-wake-astros-sign-stealing-scandal-n1116271

[JWags85]

This has gotten GNARLY today.  The garbage cans were bad enough.  But the buzzers are another level entirely.  Penalties could get intense.  I wonder how the MLBPA navigates this.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Altuve probably just didn't want to get his pennant-winning jersey ripped or ruined in a Gatorade bath,

...BUT...

the idea that Altuve was afraid his buzzer/wire under his jersey would be exposed in a game-winning celebration is one of my favorite sports conspiracies ever.

https://www.12up.com/posts/jose-altuve-dont-rip-my-shirt-off-aroldis-champman-walk-off-hr-alcs-astros-yankees-01dyqxcze7n0

[Dish]

I 100% believe Altuve (and Bregman) had some type of electronic device under their jersey. The Altuve video is damning and makes no sense other wise for his reaction. You hit a walk off homer to send your team to the World Series and all you can think of is "don't rip off my jersey"? The only plausible explanation is you're hiding something, because in that moment, it's hard to imagine that's the first thing on your mind.

I'm at the point where I would make the Astros take down any and all banners from 2017-2019, suspend Altuve (and if it's true about Bregman) for two years each. Hell, make everyone give their WS rings back while you're at it.

[The Sultan]

Some of these "Fiers is a snitch!!!!" takes are something.

[Dish]

Beltran's "niece's" tweet is really damning. She broke the news a week before he got the Mets job, and she posted on Twitter two days ago that Beltran was getting fired. All of her tweets were spot on. She's made her account private today.

She flat out claims Altuve and Bregman are wearing buzzers on their right shoulders to know what pitch is coming. She also claims she has pictures too.

I think the more this gets dug into, it's going to get even worse.

Edit: Some people believe this Twitter account is a burner account from someone in the Astros organization for what it's worth.

[Pakuni]

Beltran's "niece's" tweet is really damning. She broke the news a week before he got the Mets job, and she posted on Twitter two days ago that Beltran was getting fired. All of her tweets were spot on. She's made her account private today.

She flat out claims Altuve and Bregman are wearing buzzers on their right shoulders to know what pitch is coming. She also claims she has pictures too.

I think the more this gets dug into, it's going to get even worse.

Edit: Some people believe this Twitter account is a burner account from someone in the Astros organization for what it's worth.

FWIW ... Beltran's family says that the person claiming to be his niece is not related to the family in any way.
Which isn't to say what's being tweeted isn't true ... just that it's a fake profile.

[Dish]

FWIW ... Beltran's family says that the person claiming to be his niece is not related to the family in any way.
Which isn't to say what's being tweeted isn't true ... just that it's a fake profile.

Yeah, I edited my post to say it's being speculated it's a burner account, which makes sense. This account though has gotten things right thus far in regards to breaking the Beltran hiring/firing before both were announced by other media outlets though.

[Lennys Tap]

The #5 pitcher on my American Legion team didn't see much action - but he was valuable as a first base coach. When the opposing catcher was careless (happened fairly regularly) he was a first class sign stealer. He constantly chattered, but when he used your first name a fastball was coming. Last name meant an off speed pitch. We weren't facing Justin Verlander, but I can tell you that your confidence soars (as does your OPS) when you know what's coming.

I never considered taking advantage of an opponent's carelessness cheating - to me it's high IQ baseball. This stuff, though, is awful. It will be interesting to see how many (if any) players are punished.

[MUBurrow]

Yeah, I edited my post to say it's being speculated it's a burner account, which makes sense. This account though has gotten things right thus far in regards to breaking the Beltran hiring/firing before both were announced by other media outlets though.

Adding to the growing grains of salt pile, Trevor Bauer followed up on twitter to confirm he has heard similar things about Altuve and Bregman.

[TallTitan34]

Jomboy also says he has 5 independent sources who have mentioned the buzzers.

Altuve should lose his MVP award if true.

[Dish]

Jomboy also says he has 5 independent sources who have mentioned the buzzers.

Altuve should lose his MVP award if true.

I know I'm playing internet detective here, but what's interesting to me about this is that it's the right shoulder. What I mean is when he's hitting, the odds of him getting plunked in the right shoulder are basically nil. It would make sense if you're going to put some type of device on that the right shoulder would be the best spot for it.

[Pakuni]

Jomboy also says he has 5 independent sources who have mentioned the buzzers.

Altuve should lose his MVP award if true.

OK, but not until all the juicers lose theirs.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

nm

[buckchuckler]

Jomboy also says he has 5 independent sources who have mentioned the buzzers.

Altuve should lose his MVP award if true.

\

I heard this speculated almost immediately as a sign stealing device. 

https://twitter.com/Jomboy_/status/1188255881814773766

[buckchuckler]

Beltran's "niece's" tweet is really damning. She broke the news a week before he got the Mets job, and she posted on Twitter two days ago that Beltran was getting fired. All of her tweets were spot on. She's made her account private today.

She flat out claims Altuve and Bregman are wearing buzzers on their right shoulders to know what pitch is coming. She also claims she has pictures too.

I think the more this gets dug into, it's going to get even worse.

Edit: Some people believe this Twitter account is a burner account from someone in the Astros organization for what it's worth.

There was speculation that Taubman went to Reddit almost immediately after his firing and aired all the specifics of the scandal under some burner account.  That is where I first heard the rumor the Astros were using buzzers.

It was also apparently pretty well known that the Astros were up to no good, because even with no one on base the Nats were using multiple signs and reportedly changing the signs almost every batter. 

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Et tu, Orbit?

[wadesworld]

\

I heard this speculated almost immediately as a sign stealing device. 

https://twitter.com/Jomboy_/status/1188255881814773766

Would be pretty funny if it was a reflective sticker and he was just watching the catcher's signs for himself.

[buckchuckler]

This has gotten GNARLY today.  The garbage cans were bad enough.  But the buzzers are another level entirely.  Penalties could get intense.  I wonder how the MLBPA navigates this.

This could get a lot worse.  While it seems certain the Red Sox are screwed, (and I think should have harsher penalties as a repeat offender) I remember the Red Sox at the time, saying they were trying to keep up with the Yankees, who the prior season, employed Carlos Beltran. 

Beltran was also a special advisor to the Yanks last season, and in an interview after the London series, Cora alluded to him as their biggest free agent acquisition --- literally winking while he said it--- then said they were paying attention to all the details and even said devices in his interview. 

[buckchuckler]

Et tu, Orbit?

Hahaha.  OK, that's funny.