The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[D-train]

I thought I would at least think out loud about a possible Corey Seager trade.

He is coming off an age 31 season where he played to a 151 OPS+ in 102 games. 6.2BWAR.
6 years X 31.5M is what he is owed. I would thing a deal like Nolan Arenado would be the ticket. Nolan was owed 6 years and 199M at the time he was traded before his age 30 season The Rocks picked up 50M of that tab. What if the StRangers did the same?

Corey would become a guy with 6 years and an AAV of 23.16M. But he would add another star to the left side of the infield. I would think he would still be above average at defending from 3B. I could see Colt come up at some point for 2B or SS sooner or later.

1. Julio CF
2. Cal **C
3. Seager* 3B
4. Randy OF
5. Josh* 1B
6. Polo** 2B
7. Calzone*/Robles OF
8. Raley* DH
9. JP* SS

Bench Ford, +2 of (Rivas, Bliss, Colt, Ben, etc)


For the record: I know that Kyle has probably poisoned his brother about how shitty this team is. And the Rangers would probably not want to strengthen a division rival and all.


On one of the pods they went after a guy we. Talked about going after last time in FA Kyle Schwarber. I view him as a DH that could pretend to play OF. But we would not get this year’s 50+ bombs. But if we could count on 30+ HR and 90-100 RBI?

Just kind of fun to think about different guys we could add.

I am still disappointed we didn’t win on Duran if we did added to Nails, Geno I bet we are at least in the WS. And who knows what happens.

Good post Nathan.

[D-train]

The Dylan Cease deal is stupid but he might be the best free agent starter in this year's class. Some would say Framber but I wouldn't. There's no Ace this year, no number 1's.

Some guys have all the luck....

[HawkandMariner88]

Nope, Milwaukee isn't taking on his salary.

Who do they have that we would want? We need to have as many + players as we can get. A salary dump for nothing back does not help us at all. It hurts us.

He literally said who he wanted from them in his post.

DT what would Milwaukee want from us. Gotta have one of those 2. You'd think they'd be looking to add salary so I don't know why Randy or Castillo wouldn't work especially for just the one year.

[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:

I don’t see how this makes us better? Bender is an OK BP part. He is probably going to get around 3M+/- in Arby, and Randy gets ? 14-15M +/-. But now you have to go and replace a 4BWAR guy who has been a solid 120 OPS+ bat.

What is the solution to fill those shoes? We have been much better at grabbing guys and developing BP parts than corner outfielders.Right now I have:

Julio, Cal, Randy, Josh and who is batting #5???????? Right now I’d say Canzone, or Raley. Right now if you look at the depth chart you would have a
7,8,9 of Ben, Young, and JP
5-6 I guess is DH Raley and the platoon of ( Robles and Canzone)

And this trade proposes that we dump Randy?

We need more bats not less. Well, more good bats not less.

Agree that in a vacuum it is crazy and it isn't happening. Would need to replace him with one of the Red Sox OFers.

[Big_Maple]

The Jays add Dylan Cease to a 7 year deal:

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

And fans on X think Gilbert and Kirby are going to resign before going to FA. lol


1.1 WAR and a 4.55 ERA this season. Imagine what those two will get in 2-3 years.

Great point.

Our peak window of contention is closing fast. I think the Mariners should get extremely aggressive. Drain the farm and trade for Skubal. Then trade for Ketel Marte. Yeah we’d lose a bunch of top 20 prospects, but…. damn!

Then go sign Kyle Tucker. Josh Naylor has shown us that even good hitters with experience at T-Mobile are willing to sign with a team they see as contenders. The M’s would be instant contenders for the World Series next year. They would have to trade a starter, and I’ve always believed Miller would be their best option with his Janky elbow. But in a couple of years we’re gonna lose keep pieces of our rotation to free agency as you point out. Go big or go home.

Imagine this lineup
Ketel Marte
Julio
Cal
Kyle Tucker
Naylor
Arozarena
Cole
Crawford
DH - whoever…

Skubal
Gilbert
Kirby
Castillo
Woo

I know - it’s a video game lineup. But it is literally within our grasp.

[Donn Beach]

The Jays add Dylan Cease to a 7 year deal:

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

And fans on X think Gilbert and Kirby are going to resign before going to FA. lol


1.1 WAR and a 4.55 ERA this season. Imagine what those two will get in 2-3 years.

Great point.

Our peak window of contention is closing fast. I think the Mariners should get extremely aggressive. Drain the farm and trade for Skubal. Then trade for Ketel Marte. Yeah we’d lose a bunch of top 20 prospects, but…. damn!

Then go sign Kyle Tucker. Josh Naylor has shown us that even good hitters with experience at T-Mobile are willing to sign with a team they see as contenders. The M’s would be instant contenders for the World Series next year. They would have to trade a starter, and I’ve always believed Miller would be their best option with his Janky elbow. But in a couple of years we’re gonna lose keep pieces of our rotation to free agency as you point out. Go big or go home.

Imagine this lineup
Ketel Marte
Julio
Cal
Kyle Tucker
Naylor
Arozarena
Cole
Crawford
DH - whoever…

Skubal
Gilbert
Kirby
Castillo
Woo

I know - it’s a video game lineup. But it is literally within our grasp.

The thing is it doesn't take that, they wouldn't need to sign every major FA and make every major trade. Bringing in Ketel be enough for me, actually adding another 5 war to this team? He certainly would seem to write your ticket to the playoffs. And who knows once you get there. Things can flatten out, like the past one. Mariners take the Blue Jays to seven games and the blue Jays in turn take the dodgers to seven.

[D-train]

Who do they have that we would want? We need to have as many + players as we can get. A salary dump for nothing back does not help us at all. It hurts us.

He literally said who he wanted from them in his post.

DT what would Milwaukee want from us. Gotta have one of those 2. You'd think they'd be looking to add salary so I don't know why Randy or Castillo wouldn't work especially for just the one year.

Why would they be looking to ADD salary????

[desbcoach]

He literally said who he wanted from them in his post.

DT what would Milwaukee want from us. Gotta have one of those 2. You'd think they'd be looking to add salary so I don't know why Randy or Castillo wouldn't work especially for just the one year.

Why would they be looking to ADD salary????

He said Milwaukee but he meant the Marlins and supposedly they are looking to add to avoid a grievance as A’s did last year to prevent one from players union

[GL_Storm]

I don't know anything about this guy but he's a 6'8" lefty reliever with a good track record: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/ ... ntges.html

Kind of disappointing to not see the Mariners jump on this guy but maybe they know better than I do.

[desbcoach]

I don't know anything about this guy but he's a 6'8" lefty reliever with a good track record: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/ ... ntges.html

Kind of disappointing to not see the Mariners jump on this guy but maybe they know better than I do.

Probably bc he is out of options, I believe they only had one guy left that was optionable and normally you like a couple to rest BP when overworked