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

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

one owner didn't get the memo

jesus

(also that's awesome)

It has to be a record.

OMG

if you're going to give out a 14-year contract, it might as well be to a player who's 22 years old

dude doesn't even have a full season under his belt

neat

The Giants have made a unique addition to their coaching staff: former Rays outfielder Fernando Perez joins them as a video analyst. Perez is a Columbia alum, a documentary filmmaker and a published poet. He's also a Spanish speaker who can help Latino players w/video analysis. pic.twitter.com/4eH0c9hhxo

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) February 18, 2021

Cute optics but big picture though:

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/14/crowley-charles-johnsons-ownership-is-a-shame-for-the-san-francisco-giants/

clown

The speech, which was downloaded to YouTube and went Twitter viral on Sunday morning, offered information that the Mariners' front office would likely never share publicly to the media or the fan base. https://t.co/g4rRecXKxX

— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) February 21, 2021

Mariners have released a statement: Kevin Mather has resigned.

— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) February 22, 2021

forced to resign for saying out loud what every front office truly believes

remarkable idiocy though. rotarians!

Seattle should put up a statue of Mather for getting Kelenic in the Diaz/Cano trade.

Manfred must be so so pissed.

is it bad that, as a lifelong fan, i want the CBA negotiations 10 months from now to utterly destroy baseball

not at all

I don’t know if the players deserve that.

group economics

Blue Jays just announced they are no longer going to have a radio team. I still listen all the time in the car or while doing work around the house - and listening to TV broadcasters try to paint a picture of what I can’t see is going to be some serious garbage.

Time for some pirate radio announcers to swoop in

xp Wait, what? Yeah, I listened a lot on the radio. Yet another reminder that I'm old, because this doesn't even compute to me.

yeah, hoping for a cottage industry of amateur feeds, who knows?

Oh I see, a "simulcast". Bah, radio is a craft not to be taken on by anyone. Thankfully Wilner is gone at least

Close your eyes and imagine...

Joe carter rounding the bases after hitting a world series winning home run. One of the biggest hits in baseball history...

As the sound of Buck Martinez's strained "howme rawwwwwnnnnnnnghghghghg...." call trails off, Pat Tabler chimes in with "Joe Carter is a baseball player, Buck."

Our collective souls die a little inside. "Touch 'em all Joe" is so out of reach for our middling TV crew.

Time for some pirate radio announcers to swoop in

you don't want any of the pirates' announcers

tbf dan shulman is a total pro and has worked in radio, so if anyone can make it work (assuming he's allowed to!), i'd trust him