The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[Donn Beach]

M's acquire minor league LHP Robinson Ortiz: https://www.mlb.com/press-release/marin ... es-dodgers

This looks like a pre-rule 5 draft move to me. Maybe the Mariners like something about him and think he's worth putting on the 40.

Think that's exactly it, the dodgers buying time, mariners committing

[Pharmabro]

A New York Mets blogger at Rising Apple proposes a trade of 1B/3B/DH Mark Vientos and 2B/3B/SS Ronny Mauricio for Seattle right-hander Luis Castillo:

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-mariner ... s-castillo

Vientos and Mauricio are flawed players but will earn the league minimum in 2026 with four years of team control each.

Baseball Trade Values recently assigned Vientos a surplus value of $19.8 million, Mauricio a surplus value of $8.3 million and Castillo a negative value of $2.9 million.

In 2024 Vientos broke out with 27 home runs and 2.9 fWAR in 111 games but slumped to 17 home runs and 0.4 fWAR in 121 games this year in his age 25 season.

I mean, I'd do that.

The Mets wont.

There could be money going back the Mets way. I don’t see where Mauricio comes in. He has a OPS+ in the 80’s. Does he raise the floor at any position is he better than what Young, Rivas, Colt, Williamson, Bliss could provide?

Vientos could provide you with a cheap bat with power potential at 3B
Castillo is solid still. And owed 48.3M for the next 2 years. What if the M’s sent over 8.3M ?

I’d be excited if we were able to re-up with Polo, trade for Vientos, Re-up with Nails, and then trade for Skubal and upgrade the BP. The dollars work with-in the budget, The out going prospects would work.

Does that work for you because it would work for me.


1. Julio CF
2. Cal** C
3. Randy LF
4. Naylor* 1B
5. Polo** 2B
6. Vientos 3B
7. Raley* DH
8. Robles/Canzone L/R RF
9. JP* SS

Bench Ford, Rivas, +1 and the RF platoon

SP Skubal, Gilbert, Kirby Woo, Miller

[Pharmabro]

M's acquire minor league LHP Robinson Ortiz: https://www.mlb.com/press-release/marin ... es-dodgers

This looks like a pre-rule 5 draft move to me. Maybe the Mariners like something about him and think he's worth putting on the 40.

Think that's exactly it, the dodgers buying time, mariners committing

He pitched pretty well across 3 levels last year: 2.73 ERA split evenly from A+, AA, to AAA.

He had a 2 year break from the mound professionally in games in 2020 and then again from 2023 and 2024. So he is older being his age 26. I have no idea if it was covid or purely injury related but he is an older guy heading into age 26 year. I guess he sits low 90s but can touch 95 on occasion.

[D-train]

Polanco isn't going to be as easy to sign as Naylor. Going to play out the market which is fine.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/681619 ... mlb-notes/

[Captain 97]

Polanco isn't going to be as easy to sign as Naylor. Going to play out the market which is fine.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/681619 ... mlb-notes/

I Like the idea of Trading for Yandy Diaz for DH. He can play a bit of third base in a pinch too.

[D-train]

Polanco isn't going to be as easy to sign as Naylor. Going to play out the market which is fine.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/681619 ... mlb-notes/

I Like the idea of Trading for Yandy Diaz for DH. He can play a bit of third base in a pinch too.

Absolutely and much healthier than Polo.

[D-train]

Listening to Hollander on the radio just now. They asked about having young unproven players in the lineup. Yeah said the would like to have more proven players and a more certain floor but if the season started today he wouldn't be nervous at all with Young and Williamson in the lineup every day.

[bpj]

Diaz would be nice to add at DH, but Tampa played him at DH in 117 games and at 1B in 37 games.

He's going to be 35 years old.

Maybe they just had young guys they wanted in the field, I don't know. But from the outside, it looks like he's reaching DH status.

Which, I'd be fine with. Not sure Dipollander would be.

[D-train]

Diaz would be nice to add at DH, but Tampa played him at DH in 117 games and at 1B in 37 games.

He's going to be 35 years old.

Maybe they just had young guys they wanted in the field, I don't know. But from the outside, it looks like he's reaching DH status.

Which, I'd be fine with. Not sure Dipollander would be.

Josh isn't going to play 162 at 1B so Yandy could give him days off vs. LH starters a few time a month. Emergency 3B.

[D-train]