Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[bpj]

Not that there was ever any hope that we’d sign him or have him return, but Jean, Jean the Hitting Machine signed with the Marlins. Two years, $17M.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jean-segura-marlins-deal

Since the December 2018 trade involving Jean Segura and J.P. Crawford, the Philadelphia Phillies have paid Segura $58 million to post 7.9 fWAR and 8.4 bWAR in 427 games while the Seattle Mariners have paid Crawford about $8.2 million (plus a $5 million extension bonus) to post 7.7 fWAR and 9.7 bWAR in 451 games. Crawford is nearly five years younger than Segura (and is younger now than Segura was at the time of the 2018 trade).

Crawford is owed $41 million over the next four seasons.

Another "great" money-saving move by Dipoto.

[Donn Beach]

Marlins first FA signing of the off season

[D-train]

Not that there was ever any hope that we’d sign him or have him return, but Jean, Jean the Hitting Machine signed with the Marlins. Two years, $17M.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jean-segura-marlins-deal

Since the December 2018 trade involving Jean Segura and J.P. Crawford, the Philadelphia Phillies have paid Segura $58 million to post 7.9 fWAR and 8.4 bWAR in 427 games while the Seattle Mariners have paid Crawford about $8.2 million (plus a $5 million extension bonus) to post 7.7 fWAR and 9.7 bWAR in 451 games. Crawford is nearly five years younger than Segura (and is younger now than Segura was at the time of the 2018 trade).

Crawford is owed $41 million over the next four seasons.

Another "great" money-saving move by Dipoto.

Which actually would have been great IF they actually reinvested the savings this off season....

[D-train]

Marlins first FA signing of the off season

We are now 29th in FA spending. Mets are first at $807M and Brewers are the only team with zero FA signings.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/tools/offseason/

[D-train]

Day 15 with the Tommy Milone signing still up at MLB trade rumors.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/seattle-mariners

[Mesully11]

Day 15 with the Tommy Milone signing still up at MLB trade rumors.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/seattle-mariners

That sums up this off season pretty well!

[Big_Maple]

Highlights from a recent Seattle Times article on how tie M’s can fill their LF hole, and what it would cost:

Impact trade ‘possibilities’
Bryan Reynolds, Pirates
Age: Turns 28 on Jan. 27
Résumé: The M’s have coveted Reynolds before he even made his MLB debut for the Pirates in 2019. But trade offers were either rebuffed or unrealistic asks (Julio Rodriguez). A switch-hitter with speed, 25-plus homer power and the ability to hit .300, Reynolds asked to be traded from Pittsburgh. Will they grant his wish?
The cost: The Mariners would have to give up Kelenic, top pitching prospect Emerson Hancock, another high-level prospect and possibly their 2023 competitive balance pick (No. 30 overall).

Randy Arozarena, Rays
Age: Turns 28 on Feb. 28
Résumé: Why would the Rays consider trading one of their most consistent hitters, who has produced a .269/.343/.462 slash line over three seasons in Tampa? Well, Arozarena is entering his first of four years of arbitration eligibility as a Super 2 qualifier. He’s projected to make around $4 million this season. The Rays have shown a tendency to move players as they get more expensive in arbitration with each season. Seattle has checked in on his availability.
The cost: It would certainly cost Kelenic, Hancock, catching prospect Harry Ford and more considering you would have control of Arozarena for four seasons.

Tyler O’Neill, Cardinals
Age: 27
Résumé: Injuries limited him to 96 games and a .228/.308/.392 slash line with 11 doubles, 14 homers and 58 RBI. While O’Neill had a monster 2021 that included 34 homers, Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker is expected to debut in 2023.
The cost: Dipoto has checked in on bringing back O’Neill, whom he traded to St. Louis for Marco Gonzales in 2017. Would Chris Flexen and a pitching prospect like Bryce Miller work?

Players available in trade
Austin Meadows, OF, Tigers
Max Kepler, OF, Twins
Bobby Dalbec, 1B/DH, Red Sox
Ramon Laureano, OF, A’s
Remaining ‘fits’ in free agency

Jurickson Profar
Age: Turns 30 on Feb. 20
Résumé: After an abysmal 2021 season (-0.7 FanGraphs WAR), he posted a .243/.331/.391 slash line with 36 doubles, 15 homers, 58 RBI, 73 walks, 103 strikeouts and 2.5 WAR in 152 games for the Padres last season. He had a career-high hard-hit percentage (34.3%) in 2022. A switch-hitter with more home-run power from the right side, he would provide lineup versatility. His defense in left field is about average to below average.
The cost: Profar declined an $8.3 million club option for 2023. Given his inconsistency, he might have to accept a two-year contract in range of $20-22 million, instead of the three-year deal he was looking for.

A.J. Pollock
Age: 35
Résumé: Once an All-Star for the D’Backs in 2015, he’d ideally be used as a platoon outfielder and designated hitter. His age and injury history make relying on him as an everyday player illogical. But using him in a platoon with Kelenic and also putting him at DH would fill some needs. Over his past four seasons, Pollock has a .304/.350/.593 slash line in 440 plate appearances vs. left-handed pitchers with 24 doubles, 31 homers, 75 RBI, 26 walks and 80 strikeouts.
The cost: Pollock declined a $13 million player option and took a $5 million buyout to become a free agent. He obviously believes he can find something better than $8 million on the open market while perhaps going to a team with higher postseason aspirations. It will likely take a two-year deal, similar to Profar, to gain his interest.

Brian Anderson
Age: 29
Résumé: The Mariners looked at acquiring Anderson from the Marlins at the midway point of the 2021 season, but the asking price of catcher Cal Raleigh and another prospect was wisely deemed too much. Once considered a core player of future success, Anderson was non-tendered this offseason following a down 2022 that featured three different stints on the injured list. He played in 98 games, posting a .222/.311/.346 slash line with 16 doubles, eight homers and 28 RBI. Anderson played in just 67 games in 2021 due to injuries.
The cost: They could probably get him on a one-year deal slightly over the $5.2 million he was projected to make in arbitration.

Tommy Pham
Age: Turns 35 on March 8
Résumé: Pham garnered more headlines for a fantasy football feud with Joc Pederson than his play in 2022. He started the season with the Reds and was traded to the Red Sox at the deadline. In two hitter-friendly situations — 91 games with the Reds and 53 with the Red Sox — he didn’t really meet expectations. He produced a combined .236/.312/.374 slash line with 23 doubles, 17 homers, 63 RBI, 56 walks and 167 strikeouts in 622 plate appearances.
The cost: Given his age and his reputation, it’s unlikely the Mariners or any team would give him more than a one-year contract for more than $10-12 million.

Lesser fits
Trey Mancini
David Peralta
Adam Duvall
Jonathan Davis
Andrew McCutchen

[D-train]

Morosi says BR trade looking more promising.

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1718739/ ... ers-moves/

[D-train]

Just read it. This guy has been a National baseball writer for almost two DECADES and this is his trade proposal.

“Let’s say Pittsburgh really loves (top Mariners pitching prospect) Emerson Hancock and they said, ‘Listen, we would love to have him, he would be the centerpiece (of this deal for Reynolds)’ and there’s a way that a deal could be formulated with him in the middle,” he said. “And if they would do Hancock and Kelenic for Reynolds and if you like your chances to sign Reynolds long-term, then I think you you do it.

[D-train]

This tweet is getting a lot of the broke kids on M's twitter excited.