2019-20 MLB Running Hot Stove Thread

J.D. Martinez does not exercise his opt-out. He's still a Red Sox, well, until they trade him anyway.

 

Giants extend qualifying offers to Mad Bum and Will Smith. Bum will test the market but it will be interesting to see what Smith does.

 

Depth is good, but $17.8M is a lot for a timeshare infielder, even in this day and age. There are enough red flags with him - heading into age 30+ seasons, hurt this year, below league average for range - that I can understand them not exercising the option. Would they now be free to try negotiating something lower money but longer term with him, or is this one of those things where they can't sign him until May now?

 

The injury isn't all that worrisome — Tommy John is so good these days, it doesn't concern me moving forward. I wouldn't call him a timeshare IF, either. He'd be the starting SS with Torres the starting 2B. LeMahieu could be the starting 3B, but he can spell Torres and Gregorius when they need a day, which would get some at-bats for Urshela or Andujar.

And, as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a bad one-year contract. Paying him $17.8M doesn't bother me in the least.

On the flip side, maybe they have a good read of the market for him and could get him for less — he only made $11.75M last year, so I guess it's unlikely he gets a big pay bump for a half a season in which he had his lowest OBP as a Yankee. Honestly, I didn't realize the qualifying offer would be such a large pay raise until I just looked up his current deal. I just don't get the sense they intend to re-sign him at all, which would be disappointing.

 

I agree. And what's disappointing is that now you don't get a pick if he signs elsewhere. OTOH, it makes him a much more attractive FA.

 

So Mike Trout will be missing the playoffs in Los Angeles of Anaheim for years to come, apparently.

'Time to play ball.' Angels and Anaheim set to start stadium negotiations next week

 

What the robot overlords' new strike-zone looks like.

Automated Strike Zone Whiffs At Arizona Fall League

 

MILW marks -- I mean, fans. And I say this as a taxpayer still paying 20-year bonds on a county minor league stadium that has been demolished.

 

No manager, but new bullpens.
Giants begin construction of new bullpens: How Oracle Park is changing

 

I thought it was the opposite - that you *do* get a pick if you extend a qualifying offer. Isn’t that the point of it?

 

Some fans think if the difference is between 100 MILLION and 110 MILLION, it would be nice if sometimes, players would stay with the team. Or is it that tough to live on only ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS?

 

Some guys do stay with teams. Look at Brady. Or Curry.