MLB Hot Stove 2012-2013

[Bellhorn04]

I'm very surprised by some of the contracts we've seen. Cain, Hamels, Felix, Verlander, Greinke, Wainright all seeing monster contracts.

 

And Santana is an example of how risky these deals are.

[a700hitter]

And Santana is an example of how risky these deals are.

But these guys can also take you deep into the playoffs to the promised land.

[Northern Star]

More foolishness. Eight years for a pitcher? I don't care how good he is now, this is stupid.

[BSN07]

Ya I have to agree, I'm not sure any of the guys are worth those kind of deals. I mean it's one shoulder injury from being an absolute disaster.

[Jasonbay44]

Buster Posey also signed a huge extension today. 9/167

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9112620/san-francisco-giants-lock-buster-posey-nine-year-167m-deal

[Thunder]

Buster Posey also signed a huge extension today. 9/167

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9112620/san-francisco-giants-lock-buster-posey-nine-year-167m-deal

 

You could sense that was coming. There aren't many young stars who aren't locked up for a long time.

[Palodios]

I understand Posey is a good player... but catchers are the most dangerous players to pay monster money to. I was a huge Mauer fan at the time of his massive contract, and it definitely made me look like a fool.

[rorschach]

Kind of, but not exactly. The Yanks got CC because the Brewers like the idea of having an ace, but they don't like the idea of paying for one. Its insane that they've both traded for, and let go of Greinke, Sabathia, as well as Marcum in recent years.

 

And they let Sheets go, back when he was ace caliber. Of course if I remember right he was a injury risk even back then.

[rorschach]

I'm very surprised by some of the contracts we've seen. Cain, Hamels, Felix, Verlander, Greinke, Wainright all seeing monster contracts. Slim pickings available in the years ahead, but who knows, maybe someone like a Brett Anderson, Ian Kennedy or Yovani Gallardo could become available and dominant.

 

Gallardo has shut down stuff, but the kid is too eratic, and has a real problem keeping his emotions in check. Which almost always leads to him leaving his change-up up and his breaking ball hanging up in the zone. He becomes terribly hittable (I'm talking Buchholz vs Yankees OCT 2012 bad) and not your standard reliable ace. If they were wanting to go shopping for a ace starter, I'd rather try and see them sweet-talk a deal for Chris Sale, Gio Gonzalez or Bumgarner. Any of those 3 would be #1 starters on our club right now imo.

[Palodios]

Gallardo has shut down stuff, but the kid is too eratic, and has a real problem keeping his emotions in check. Which almost always leads to him leaving his change-up up and his breaking ball hanging up in the zone. He becomes terribly hittable (I'm talking Buchholz vs Yankees OCT 2012 bad) and not your standard reliable ace. If they were wanting to go shopping for a ace starter, I'd rather try and see them sweet-talk a deal for Chris Sale, Gio Gonzalez or Bumgarner. Any of those 3 would be #1 starters on our club right now imo.

 

All of those guys you mentioned are signed for atleast 5-6 years, and pretty much untouchable. I threw out those options as players that may be available.

[User Name]

And are probably not available since all three are playing for contending clubs.

[Northern Star]

I absolutely loathe guaranteed contracts. If these weren't 100% guaranteed it wouldn't be so much of a problem, but now the players have no incentive to play hard - not saying they won't, but why bother when you get your money either way?

[User Name]

Reputation? Pride? Legacy?

 

Dustin Pedroia, Derek Jeter, Todd Helton, Albert Pujols and Adrian Beltre sure stopped playing hard as soon as they got their guaranteed money. It's not like their respective managers have to practically drag them out of lineup to give them a day off or anything....

[rorschach]

And are probably not available since all three are playing for contending clubs.

 

The White Sox are not going to be in contention this year, the Royals are gonna blow right by them. Bumgarner and Gio you're right, their teams will be in contention so they won't be available. I could see working something out for Sale though.

[Palodios]

And are probably not available since all three are playing for contending clubs.

 

Arizona has been paying 50-70 million a year on their team for the last decade. I see them more likely to trade one of the pitchers, and keep the other one than sign both. The Brewers also seem okay with letting their elite players hit free agency.

[mvp 78]

The White Sox are not going to be in contention this year, the Royals are gonna blow right by them. Bumgarner and Gio you're right, their teams will be in contention so they won't be available. I could see working something out for Sale though.

 

No way would Sale be traded.

[Palodios]

The White Sox are not going to be in contention this year, the Royals are gonna blow right by them. Bumgarner and Gio you're right, their teams will be in contention so they won't be available. I could see working something out for Sale though.

 

The White Sox are far more likely to trade Peavy and Floyd than Sale. If they are out of contention, I see Peavy being a potentially available ace.

[User Name]

The White Sox are not going to be in contention this year, the Royals are gonna blow right by them. Bumgarner and Gio you're right, their teams will be in contention so they won't be available. I could see working something out for Sale though.

 

The White Sox finished a couple games out of first place and the Royals are unproven. How exactly are they not contenders in that weak division?

[User Name]

The White Sox are far more likely to trade Peavy and Floyd than Sale. If they are out of contention, I see Peavy being a potentially available ace.

 

Except that he's not an ace, and he's usually not healthy.

[Palodios]

Except that he's not an ace, and he's usually not healthy.

 

Perhaps that was phrased poorly. Potentially available ace = potentially available, potential ace. He's a 4 time all star with a Cy Young and pile of 200 inning seasons, and he's only 31. There are definitely risks, but he's pitched like a #1 as recently as last year.

[Northern Star]

Reputation? Pride? Legacy?

 

Dustin Pedroia, Derek Jeter, Todd Helton, Albert Pujols and Adrian Beltre sure stopped playing hard as soon as they got their guaranteed money. It's not like their respective managers have to practically drag them out of lineup to give them a day off or anything....

 

I made it clear that I wasn't saying they WOULD, just that they could and it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. As a working stiff who has to show up every day or get fired, I hate seeing these guaranteed payments for the best part of a decade, regardless of performance. It's crazy.

[rorschach]

The White Sox finished a couple games out of first place and the Royals are unproven. How exactly are they not contenders in that weak division?

 

I guess we'll see, imo the talent and potential levels of those young monster position players and good experienced pitching staff (Shields, Guthrie, Santana, W. Davis) puts the core of their team at a distinct advantage over the much older and in some cases fading position players for Chitown.

 

Even KC's 7th, 8th & 9th inning trio is a pretty badass little group in Herrera (Stop), Crow (Hold) and Holland (Close.) At least I know I'd rather have Greg Holland close the show for me over Addison "4.75 ERA" Reed.

[rorschach]

The White Sox are far more likely to trade Peavy and Floyd than Sale. If they are out of contention, I see Peavy being a potentially available ace.

 

Don't ask me why, but I have heard it said on TV, and even a couple podcasts more than once, but Mr. Peavy has not ever had a interest in playing for Boston. Maybe he grew up a loyal Yankee fan idk, but I am pretty sure getting Peavy to come to Boston would be even harder to get down then Sale, because Jake is for whatever reason totally against being a Red Sox. :dunno:

[User Name]

I guess we'll see, imo the talent and potential levels of those young monster position players and good experienced pitching staff (Shields, Guthrie, Santana, W. Davis) puts the core of their team at a distinct advantage over the much older and in some cases fading position players for Chitown.

 

Even KC's 7th, 8th & 9th inning trio is a pretty badass little group in Herrera (Stop), Crow (Hold) and Holland (Close.) At least I know I'd rather have Greg Holland close the show for me over Addison "4.75 ERA" Reed.

 

And how would you sell that to White Sox brass?

 

And your opinion seems to have a hint of bias in it. The White Sox outperformed the Royals last year in offense and SP by a large margin. While the SP gap may have closed and the Royals field a better BP, it's very hard for someone to stand there with a straight face and say that the Royals and Tigers are so much better than the White Sox that they should trade their young, cost-controlled ace in the making.

 

Come on.

[rorschach]

And how would you sell that to White Sox brass?

 

And your opinion seems to have a hint of bias in it. The White Sox outperformed the Royals last year in offense and SP by a large margin. While the SP gap may have closed and the Royals field a better BP, it's very hard for someone to stand there with a straight face and say that the Royals and Tigers are so much better than the White Sox that they should trade their young, cost-controlled ace in the making.

 

Come on.

 

Hey when was Posey's original deal set to expire, the end of this season right?

[User Name]

Hey when was Posey's original deal set to expire, the end of this season right?

 

Nope, he was arb-elegible two more years. They hadn't signed to any sort of long-term deal.

[rorschach]

And how would you sell that to White Sox brass?

 

And your opinion seems to have a hint of bias in it. The White Sox outperformed the Royals last year in offense and SP by a large margin. While the SP gap may have closed and the Royals field a better BP, it's very hard for someone to stand there with a straight face and say that the Royals and Tigers are so much better than the White Sox that they should trade their young, cost-controlled ace in the making.

 

Come on.

 

I'm from the Chicago area, so believe me when I tell you the ChiSox are pretty tough to take seriously. I certainly don't find their starting lineup to be impressive, with exception of Pauly K. who at 37 still is producing at a surprising level. As for that last bit, I'm a Red Sox fan so I'd like to see Sale, Gio, Bumgarner in a Red Sox uniform. And I honestly mean that with a straight face.

 

Honestly though having watched both clubs a few times apiece (Royals & W.Sox) I am far more impressed with the Royals lineup and what they are capable of. Head to head I'm pretty sure K.C. steam rolls Chicago.

[User Name]

Your "impression" doesn't match reality. The White Sox were better statistically in every area of their offense last year than the Royals, and that is very unlikely to change this year.

 

In the end, it's all about the possibility of the White Sox trading Sale, and that possibility is very very close to an absolute zero.

[Palodios]

The Rangers giving a 120 million dollar contract to a guy with a career .695 OPS. He's solid defensively, but no Iglesias. Crazy.

[Rdsxmbnt]

The Rangers giving a 120 million dollar contract to a guy with a career .695 OPS. He's solid defensively, but no Iglesias. Crazy.

 

had a similar reaction. Don't see him being anywhere near a 100+mil guy right now