The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[Donn Beach]

I’m looking forward to watching Refsnyder’s at bats this year. That was a good read. Thought it was an overpay but sounds like a great student of plate discipline

Yeah, dipoto will over pay at a modest level, it's part of the model

[D-train]

$115M for 3 years of Framber Valdez....

$45M for Jorge Polanco...

Ok, forget it. Dipoto's strategy definitely beats buying into that market.

There were still low cost floaters available like Moncada or Arraez, but at least there aren't any obvious black holes besides Refsnyder and Young.

And maybe this is the year the clubhouse vet won't roll over and die.

Young had some flashes. Or Emerson if they want to rush another kid up.

The black holes aren't quite as massive this season, so that's good. With the trade deadline another chance to course correct, if needed.

No doubt this should be a contender though. Especially after we witnessed how much the league competition has fallen off the last few years.

Reason for optimism. Finally. Lol

I think some people commonly mistake comparing this upcoming team to last year's final playoff squad. I think that is an error. I'd argue what they should be comparing it to is last year's Opening Day roster. That to me is a more accurate measurement in terms of how far we've come. In season additions can be made all the way up to the Trade Deadline along with promotions from the minors. I like where this team is at currently. Just having a healthy Starting 5 again with healthy seasons from Gilbert, Kirby, and Miller alone should be a major boost.

Yeah I disagree with that. We ended the season with $167M in payroll. Our current payroll is $162M which is the same as our 2018 payroll EIGHT years ago. $162M in 2018 is about $215M in 2026 dollars. There is no reason we couldn't have added a proven reliever and Okamoto to play 3B and DH. Having a lower payroll than when you ended the previous season when you are trying to get to your 1st WS in 50 seasons is inexcusable. By waiting until the deadline you are missing out on all the guys that were available in the offseason that won't be available at the trade deadline (like Polanco) AND you one get two months of impact instead of a full season. Just an idiotic strategy.

[D-train]

I don't think that link will open so I copied it. I think it explains pretty well really how today's hitters have to sell out looking for certain pitches and swing hard at them. Refsnyder basically evolved into a hard swinger getting some success at the latter part of his career. He's less of a complete hitter but he's become a more productive hitter

That is EXACTLY what I was saying about the absurd obsession with strikeouts. By focusing on limiting Ks you become a less productive hitter. It is so simple. But Jerry says Ks are bad to justify salary dumps after the 2023 season and everybody drinks the Koolaid. lol

I think contact hitting is contagious as opposed to having a lineup full of swing and miss guys. A healthy dose of both is a good remedy. But just having all strikeout hitters is not ideal.

Sure and I like that Donovan helps with that balance. I think a happy medium is a good thing. Guessing we will be mid pack in terms of Ks this season with still a lot of power so that is a good thing.

[D-train]

I’m looking forward to watching Refsnyder’s at bats this year. That was a good read. Thought it was an overpay but sounds like a great student of plate discipline

He only put up 1.2 WAR last season but it is just a one year $6m deal and 1.2 WAR is worth almost $10M

[Donn Beach]

It's not really am overpay but it's classic dipoto. The guy loves to work at the margins. He wasn't going to pay polanco $40 MIL, so he basically lands half of a polanco for $6 MIL

[Donn Beach]

That is EXACTLY what I was saying about the absurd obsession with strikeouts. By focusing on limiting Ks you become a less productive hitter. It is so simple. But Jerry says Ks are bad to justify salary dumps after the 2023 season and everybody drinks the Koolaid. lol

I think contact hitting is contagious as opposed to having a lineup full of swing and miss guys. A healthy dose of both is a good remedy. But just having all strikeout hitters is not ideal.

Sure and I like that Donovan helps with that balance. I think a happy medium is a good thing. Guessing we will be mid pack in terms of Ks this season with still a lot of power so that is a good thing.

I think the article gets to that aspect, if you're going to be a contact hitter you have to have something else to bring to the party, defense, base stealing. That's my issue with Louis Alvarez, he's a contact hitter with nothing else to offer.

[D-train]

I think contact hitting is contagious as opposed to having a lineup full of swing and miss guys. A healthy dose of both is a good remedy. But just having all strikeout hitters is not ideal.

Sure and I like that Donovan helps with that balance. I think a happy medium is a good thing. Guessing we will be mid pack in terms of Ks this season with still a lot of power so that is a good thing.

I think the article gets to that aspect, if you're going to be a contact hitter you have to have something else to bring to the party, defense, base stealing. That's my issue with Louis Alvarez, he's a contact hitter with nothing else to offer.

Right most contract hitter a smaller athletic guys with good D and speed. Arraez is Unicorn and not in a good way.

[GL_Storm]

I think contact hitting is contagious as opposed to having a lineup full of swing and miss guys. A healthy dose of both is a good remedy. But just having all strikeout hitters is not ideal.

Sure and I like that Donovan helps with that balance. I think a happy medium is a good thing. Guessing we will be mid pack in terms of Ks this season with still a lot of power so that is a good thing.

I think the article gets to that aspect, if you're going to be a contact hitter you have to have something else to bring to the party, defense, base stealing. That's my issue with Louis Alvarez, he's a contact hitter with nothing else to offer.

Why do you keep saying Louis Alvarez?

[Sibelius Hindemith]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc8HzbiRib8

[D-train]

Sure and I like that Donovan helps with that balance. I think a happy medium is a good thing. Guessing we will be mid pack in terms of Ks this season with still a lot of power so that is a good thing.

I think the article gets to that aspect, if you're going to be a contact hitter you have to have something else to bring to the party, defense, base stealing. That's my issue with Louis Alvarez, he's a contact hitter with nothing else to offer.

Why do you keep saying Louis Alvarez?

He has a bizarre mental block with names. Never seen anything like it.....