Hot Stove Thread 2014-15

At age 33, Panda would still have plenty of incentive to stay (reasonably) in shape. He'll get another contract at that age if he's still producing.

 

Shoot, man, he can't go home for a month without gaining 15 pounds as things stand now. It isn't going to get any easier as he crosses 30 and hits the jackpot.

 

Agreed. But if he inks a just a 5-year deal, the incentive will still be there.

 

How about some predictions on the big-name guys?

Here are mine:

Jon Lester: Cubs
James Shields: 50/50 between re-signs with KC or goes to Cubs assuming they hire Maddon
Max Scherzer: Don't really have a read on this one, so I'll say Red Sox.
Hanley Ramirez: Diamondbacks
Pablo Sandoval: Re-signs with Giants
Nelson Cruz: Tigers
Victor Martinez: Mariners
David Robertson: Tigers*
Koji Uehara: Dodgers (as a set-up man)
Russell Martin: Cubs

EDIT: I forgot Robertson could still get the qualifying offer from the Yankees, and would likely accept it. If that happens, the Tigers probably go after K-Rod.

 

Every middle reliever of note gets an offer from the Dodgers, and they also sign Scherzer.

 

Unless nobody else offers him what he wants, which I don't see happening, I can't imagine why Cabrera would want to go back to Toronto. Artificial turf for at least two more years, management/ownership that's far too impressed with itself, more complicated travel, etc. Yes he signed here two years ago, but he likely had few (if any) other options at $8 million. Bautista's already talking like Cabrera's gone.

 

Assuming you're being sarcastic about Santana being happy about it, but why would he care? Simply receiving a qualifying offer doesn't restrict him any, does it?

 

I was being sarcastic. Santana got a qualifying offer from KC last year, which he turned down, thus making his signing anywhere else subject to draft pick penalty. It's why he was unemployed until late in spring training.

He either accepts a one-year deal with an organization he wasn't happy with last year (and said as much), or he goes on the market and has to scramble to find a contract with someone who doesn't care about forfeiting the draft pick.

 

I don't think I'd pay more than $8 million/yr for a Melky Cabrera entering his 30s. I hope the Jays give him whatever he wants.

 

Sure it does. It limits demand for his services.

 

Get the impression Bautista wishes he could go somewhere else too.

 

Youkilis retiring:

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/10/30/7133283/kevin-youkilis-retires-from-baseball