The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[D-train]

Did anybody else see that Az is sniffing around FA 3B Alex Bregman?

And if you have seen those reports do you think that is because Az. Has already decided to move on from Ketel?

Do you have some sort of quota of one dopey post a day or what. Marte has never played a single inning at 3B in his MLB career.

And where the fk did I imply 3b. FFS.

Uh because Bregman is a 3B??? The news that the D Backs have put Marte on the block is at least a month old. Rumors that they are interested in Bregman doesn't change that though I will admit that it means they aren't dumping Marte to cut payroll which means they really must want him out of there clubhouse.

[GL_Storm]

Here is Passan's update on the current state of the offseason. No paywall.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/473 ... tte-valdez

[D-train]

Here is Passan's update on the current state of the offseason. No paywall.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/473 ... tte-valdez

Thanks for that. Passan compared to the rest of the clown car National writers is like Mt. Everest vs. a bunch of Mole hills.

[D-train]

Royals trade for Strahm. I guess he wasn't enough of a project for Jerry.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... ma01.shtml

[Seattle or Bust]

Royals trade for Strahm. I guess he wasn't enough of a project for Jerry.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... ma01.shtml

Weird trade.

28 year old reliever who didn't get the bigs until this past year.

It'd be like the M's trading Jackson Kowar for him.

God they are so fucking afraid of spending any money ever.

[Seattle or Bust]

There goes Lowe.

Astros get a controlled pitcher for their no. 2 and 7 prospects in the worst farm in baseball.

MLBTV calls is a massive overpay by the Astros:

[GL_Storm]

Royals trade for Strahm. I guess he wasn't enough of a project for Jerry.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... ma01.shtml

It looks like the trade is for RHP Jonathan Bowlan. Here is his B-Ref page: https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... wlan000jon

This actually makes some sense from the Phillies perspective. Bowlan was a starter in the minors who seems to be finding a niche in the majors in relief. Presumably, Philly could still use him in the rotation if needed. He has two, maybe three plus pitches. I would say he's sort of broadly comparable to what we would like to see Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock become.

Strahm, on the other hand is a 34 year old lefty reliever in the last year of his deal.

[Captain 97]

Ridiculous.

[Seattle or Bust]

Ridiculous.

The difference is money and control.

Strahm is owed $7.5M in '26 and is a F/A in '27.

[GL_Storm]

Passan is reporting another trade.

[Passan] Trade news: The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn as well as a Competitive Balance Round A pick, sources tell ESPN.

This is a bit of a bulk trade by the Orioles to bring in Shane Baz, but there are some interesting pieces here.