Finally! Official Hot Stove League thread!

[harmony]

From an MLB.com column dated Thursday:

Mariners

Why they need a splash: After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023 -- they were only two wins behind the Astros and the eventual World Series champion Rangers -- all the Mariners have done this offseason is subtract from their lineup. Seattle didn’t make a qualifying offer to free-agent right fielder Teoscar Hernández, then traded third baseman Eugenio Suárez to the D-backs and left fielder Jarred Kelenic to the Braves. With catcher Tom Murphy also reaching free agency and DH Mike Ford getting non-tendered, the Mariners have lost five of their nine leading home run hitters from last season. They need to capitalize on this window -- at a time when teams around the Majors are paying big bucks for starting pitching, the Mariners are loaded with young, controllable arms, not to mention a frontline starter under contract for only $21.6 million per year in Luis Castillo. That could give Seattle a huge edge, but any advantage will be mitigated if the team doesn’t improve on the other side of the ball.

How they could make one: The Mariners need multiple outfielders, a third baseman and a designated hitter. Fortunately for Seattle, those positions are among the stronger areas in this year’s free-agent class, with Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler all still available. Former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins could also be a DH option if they don’t want to displace Ty France at first. Another possibility? Revisiting trade talks with the Rays for outfielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes.

-- Thomas Harrigan

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-teams-that ... 2647238466

[Big_Maple]

From Friday's column by Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic:

The Mariners
One rival executive interested in starting pitching speculated Thursday that the Mariners’ seeming reluctance to trade one of their young pitchers stems from their own RSN concerns.

The Mariners have spent the early part of the offseason creating payroll flexibility. From that perspective alone, it would make little sense for them to trade a minimum-salary starter such as Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo. But finances are not the only reason they are disinclined to make such a deal.

The free-agent prices this offseason reinforce that young, controllable starters are the game’s most treasured commodity. If righty Seth Lugo can command a three-year, $45 million deal at 34, after his first season as a full-time starter, then the return for six years of either Miller or Woo should be sizable, to say the least.

The Mariners’ rotation is their strength. After trading Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips and Levi Stoudt, all to the Reds in separate deals for Eugenio Suarez/Jesse Winker and Luis Castillo, the team is not as deep as it once was in young starters. Put it all together, and a trade of Miller or Woo would appear increasingly doubtful.

Which probably means president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto will pull off some wacky blockbuster tomorrow.

https://theathletic.com/5139906/2023/12 ... rosenthal/

Subscription required.

Read that this morning. Thanks for sharing it, harmony.

Read it and then went on a bit of a mental and verbal rant. Renewed my pledge to cancel my mlb.com subscription. Yelled at my dog that they only thing the only thing that the M’s could do to appease me (apart from signing Yamamoto and trading for Ohtani) would be to sell the team to new owners who actually want to win a World Series.

Then I calmed down and realized I'll still be as giddy as a schoolboy for opening day next spring. The Mariners and I have a weird relationship.

[D-train]

From Friday's column by Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic:

The Mariners
One rival executive interested in starting pitching speculated Thursday that the Mariners’ seeming reluctance to trade one of their young pitchers stems from their own RSN concerns.

The Mariners have spent the early part of the offseason creating payroll flexibility. From that perspective alone, it would make little sense for them to trade a minimum-salary starter such as Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo. But finances are not the only reason they are disinclined to make such a deal.

The free-agent prices this offseason reinforce that young, controllable starters are the game’s most treasured commodity. If righty Seth Lugo can command a three-year, $45 million deal at 34, after his first season as a full-time starter, then the return for six years of either Miller or Woo should be sizable, to say the least.

The Mariners’ rotation is their strength. After trading Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips and Levi Stoudt, all to the Reds in separate deals for Eugenio Suarez/Jesse Winker and Luis Castillo, the team is not as deep as it once was in young starters. Put it all together, and a trade of Miller or Woo would appear increasingly doubtful.

Which probably means president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto will pull off some wacky blockbuster tomorrow.

https://theathletic.com/5139906/2023/12 ... rosenthal/

Subscription required.

Wow, so the National writers are finally pointing out we really don't have any SP depth about 6 months after I did.

[D-train]

From an MLB.com column dated Thursday:

Mariners

Why they need a splash: After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023 -- they were only two wins behind the Astros and the eventual World Series champion Rangers -- all the Mariners have done this offseason is subtract from their lineup. Seattle didn’t make a qualifying offer to free-agent right fielder Teoscar Hernández, then traded third baseman Eugenio Suárez to the D-backs and left fielder Jarred Kelenic to the Braves. With catcher Tom Murphy also reaching free agency and DH Mike Ford getting non-tendered, the Mariners have lost five of their nine leading home run hitters from last season. They need to capitalize on this window -- at a time when teams around the Majors are paying big bucks for starting pitching, the Mariners are loaded with young, controllable arms, not to mention a frontline starter under contract for only $21.6 million per year in Luis Castillo. That could give Seattle a huge edge, but any advantage will be mitigated if the team doesn’t improve on the other side of the ball.

How they could make one: The Mariners need multiple outfielders, a third baseman and a designated hitter. Fortunately for Seattle, those positions are among the stronger areas in this year’s free-agent class, with Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler all still available. Former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins could also be a DH option if they don’t want to displace Ty France at first. Another possibility? Revisiting trade talks with the Rays for outfielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes.

-- Thomas Harrigan

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-teams-that ... 2647238466

Don't you need to have more than 5 starters to be "Loaded"?

[Donn Beach]

Young and controllable, first time I think I've seen Castillo's name mentioned

loaded with young, controllable arms, not to mention a frontline starter under contract for only $21.6 million per year in Luis Castillo

[harmony]

Young and controllable, first time I think I've seen Castillo's name mentioned

loaded with young, controllable arms, not to mention a frontline starter under contract for only $21.6 million per year in Luis Castillo

A trade of Luis Castillo for an impact bat could free up payroll to sign Blake Snell (or another free agent starter).

Castillo has a no-trade clause in his contract.

[Donn Beach]

Have to add a year to the deal or something

[D-train]

[D-train]

The rare Trade and sign deal

[harmony]

Young and controllable, first time I think I've seen Castillo's name mentioned

loaded with young, controllable arms, not to mention a frontline starter under contract for only $21.6 million per year in Luis Castillo

A trade of Luis Castillo for an impact bat could free up payroll to sign Blake Snell (or another free agent starter).

Castillo has a no-trade clause in his contract.

If the Mariners signed Blake Snell today, the M's would have three starters with nine-figure contracts.

One could argue that's not wise distribution of financial resources.