Finally! Official Hot Stove League thread!

[tehmc]

Ohtani rumor

Vassegh mentions that Ohtani would only be willing to sign a short-term contract with the Angels, but if any other team wants to go after his services then they should give him a 10-year contract at a minimum with some options to opt out.

Thats why I think there is no reason for the M's not to go after Ohtani, sign him to a 10 year contract and give him opt outs starting at 3 year mark, he'll probably opt out in a couple years regardless for more money and now you've effectively signed him to a short term high AAV contract.

[Donn Beach]

Here's the article, it's oriented to the dodgers, sort of implying they could be trying to sign him to a shorter term deal. I think the deal is concern over his pitching ability. Teams don't want to invest in a ten year deal with the current condition of his arm, makes sense to me.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.marca. ... b45f1.html

[Donn Beach]

Ohtani rumor

Vassegh mentions that Ohtani would only be willing to sign a short-term contract with the Angels, but if any other team wants to go after his services then they should give him a 10-year contract at a minimum with some options to opt out.

Would be STUNNING if he resigned with them. Even more than if he signed with us.

It wasn't why I posted that item but come to think of it, that was my prediction where he'd sign

Re: Breaking: Ohtani with a torn UCL, won't pitch, might not DH
Post Sun Sep 03, 2023 8:45 am

actually I'm curious if the ohtani injury could be an opportunity for the angels to re-sign him. That's going to be my prediction. Moreno steps up and demonstrates complete confidence in ohtani where other teams have become shy. They re-sign ohtani which placates Trout. I see that as a move Artie could pull off

If he re-signs with the angels you guys gonna have to give me some props

[Donn Beach]

Torres for Hancock, course probably won't happen since he's owed $15 mil


https://yanksgoyard.com/posts/espn-insi ... hgenezd8g3

[harmony]

In the comments at D-Rays Bay, Tampa Bay fans discuss a potential trade of Randy Arozarena to Seattle:

https://www.draysbay.com/2023/11/29/239 ... -arozarena

[Donn Beach]

Possible red light, Not that I'm really buying it. Arozarena seems like a pretty logical target. Needs matchup, Dipoto has done a lot of business with the Rays

Looking at the table above, we can see Arozarena's struggles with breaking pitches were about the same both pre and post May 6th. Where he declined was in his ability to hit fastballs. Through his first 31 games he was crushing fastballs to the tune .373 BA and .745 slug. Regression to the mean was due of course, but over his final 120 games in well over 500 plate appearances he hit just .237 with a .441 slug against fastballs. This could be a major red flag with Arozarena that the Rays are likely seeing and why they might engage in trade talks. A slugger struggling with fastballs is a potential buyer beware situation.

https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/ana ... -arozarena

[D-train]

Randy has actually hit well at T Mobile in a 48 PA SSS. .289/.844

But I see him as another Teo with better D and a bit younger. Would be a good but not great get. 124 OPS+ from 2021-23.

Teo was at 133 from 2020-2022

btw Soler who a lot of fans are jacked about was 109 from 2021-23 and is actually older than Teo was.

[Donn Beach]

Arozarena, .364 OBP, 23.9 SO rate, 12.2 walk rate. He might not be a great hitter but that to me would indicate a fundamentaly more solid hitter than Teo. Teo puzzles me, don't see where his reputation comes from. OPS+ puzzles me as well. Mostly because how it seems to jump all over the place season to season with a lot of hitters.

[D-train]

Arozarena, .364 OBP, 23.9 SO rate, 12.2 walk rate. He might not be a great hitter but that to me would indicate a fundamentaly more solid hitter than Teo. Teo puzzles me, don't see where his reputation comes from. OPS+ puzzles me as well. Mostly because how it seems to jump all over the place season to season with a lot of hitters.

If you are comparing one guy season to season then you can just use OPS. OPS+ includes park factors so if a guy is with the same team no reason to use it. Its value is comparing guys on different teams playing in different home parks.

[Donn Beach]

Yeah, I understand that, it's the fluctuations I'm speaking to. And maybe I'm exaggerating it but it seems to me guys go from a 100 OPS+ to 125 and back again. I'm lazy to dig up examples, seems volatile. I suppose it's just mirroring the volatility of the player