Hot Stove 2023-2024

Hate Neris but at least he’s out of the AL West.

Right-handed reliever Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract that includes an option for 2025, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

The $9M team option converts to a player option at 60 games. Total max w incentives: $23.25M.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 27, 2024

ottavino back? really? -_-

Was he worse than his literally-just-glanced-at stats in 2023 indicate? ETA: ok, that FIP is hideous tbfff

He’s one of 3(?) active players remaining from the 2006 draft, I read, the others are Kershaw and Scherzer.

FUN FACT: 2006 #1 pick (Luke Hochevar) has as many WS rings as Kershaw, 1/2 as many as Mad Max.

think there might be a few other 2006 draftees still kicking around. looking at the wikipedia entry, i notice tommy pham (16th round) and david robertson (17th round), at least

also whoa, paul goldschmidt, 49th round (!) but he didn't sign

Was looking at Robertson the other day and was surprised he’d made it to 20 WAR (ok, 19.9) on his career. Not a lot of career relievers get there.

The stove

SIGNED: #Angels have signed OF Aaron Hicks to a one-year, $740K contract. The #Yankees are still responsible for paying Hicks $8.76M in 2024, plus $9.5M in 2025 and $1M on a buyout for 2026.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 29, 2024

CLAIMED: #Yankees have claimed LHP Matt Gage off waivers from the #Astros.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 29, 2024

wow the yankees are paying Hicks a lot to play elsewhere!

worth every penny!

I was 99% asleep when Passan tweeted about this trade so now I can’t sleep until I find out who the four players are in the return

The Mariners and Twins are finalizing a trade that will send Jorge Polanco to Seattle, per source.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 30, 2024

MLB righties Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa along with prospects OF Gabriel Gonzalez and RHP Darren Bowen is the four player return for Polanco, per sources. Believe cash is also involved. https://t.co/GQDKtwaogh

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 30, 2024

SIGNED: #BlueJays have signed 3B/DH Justin Turner to a one-year contract.

— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) January 30, 2024

Justin Turner became a fan favorite in Boston almost immediately. Gonna miss him.

On and off the field he gave the Red Sox everything they could’ve asked for.

Played 2B at 38 to help the team. Battled through a bad heel bruise down the stretch. Sigh.pic.twitter.com/W167mMGt0S

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) January 30, 2024

I hope he's got another year left--he's 39. Is he supposed to play third or DH? Still remember him celebrating the COVID year after testing positive; I thought that would linger with him but it seems to have been forgotten.

Would expect Justin Turner to be the Jays' primary DH in 2024, with additional starts at 1B and 3B, based on what I've been told. https://t.co/bpErqv4OU1

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 30, 2024

The Red Sox were down 3-0 to Spencer Strider and the Braves.

They then hit two homers and had three hits, including this go-ahead RBI double by Justin Turner.

🎥 @RedSox pic.twitter.com/qnWDtVVBTS

— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) July 27, 2023

Temperamentally, he's definitely what the Jays need.

i've decided i don't give a shit any more about dumb FSG antics. the red sox aren't somehow guaranteed by god to have a lock on a playoff spot. if this is what we roll with to start the season so be it. i love all the young dudes. i'm ready to embrace being a top 10 payroll underdog. let's goooooooooooooooooooooo

Take it to Mojo Dojo Casas House, pal

Orioles sold! Orioles soooooooooooold!

This guy has more money than God, Adley's getting extended for 5000 years

Are they actually going to spend?!

Oh hell yes

Also very glad JT's still playing. Clem otm, he's an incredible club house guy and I think his veteran presence will be boon to the Jays clubhouse

Adley/Gunnar/Jackson-Holiday all locked up this year fingers mega crossed. Damn that's hot

jackson holiday is not allowed to sign a contract, as he is still 9 years old

It's fine his parents will sign for him

Cal Ripken Jr. is part of the ownership group, sources say. https://t.co/OS5lAW35wS

— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) January 31, 2024

This is on a whole other scale than the great tuning fork saga of last offseason, but what is Boras doing?!

An unspecified health concern caused the Dodgers to lower the guarantee in their agreement with free-agent left-hander James Paxton, sources told The Athletic on Wednesday.

The one-year deal, announced on Monday, still has a maximum potential value of up to $13 million with performance and roster bonuses, according to a copy of the contract details obtained by The Athletic. The Dodgers and Paxton’s agent, Scott Boras, however, agreed to reduce the total guarantee from the originally reported $11 million to $7 million. The issue, while not serious enough to scuttle the deal, resulted in a reworking of the structure of the contract.

Both Boras and the Dodgers declined to comment, citing HIPAA considerations.

I mean it’s one thing if they signed on these original terms - it makes all the sense given he was shut down for the season - but this is such a huge revision from guaranteed money he has monetary incentives built into the start of the season? What?! Did his arm fall off or something?

The 35-year-old left-hander, who enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2023 with the Boston Red Sox after logging just 21 2/3 innings the previous three years, will earn a salary of $4 million with a $3 million signing bonus in his new deal.

The reworked structure puts a greater focus on Paxton being available at the start of the 2024 season, with a $2 million bonus if the left-hander is on the Dodgers’ active roster either for their opening series in Seoul, Korea, against the Padres on March 20 or for their domestic home opener on March 28 against the Cardinals. If not, Paxton can still earn a $1 million bonus if he’s on the active roster by April 15, recouping an additional $1 million if he is on the active roster by that date and makes 20 starts.

If he’s not on the roster by any of those dates, Paxton can still make $2 million in performance bonuses by making 20 starts.

Additionally, Paxton can make $600,000 each for crossing thresholds at six, eight, 10, 12 and 16 starts in 2024, with an additional $1 million if he makes 18 starts.

simply *being* James Paxton is a health concern enough

I mean I love Pax and he was great when he was healthy, that’s not what I mean. I mean they signed the original contract on the proviso he would be a depth/back of the rotation guy, and then it got drastically overhauled after something got flagged by their staff. As you say, he’s got a long history. But this makes it almost sound like he’s still injured and not likely to start the season?

We have made the following trade: pic.twitter.com/Y2eQIN5rIB

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) February 2, 2024

this fucking division

a brawl, mate. all effing year.

Sweet Jesus.

Whoa

Got an ear to ear grin going right now.

Do hope this trade works out for the Brewcrew

I didn't think you could trade draft picks in MLB?

Oh great

xp comp picks are always tradable I think?

Recently tradeable (cba BEFORE this one iirc)

You’re right

The Oakland A's acquired right-hander Ross Stripling in a trade with the San Francisco Giants minor league IF/OF Jonah Cox.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 2, 2024

Ok but who is the Giants rotation in 2024

Webb
???
Harrison
???
???

Cobb & Ray both injured

Mantra’s a Met, Desclefani’s a Twin, Wood and Stripling both Athletics. Snell incoming? His lack of innings could pair nicely with Webb I guess.

Manaea jfc autocorrect.

Flashback Friday:

Hot Stove 2023-2024

Thank you Steve Shasta, I clearly have brain rot. Still a question mark in my mind but he could at least be a number 5.

Found this for you in the local rag as well...

To open the season, Hicks will join ace Logan Webb in the rotation and likely Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn, both of whom made their big-league debuts last season. If the Giants don’t land another starter, the final spot could go to veteran Ross Stripling or Tristan Beck, who also debuted in 2023.

The Giants expect two more starters to be available in the second half: Alex Cobb, who’s coming off hip surgery, and 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, who was acquired Jan. 5 in a trade with Seattle and is coming off Tommy John surgery.

src: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/new-giants-pitcher-jordan-hicks-explains-desire-18614146.php

The only game I went to last season was the Harrison gem* but he fell off a cliff not long after.

Still... showed signs of mastery and rebounded a bit in his final/very late season start against the Dodgers.

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFqJ4xUcuk4

My man!

Harrison is really intriguing, hope to see a big year from him.