MLB HOT STOVE ‘25-‘26

[wadesworld]

Huh.

[18thandWells]

If you would have told me ten years ago Kyle Schwarber would be signing $150M contracts, I'd be very surprised.

[wadesworld]

If you would have told me ten years ago Kyle Schwarber would be signing $150M contracts, I'd be very surprised.

How about if I told you the Dodgers' weak bullpen just added the best closer in baseball (that isn't in the middle of a gambling scandal) without giving up a single prospect from their #1 farm system in baseball?  Believable?

[18thandWells]

How about if I told you the Dodgers' weak bullpen just added the best closer in baseball (that isn't in the middle of a gambling scandal) without giving up a single prospect from their #1 farm system in baseball?  Believable?

1.) I'm sorry the Brewers scored 4 runs in the NLCS. The World Series was incredible; maybe try to make that your lasting memories of the '25 playoffs?
2.) Why did the Dodgers have a weak bullpen last year? They recently get rich?
3.) That is a hell of a parenthetical.

[MU82]

I saw this:

Huh.

And this:

If you would have told me ten years ago Kyle Schwarber would be signing $150M contracts, I'd be very surprised.

... and I did a Google search of Schwarber Dodgers, thinking he had signed with L.A.

[JWags85]

If you would have told me ten years ago Kyle Schwarber would be signing $150M contracts, I'd be very surprised.

10 years ago?  That was his rookie year in 2015.  He was absolutely showing flashes and he was great in the playoffs.  And then coming back from injury in 2016, he raked in the WS.  He had all the makings of a potential slugging star.

Now in 5 years ago in 2020 before the Cubs traded him?  Sure.  He was not playing great.  But even still, given what he did in 2018-2019, most Cubs fans were sad to see him go cause he was still in short of his prime and had so much potential.

I don't think I ever expected him to finish second in the MVP race like he did last year, but given the premium the league has put on 3 outcome hitting, him getting a big payday never seemed that crazy.

[MUBurrow]

Saw yesterday that NYY and NYM both inquired on Trevor Megill's availability.  I think Megill is the coolest and would hate to see him dealt, but based on the Diaz and Williams deals, the price looks higher today than it would have a couple weeks ago.

[Pakuni]

How about if I told you the Dodgers' weak bullpen just added the best closer in baseball (that isn't in the middle of a gambling scandal) without giving up a single prospect from their #1 farm system in baseball?  Believable?

Good to see a team that reinvests its revenues into the ballclub.

[wadesworld]

Good to see a team that reinvests its revenues into the ballclub.

The Cardinals were 15th in revenue in 2024, dead center of the 30 teams.  If the Dodgers reinvested, say, 47.4% of their revenue back into their payroll (which is what the Twins, at 15th in Payroll/Revenue, "reinvest"), the Cardinals would have to reinvest 95.6% of it's revenue to have the same payroll.

Or, put another way, if the Cardinals reinvested the same 73% of their revenue that the Dodgers do, their payroll would still have been $276.7MM behind the Dodgers' 2025 payroll.

Nothing wrong with the system at all.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

How about if I told you the Dodgers' weak bullpen just added the best closer in baseball (that isn't in the middle of a gambling scandal) without giving up a single prospect from their #1 farm system in baseball?  Believable?

Makes me hate the Dodgers even more. 

[18thandWells]

Signing with LA for only $3M more, I think Edwin just wanted to leave.

[Pakuni]

The Cardinals were 15th in revenue in 2024, dead center of the 30 teams.  If the Dodgers reinvested, say, 47.4% of their revenue back into their payroll (which is what the Twins, at 15th in Payroll/Revenue, "reinvest"), the Cardinals would have to reinvest 95.6% of it's revenue to have the same payroll.

Or, put another way, if the Cardinals reinvested the same 73% of their revenue that the Dodgers do, their payroll would still have been $276.7MM behind the Dodgers' 2025 payroll.

Nothing wrong with the system at all.

Per Forbes, the Dodgers operating income was $21 million in 2024, good for 13th in MLB.
You know who made more?
The Brewers at $24 million.
Reds, $29 million
Tigers, $30 million
Rays, $32 million
Marlins, $38 million
Pirates, $47 million

When small market teams stop raking in profits that exceed those of the world champs, I'll take their cries of poor more seriously. Most of these teams receive far more via revenue sharing than they invest in payroll.
I'm not opposed to additional revenue sharing, but some of these teams aren't using the revenue they already get on payroll. What makes you think that would change with more?
MLB should be more interested in getting the frugal teams to spend more than putting restrictions on the big spenders.

As for the Cardinals, maybe they need to put a better product on the field. Their yearly attendance has dropped by more than a million over the past decade while their payroll has remained largely stagnant. Perhaps there's a correlation?

[MU82]

The Schwarber contract gives the players' union yet another argument against a salary cap. Numerous teams - including the Pirates! - were competing to throw outrageous sums of money at a DH, and he ended up getting a humongous contract that will take him into his late 30s.

The money is there, as is the willingness to spend it. What incentive do the players have to help protect the owners from each other?

[Dish]

I had a muted ten minute sabbatical quietly watching Roch Cholowsky YouTube clips just now.

[GB Warrior]

The Schwarber contract gives the players' union yet another argument against a salary cap. Numerous teams - including the Pirates! - were competing to throw outrageous sums of money at a DH, and he ended up getting a humongous contract that will take him into his late 30s.

The money is there, as is the willingness to spend it. What incentive do the players have to help protect the owners from each other?

Just a devastating loss that Schwarber didn't want to go to Pittsburgh for 3 years/$300,000

[Pakuni]

I had a muted ten minute sabbatical quietly watching Roch Cholowsky YouTube clips just now.

Can we celebrate?
I think Roch is the strongest lock for 1-1 since Rutschman, but then again, this time a year ago it was definitely going to be Ethan Holliday or Jace Laviolette.
Assuming he's the pick (or Emerson, for that matter) that loads up the system with four high-end shortstops/prospects under 24. Interesting to see who moves positions and/or is dealt. Guessing Montgomery moves to third, Bonemer to the outfield and Carlson gets traded.

[Pakuni]

nm

[Dish]

Can we celebrate?
I think Roch is the strongest lock for 1-1 since Rutschman, but then again, this time a year ago it was definitely going to be Ethan Holliday or Jace Laviolette.
Assuming he's the pick (or Emerson, for that matter) that loads up the system with four high-end shortstops 24 and under. Interesting to see who moves positions and/or is dealt. Guessing Montgomery moves to third, Bonemer to the outfield and Carlson gets traded.

It'd be a good problem to have with having too many great SS prospects. With no disrespect to Meidroth, I wonder if they would move Carlson to 2B.

Roch/both Montgomery's/Carlson/Bonemer/Teel/Quero is a heck of a core moving forward.

[Pakuni]

It'd be a good problem to have with having too many great SS prospects. With no disrespect to Meidroth, I wonder if they would move Carlson to 2B.

Roch/both Montgomery's/Carlson/Bonemer/Teel/Quero is a heck of a core moving forward.

I think he definitely could play second (probably Bonemer as well), but I'm wondering that with his one elite tool being his glove, he might have more value for another team at short, and get the Sox a decent return.
Either way, you're right ... good problem to have.

[18thandWells]

White Sox are hoping to draft "the next Andrew Vaughn."

[WhiteTrash]

Thank you Pope Leo.

Love, White Sox Fans

[wadesworld]

Per Forbes, the Dodgers operating income was $21 million in 2024, good for 13th in MLB.
You know who made more?
The Brewers at $24 million.
Reds, $29 million
Tigers, $30 million
Rays, $32 million
Marlins, $38 million
Pirates, $47 million

When small market teams stop raking in profits that exceed those of the world champs, I'll take their cries of poor more seriously. Most of these teams receive far more via revenue sharing than they invest in payroll.
I'm not opposed to additional revenue sharing, but some of these teams aren't using the revenue they already get on payroll. What makes you think that would change with more?
MLB should be more interested in getting the frugal teams to spend more than putting restrictions on the big spenders.

As for the Cardinals, maybe they need to put a better product on the field. Their yearly attendance has dropped by more than a million over the past decade while their payroll has remained largely stagnant. Perhaps there's a correlation?

I'm 100% on board with a salary floor, and that would be necessary with any change to revenue sharing or adding a salary cap.  Have never argued otherwise.

But cool.  The Brewers could shoot for putting all but 1 penny of their profit back into their roster and they'll almost catch the Dodgers in payroll.  They only fall $388MM shy of the Dodgers if you add the $24MM profit the Brewers made all back into their payroll.  That'd get them all the way to 29% of the Dodgers payroll!  So close!

Think of how absolutely absurd the system is that the Brewers could spend every penny of profit that they make and still only be able to get to 29% of what the Dodgers spend on their payroll.

[Billy Hoyle]

White Sox are hoping to draft "the next Andrew Vaughn."

They'll get the next Brien Taylor

[MUBurrow]

I'm 100% on board with a salary floor, and that would be necessary with any change to revenue sharing or adding a salary cap.  Have never argued otherwise.

But cool.  The Brewers could shoot for putting all but 1 penny of their profit back into their roster and they'll almost catch the Dodgers in payroll.  They only fall $388MM shy of the Dodgers if you add the $24MM profit the Brewers made all back into their payroll.  That'd get them all the way to 29% of the Dodgers payroll!  So close!

Think of how absolutely absurd the system is that the Brewers could spend every penny of profit that they make and still only be able to get to 29% of what the Dodgers spend on their payroll.

The issue here is all of the uses of the word "could."  Any argument in favor of a salary cap is in bad faith until clubs prioritize winning over clearing >$25 million / year.

[wadesworld]

The issue here is all of the uses of the word "could."  Any argument in favor of a salary cap is in bad faith until clubs prioritize winning over clearing >$25 million / year.

I think the Brewers have done very well in attempting to win baseball games.  I guess they could go out and trade for a guy like Eugenio Suarez so they maybe lose 4-1 to the Dodgers in the NLCS instead of 4-0?  And then lose him to someone that can pay him more money, while giving up prospects to get him for a couple of months.  Unlike the Dodgers, who just wait until free agency, pay  more than anyone can, and keep all of their prospects.

Again, what would spending every penny of profit do for the Brewers?  They could win the most games in the MLB regular season and then lose in the NLCS, kind of like they did while not spending every penny of profit.

Without taking a loss, they cannot even reach 30% of the Dodgers' payroll.  If you think that system is a solid system for a professional sports I'm not sure what to tell you.  Why would owners spend all of their profit if there's no salary floor and even if they spent every penny they would be making, some would still close to half a billion dollars short of what the top payrolls in the MLB are?