Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[D-train]

Ok finally some hope here.

https://twitter.com/RyanDivish/status/1 ... 2043671552

[D-train]

I get the strong sense that internally, DiPoto and Hollander were told to put the breaks on spending, probably a day or two before that 710 appearance. Now, to be clear, I'm not an advocate for "just spend the money" but it really looks like the Mariners are letting the offseason pass them by.

Yep. Its like they have their post game presser and then then have an annual meeting to set the payroll budget and then JD has to reset the narrative. Happens every year and it is a dogshit way to run a franchise. There is ZERO other possible explanation why they now suddenly need a cheap RH platoon bat vs and impact bat.

I do actually get that maybe they don't want to get involved in a free agent bidding war for the likes of good-but-not-great outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Okay, fine, but what about Senga and Yoshida? How about some trades? The market for league average pitching is showing right now that Marco and Flex should have some value. What the hell is going on?

So why not just come out and say WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE FA SHORTSTOPS BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THE ARE WORTH THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS THEY ARE GOING TO GET instead of blowing smoke up the fan base's ass with this "we will move JP to 2B for the right player" Bullshit. They knew what those 4 were going to get and still got all the dopes excited to the point where I saw a dozen polls on M's twitter asking which one we should get. Its deceptive at best and blatant LYING in reality.

[Donn Beach]

Ok finally some hope here.

https://twitter.com/RyanDivish/status/1 ... 2043671552

How is that hope, it's just more of the typical BS they love to feed to the media

[Sexymarinersfan]

Ok finally some hope here.

https://twitter.com/RyanDivish/status/1 ... 2043671552

I knew they did. If they land Senga I'll be more than thrilled. Yoshida, I'm not so sure on, yet.

Also apparently SD put in a significant offer to Judge as well before he signed.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/ ... judge.html

Any tread on the tires to this? Heard it from different ppl. But I'm thinking it's bullshit, cause I can't find any news. Fills the right handed stick and 1B/OF position nicely.

[D-train]

Ok finally some hope here.

https://twitter.com/RyanDivish/status/1 ... 2043671552

How is that hope, it's just more of the typical BS they love to feed to the media

Good point. I guess I am one of the dopes too.

In the end I will be rooting for the team of players no matter what but would be nice if the team wasn't run by snakes.

[GL_Storm]

Give me a break with put the breaks on spending. You really think that's how they work their budgets? You think it's like taking the check book away from your wife?

Do you have any great insight into how the budget process works internally with the Mariners? I've posted on this question a number of times in the last year and a half or so. I think it's critical to how they operate and it's the same process, more or less, that has been in place for the last two decades. It reflects the corporate background and conservative nature of the current ownership group. Now, maybe they'll prove me wrong. Maybe laying low this offseason is a stroke of strategic genius by the front office, but I'm really wondering.

[Mesully11]

Apparently the Mariners are caught off guard by inflation, every year!
The new normal for competitive franchises is quickly becoming $200 million in salaries and we are stuck in the one year rental blues.
Next year's one year rentals will be $15 or $20 million.
I blame the owners of course, they don't understand that cost control over several years is one way to beat inflation.
By the time the contracts for Ray and Castillo are up they will look like great bargains!
A lot of the time going super cheap is more expensive in the long run.

[D-train]

Give me a break with put the breaks on spending. You really think that's how they work their budgets? You think it's like taking the check book away from your wife?

Do you have any great insight into how the budget process works internally with the Mariners? I've posted on this question a number of times in the last year and a half or so. I think it's critical to how they operate and it's the same process, more or less, that has been in place for the last two decades. It reflects the corporate background and conservative nature of the current ownership group. Now, maybe they'll prove me wrong. Maybe laying low this offseason is a stroke of strategic genius by the front office, but I'm really wondering.

Every sign points to exactly what you are suggesting. I blows up only if they spend. I don't think it will.

[D-train]

Apparently the Mariners are caught off guard by inflation, every year!
The new normal for competitive franchises is quickly becoming $200 million in salaries and we are stuck in the one year rental blues.
Next year's one year rentals will be $15 or $20 million.
I blame the owners of course, they don't understand that cost control over several years is one way to beat inflation.
By the time the contracts for Ray and Castillo are up they will look like great bargains!
A lot of the time going super cheap is more expensive in the long run.

Great point. They will be even more shocked next season. Other owners are giving out these contracts because they make financial sense INVESTING in their team resulting in a return of higher revenues. Not because they are crazed irrational win at all cost baseball fans.

[AZOldDawg]

If you want to swim in the deep end you're going to have compete on all levels including financial. I don't know squat about budgets but I do know if you put a premier product on the field competing for the ring you will put 35,000+ in the stands on a daily basis