Offseason Hot Stove 2024-25 Thread

AA refusing to include Baldwin in a deal for Crochet is all you need to know there. He's not going anywhere.

Also, that's an incredible review of Baldwin. Sheesh.
 
Keith Law has Baldwin as his #27 overall prospect:

Baldwin is such a good defender behind the plate that he’s almost certainly going to be someone’s everyday catcher, and if his raw power keeps showing up in games as it did after a midseason promotion to Triple A, he’s going to make some All-Star teams. He was Atlanta’s third-round pick in 2022 out of Missouri State, where he wasn’t a full-time player until his draft year, and he’s improved substantially as a hitter since entering pro ball, loosening up at the plate to try to get to more of that plus power. He had a slow start in Double A but Atlanta promoted him to Gwinnett in early June, after which he took off, hitting .298/.407/.484 at the higher level with 12 homers in 72 games. He hits the ball extremely hard — his average exit velocity in Triple A was 92 mph, his EV50 was 103, and his 90th percentile EV was 107 — so there’s every reason to think the power is real. He whistles the bat through the zone with excellent bat speed, and even with a pretty high starting position he hasn’t had trouble getting to pitches at the bottom of the strike zone so far. He’s an outstanding blocker and receiver with plus arm strength but just fringy accuracy so far, leading to a career 20 percent caught stealing rate in the minors. A 20-homer catcher with plus defense will rank among the best backstops in the majors, and Baldwin looks like he can be at least that, and probably will debut this year.

FG had him at #30 in their 2024 updated list when he was a 50. There's no way he's still a 50, and should be a Top 25 guy for them as well whenever EL gets around to actually publishing some prospect content.

The Murphy trade and extension is really starting to sting now.
 
Dang I’ve never heard anyone rave about Baldwin’s defense like that

That's because he contradicts himself just a little. He has improved so much behind the plate. The 20 precent cs he's talking about is real because: changes in the run game, his set up and his pop times all improving. I'm not willing to put him into plus range defensively but maybe Law sees that. Either way, he's the real deal as a catcher. I will say that IF that part of his game is plus, if you trade him, you better get significant value for him. He's my new Bill Contreras. 😒
 
Isn't Baldwins biggest issues is pulling the fastball... not sure I am remembering correctly.. but if that is true, how quickly will big league pitchers just exploit him inside.
 
Isn't Baldwins biggest issues is pulling the fastball... not sure I am remembering correctly.. but if that is true, how quickly will big league pitchers just exploit him inside.

He can turn on a fastball. Come to think of it I think he pulls the ball about 40% of the time. I could be wrong on that but he makes great adjustments.
 
From MLB Trade Rumors:

The month of January is almost done, which means pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training in a couple of weeks, but there is still plenty of offseason business left to be resolved. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that part of the reason things are moving slowly is that there are still lots of ongoing trade talks, with Dylan Cease and Michael King of the Padres “among the starting pitchers who remain in play.”

I think I would prefer Cease, but King has been really good since going to the rotation. Both are free agents after 2025. I can't find anything about who King's agent is, but assuming it's not Boras, I might prefer to deal for him if he's more open to an extension. Either way, another rumored name available who would be an impact starter and more confirmation about Cease's availability.
 
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I mean we could always take both...and move Reynaldo back to the pen or go full-on six-man rotation.

No telling what that trade package would look like.
 
From MLB Trade Rumors:

The month of January is almost done, which means pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training in a couple of weeks, but there is still plenty of offseason business left to be resolved. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that part of the reason things are moving slowly is that there are still lots of ongoing trade talks, with Dylan Cease and Michael King of the Padres “among the starting pitchers who remain in play.”

I think I would prefer Cease, but King has been really good since going to the rotation. Both are free agents after 2025. I can't find anything about who King's agent is, but assuming it's not Boras, I might prefer to deal for him if he's more open to an extension. Either way, another rumored name available who would be an impact starter and more confirmation about Cease's availability.

I like king better than Cease really. Cease is better, don't get me wrong.. but getting King's cost and his salary is probably a smarter move imo. He is good with that sinker/change combo.. If he can even slightly improve the walks (which are not bad) he would be very good since he doesn't get hit very hard. He is 30, so I wouldn't extend him much more than a few years if that is in play... probably grew up a Stankee or Mutts fan, so no Braves discount for him.
 
King was actually a bit better than Lopez last year, and isn’t someone I considered as a trade candidate. Either way, SD better figure it out before AA moves on and just signs Flaherty.

Given how poorly late signing SPs tend to perform, AA must avoid bringing someone like Flaherty in late and effectively tanking his 2025 season.
 
I’m expecting Murphy to resume being one of the best catchers in baseball.

That's where I am. Last year was brutal, but I'm not sure it's shocking. He missed a month with a brutal injury for a catcher and never really found his footing. Let's hold off on any real critique.
 
I’m expecting Murphy to resume being one of the best catchers in baseball.

So am I but what happens if Baldwin is killing the ball? They won't leave him down all year. If Baldwin shows he's ready by mid season you know with how aggressive AA is they'll call him up and we'll be back in a platoon like there was with TDA.
 
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