The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[D-train]

Another good piece from Tremayne Person. Love this guy.

https://sodomojo.com/cardinals-trade-ta ... kf1mgesc2k

[bpj]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

[Lamda]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

They aren't the problem - their FO doesn't act like they are a single parent on a tight budget. They realize that if they win the teams value goes way up so it pays off in the long run - not to mention that if they are billionaires they could afford to lose 50mill/year worst case no worries. Sadly, most of these billionaires act like they are afraid to lose 10 bucks so they set strict salary guidelines.

[D-train]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

They aren't the problem - their FO doesn't act like they are a single parent on a tight budget. They realize that if they win the teams value goes way up so it pays off in the long run - not to mention that if they are billionaires they could afford to lose 50mill/year worst case no worries. Sadly, most of these billionaires act like they are afraid to lose 10 bucks so they set strict salary guidelines.

Exactly.

[AZOldDawg]

M's sign Zulueta. Dodgers sign Tucker. Kind of tells the story doesn't it.

[D-train]

M's sign Zulueta. Dodgers sign Tucker. Kind of tells the story doesn't it.

Well they traded for him and I would say the better comp is us signing Refsnyder for $6M for 1 year vs. $60M for 4 years for Tucker but yeah, we are pathetic.

[Captain 97]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

They aren't the problem - their FO doesn't act like they are a single parent on a tight budget. They realize that if they win the teams value goes way up so it pays off in the long run - not to mention that if they are billionaires they could afford to lose 50mill/year worst case no worries. Sadly, most of these billionaires act like they are afraid to lose 10 bucks so they set strict salary guidelines.

That's not entirely fair. They don't have to act like single mother on a tight budget because they have a TV Deal that pays them $330 Million per year. M's were making about 100 Million from Root before everything imploded. Thats $230 Million more without even considering that the Dodgers probably have significantly higher revenue from every other stream as well. Ticket sales, merchandise etc. That's not even factoring in that Forbes has Mark Walter's Net worth listed at 12.5 Billion and John Stanton's listed at 1.0 Billion

The Dodgers opening day payroll in 2025 was $175 MIllion more than the M's. So relative to revenue and net worth, the amount of risk the Dodgers are taking isn't even as aggressive as the M's.

I certainly agree that the M's could afford to open the wallet a little more but lets not act like they would ever have the ability to do anything remotely close to the dodgers without sustaining massive financial losses. I don't blame the Dodgers for doing what they are doing, but A system that enables one team to have triple the resources as everyone else is definitely a problem.

[AZOldDawg]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

They aren't the problem - their FO doesn't act like they are a single parent on a tight budget. They realize that if they win the teams value goes way up so it pays off in the long run - not to mention that if they are billionaires they could afford to lose 50mill/year worst case no worries. Sadly, most of these billionaires act like they are afraid to lose 10 bucks so they set strict salary guidelines.

That's not entirely fair. They don't have to act like single mother on a tight budget because they have a TV Deal that pays them $330 Million per year. M's were making about 100 Million from Root before everything imploded. Thats $230 Million more without even considering that the Dodgers probably have significantly higher revenue from every other stream as well. Ticket sales, merchandise etc. That's not even factoring in that Forbes has Mark Walter's Net worth listed at 12.5 Billion and John Stanton's listed at 1.0 Billion

The Dodgers opening day payroll in 2025 was $175 MIllion more than the M's. So relative to revenue and net worth, the amount of risk the Dodgers are taking isn't even as aggressive as the M's.

I certainly agree that the M's could afford to open the wallet a little more but lets not act like they would ever have the ability to do anything remotely close to the dodgers without sustaining massive financial losses. I don't blame the Dodgers for doing what they are doing, but A system that enables one team to have triple the resources as everyone else is definitely a problem.

Seems to me we are one solid bat away which is easily within reach and not bankrupting the franchise

[D-train]

I can't decide if the Dodgers are the problem, or if them and the Mets are just trying harder than everyone else.

I know I wouldn't complain if the Mariners threw their money around (as long as they kept throwing it around and didnt stop after re-signing Ichiro to a big contract, or Cano to a big contract then calling it good). Dodgers fans are living large man. I'm envious.

I've resorted to hoping for guys like Yoan Moncada, and just hoping they're better than Ben freakin Williamson.

So depressing. We'll always have the 54%.

They aren't the problem - their FO doesn't act like they are a single parent on a tight budget. They realize that if they win the teams value goes way up so it pays off in the long run - not to mention that if they are billionaires they could afford to lose 50mill/year worst case no worries. Sadly, most of these billionaires act like they are afraid to lose 10 bucks so they set strict salary guidelines.

That's not entirely fair. They don't have to act like single mother on a tight budget because they have a TV Deal that pays them $330 Million per year. M's were making about 100 Million from Root before everything imploded. Thats $230 Million more without even considering that the Dodgers probably have significantly higher revenue from every other stream as well. Ticket sales, merchandise etc. That's not even factoring in that Forbes has Mark Walter's Net worth listed at 12.5 Billion and John Stanton's listed at 1.0 Billion

The Dodgers opening day payroll in 2025 was $175 MIllion more than the M's. So relative to revenue and net worth, the amount of risk the Dodgers are taking isn't even as aggressive as the M's.

I certainly agree that the M's could afford to open the wallet a little more but lets not act like they would ever have the ability to do anything remotely close to the dodgers without sustaining massive financial losses. I don't blame the Dodgers for doing what they are doing, but A system that enables one team to have triple the resources as everyone else is definitely a problem.

How about we don't compare ourselves to the Dodgers and compare ourselves with our 2018 payroll which was $162M. Just to match that in 2026 dollars we would need to be at $212M right now after adjusting for inflation. We are currently at $157M. Wow we could easily sign Bichette for that.

And here is the funniest fun fact. Since 2018 they have saved $309M and counting which they promised they would spend but have pocketed every last penny.

[Southpaw773]

Bichette is a Met I am hearing 3yr 126M