Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[ddraig]

Here's the rub though. The reason the owners love him, and gave him a promotion, is because he's built a team that as currently constructed, can compete for a WC. And he did it with a payroll in the bottom 3rd of the league. The team is just good enough to keep the fans interested and the advertising companies spending money. And on a payroll budget that enables them to pocket tens of millions of dollars each and every year. JD is the perfect GM for this ownership group in their minds. I think they couldn't be happier with him.

Exactly right. Management has no intention of competing for a WS win. For them, the Holy Grail is the Wild Card. If anything else comes of that, great! But what this organization doesn't realize is that both the Rangers and Angels will be improved, so picking their pockets and stealing their lunch money for a second year will not be as easy. That traslates into fewer wins. Something the management can't see.

[bpj]

After signing Rich Hill, the Pirates have now committed 12x more dollars to free agents for the 2023 season than the Mariners have.

Happy new year!

[Big_Maple]

After signing Rich Hill, the Pirates have now committed 12x more dollars to free agents for the 2023 season than the Mariners have.

Happy new year!

Now why the hell did you have to go and say that?! How freaking depressing!

[ddraig]

I really want to play Eeyore right now, but I can't bring myself to do it. What is it about this team that has our loyalty and does nothing to deserve it?

[bhofferb]

After signing Rich Hill, the Pirates have now committed 12x more dollars to free agents for the 2023 season than the Mariners have.

Happy new year!

Now why the hell did you have to go and say that?! How freaking depressing!

But it's all good because JK is going to turn into the next Ted Williams any day now.

[harmony]

Yep they are holding out for Kirby or Gilbert. Can the Yankees top and offer of Hancock, Miller, Brash, JK and a draft pick?

Bryan Reynolds is five months younger than Jesse Winker was last offseason when the Mariners traded for Winker coming off a 2021 season of 2.9 fWAR and 145 wRC+ in 110 games.

Reynolds is coming off a 2022 season of 2.9 fWAR and 125 wRC+ in 145 games.

There is no guarantee that Reynolds can make a successful transition from the NL Central to Seattle.

Then again, there are no guarantees in any move ... or non-move.

No indication that BR is a POS like Winker is though.

But that “POS” checked off “all of the boxes”:

https://www.marinertalk.com/viewtopic.p ... er#p160006

[bpj]

Bryan Reynolds is five months younger than Jesse Winker was last offseason when the Mariners traded for Winker coming off a 2021 season of 2.9 fWAR and 145 wRC+ in 110 games.

Reynolds is coming off a 2022 season of 2.9 fWAR and 125 wRC+ in 145 games.

There is no guarantee that Reynolds can make a successful transition from the NL Central to Seattle.

Then again, there are no guarantees in any move ... or non-move.

No indication that BR is a POS like Winker is though.

But that “POS” checked off “all of the boxes”:

https://www.marinertalk.com/viewtopic.p ... er#p160006

Unfortunately he also checked the Lazy POS box.

Why didn't Jerry and Hollander catch that his work ethic was a problem in their player vetting they're so proud of?

I think everyone was hopeful for Winker-

https://www.marinertalk.com/viewtopic.p ... 90#p171675

[TraderGary]

I really want to play Eeyore right now, but I can't bring myself to do it. What is it about this team that has our loyalty and does nothing to deserve it?

I ask myself that same question every year. I'll let you know when I come up with an answer.

[D-train]

After signing Rich Hill, the Pirates have now committed 12x more dollars to free agents for the 2023 season than the Mariners have.

Happy new year!

Now why the hell did you have to go and say that?! How freaking depressing!

But it's all good because JK is going to turn into the next Ted Williams any day now.

Still a significant portion of the fanbase that actually believes it. I think that is part of the reason Jerry and ownership didn't feel the need to get an everyday legit bat.

[D-train]

I listened to this and it was great. I highly recommend.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/139-the- ... e&pr=false