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

[Donn Beach]

I wonder if some sort of package sort of centered around those two players would work. Casas is a risk, but he'd be a lefty bat at first base, 6'5" with close to elite bat speed. The guy could explode. And Arozarena apparently wants back on the east coast.

What makes you think he wants back on the east coast?

There were rumors that he was upset about the trade b/c his family is all in Tampa.

They do need a right-handed bat. Why trade Casas for one when they're not struggling for $$ and could easily re-sign Tyler O'Neill?

It's popular to speculate about, enough that Breslow and Casas have both commented on it. The plan would be to move Devers to first. Something Breslow says they aren't discussing. I think it mostly has to do with it being Boston, the press there

[Pharmabro]

I wonder if some sort of package sort of centered around those two players would work. Casas is a risk, but he'd be a lefty bat at first base, 6'5" with close to elite bat speed. The guy could explode. And Arozarena apparently wants back on the east coast.

What makes you think he wants back on the east coast?

He is from Cuba. Probably liked being in FL.

Yep, Florida has a lot of Afro-Carribean types: Alot of Cubans, but also P.R., D.R, etc. And I imagine the Florida climate feels like home for him. But he is an adult and has the financial ability to move his family up here during the season or for longer home stands and chose to have the offseason back there.

[GL_Storm]

Sewald is a free agent. He didn't have the best year, though it was far from disastrous. It looks like his stuff ticked down a bit but I think there was an injury. I don't know what his market is, but if he's in the bargain aisle he might be a good option.

[TLO Idaho]

So the talking heads over at MLBTR made some predictions about where the top FA will land.

It's a split ticket, but a couple of the prognosticators have us landing Gleyber Torres, and couple have us landing Hyeseong Kim, and one lone pundit has us landing Bregman.

Read more about it here:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/ ... tions.html

Sounds like the our national election. Half of them don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Nice to see you around Terry, hope you're doing well

I'm still kicken. Would be nice to see you at Spring Training this year.

[Seattle or Bust]

Sewald is a free agent. He didn't have the best year, though it was far from disastrous. It looks like his stuff ticked down a bit but I think there was an injury. I don't know what his market is, but if he's in the bargain aisle he might be a good option.

Probably one of the weirder stat lines out.

He pitched in one of the easiest hitter's parks in baseball... but spun an opponent OPS of .542 at home and .894 on the road.

[GL_Storm]

I know we've talked about David Bednar on here from time to time. Looks like he had kind of a shit season in 2024. I wonder if he's a guy you could pick up on the cheap, or relatively cheap anyway, compared to what he would have cost a year ago. Relievers have these seasons from time to time. He would come with 2 years of control but probably wouldn't cost too much now that the shine is off. Mariners might not want to pay him though.

[harmony]

That's why Josh Naylor, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Alec Bohm have to be compelling. They're all controlled for just one season. Diaz and Lowe have options for '26 if they perform well.

Get rid of Haniger... trade Castillo... add a pitcher like Erik Fedde... add a couple of these guys and that's the offseason.

Plus Bregman and Santana?

Haniger: -$15M total.
Castillo: -$24M total.
$29M total.

Diaz: +$10M total.
Lowe: +$10.5M total.
Bohm: +$8M total.
Fedde: +$8M total.
$36.5M total.

There's your $7 million increase to $155 million

Does that math add up?

The Mariners would need to add a valuable asset to a trade of Mitch Haniger to realize the $15.5 million savings.

Would the M's be willing to package Haniger with Cole Young in a trade? Would a trade partner be interested in Young at that price?

[harmony]

A New York Mets podcaster discusses a proposed trade for Luis Castillo with third baseman Brett Baty and possibly left-hander David Peterson in the return:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMMQI-_bjo8

At 23:40.

This year Peterson, a University of Oregon product, posted a 2.90 ERA and 136 ERA+ in 21 starts. Peterson comes with two years of team control with a projected 2025 arbitration salary of $4.4 million.

The Mets would be unlikely to do that trade. A more realistic trade would substitute right-hander Paul Blackburn for Peterson. This year Blackburn posted an ERA of 4.66 in 14 starts and is projected to earn $4.4 million next year in his final season of arbitration. fr

Other Mets podcasters had a similar Luis Castillo idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDo3M45dK4&t=781s

At 7:40.

[D-train]

Sewald is a free agent. He didn't have the best year, though it was far from disastrous. It looks like his stuff ticked down a bit but I think there was an injury. I don't know what his market is, but if he's in the bargain aisle he might be a good option.

Guessing his comments showing Jerry in a bad light eliminates that given Jerry's thin skin.

[D-train]

Keith Law:

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1789161/ ... e-orioles/