MLB 2022-23 Hot Stove thread

[FileNotFound]

Rays losing a few fan favorites: Ji-Man Choi is headed to the Pirates for a minor-league pitcher, and Kevin Kiermaier (great defensive CF) and Mike Zunino (C with 33 HR in 2021) are now free agents.

(Insert joke about using “Rays,” “few” and “fan” in the same sentence)

Kiermaier, particularly, would be a great pickup for a team in need of a solid defensive centerfielder who can occasionally hit. He’s the kind of guy that helps a team even if he hits .230, as long as he stays healthy.

Injuries & Moves: Choi traded to Pirates for Minors arm

 

[outofplace]

Rays losing a few fan favorites: Ji-Man Choi is headed to the Pirates for a minor-league pitcher, and Kevin Kiermaier (great defensive CF) and Mike Zunino (C with 33 HR in 2021) are now free agents.

(Insert joke about using “Rays,” “few” and “fan” in the same sentence)

Kiermaier, particularly, would be a great pickup for a team in need of a solid defensive centerfielder who can occasionally hit. He’s the kind of guy that helps a team even if he hits .230, as long as he stays healthy.

Injuries & Moves: Choi traded to Pirates for Minors arm

That is about the Pirates' speed. They trade for a guy whose upside is to be a middling platoon player, then try to sell it as them trying to win now.

I'm sure Choi will either tank completely or he will have a few nice moments and be traded to a contender at the deadline in 2023.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Choi : Pirates 2023 :: Vogelbach : Pirates 2022

 

[HanSenSE]

What the hell is going on in Houston?

 

[qtlaw]

What the hell is going on in Houston?

Did Musk buy the Astros too!?!

 

[outofplace]

What the hell is going on in Houston?

Astros GM Click out after declining 1-year offer

I was just about to share this. They had to know Click wasn't taking a one-year deal after winning the World Series, right?

 

[User 149557]

Does the GM actually have any power there? I’m honestly asking. I don’t know. It seems like the president of a lot of organizations now runs the show.

 

[sgreenwell]

Does the GM actually have any power there? I’m honestly asking. I don’t know. It seems like the president of a lot of organizations now runs the show.

I think Click did, but part of the friction was that Crane was inserting himself more into personnel matters, with some former players allegedly having his ear on things. Having seen how this played out with the Red Sox and Larry Lucchino, I suspect it isn't a great idea for the Astros.

 

[matt_garth]

 

[Spartan Squad]

Holy ****. How the mighty have fallen. Good riddance. Such a waste of a talent.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[goalmouth]

What the hell is going on in Houston?

Boy, just when so many baseball fans really, really, really wanted to like the Astros. LOL

 

[jr/shotglass]

-0.3 WAR in 2021-22.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Thanks for the speech. Enjoy your millions.

 

[jr/shotglass]

He is the poster boy for having your early-career promise completely overshadowed by sustained mediocrity.

 

[swingline]

Thank god he didn’t want to sign with the Cardinals aging core.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Yeah, they could have not won the World Series even more if they'd signed him.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Always enjoyed listening to Dan Shulman call games call games:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...g2tGFFsFC-BMeXO0XFv1dvHNV7ZwR_2hK6luG9gJLDjPU

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Good for him for being able to fulfill a dream.

 

[MileHigh]

Big Dave Shulman fan.