So it begins, The official Hot Stove League Thread 2024-25 Offseason

[D-train]

This guys says that it is even odds that we will trade for Devers. How do people with completely non functioning brains ever manage to own a phone or a computer in order to post this nonsense?

[Donn Beach]

Bregman is a three year contract with opt-outs. I think it be doubtful they trade Devers to accommodate him. I'm guessing bregman plays second base

Cora on that idea

He has quick hands, good footwork,” said Cora. “He's done it before. I know it was just a few games, but if you look at the highlights or whatever, he's very clean. He’s a good infielder. He uses his feet the right way. He has good hands. The arm plays

[D-train]

Bregman is a three year contract with opt-outs. I think it be doubtful they trade Devers to accommodate him. I'm guessing bregman plays second base

Cora on that idea

He has quick hands, good footwork,” said Cora. “He's done it before. I know it was just a few games, but if you look at the highlights or whatever, he's very clean. He’s a good infielder. He uses his feet the right way. He has good hands. The arm plays

People see on clip on X and think it means the Red Sox will definitely trade their best hitter and franchise corner stone for a guy that could be gone after one season who says he is happy to play 2B. Though I doubt Bregman turns his nose up at another $40M next season no matter how good a year he has. Other GMs will know he did it at Fenway and is now a year older.

[Donn Beach]

He turned down $171.5 over six years with an opt out in 2026 from the tigers. I think the 2025 opt out is a big deal to them. they are betting on a strong season at Fenway and then re-entering the free agent market for a more lucrative long term contract.

[D-train]

He turned down $171.5 over six years from the tigers. I think they are betting on a strong season at Fenway and then re-entering the free agent market for a more lucrative long term contract.

I am sure GMs won't know that he was hitting at Fenway and won't focus on his road OPS. Boras' will tell them he was actually a Mariner hitting at T Mobile half his games.

[Donn Beach]

I don't think it's about trying to fool anybody but I think they will seriously look at triggering that opt-out, it's why it's there. If you're the red Sox you have to assume that

[D-train]

I know but people always talk about pillow contracts playing at band box ballparks and how that will get them a big

like GMs of other teams don't have analytics depts and judge a .800 OPS at Coors and T Mobile the same. That worked in 1985 but not 2025.

btw the off season is thankfully over. Let's use the ST thread going forward.

[D-train]

Ok one final post here. Turner to the Cubs for $6M. I would have much rather sign him than Polanco. Solano, Moore and Shenton could play third.

[Pharmabro]

LOL If we trade Taylor or any reliever for Casas when we already have an 800+ OPS platoon at 1B DURING ST I will buy you a 1000 gallon beer. lol Besides the geniuses in then analytics dept have assured us dopes that a young LH power hitter has no chance of hitting in T Mobile.

Both Solano and Raley can play at multiple positions. Tristan can DH/1B. I am all for adding another 125 OPS+ bat who's prime years are likely in the future vs. the past. Seriously get Tristan, trade Haniger, go trade prospects for a decent LH set-up guy.

Off season is over. But I am sure there are 29 teams blowing up Jerry's phone trying to pry Haniger away so I am sure he will finally relent as long as it is a MASSIVE haul for a cripple that can't run or play D and put up a .571 OPS after the first two weeks of the season last year. lol

If I was the Marlins, or CWS, or any of these other non-threats for the playoffs. I would make it well known that I was willing to take on short-term bad contracts 1max 2 years left. And, I will take comp Rd. picks and or prospects.
1st. Just say Haniger and say Harry Ford for some no-chance prospect. Repeat 3 or 4 more times to get these 1 year high salary guys coming off injury/poor performance. Pick up 3-4 top 100 style prospects.

2nd. Every year reclamation projects pay-off. There is a non-zero chance that Haniger and your other reclamation prospect swaps rebound. There is a chance to double up and sell these short-term guys for a 2nd prospect haul.

If I was in a tankathon GM job. I mean if you had a 26 man of basically all pre-arb guys and a few Arb. 1s and 2s, Say a 30 million dollar payroll. Even, clubs in a rebuild can carry 100 million and not lose money. Wouldn't you agree to take on 60 million to get 3 or 4 top 100's added to your stack. If you had a 3-year tank rebuild, and started with 4 top-100's after selling off of your premium parts. You then add another 4 for taking on the Hanigers of the world (+_2 via draft and IFA) . Did another 3 from bad prospects in year 2 plus 2 from the draft and IFA's, And in year 3 you added 2 more prospects via bad contracts and 2 via IFA/draft. In year 1 you would have 10 top 100's, #2 would add 5, In year 3, a total of 4 added. In three years you would add 19+/- top 100 prospects. And if you are tanking you should get lucky at least a couple of times and draft 1-2-3 at least once if not multiple times so you could get at least a couple pf 60, 65, 70 grade prospects along the way.

And those 19 top 100's is not even counting on a single rebound among the 7-reclamation projects. You know who has a template for this? The A's. They could get a huge haul for: JJ Bleday 30M, Mason Miller 47M, Soderstrom 22.5 m, Rooker 35M (I'd be willing to pay double that), etc, etc. Why are the A's trying to spend? Tank while in Sacramento, and put together a dynasty.

[Seattle or Bust]

Ok one final post here. Turner to the Cubs for $6M. I would have much rather sign him than Polanco. Solano, Moore and Shenton could play third.

Eh I'm OK not paying a 42 year old.

Oh well... the offense is going to suck regardless.