Running 2023-24 Hot Stove Thread

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

World Series won by teams who had MVPs batting 1-2-3 for more than one game in a single season: Zero.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Garo Yastrzemski is miffed.

“I’m going to keek a home run!”

 

[jr/shotglass]

I can't say I hate this. I know Teheran is past his prime, but he might be a good bridge to the bullpen.

Incidentally, onlookers have been blown away by Cole Irvin, of all people. He apparently worked his ass off all winter, brought his fastball up to 95 and has adopted more of a power-pitcher approach.



EDIT: Baltimore also just signed Kolten Wong to a minor-league deal. #shouldershrug

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Julio Teheran might be the ace of the all-time "he's only XX years old?" team. (He's only 33 and has made just 15 appearances since turning 30)

 

[Baron Scicluna]

 

[jr/shotglass]

I know it's old. But each time I hear anything about Mookie Betts, he comes off as a really great guy. (And anyone who's a PBA-level bowler, well ...)

He's outstanding here ... and so are the two fans.

 

[matt_garth]

 

[goalmouth]

When we most need a news desert...

 

[HanSenSE]

Coupled in the wagering with 10 cent beer night in Cleveland.

 

[qtlaw]

When we most need a news desert...

Giants sign .220 slugger!! They’re going to WS!

 

[Songbird]

This is the kind of pop of the mitt that wins division titles. Buccos!

 

[jr/shotglass]

I hope they don't think Skenes has to spend any more time throwing in the minors. Everything I saw indicates he is ready.

 

[outofplace]

I hope they don't think Skenes has to spend any more time throwing in the minors. Everything I saw indicates he is ready.

Wyatt Langford might make an impact faster, but Skenes seems to be justifying the Pirates' decision to take him over Langford and Dylan Crews.

 

[maumann]

Wyatt Langford might make an impact faster, but Skenes seems to be justifying the Pirates' decision to take him over Langford and Dylan Crews.

I'm always reminded that prospect = potential future value.

Skenes has the potential to be a generational talent once he reaches PNC Park. But pitchers are always a high-risk, high-upside gamble, and the Pirates were willing to forego Wyatt Langford's injection of instant offense for a guy who might be the cornerstone of their rotation for a long time.

I was initially disappointed that Detroit, a team desperately in need of offense, would pass on a MLB-ready hitting machine, but Langford is not good with the glove, which limits where the Rangers can play him. ZiPs has him as a 3 to 4-WAR player for the next three seasons if he can stick in left. What Langford is right now is pretty much what he'll be. There's probably little additional potential that he can tap into.

On the other hand, Max Clark just turned 19, is a prototypical above average centerfielder with projectable power and speed. Langford could pile up some pretty impressive numbers by the time Clark gets to the bigs -- with the caveat "IF he gets to the bigs" -- but Clark's upside might eventually surpass what Langford can do now. Or at least that's what the Tigers front office and farm system expects. So I'm drinking the Kool Aid and hoping for a Clark-Riley Greene-Parker Meadows outfield the next time Comerica Park hosts a World Series.

The Rangers are contending now, so adding a Langford is a great low-risk, low-upside move for them. They don't need Langford to do anything more than what he already has proven he can do.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

Any Skenes pitch thrown in the minors going forward is a wasted bullet.

Someone with stuff like that only lasts so long before the first UCL tear.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Take @jr/shotglass' surprise at how old Jacob deGrom is, multiply it by 10, and that's about the level of shock I had at learning eight straight Tigers' first-round picks from 2014-2020 made it to the bigs with the Tigers, who haven't been over .500 after April since 2017. That's an incredible streak of incompetence and bad luck at every level of the organization.

 

[maumann]

Just noticed an interesting quirk of the schedule.

The Astros will be in Toronto for both Canada Day and the Fourth of July.

 

[outofplace]

I'm always reminded that prospect = potential future value.

Skenes has the potential to be a generational talent once he reaches PNC Park. But pitchers are always a high-risk, high-upside gamble, and the Pirates were willing to forego Wyatt Langford's injection of instant offense for a guy who might be the cornerstone of their rotation for a long time.

I was initially disappointed that Detroit, a team desperately in need of offense, would pass on a MLB-ready hitting machine, but Langford is not good with the glove, which limits where the Rangers can play him. ZiPs has him as a 3 to 4-WAR player for the next three seasons if he can stick in left. What Langford is right now is pretty much what he'll be. There's probably little additional potential that he can tap into.

On the other hand, Max Clark just turned 19, is a prototypical above average centerfielder with projectable power and speed. Langford could pile up some pretty impressive numbers by the time Clark gets to the bigs -- with the caveat "IF he gets to the bigs" -- but Clark's upside might eventually surpass what Langford can do now. Or at least that's what the Tigers front office and farm system expects. So I'm drinking the Kool Aid and hoping for a Clark-Riley Greene-Parker Meadows outfield the next time Comerica Park hosts a World Series.

The Rangers are contending now, so adding a Langford is a great low-risk, low-upside move for them. They don't need Langford to do anything more than what he already has proven he can do.

I don't think Langford was ever in the discussion for the top pick. I just brought him up because he is the guy from last year's draft most likely to make a big impact this season.

Dylan Crews was the player most had as the top prospect in the draft, a college player likely to step in as a starter fairly quickly. Langford changed things by tearing it up at every level once he signed. Crews might not be up until 2025, but he still might end up being the better player.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Any Skenes pitch thrown in the minors going forward is a wasted bullet.

Someone with stuff like that only lasts so long before the first UCL tear.

Analysis: Pirates announce Paul Skenes will start in the minors. Is it the right move?.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Wyatt Langford might make an impact faster, but Skenes seems to be justifying the Pirates' decision to take him over Langford and Dylan Crews.

I think Dylan Crews is starting 2024 in Harrisburg, which just might get me to City Island for the first time since I was a journalist.