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

[TraderGary]

Jeff Passan saying what every Mariners fan is feeling

https://www.si.com/mlb/mariners/news/je ... est-piece

"Whatever you want to call it -- an unconscionable case of miserliness, a magnificent failure of stewardship or, to keep it simple, cheap ownership -- the Mariners are actively blowing one of the best opportunities in baseball. They have a historically good pitching rotation that is the envy of 29 other teams, and despite a payroll that is a full $80 million below the luxury tax threshold, they haven't spent a single dime this winter."

[D-train]

The Dodgers gave up Lux for almost nothing. They must have really, really not liked him.

Everyone else said they gave up too much for him. I haven't looked yet.

[TraderGary]

I don't think that's their thinking actually. When they traded for Palanco they expected to use the option, it had value. Player control has value, if course it has to be a valuable player. I think they could be getting gun shy for how a player performs at TMobile. It's the supposedly player attitude in reverse. People wonder about the huge contracts that get rewarded, owners are crazy. But actually having a position locked in with a player thats a good bet to deliver 4-5 war season after season has tremendous value. I don't think any GM would argue having to replace players constantly on one year contracts is very productive. I don't think dipoto feels that way

Polanco put up 4.7 WAR, 2.7, 2.0 and then 1.3 in 2024. It really should not have been a big surprise. If Dipoto does like it then why does he keep doing it. If he does it because Stanton forces him to then he is a shitty POBO that has no will or ability to convince his owners that they are idiots.

Yeah I think there's more at play here than just cheap ownership. The Mariners have missed the playoffs by one game each of the past 2 years and squeaked in the year before that. I would not be at all surprised if Dipoto is going to Stanton with the idea that they're so close, they don't need to spend a lot of money. They just need a couple role players here and there to fill out the roster. And then once in the playoffs where pitching typically dominates, I'm sure their position is that we can compete with anyone.

And as others have speculated here, I would be very surprised if Dipoto isn't collecting a nice bonus each year based on keeping payroll below a certain threshold. That would also explain why he seemingly has good job security for the foreseeable future despite his obvious lack of success over the years.

So yes, Stanton is a cheap POS owner who doesn't care about winning championships, but I believe Dipoto is complicit in this as well. The only way this changes is with new ownership who hopefully has deep pockets, and who will bring in a capable GM and President who are passionate about winning and won't accept anything less.

[Hasslecracked]

Rooker signed a 5 year extension with the A’s

[bpj]

Rooker signed a 5 year extension with the A’s

Another JD Martinez.

Unfortunately he ended up in our division this time.

If Dipoto's not careful, the Mariners will finish behind the Rangers and the A's.

[Donn Beach]

The Dodgers gave up Lux for almost nothing. They must have really, really not liked him.

Everyone else said they gave up too much for him. I haven't looked yet.

Yeah, that's how the dodgers work, emotionally...I'd say it's valuing the competitive balance pick, it's a first round pick, Tyler Black was a competitive balance pick.

[Donn Beach]

Forces him in what way, I don't think Stanton has a thing to do with player decisions. A lot of people supported the Palanco trade. We can go back now and dissect it but I think it's reaching to call it an obviously screwy trade

You were talking about a 4 to 5 win player being locked up for 2 years fact is he had 4.7 more combined for the past 2 years and was declining ever since 2021

That was confusing, I wasn't referring to Palanco. I was referring to the guys getting $200 mil+ contracts. The value of projecting 4-5 wins a season into the future. You don't want flexibility, you want that

[Big_Maple]

Well, according to the folks@ mlb.com, we’re not expected to be playing in the World Series for the next decade. What a surprise.

https://www.mlb.com/news/predicting-wor ... -2025-2034

[Donn Beach]

Well, according to the folks@ mlb.com, we’re not expected to be playing in the World Series for the next decade. What a surprise.

https://www.mlb.com/news/predicting-wor ... -2025-2034

Ohhhhhh. You seemed to have missed 2030, and they win it too. That is a cruel matchup

[Big_Maple]

Well, according to the folks@ mlb.com, we’re not expected to be playing in the World Series for the next decade. What a surprise.

https://www.mlb.com/news/predicting-wor ... -2025-2034

Ohhhhhh. You seemed to have missed 2030, and they win it too. That is a cruel matchup

Haha! Serves me right. I read the initial list which was the last decade and stopped reading.

Well I guess the lesson is to just trust in the process and wait till 2030.