Offseason Hot Stove 2024-25 Thread

UNCBlue012 said:
Because umpires are ingrained in the environment, they build relationships with front office staff, players, and even agents. It’s a completely normal part of the job. For example, the umpires have a group chat where they discuss these things. The best way to put it is they have their own little network. You know what happens in your workplace, don't you? Welcome to interpersonal communication 101. Either way, it's fairly common that they all stay in touch in the off-season.

And I don't give a damn what y'all think, the guy gives me free tickets to games every year so it's a win-win for me.
Click to expand...
 
The MLB community isn't all that big. Guys form relationships and talk. An umprie isn't going to be the most plugged in person but he will probably hear rumors like anyone else in the business will. They might even be especially plugged into a certain team if they've made friends with someone in the front office.

Now there's no telling whether or not what they heard is true, false, an exaggeration, or complete BS. But it's still fun to talk about.
 
GovClintonTyree said:
I like Castillo a lot despite his age. Great command, underrated.
Click to expand...

I saw where Castillo has had the most pronounced weather splits in all of MLB over his career. He’s pitched much better in the heat and struggled in the cold.

My first thought was he should be in ATL until I realized the most important games tend to happen late in the fall.
 
bravesnumberone said:
Sounding like the Padres are trying to extract a fortune out of teams. Time for AA to move on - I assume he already has.
Click to expand...

They wouldn't be trying to trade him if they don't have to. I wouldn't raise an offer a bit, but the problem is the cubs or Mets will end up doing it.
 
msstate7 said:
They wouldn't be trying to trade him if they don't have to. I wouldn't raise an offer a bit, but the problem is the cubs or Mets will end up doing it.
Click to expand...

Prospect rankings are always a bit suspect, but the Cubs have 7 on MLB's Top 100 and six have a major league ETA of 2025 (4 on Law's Top 100 and 2 just outside the Top 100). They can throw a lot of prospect capital at the Padres if they so choose. Braves might have a couple of guys better to offset the Cubs' quantity of prospects so it's more balanced than raw numbers make it appear.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Per one of the “insiders,” Braves got “close” on Cease, Padres started wanting more so we are looking elsewhere now. Lopez, Montgomery, Kelly, Keller, Jones, Heaney, Gray, Fedde, Matz, Castillo, Valdez, Bassitt, Ashcraft, Gibson among others that have looked/are looking into. Keeping door open on Cease but that’d be up to Preller to stop being a twat. Grain of salt and all that.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm curious what the Padres want. I'm a little surprised they insisted on Baldwin given they have Salas moving quickly up their minor league chain, but good hitters are scarce and so I get the interest in Baldwin from that angle. They are set for the immediate future in the IF and De Vries will also be moving fast through their system, so Alvarez likely didn't entice them. Then it boils down to pitching prospects, which the Braves do have.

I have no idea what the Twins are going to do and reports up here seem to think they view themselves as a contender. That makes any movement of either Lopez or Correa unlikely, but I have a difficult time thinking of them as a playoff team. Twins have always like guys like Alvarez, but they look to have a full house in the IF and most of the guys are relatively young.

I still think the Braves end up with Montgomery and don't have to give up much of anything to get him and also get salary help from the Diamondbacks.
 
50PoundHead said:
I'm curious what the Padres want. I'm a little surprised they insisted on Baldwin given they have Salas moving quickly up their minor league chain, but good hitters are scarce and so I get the interest in Baldwin from that angle. They are set for the immediate future in the IF and De Vries will also be moving fast through their system, so Alvarez likely didn't entice them. Then it boils down to pitching prospects, which the Braves do have.

I have no idea what the Twins are going to do and reports up here seem to think they view themselves as a contender. That makes any movement of either Lopez or Correa unlikely, but I have a difficult time thinking of them as a playoff team. Twins have always like guys like Alvarez, but they look to have a full house in the IF and most of the guys are relatively young.

I still think the Braves end up with Montgomery and don't have to give up much of anything to get him and also get salary help from the Diamondbacks.
Click to expand...

That’s my thought as well. Probably right at the end of spring though. Unless AA does something a little bit out there and trades for Keller and Bednar, banking on them showing improvement.
 
I'm gonna guess that Flahtery is a Brave in the next week if he really is done with SD but we know how quite AA is so who knows.
 
I just can’t see it with Flaherty. I remember people used to say we should get him because he and Fried were high school teammates. I’d bet pretty good money Fried told our front office Flaherty is a huge prick and to stay away.
 
bravesnumberone said:
I just can’t see it with Flaherty. I remember people used to say we should get him because he and Fried were high school teammates. I’d bet pretty good money Fried told our front office Flaherty is a huge prick and to stay away.
Click to expand...

No clue but he won't cost any prospects and should be just a 1 year commitment. I still say AA works it out with SD about Cease at some point but he can't wait forever. ST is getting really close.
 
Right-hander Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a two-year, $35 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season
 
UNCBlue012 said:
Right-hander Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a two-year, $35 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season
Click to expand...

Was just coming to say there goes the main FA SP left. AA will have to make a trade now but I'm guessing even 17.5 is too much for AA given the tax. This probably helps SD.
 
Our rotation has a lot of question marks bc Sale won't repeat 2024 I'm sorry. He has the skill no doubt but him being that healthy is rare and to do it 2 years in a row would be like finding a unicorn. Strider who knows and I hope Schwellenbach builds on last year. Losing Fried and Morton were big losses. He'll have to go the trade route now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top