The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[Seattle or Bust]

The Sonny Gray trade mirrors what a Castillo trade could look like.

The Cardinals got the no. 5 prospect in the '25 class and no. 12 prospect in the '24 class of the Red Sox farm in exchange for Gray and $20M.

Now... Gray is owed $35M in '26 and has a considerable buyout in '27.

Castillo is younger and way better than Gray at this juncture. Which is why I don't think his money is prohibitive.

[desbcoach]

The Sonny Gray trade mirrors what a Castillo trade could look like.

The Cardinals got the no. 5 prospect in the '25 class and no. 12 prospect in the '24 class of the Red Sox farm in exchange for Gray and $20M.

Now... Gray is owed $35M in '26 and has a considerable buyout in '27.

Castillo is younger and way better than Gray at this juncture. Which is why I don't think his money is prohibitive.

Cardinals included 20 mil and contract was reworked to 31mil next near with a 10 mil.buyout so basically 41 mil for a year of his services

[Seattle or Bust]

The Sonny Gray trade mirrors what a Castillo trade could look like.

The Cardinals got the no. 5 prospect in the '25 class and no. 12 prospect in the '24 class of the Red Sox farm in exchange for Gray and $20M.

Now... Gray is owed $35M in '26 and has a considerable buyout in '27.

Castillo is younger and way better than Gray at this juncture. Which is why I don't think his money is prohibitive.

Cardinals included 20 mil and contract was reworked to 31mil next near with a 10 mil.buyout so basically 41 mil for a year of his services

Yeah that's a shit ton for one year of a guy who is 36 and put up a 4.28 ERA with 1.4 bWAR.

If you took on ALL of Castillo's contract you get a better pitcher for $48.3M over 2 years.

People being concerned about his option is also silly AF. It only vest after 180 innings pitched in '27. He hit 175 and 180.2 innings the last 2 years. A smart team would just keep him sub 180 in '27.

[HawkandMariner88]

Hearing the Marlins are under pressure again to add salary. Even more so this off season than last. desbcoach believes Randy might be traded and Brady Vargas posted this:

Could we deal him to Milwaukee instead for either of Megill or Uribe instead please. Who does Miami have that we can take back. The only way I'd do a trade with Miami is if it's for someone like a Henriquez.

[Donn Beach]

The Sonny Gray trade mirrors what a Castillo trade could look like.

The Cardinals got the no. 5 prospect in the '25 class and no. 12 prospect in the '24 class of the Red Sox farm in exchange for Gray and $20M.

Now... Gray is owed $35M in '26 and has a considerable buyout in '27.

Castillo is younger and way better than Gray at this juncture. Which is why I don't think his money is prohibitive.

Chaim Bloom starting to wheel and deal

[GL_Storm]

Pretty good analysis of the free agent relievers on the market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGR9FYda8w8

[D-train]

Hearing the Marlins are under pressure again to add salary. Even more so this off season than last. desbcoach believes Randy might be traded and Brady Vargas posted this:

Could we deal him to Milwaukee instead for either of Megill or Uribe instead please. Who does Miami have that we can take back. The only way I'd do a trade with Miami is if it's for someone like a Henriquez.

Nope, Milwaukee isn't taking on his salary.

[Big_Maple]

The Jays add Dylan Cease to a 7 year deal:

https://www.mlb.com/news/dylan-cease-blue-jays-deal

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Looks like the Jays want to get back there. Meanwhile, back in Loserville the sound of crickets is all we're picking up.

[Captain 97]

30 million a year for a guy coming off a season with a 94 ERA+ That is the epitome of a stupid deal.
The dude had one elite year 4 years ago. Since then he has averaged 2.4 WAR per season with a 4.18 ERA and a 102 ERA+