Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[D-train]

That quote was from October, not the past week, and made no suggestion that the Mariners were going all-in on the top four free agent shortstops.

They were in on the SSs in October and in the past week they made it VERY clear they aren't in on any significant FAs even though they have only sign Gott so far. Indisputable FACT.

Why are you even attempting to cloud the obvious????

Don't let wishful thinking cloud sound judgment.

The provided October quote does not provide an "indisputable FACT" that the Mariners "were in" on top free agent shortstops.

Oh so he was talking about moving JP to second for the worst FA SSs. Don't be obtuse. Literally everyone know he was talking about the big four FA SSs, bizarre that you are pretending he wasn't.

[GL_Storm]

They were in on the SSs in October and in the past week they made it VERY clear they aren't in on any significant FAs even though they have only sign Gott so far. Indisputable FACT.

Why are you even attempting to cloud the obvious????

Don't let wishful thinking cloud sound judgment.

The provided October quote does not provide an "indisputable FACT" that the Mariners "were in" on top free agent shortstops.

Really? He said "Ideally we would like to sign a Shortstop who is willing to play second base" When you use the term Ideally that generally means that is what you would prefer to do. Obviously that went out the window when they traded for Wong but I have no idea why they would have been willing to spend money on a decent SS but now are not willing to spend money on an outfielder.

This is what I'm saying. Something changed either from a budget perspective or maybe strategically. There was some sort of shift in thinking.

[TraderGary]

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.

EXACTLY!

[Vogelbomb]

Okay, again I think all of it is worked out well in advance. If he doesn't have the money to spend then he doesn't have it. They don't have to call him and tell him that. I don't think there is any policy shift at all

So what is your explanation for the sudden narrative reversal in the past week that resulted in them going from being in on the FA SSs to Brocks article???

Maybe Dipoto and Hollander explored creative, opt-out style deals with Xander, Turner and Correa and either discovered those guys weren't into that type of contract OR that they want to go to different market whether b.c of family or where they come from. Turner wanted Philly b.c he and Bryce are best buds and his wife is from Philly

[Vogelbomb]

btw, calling it right now, Mariners are going to be HEAVY on Shohei in 2023 FA. I think they LOVE Ohtani and will be willing to do a 5 yr, $250m deal

Dipoto gets squeamish on the years. And I think there may be a possibility Shohei is offered shorter term deals because he's also going to be pitching. Maybe it takes 6 years? Yeah, probably.

[Vogelbomb]

I just think the M's are girding their loins for not only the Shohei deal, but Gilbert and Cal's deals to come in the next yr or 2, then Kirby, Munoz and Hancock in 2-3 yrs

[MarinerFan4Life]

Of course, if they go after and get Ohtani next year because they didn't over commit this year, we'll be singing JD's praises....

I'd feel a lot better if they would go take a 1 year gamble on a Conforto. No reason to not do something like that while simultaneously keeping the powder dry for the future, unless mgmt really is tying JD's hands.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

btw, calling it right now, Mariners are going to be HEAVY on Shohei in 2023 FA. I think they LOVE Ohtani and will be willing to do a 5 yr, $250m deal

Dipoto gets squeamish on the years. And I think there may be a possibility Shohei is offered shorter term deals because he's also going to be pitching. Maybe it takes 6 years? Yeah, probably.

I am willing to bet you right now that Ohtani will not be a Mariner by FA

Far to many reasons not to.
Cheap
Just about every big market team will want in
Ichiro is still in his grill

The old we are gonna spend big bullshit is old news

[D-train]

btw, calling it right now, Mariners are going to be HEAVY on Shohei in 2023 FA. I think they LOVE Ohtani and will be willing to do a 5 yr, $250m deal

Dipoto gets squeamish on the years. And I think there may be a possibility Shohei is offered shorter term deals because he's also going to be pitching. Maybe it takes 6 years? Yeah, probably.

A 10 year $250M deal is FAR more team friendly that a 5 year $250M deal...Even Turners 11/$300 deal is more team friendly than a 5/$250M deal.

[Sexymarinersfan]

btw, calling it right now, Mariners are going to be HEAVY on Shohei in 2023 FA. I think they LOVE Ohtani and will be willing to do a 5 yr, $250m deal

Dipoto gets squeamish on the years. And I think there may be a possibility Shohei is offered shorter term deals because he's also going to be pitching. Maybe it takes 6 years? Yeah, probably.

A 10 year $250M deal is FAR more team friendly that a 5 year $250M deal...Even Turners 11/$300 deal is more team friendly than a 5/$250M deal.

Ohtani will want $500M

Go get it done Dipoto