Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[GL_Storm]

Did you mean to post this in the Seahawks forum?

[D-train]

Did you mean to post this in the Seahawks forum?

Yes, and I am just started drinking 1 minute ago. lol

[bpj]

I wonder. Do you think the M's will hold onto JK until he's 28? I mean, he "may just be a late bloomer and we have to give him a chance, right? In the mean time, they will trade away every other potential LF during that time and not try to bring in someone better. Gotta hold on to him because of his "potential!"

Yeah, but correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t he about out of options? I mean you can’t keep bouncing his ass back to the minors to “figure it out” indefinitely. Once he’s out of options, you’ve pretty much got to play him or trade him, right?

I know you’re joking a bit here, but if they give him 300 PAs, and we’re at the trade deadline in July and he’s batting .180 again, what do you honestly do with him?

Jarred Kelenic has one minor league option remaining.

Kelenic's trade value is so low now that if he's batting .180 again in July his trade value won't be significantly lower. The Mariners' hand will be forced when Kelenic runs out of options (which could be as early as next offseason).

Which is exactly why they should have left him in AAA on his last option and not called him back up until he blew the door down.

Now I think they'd have to burn his option just to get him to AAA next season.

Idiots.

[Pharmabro]

I am sure Brandon Belt has had his name come up here before but he is available. IN 2020 and 2021 in SF which is one of the most similar parks to ours Belt was a freaking MVP candidate. He hit to a 165 OPS+ between the two years. Last year in 1/2 a year 78 games (Broken thumb) he hit to a 92 OPS+
Splits
1st month healthy .242 .367 .470 .837
At Home SF .279 .386 .469 .855

After the going through knee issues, he did not have the ISO like he did in the past. He was right at a .300 ISO in 20 and 21. In 2022 Iso was only .137. He will be 35 but if he is healthy and there is no structural damage?

From Roto
September 14, 2022
Belt said Wednesday that his right knee is feeling great after he underwent surgery earlier this month, and he's optimistic about his ability to continue playing in 2023, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. "I know I have a lot left in me and that's what I want to show everybody," Belt said.
ANALYSIS
Due to the chronic problems Belt has had with the knee in recent years, there had been some thought that retirement could be in the cards for the 34-year-old, but his positive response to surgery has seemingly left him prepared to continue his career. Belt still has several hurdles to clear in his recovery from surgery, but the expectation is that he'll have a relatively normal offseason following a two-month rehab process. Belt, who hit .213 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 78 games before being shut down for good in late August, will be a free agent this offseason and is unlikely to command more than a one-year deal on the open market, given his age and injury history.

I know it is a reach:
Maybe he made some money and wants to retire.
Maybe the Giants looked at the medicals and judged him as not being capable of staying healthy?

I think Belt is at least worth kicking the tires on. He would fit in as a 1B/OF/DH and primarily 1B/DH. And, with the knees maybe he is the primary DH and is only a a field player once or twice a month.

An off season of
Wong/Teo/Belt/Reynolds for the offense
pitching adds
Chaffin/Prelander

I mean, that line-up has depth and quality. And with Reynolds and Belt you have enough to have a balanced line-up.
1. JRod CF
2. B. Reynolds LF**
3. Teo RF
4. France 1B
5. Cal C**
6. Belt DH*
7. Saurez 3B
8. Wong 2B*
9. JP SS*
Bench Murphy, Moore/Haggerty/1 of JK, TT, MArlow, Cooper

[GL_Storm]

I'm sure they have Brandon Belt on a list somewhere along with AJ Pollock, Adam Duvall and probably a few others. I like Belt because of the lefty bat and the ability to play both DH and 1B. Presumably, he would mostly be a DH. But my guess is they would prefer a DH that can at least stand in the outfield once per week, and I kind of doubt that would work. Belt would also probably cost at least 5 million, which could be a non-starter for them.

[desbcoach]

Interesting you see a lot of Minor-league deals with veterans some that may be capable of doing something but even there nothing for the mariners

[Big_Maple]

Interesting you see a lot of Minor-league deals with veterans some that may be capable of doing something but even there nothing for the mariners

We’re saving our money for Ohtani.

[harmony]

Interesting you see a lot of Minor-league deals with veterans some that may be capable of doing something but even there nothing for the mariners

12/19/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Ryder Ryan to a minor league contract.
12/11/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Rodney Hutchison to a minor league contract.
12/10/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent LHP Tommy Milone to a minor league contract.
12/08/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Michael Flynn to a minor league contract.
12/05/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent LHP Blake Weiman to a minor league contract.
12/01/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent 2B Riley Unroe to a minor league contract.
11/22/22 Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Jose Rodriguez to a minor league contract.

[ice99]

Trade for Eric Haase. The M's need a backup catcher that can throw out runners, the bases will be closer. Murphy threw out 17% in 2021, Hummel has thrown out 0% (0 for 7) in his major league career.

Haase has thrown out 29% in his career. He has a UZR/150 in LF of 13.0.

Trade Bryce Miller and Tom Murphy for Haase.
,

Haase.PNG (15.01 KiB) Viewed 559 times

.

Then do a trade for Patrick Wisdom. Diego Castillo and Stephen Kolek for Wisdom and Rucker.

Sign Chafin.

C: Cal
1B: Ty
2B: Wong
3B: Geno
SS: JP
LF: JK
CF: JRod
RF: Teoscar
DH: Wisdom
Bench: Haase, Hummel/Trammel, Moore, Haggerty

[desbcoach]

Trade for Eric Haase. The M's need a backup catcher that can throw out runners, the bases will be closer. Murphy threw out 17% in 2021, Hummel has thrown out 0% (0 for 7) in his major league career.

Haase has thrown out 29% in his career. He has a UZR/150 in LF of 13.0.

Trade Bryce Miller and Tom Murphy for Haase.
,
Haase.PNG
.

Then do a trade for Patrick Wisdom. Diego Castillo and Stephen Kolek for Wisdom and Rucker.

Sign Chafin.

C: Cal
1B: Ty
2B: Wong
3B: Geno
SS: JP
LF: JK
CF: JRod
RF: Teoscar
DH: Wisdom
Bench: Haase, Hummel/Trammel, Moore, Haggerty

You are really trading Bryce Miller for a backup catcher. That’s a no go, he has a lot of value and MLB ready pitcher. Murphy is an adequate back up. Miller has better use as an asset IMO