Hot Stove Thread 2014-15

Let's get it started in here.

 

Put this on the World Series thread, but here's an interesting nugget:

https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/527833050647121920

Also, the Braves are expected to extend a qualifying offer to Ervin Santana, which would mean he'd get one for the second straight year. I'm sure he'll be REALLY happy about that:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24774070/braves-plan-to-extend-qualifying-offer-to-santana-who-had-it-last-year

 

The Giants need to pay the Panda. He's worth it.

 

I think they will.

Andrew Baggarly @CSNBaggs · 10h 10 hours ago
Larry Baer on re-signing Sandoval: "Look, we'll do the best we can, and up till now, the best we can has been to secure our guys."

 

Someone else noted it on the World Series thread, but it seems appropriate to note here that A-Rod is officially an active Yankee again with three years, $61 million remaining on his contract.

The list of this year's free agent class includes:
Scherzer
Lester
Shields
Hanley Ramirez
Sandoval
Cruz
Victor Martinez
David Robertson
Uehara

Many others, of course, but I thought those were some notable names. Not a ton of big bats, but it seems like there's a plethora of solid pitchers available.

 

Melky Cabrera is going to get paid as well.

 

Damn.

 

A-Rod also gets $6M every time he reaches a home run milestone -- 660, 714, 755, 762 and 763.

He has 654 right now. So, he'll get a total of $6M.

 

By the Jays?

 

The complete list of free agents (or potential free agents vis a vis various club, player, mutual and vesting options), via MLB Trade Rumors:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/2015-mlb-free-agents.html

After the Big 3 starting pitchers, Hanley Ramirez and maybe Victor Martinez and Nelson Cruz, the guy who is really going to get paid this winter is Russell Martin. Had a .402 OBP with the Pirates last year and has a reputation as a great pitch-framer, a skill that every team wants now with the wonky strike zone.

And the rest of the catcher market sucks (after Martin, it's basically a bunch of back-ups like Pierzynski, Geovany Soto, J.P. Arencibia, David Ross and Gerald Laird). Someone is going to give Martin a 4-year, $60 million contract.

The closer market is also intriguing, with not only Robertson and Uehara available, but also Francisco Rodriguez, Casey Janssen, Sergio Romo, Jason Grilli and Rafael Soriano.

Also interested to see what the Nationals do with Adam LaRoche. Guys who can hit 25-30 homers and get on base at a decent clip are no longer a dime a dozen, but the Nationals have to find somewhere to put Ryan Zimmerman. LaRoche has a $2 million buyout on a $15 million mutual option, so we'll see.

 

Think Rogers will loosen the purse strings?

 

All signs indicate LaRoche is gone.