MLB HOT STOVE ‘25-‘26

[Uncle Rico]

Will the Tigers trade Skubal?

Will the Brewers trade Peralta?

Will the Twins try?

Will the Cubs overcome an opponent waving an "L" flag after beating them in a playoff series?

Will the Cardinals be selling?

Will White Sox fans continue to be lectured about how they should enjoy their team?

[TallTitan34]

Will Brewers fans complain about other teams spending while their team only spends 40% of their revenue?

[JWags85]

Will the Cubs overcome an opponent waving an "L" flag after beating them in a playoff series?

Nope.  I personally fear this has become the new Billy Goat.  I'm afraid my 3 year old son will never see another Cubs playoff series win

[Jockey]

Will the Tigers trade Skubal?

Will the Brewers trade Peralta?

Will the Twins try?

Will the Cubs overcome an opponent waving an "L" flag after beating them in a playoff series?

Will the Cardinals be selling?

Will White Sox fans continue to be lectured about how they should enjoy their team?

All these questions pale until the big one is answered.


What are Yadi's plans?

[Uncle Rico]

Will Brewers fans complain about other teams spending while their team only spends 40% of their revenue?

No.  We're terrified of the "L" flag curse

[MU82]

What does it even matter? The Dodgers are guaranteed victories in the next 20 World Series.

I mean, just look at the way they dominated the Blue Jays, sweeping the series and winning every game by at least 5 runs.

[tower912]

I think the Tigers will shop Skubal.  I think their asking price will be proportionate to Skubal's salary expectations.  If somebody meets their price, he gone.

I think Detroit will probably be shopping  for a right handed hitting CF, an established starting pitcher, and a high level prospect starting pitcher.    Those three things combined will get you a Skubal.

[WhiteTrash]

The White Sox, having moved from historical to just a simply bad club, don't deserve any hot stove chatter. They were more interesting when history was in play. They are in the DePaul category of interest. 

[Uncle Rico]

The White Sox, having moved from historical to just a simply bad club, don't deserve any hot stove chatter. They were more interesting when history was in play. They are in the DePaul category of interest. 

What a surprising take

[Shaka Shart]

The White Sox, having moved from historical to just a simply bad club, don't deserve any hot stove chatter. They were more interesting when history was in play. They are in the DePaul category of interest. 

I found myself taking a look at some of the encouraging rookie stats and what they might be doing with the plethora of young good hitting catcher talent they've acquired this morning.

About 30 mins after that my iron rod was sufficiently heated over an open flame to shove up my dick hole because I had the audacity to care.

[WhiteTrash]

What a surprising take

Fans of a club coming off a third strait 100+ lose season would be disinterested. But JR is excited ...... for another $75M payroll next year.

[Uncle Rico]

Fans of a club coming off a third strait 100+ lose season would be disinterested. But JR is excited ...... for another $75M payroll next year.

I'm willing to bet there will be White Sox chatter here

[Pakuni]

I'm willing to bet there will be White Sox chatter here

54 MLB rookies had WARs of 1.2 or above last year. Nine of them played for the White Sox. Even with all those graduations to the majors, White Sox still have five players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects, which I believe is topped only by the Dodgers and Mariners.
#futureisbright

[WhiteTrash]

54 MLB rookies had WARs of 1.2 or above last year. Nine of them played for the White Sox. Even with all those graduations to the majors, White Sox still have five players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects, which I believe is topped only by the Dodgers and Mariners.
#futureisbright

Just my opinion, but I think it is asking a lot of the CWS fans to get excited (except for the impending change in ownership).

[wadesworld]

Will Brewers fans complain about other teams spending while their team only spends 40% of their revenue?

Will the Cubs win a division or playoff series over the team that spends 40% of their revenue, a much smaller revenue than the Cubs have.

Oh wait, the Cubs only spend 36% of their revenue.  Yet their payroll is over 50% higher than the Brewers.  Huh.  It's almost like there isn't an even playing field in baseball.

[Jockey]

The White Sox, having moved from historical to just a simply bad club, don't deserve any hot stove chatter. They were more interesting when history was in play. They are in the DePaul category of interest. 

Maybe they can improve a little more next year and move up to Georgetown level.

[TallTitan34]

Will the Cubs win a division or playoff series over the team that spends 40% of their revenue, a much smaller revenue than the Cubs have.

Oh wait, the Cubs only spend 36% of their revenue.  Yet their payroll is over 50% higher than the Brewers.  Huh.  It's almost like there isn't an even playing field in baseball.

So you brag how you routinely beat the Cubs who have a higher payroll but also complain its unfair teams have higher revenue/payroll.

Again, I have no problem contracting the Brewers to level the playing field.

[wadesworld]

So you brag how you routinely beat the Cubs who have a higher payroll but also complain its unfair teams have higher revenue/payroll.

Again, I have no problem contracting the Brewers to level the playing field.

Yes, it's absurd that there's no revenue sharing or salary cap in baseball.  I wonder why every other major professional sport has at least one of those things...

[TallTitan34]

I wonder why every other major professional sport has at least one of those things...

Because MLB has the strongest players union?

[Pakuni]

Just my opinion, but I think it is asking a lot of the CWS fans to get excited (except for the impending change in ownership).

As a fan, you're free to get excited about whatever you want to get excited about. Or not.
Your level of optimism/pessimism is entirely up to you.

[Uncle Rico]

Because MLB has the strongest players union?

Lords of the Realm covers the history of the labor movement in baseball and ownership burying their heads in the sand that lead to the strength of the union.  It's easily a top 5 must-read for baseball fans and lays out why baseball is where it is.

It's a great corollary for the NCAA and it's burying its head in the sand for decades. The similarities are striking.

[Pakuni]

Yes, it's absurd that there's no revenue sharing or salary cap in baseball.  I wonder why every other major professional sport has at least one of those things...

There's definitely revenue sharing in baseball.

[TallTitan34]

Lords of the Realm covers the history of the labor movement in baseball and ownership burying their heads in the sand that lead to the strength of the union.  It's easily a top 5 must-read for baseball fans and lays out why baseball is where it is.

It's a great corollary for the NCAA and it's burying its head in the sand for decades. The similarities are striking.

Interesting.  I'll give that a look.

[Uncle Rico]

Interesting.  I'll give that a look.

It's hands down the best book about labor and ownership in sports.  Thorough and heartbreaking if you're a baseball fan.

[Jockey]

Lords of the Realm covers the history of the labor movement in baseball and ownership burying their heads in the sand that lead to the strength of the union.  It's easily a top 5 must-read for baseball fans and lays out why baseball is where it is.

It's a great corollary for the NCAA and it's burying its head in the sand for decades. The similarities are striking.

Then you would love "The Game". It's about Baseball's power brokers - centering on Selig, Steinbrenner, and Don Fehr.