The Dr. Morbius Memorial 2020-2021 MLB Hot Stove Thread

gonna be pretty disappointed when the mets sign bauer

nm

so not the A's then

Per Spotrac, Bauer's 2021 salary is more than the total payrolls of the Pirates, Indians and Orioles. https://t.co/ss1nIUOPdd

— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) February 5, 2021

Kolten Wong to the Brew Crew

That's overpaying for Bauer imo

yeah, but it's only two years (after which he'll opt out unless he blows out his elbow or something)

also dexter fowler traded/dumped to anaheim

it *is* a lot of fuss for a guy with a career 3.90 era

curious about whether they'll let him go every 4 days like he wants to

I doubt it. It would get in the way of developing May and Urias.

Agreed with Craig Goldstein on twitter that it's a bit dumb to go above the luxury tax for Bauer when they had so many better options prior.

wong's a great pickup for the brewers, imo. also, he has more power than people think. in Busch it played more like doubles in the gaps, but a lot of those might clear the fence in milwaukee. wouldn't surprise me to see him hit 15HR and win another gold glove

Are the Brewers the true model of a small market franchise? It seems to me they do spend more and somehow keep trying.

dexter fowler to angels?

along with $12M, so it was a salary dump. surprised and VERY pleased that the cardinals managed to get rid of him! dang, cardinals might win 88 games now

i do think that gives them the best defense in MLB, though. the last remaining defensive negative was fowler

88 games will be more than sufficient to win the division.

jesus that Bauer contract. Dodgers are gonna be praying he opts out

it's absurd, and barring injury he will absolutely opt out after the second year (the third year is cheap) . . . which is fine!

i mean yes they overpaid for a guy who has one full season at an all-star level. but it's just money; they have plenty. kinda surprised they didn't snag arenado as well, since it only took a willingness to spend money.

but it's just a three (really two) year deal. it's not like they're paying prince albert $30m every year until he's 45 -- they get two presumably good years, he turns 32, and everyone moves on

otoh he's an utter asshole; wonder if the dodgers have some sort of out in circumstances

Has that ever been a thing before with ball players?

probably a union thing, so probably not

Bauer is such a galaxy brain he probably doesnt care about the union even as his contract status is pro(ish)-labor

bauer is such a galaxy brain that he demanded all the opt-outs lest his 'friend' shoot him in the nads with a paintball

doesn't seem to have depressed his market tho

Lol

I would have made him getting shot in the nuts part of the contract.

Elvis Andrus for Khris Davis

Kind of a weird one.

Last year sure messed with the career boxes of some guys: Davis hit .200 (not even close to .247...), Andrus .194.

no surprise after wainwright signed, but molina is back for another year with the cardinals ($9M)

also, not sure if this is the most appropriate thread, but:

The league has formally announced this year’s health-and-safety agreement. The on-field alterations include the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to begin extra innings. Any player is permitted to work as a pitcher in a given game — a departure from the rules the league had previously planned to put into place that prohibited position players pitching until a certain inning or six-run deficit was in place.

There will also be “strict” enforcement of of unsportsmanlike conduct violations that break physical distancing guidelines (i.e. players and coaches going out of their way to argue in an umpire’s face, bench-clearing brawls, etc.).

From a roster construction standpoint, the standard roster size will revert to 26 players until a September expansion to 28. In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak within a club, those teams will be permitted to add players to the MLB roster and return them to the minors, without burning minor league options or placing them on waivers, once their infected players are cleared to return from Covid protocols. Teams will again travel with five-man taxi squads.

MLB is also enforcing facemasks “other than for players on the field during a game or during pre-game warmups,” enhancing its contact-tracing capabilities and adding mental health resources for each club. Players who come in contact with a confirmed positive case of Covid-19 will now be subject to a week-long quarantine and must test negative on the fifth day of said quarantine.

The full scope of the changes and a detailed, point-by-point description can be seen in MLB’s official press release.

also, the 10-team playoff format is back, and no universal DH

well that's good to hear

Lol at “strict” in quotes up there.

out of an abundance of caution

love how both the players and owners want a universal DH, but won't implement it because they each think the other side should give up something else to get it

yep. the owners wanted the expanded playoffs in "exchange" for the DH (which they want)

the players wanted....? i can't remember.

hookers and blow, i believe.

In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak within a club, those teams will be permitted to add players to the MLB roster and return them to the minors, without burning minor league options or placing them on waivers, once their infected players are cleared to return from Covid protocols

lol

Presented without comment. https://t.co/wkhvFIH8bI

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 10, 2021

Still amazing he got a $20 million contract and had a total of 9 plate appearances (0 hits) during those two years.

suddenly the red sox have no outfielders at all

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30876960/sources-boston-red-sox-sending-andrew-benintendi-kansas-city-royals-3-team-deal

“Franchy” is an 80-grade first name tho.
Surprised to see the royals trading away Lee.

i feel pretty much less than nothing for the sox these days but it still stings a little to see the last 'killer b' go two years removed from winning it all

Now the first and true Killer B's--Bell, Barfield, and Moseby--can be restored to their place of privilege.

uh, I believe you mean Biggio, Bo and Bvlad!

Turner back to the Dodgers, who might be in the upper bracket of the luxury tax at this point!
is this gonna be like a yankees situation, where it takes years of trimming to get back down under?

your framing of the situation pains me

dominating the league do have its downside.

Mets stocking up on people whose last name ends in -illar

Fifth team for Pillar in two years, wow. If he continues to hit like he's been hitting recently, he's a good guy to have around.

Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a 14-year, $340 million contract extension, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 18, 2021