Official Hot Stove League Thread

[D-train]

So out of one side of his mouth he says this:

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1523322/ ... e-players/

“It’s exciting for us because this is the first time that we’ve really set our sights on finding those centerpiece-type players that can really drive a championship team, and hopefully we are able to bring one to Seattle, if not more.”

And out of the other side he says this:

“I don’t know how illustrious our November results will be, but it won’t be because we don’t go in as aggressive as we have every other year, and we are going to assume that it is just a normal offseason.”

So they are going to be just as aggressive as last off season??? Probably means nothing but why can't he just say "We are going to do absolutely everything possible to bring stars to Seattle that are capable of leading the team to a WS title???

is he trying to say are going to be more aggressive? That is the only thing that makes sense

Reading in context I think it is relative to the CBA situation but why would he say they are going to be MORE aggressive than they ever have been. Its like he can't stand to state things clearly. Has to get cute, just like with his roster building to date.

[D-train]

[D-train]

By Corey Brock 1h ago 1
Don’t be at all surprised if Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto isn’t active in terms of making a deal this week or next, before, during or even following the general manager’s meetings, which get underway Monday in Carlsbad, Calif.

The Mariners have been adamant that they will “add talent” to a roster that won 90 games last season but certainly had its, well, deficiencies — namely, one of the least-productive offenses in baseball.

Because we’re not sure when teams will dip into the free-agent waters with the end of the current collective bargaining agreement looming, now might be a chance for the Mariners to get a player or two through trades or with signing free agents to improve the roster.

Since we know Dipoto likes to trade, here’s a look at five players who could get moved this offseason. First, a warning: There are not a lot of big names on the list, mostly because the Mariners are trying to build around the core of this group. But there are some interesting options.

Now, this doesn’t mean all these guys will get moved, and there’s a chance all five will be in Arizona in mid-February for the start of spring training. If that’s the case, you can call me an idiot.

But if the Mariners are going to improve the roster, it stands to reason that doing so through trades likely makes more sense than simply handing out fat checks to free agents. We’ll see what happens.

Tom Murphy, C
Murphy returned after missing the entire 2020 season nursing a foot injury and fared well behind the plate, working with pitchers and doing all of the stuff that goes into that side of the job. Offensively, he never got going.

The regression many predicted after his 18 home run 2019 season, one fueled by a .340 BABIP, hit him hard. He had a .265 BABIP, and there’s surely hope that he finds some middle ground there.

The Mariners used Murphy and rookie Cal Raleigh in a platoon, but Murphy got most of the looks late in the season when the team was making its push for the postseason, as Raleigh was overmatched at the plate.

The question is this: Are the Mariners ready to hand the keys over to Raleigh in 2022? The answer is likely no, which is one reason the team could hang on to Murphy. But if the Mariners get an offer for a good receiver who is a strong advocate for his pitchers, they’ll likely listen.

Drew Steckenrider, RHP
I know what you’re thinking: Why the heck are you trying to trade away one of the team’s top relievers? It’s a fair question, and Steckenrider (along with Paul Sewald) really bailed out the Mariners last season, coming from nowhere to log important and wildly successful innings.

But the Mariners are loaded in the bullpen — yes, I said they have too much pitching — especially with Ken Giles and Andrés Muñoz joining the party. So while they would like to hang on to Steckenrider, who had a 2.00 ERA, if the Mariners get blown away by a deal from a team looking for a controllable closer, they might have to be comfortable parting with Steckenrider.

But it stands to reason that the team will part with Steckenrider or Sewald (less likely because he misses more bats) to land a player who would improve its roster for 2022. Still, don’t be surprised if Steckenrider and Sewald are on the Opening Day roster.

Luis Torrens, C/1B
What to do with Torrens? He last caught a game on July 9, then was almost strictly a designated hitter when the Mariners used Murphy and Raleigh behind the plate the rest of the way. Is that more an indictment on Torrens’ defensive prowess or wanting Murphy and Raleigh to share time?

The Mariners insist they still view Torrens as a catcher. And while that might be a debate, his bat certainly isn’t — not against left-handed pitching, at least. Look at what Torrens did to lefties in 2021: He hit .275, slugged .542 and had an .854 OPS. As a right-handed hitter, Torrens can muscle a ball out the other way with the best of them.

But since the Mariners want to rotate guys through the DH spot in 2022 to keep them fresh — as they did with Mitch Haniger on occasion — there’s no real set spot for Torrens unless they’re comfortable with him as a backup catcher and using him against lefties. He played some first base and a little third base as well with hopes of increasing his versatility.

There’s something to like here, but I wonder if the Mariners will package Torrens to get more everyday help in 2022?

Levi Stoudt, SP
I’m never going to say the Mariners are flush with pitching because, well, look at what happened in 2021. Injuries, underperformance, and then you look up and you’re running an opener out there every five days to try to save your bacon.

That said, the Mariners have interesting arms on the farm that they could move this offseason to help them access a player pool they normally would not have access to. Parting with some of these players — players, to be clear, the Mariners really like — won’t be easy. But it might be necessary.

Stoudt could be one of those guys. He turns 24 on Dec. 4 and is a right-hander who opened eyes in the fall instructional league a year ago in Arizona. He kept on rolling this season, posting a 3.31 ERA in two spots (High A and Double A) with 86 strikeouts and just 61 hits allowed in 81 2/3 innings.

Stoudt has been a bulk strikes guy who has recently made big strides with his slider, getting as much as 15 inches of horizontal movement on the pitch with a plus-plus changeup. He might not be far from helping a big-league team.

Brandon Williamson, SP
This one will hurt. If the Mariners chose to move Williamson, they’ll do so begrudgingly. They really like the lefty. And what’s not to like? He’s posted a 3.25 ERA in his first 113 2/3 professional innings (2019 and 2021) with 178 strikeouts.

Williamson knows how to attack hitters and doesn’t need a high-90’s heater to do it. He’s a guy who typically runs 90-93 mph with his fastball, a pitch that has plus ride. He also has three very good secondary pitches.

Williamson is 6-foot-6, and his fastball feels like it’s right on top of you. He moved to Double A in the middle of the season and didn’t miss a beat, striking out eight or more batters in six of his final seven starts.

The Mariners have Matt Brash and George Kirby, who are getting close to the big leagues, and there’s certainly a lot of optimism about Emerson Hancock, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2020. Losing Williamson might hurt, but it also might yield a player to help get them over the top in 2022 (and beyond).

[Donn Beach]

FA is going to be interesting with Dipoto talking about how aggressive they intend to be. This would be the perfect time to display it. I can think of no reason why players wouldn't be interested in signing, that is in terms of the expiring CBA. If there is nothing but crickets chirping that would blow holes in his aggressiveness BS, and smell of collusion

[Donn Beach]

By Corey Brock 1h ago 1
Don’t be at all surprised if Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto isn’t active in terms of making a deal this week or next, before, during or even following the general manager’s meetings, which get underway Monday in Carlsbad, Calif.

The Mariners have been adamant that they will “add talent” to a roster that won 90 games last season but certainly had its, well, deficiencies — namely, one of the least-productive offenses in baseball.

Because we’re not sure when teams will dip into the free-agent waters with the end of the current collective bargaining agreement looming, now might be a chance for the Mariners to get a player or two through trades or with signing free agents to improve the roster.

Since we know Dipoto likes to trade, here’s a look at five players who could get moved this offseason. First, a warning: There are not a lot of big names on the list, mostly because the Mariners are trying to build around the core of this group. But there are some interesting options.

Now, this doesn’t mean all these guys will get moved, and there’s a chance all five will be in Arizona in mid-February for the start of spring training. If that’s the case, you can call me an idiot.

But if the Mariners are going to improve the roster, it stands to reason that doing so through trades likely makes more sense than simply handing out fat checks to free agents. We’ll see what happens.

Tom Murphy, C
Murphy returned after missing the entire 2020 season nursing a foot injury and fared well behind the plate, working with pitchers and doing all of the stuff that goes into that side of the job. Offensively, he never got going.

The regression many predicted after his 18 home run 2019 season, one fueled by a .340 BABIP, hit him hard. He had a .265 BABIP, and there’s surely hope that he finds some middle ground there.

The Mariners used Murphy and rookie Cal Raleigh in a platoon, but Murphy got most of the looks late in the season when the team was making its push for the postseason, as Raleigh was overmatched at the plate.

The question is this: Are the Mariners ready to hand the keys over to Raleigh in 2022? The answer is likely no, which is one reason the team could hang on to Murphy. But if the Mariners get an offer for a good receiver who is a strong advocate for his pitchers, they’ll likely listen.

Drew Steckenrider, RHP
I know what you’re thinking: Why the heck are you trying to trade away one of the team’s top relievers? It’s a fair question, and Steckenrider (along with Paul Sewald) really bailed out the Mariners last season, coming from nowhere to log important and wildly successful innings.

But the Mariners are loaded in the bullpen — yes, I said they have too much pitching — especially with Ken Giles and Andrés Muñoz joining the party. So while they would like to hang on to Steckenrider, who had a 2.00 ERA, if the Mariners get blown away by a deal from a team looking for a controllable closer, they might have to be comfortable parting with Steckenrider.

But it stands to reason that the team will part with Steckenrider or Sewald (less likely because he misses more bats) to land a player who would improve its roster for 2022. Still, don’t be surprised if Steckenrider and Sewald are on the Opening Day roster.

Luis Torrens, C/1B
What to do with Torrens? He last caught a game on July 9, then was almost strictly a designated hitter when the Mariners used Murphy and Raleigh behind the plate the rest of the way. Is that more an indictment on Torrens’ defensive prowess or wanting Murphy and Raleigh to share time?

The Mariners insist they still view Torrens as a catcher. And while that might be a debate, his bat certainly isn’t — not against left-handed pitching, at least. Look at what Torrens did to lefties in 2021: He hit .275, slugged .542 and had an .854 OPS. As a right-handed hitter, Torrens can muscle a ball out the other way with the best of them.

But since the Mariners want to rotate guys through the DH spot in 2022 to keep them fresh — as they did with Mitch Haniger on occasion — there’s no real set spot for Torrens unless they’re comfortable with him as a backup catcher and using him against lefties. He played some first base and a little third base as well with hopes of increasing his versatility.

There’s something to like here, but I wonder if the Mariners will package Torrens to get more everyday help in 2022?

Levi Stoudt, SP
I’m never going to say the Mariners are flush with pitching because, well, look at what happened in 2021. Injuries, underperformance, and then you look up and you’re running an opener out there every five days to try to save your bacon.

That said, the Mariners have interesting arms on the farm that they could move this offseason to help them access a player pool they normally would not have access to. Parting with some of these players — players, to be clear, the Mariners really like — won’t be easy. But it might be necessary.

Stoudt could be one of those guys. He turns 24 on Dec. 4 and is a right-hander who opened eyes in the fall instructional league a year ago in Arizona. He kept on rolling this season, posting a 3.31 ERA in two spots (High A and Double A) with 86 strikeouts and just 61 hits allowed in 81 2/3 innings.

Stoudt has been a bulk strikes guy who has recently made big strides with his slider, getting as much as 15 inches of horizontal movement on the pitch with a plus-plus changeup. He might not be far from helping a big-league team.

Brandon Williamson, SP
This one will hurt. If the Mariners chose to move Williamson, they’ll do so begrudgingly. They really like the lefty. And what’s not to like? He’s posted a 3.25 ERA in his first 113 2/3 professional innings (2019 and 2021) with 178 strikeouts.

Williamson knows how to attack hitters and doesn’t need a high-90’s heater to do it. He’s a guy who typically runs 90-93 mph with his fastball, a pitch that has plus ride. He also has three very good secondary pitches.

Williamson is 6-foot-6, and his fastball feels like it’s right on top of you. He moved to Double A in the middle of the season and didn’t miss a beat, striking out eight or more batters in six of his final seven starts.

The Mariners have Matt Brash and George Kirby, who are getting close to the big leagues, and there’s certainly a lot of optimism about Emerson Hancock, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2020. Losing Williamson might hurt, but it also might yield a player to help get them over the top in 2022 (and beyond).

kind of lines up with some of my thinking, I have them trading for Willson Contreras, can't see them turning it over to Raleigh, in fact maybe its Raleigh that gets traded. And I am predicting Dipoto trading from his BP, i went with Casey Sadler and Paul Sewald, it be such a Dipoto thing to do. Not that they both are moved, but that he trades BP arms. That is why I can't imagine him signing Graveman as a FA

[D-train]

Imagine the backlash if he trades two of the three best relievers and BP blows 27 games. I wouldn't trade anyone that was a solid contributor this past season. btw did you see Ken Giles is the second highest paid player on the team now.

And why can't we combine Cal's D and Torrens bat. We would have a great catcher. Ugh.

[ice99]

Imagine the backlash if he trades two of the three best relievers and BP blows 27 games. I wouldn't trade anyone that was a solid contributor this past season. btw did you see Ken Giles is the second highest paid player on the team now.

And why can't we combine Cal's D and Torrens bat. We would have a great catcher. Ugh.

I can see Dipoto trying to trade Steckenrider, he's scheduled to make a whopping 2.1 million in arbitration.

They control him for another 2 years. If they don't trade him, they may want to sign him for 2 years plus an option.

[D-train]

Imagine the backlash if he trades two of the three best relievers and BP blows 27 games. I wouldn't trade anyone that was a solid contributor this past season. btw did you see Ken Giles is the second highest paid player on the team now.

And why can't we combine Cal's D and Torrens bat. We would have a great catcher. Ugh.

I can see Dipoto trying to trade Steckenrider, he's scheduled to make a whopping 2.1 million in arbitration.

They control him for another 2 years. If they don't trade him, they may want to sign him for 2 years plus an option.

Yeah he is the guy that is mentioned most often to be traded but we have a ton of prospects why F with our lights out pen.

[SeattleSportsRUs]

Imagine the backlash if he trades two of the three best relievers and BP blows 27 games. I wouldn't trade anyone that was a solid contributor this past season. btw did you see Ken Giles is the second highest paid player on the team now.

And why can't we combine Cal's D and Torrens bat. We would have a great catcher. Ugh.

I think we gotta pump the breaks on Torrens. He still posted a .730 OPS for the season and a barely above avg 102 OPS+. He did so from the comfort of a DH spot where he didn't have to waste any energy elsewhere. I'm still not impressed.

But yet again another article from a writer who is too wimpy to actually come out and offer a trade that might raise some hairs. Way to go out on a limb there Corey.

And of course Luke Arkins is the first comment saying that he's "leary of trading any pitching."

We. Have. The. Worst. Sports. Writers.

[D-train]

Imagine the backlash if he trades two of the three best relievers and BP blows 27 games. I wouldn't trade anyone that was a solid contributor this past season. btw did you see Ken Giles is the second highest paid player on the team now.

And why can't we combine Cal's D and Torrens bat. We would have a great catcher. Ugh.

I think we gotta pump the breaks on Torrens. He still posted a .730 OPS for the season and a barely above avg 102 OPS+. He did so from the comfort of a DH spot where he didn't have to waste any energy elsewhere. I'm still not impressed.

But yet again another article from a writer who is too wimpy to actually come out and offer a trade that might raise some hairs. Way to go out on a limb there Corey.

And of course Luke Arkins is the first comment saying that he's "leary of trading any pitching."

We. Have. The. Worst. Sports. Writers.

Interesting thought about catchers. I always assumed that they aren't typically good hitters because guys that can catch are so rare but maybe it partially due the demands of the position negatively impacting their hitting.

Yeah, Arkins thinks we need 17 starters and even wrote a story on it. He blocked me so I didn't see his post. lol