MLB Hot Stove 2012-2013

[rjortiz]

Chicago has a pretty decent rotation this year.

[Lucienbel]

I'd rather have TB pitching staff. Dickey is an auto ? coming from the NL and not even having to consider he's 38, a KB'er(who is on a 3 year peak, how long do those last for KB pitchers?). Johnson is health issue. He's shown flashes of being an ace, but I view him as more of a Burnett-Beckett type. He's gonna be good, and he's gonna be bad. Buehrle is a soft tossing LHP. He's a good smart vet, but if one of the first 2 stumble, counting on him as a # 2 or higher is a big stretch IMO. Romero was absolutely terrible last season. I'm thankful he is still in the rotation, I see that as a plus for the rest of the division. Morrow has about the highest upside of them all IMO. He's got big boy stuff but hasn't put it all together yet.

 

Agreed on Morrow. I think he's going to end up being a really good pitcher. At the very least, the veterans on the staff will have a positive impact on him.

 

While I prefer Tampa's rotation, I don't think it's fair to count Toronto's out. If all these guys have good years they'll be looking real good. With the way other pitching staffs in the AL East are too, they're still one of the best in the East.

[a700hitter]

Agreed on Morrow. I think he's going to end up being a really good pitcher. At the very least, the veterans on the staff will have a positive impact on him.

 

While I prefer Tampa's rotation, I don't think it's fair to count Toronto's out. If all these guys have good years they'll be looking real good. With the way other pitching staffs in the AL East are too, they're still one of the best in the East.

Plus, the Jays got rid of their loser of a manager.

[Lucienbel]

Plus, the Jays got rid of their loser of a manager.

 

That guy sucked so bad.

[Palodios]

Random question to everyone out there:

 

Why don't more players sign one year deals with bad teams? Players always want to play for a winner... but by signing a one year deal, it almost guarantees that they'll be traded to a contender at the trade deadline anyway. Many players really like to limit themselves to a select group of teams, but sometimes those teams end up going nowhere. Great example here is Cody Ross.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Random question to everyone out there:

 

Why don't more players sign one year deals with bad teams? Players always want to play for a winner... but by signing a one year deal, it almost guarantees that they'll be traded to a contender at the trade deadline anyway. Many players really like to limit themselves to a select group of teams, but sometimes those teams end up going nowhere. Great example here is Cody Ross.

 

Better teams generally have more money to offer and larger fan bases. Why would a bad team offer a lot of money to a guy for one year when they aren't competing. It could also backfire on the player if they have a bad season because then they are stuck in Kansas City or Cleveland. Have you ever been to those cities?

[Palodios]

Better teams generally have more money to offer and larger fan bases. Why would a bad team offer a lot of money to a guy for one year when they aren't competing. It could also backfire on the player if they have a bad season because then they are stuck in Kansas City or Cleveland. Have you ever been to those cities?

 

This isn't always true though. The Mariners and Guardians have had a ton of money to spend, and no one seems to be biting. I know in Seattle's case it has to do with park factors, but there is money out there.

 

And as far as why a team would offer that deal? For the prospects.

 

I have been to Kansas City. Its actually a phenomenal city, they call it the City of Fountains-- its a beautiful place. I'd rather live there than LA/Chicago/NY.

[Rdsxmbnt]

This isn't always true though. The Mariners and Guardians have had a ton of money to spend, and no one seems to be biting. I know in Seattle's case it has to do with park factors, but there is money out there.

 

And as far as why a team would offer that deal? For the prospects.

 

I have been to Kansas City. Its actually a phenomenal city, they call it the City of Fountains-- its a beautiful place. I'd rather live there than LA/Chicago/NY.

 

No one's biting because players don't want to play there. Think about it, Free agents are either right in the middle of their prime or almost on the way out. Players derive value from playing in front of fans and being on a winning team. Victorino gladly accepted less money play in Boston rather than waste the last couple good years of his career in Cleveland. They may be wholesome cities but not for a human with star power and who's career is played out in front of the public.

[Palodios]

No one's biting because players don't want to play there. Think about it, Free agents are either right in the middle of their prime or almost on the way out. Players derive value from playing in front of fans and being on a winning team. Victorino gladly accepted less money play in Boston rather than waste the last couple good years of his career in Cleveland. They may be wholesome cities but not for a human with star power and who's career is played out in front of the public.

 

I don't think any of this is relevant. I'm talking about a rebuilding value type deal, or a deal where a player simply didn't get any value on the free agent market.

[a700hitter]

No one's biting because players don't want to play there. Think about it, Free agents are either right in the middle of their prime or almost on the way out. Players derive value from playing in front of fans and being on a winning team. Victorino gladly accepted less money play in Boston rather than waste the last couple good years of his career in Cleveland. They may be wholesome cities but not for a human with star power and who's career is played out in front of the public.

Cleveland might have a better team than the Red Sox this year.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I don't think any of this is relevant. I'm talking about a rebuilding value type deal, or a deal where a player simply didn't get any value on the free agent market.

 

It is though. Good players only accept one year deals if there was something wrong with them in the year before. No bad team is team is paying 13mil to Dan Haren or 9.5mil to Stephen Drew. There's too much risk in hoping a wildcard bounces back and then finding someone to deal legitimate prospects for them. That is further diminished by the fact that you can't get draft picks for players traded for mid-season.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Cleveland might have a better team than the Red Sox this year.

 

Highly doubt that, the Red Sox have bottomed out, Cleveland might still get worse.

[a700hitter]

Highly doubt that, the Red Sox have bottomed out, Cleveland might still get worse.

The Red Sox have not improved themselves to the point where they are sure to be competitive in 2013. They could very well be a last place team again in 2013.

[Lucienbel]

I think this thread brings up a lot of good points. I'd have to assume that once you start playing at a certain level, you kind of just want that pay day and want to know where you're going to be living. As others have said, playing in front of a lot of people is probably a large factor as well.

 

I think the point about the playing bad is a good point as well. You sign a one year deal with somewhere you don't see yourself long term, and then play bad you get stuck there.

 

Chone Figgins comes to mind when I think of why players wouldn't want to go to Seattle at least recently. He had rather good numbers before getting there, and now it's safe to say he'd have an impossible time getting MLB playing time anywhere unless he seriously showed something in Spring Training. I figure some players definitely have that in the back of their mind when thinking of Seattle. He certainly isn't the first player to go there and tank either.

 

At the end of the day though, I could imagine one year deals aren't the most attractive, no matter what the reason. It seems that knowing where you're going to be and having guaranteed money locked up is probably a big deal, just as it is for any working person.

[Palodios]

Chone Figgins comes to mind when I think of why players wouldn't want to go to Seattle at least recently. He had rather good numbers before getting there, and now it's safe to say he'd have an impossible time getting MLB playing time anywhere unless he seriously showed something in Spring Training. I figure some players definitely have that in the back of their mind when thinking of Seattle. He certainly isn't the first player to go there and tank either.

 

I always thought that Figgins was a product of Seattle as well. But I just dug into his stats, and sure enough, his stats are just as bad in away games as they are in that huge ballpark. I think in his case he had a good few years, cashed in, and fell off a cliff.

[Palodios]

Here's an idea. Giancarlo Stanton to the Rays. The Rays are one of a few organizations who could give up a huge haul and not completely decimate their farm system. With the best rotation around, and Longoria/Stanton in the middle of the order, that team would be fearsome.

 

They make a World Series run this year, next year, they trade Price for a huge prospect haul, and then trade Stanton for a haul almost as big as the one they lost for him.

[BSN07]

Here's an idea. Giancarlo Stanton to the Rays. The Rays are one of a few organizations who could give up a huge haul and not completely decimate their farm system. With the best rotation around, and Longoria/Stanton in the middle of the order, that team would be fearsome.

 

They make a World Series run this year, next year, they trade Price for a huge prospect haul, and then trade Stanton for a haul almost as big as the one they lost for him.

 

They have the prospects for sure and I read a couple articles mentioning them. I don't see it though as Stanton is arb eligible after this year and hes going to get expensive quick if he continues along his current path. Stanton most likely will end up on a team that can drop big $ for an extension. Unless he takes a Longo type deal.

[Lucienbel]

They have the prospects for sure and I read a couple articles mentioning them. I don't see it though as Stanton is arb eligible after this year and hes going to get expensive quick if he continues along his current path. Stanton most likely will end up on a team that can drop big $ for an extension. Unless he takes a Longo type deal.

 

Agreed. I don't see him taking a discounted deal even if it is for a lot of time either.... It'll be his first real chance on the market and he's been an absolute monster. I'd imagine his goal would be to go into free agency.

 

With as much as the Marlins will ask for him, I'm not sure he'll be headed anywhere at least this off season. It seems that a lot of teams that would be able to give him a mammoth extension probably wouldn't or don't have the package to get him away from Miami.

 

Hopefully he doesn't become one of those players that just kind of dies there. It's clear he isn't super excited to play there, so hopefully that doesn't effect his play too much. I guess if it did it would lessen his value, but then teams are banking he puts it back together.

[BSN07]

I think they hold onto him this season unless they get blown away. And if he's still there next off seaon they will trade him right before he gets set to make millions a year.

[jacksonianmarch]

The guy is a f***ing beast. He hit 37 bombs and had an OPS of .969 in 123 games. Obviously the OPS carried over any sample size, but 37 bombs in that time period puts him on a 49HR pace for a full season and he hasnt even physically matured yet. He just turned 23. When he's 27 or 28, he might be hitting 50HRs with regularity. The fish are better off waiting at least one more yr to deal him. If he continues his upward move and puts up a silly .300/.380/.650 season with 50+HRS and 120+RBI, then his value will rise even if his yrs left under control drops by 1. If they deal him in the offseason next yr, he'd command a Herschel Walker type return

[Meh]

Here's an idea. Giancarlo Stanton to the Rays. The Rays are one of a few organizations who could give up a huge haul and not completely decimate their farm system. With the best rotation around, and Longoria/Stanton in the middle of the order, that team would be fearsome.

 

They make a World Series run this year, next year, they trade Price for a huge prospect haul, and then trade Stanton for a haul almost as big as the one they lost for him.

 

Rays don't have the best rotation around... and even if they did they'd have to trade at least Hellickson but probably Moore to get him thus making their rotation even weaker. I think the O's would make the most sense to land him, Rangers next, followed by the M's, but Stanton won't be traded this year unless the O's start their offer out with Machado and Bundy which I doubt they will, but who knows what could happen.

[Palodios]

They have the prospects for sure and I read a couple articles mentioning them. I don't see it though as Stanton is arb eligible after this year and hes going to get expensive quick if he continues along his current path. Stanton most likely will end up on a team that can drop big $ for an extension. Unless he takes a Longo type deal.

 

That's the beauty of a guy like Stanton for the Rays. They trade four-five top 100 prospects for him now, and get three-four prospects back in two years.

 

As far as Hellickson... With Tampa's depth in the minors, I don't think he is a must-trade, but they may need to part with Myers.

[Meh]

That's the beauty of a guy like Stanton for the Rays. They trade four-five top 100 prospects for him now, and get three-four prospects back in two years.

 

As far as Hellickson... With Tampa's depth in the minors, I don't think he is a must-trade, but they may need to part with Myers.

 

Let's just say youre Friedman, whats your offer for Stanton?

[a700hitter]

That's the beauty of a guy like Stanton for the Rays. They trade four-five top 100 prospects for him now, and get three-four prospects back in two years.

 

As far as Hellickson... With Tampa's depth in the minors, I don't think he is a must-trade, but they may need to part with Myers.

It may not be the best way to build a desperately needed fanbase by trading for one of the giant young talents of the game only to trade him away in 2 years.

[BSN07]

It may not be the best way to build a desperately needed fanbase by trading for one of the giant young talents of the game only to trade him away in 2 years.

 

They don't have a fan base. If they do it's extremely small. If they traded Stanton it's going to piss off like 2 people. There will be more fans mad their team didn't get him then there will be Marlins fans upset by the fact he's gone.

 

Fact is they aren't going to build a fan base until they win consistently and or show a willingness to hold on to players long enough for fans to get attached. That probably isn't happening within the next couple years, probably the height of Stantons value with all things considered.

 

As far as price goes all you have to do is look at what Migg was traded fory. Big young hitter that had been producing since 20 years old. Traded at 24-25. It will be top SP prospect, top IF prospects and top OF prospect plus a couple low level players. The equivalent right now for the Sox would be Barnes, Bogaerts and Bradley Jr plus the low level guys.

[a700hitter]

They don't have a fan base. If they do it's extremely small. If they traded Stanton it's going to piss off like 2 people. There will be more fans mad their team didn't get him then there will be Marlins fans upset by the fact he's gone.

 

Fact is they aren't going to build a fan base until they win consistently and or show a willingness to hold on to players long enough for fans to get attached. That probably isn't happening within the next couple years, probably the height of Stantons value with all things considered.

 

As far as price goes all you have to do is look at what Migg was traded fory. Big young hitter that had been producing since 20 years old. Traded at 24-25. It will be top SP prospect, top IF prospects and top OF prospect plus a couple low level players. The equivalent right now for the Sox would be Barnes, Bogaerts and Bradley Jr plus the low level guys.

They have had a competitive team for the last 5 years. They have been able to achieve that. They still need to build a fan base. Winning and being competitive hasn't done it. IMO their biggest hurdle is getting fostering an emotional bond to the team. They will not do that unless they have some generational heros associated with the team. They are keeping Longo. That is a good move. Getting a stud like Mike Stanton to let him go in a couple of years would not help their franchise IMO. If they get him, I think they will keep him and build around him.

[Station 13]

Petco Park is ruined

 

[BSN07]

Petco Park is ruined

 

 

Bet the players won't mind lol Truth is no one will care the fences were moved in after a couple seasons.

[a700hitter]

Justin Upton Rejects Trade To Mariners

By Mark Polishuk [January 10 at 7:40pm CST]

 

7:40pm: The Mariners offered a four-player package to the D'Backs, according to Scott Miller of CBS Sports. Arizona would have received Nick Franklin, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor and one of Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen or James Paxton.

 

6:06 pm: Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton invoked his limited no-trade clause to reject an agreed-upon deal between the D'Backs and Mariners that would have sent Upton to Seattle, reports Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The M's were prepared to give up "a package of young talent" in the trade, a return that Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has heard was "substantial" (Twitter link).

 

Though several teams have been linked to Upton over the last two seasons, the Mariners seem to be the first to propose a deal that has gotten the D'Backs to agree to move the 25-year-old outfielder. As Rosenthal/Morosi note, the trade rejection could be gamesmanship by either Upton or the D'Backs --- Upton could be trying to control where he ends up, or the Snakes are sending the message that if Upton wants to leave Arizona, his only option is Seattle. The Mariners, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Cubs are the four teams on Upton's current no-trade list, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link).

 

The Braves and Rangers are still pursuing Upton, and we've heard in recent weeks that such teams as the Mets, Padres, and Orioles have also been in engaged with trade talks with the Diamondbacks.

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#SXcaE1zRRg2kwtOe.99

[Palodios]

It looks like the deal was pretty modest. A solid middle infielder, top 100 prospect, a solid pitching prospect 20, and two relievers.

 

It looks like it would have been the equivalent of Barnes, Brentz, Wilson, and Britton, maybe a bit more. I still probably wouldn't have made that deal, but it isn't as crazy as some expected it to be.