2018-19 Hot Stove League

[Dan Gould]

28 minutes ago, Brad said:

They’re going to have serious competition from the Phillies and probably the Mets. 

I really wonder whether the Mets could nab him. He'd certainly be the unquestioned star on that roster and he'd still be playing in NY. Not really the same but if he wants to feed his ego he'd be better off in Queens than the Bronx. 

If he didn't go to the Yankees would he think that the Phills will compete sooner than the Mets?  Or just doubt the Mets commitment to winning?  I'd have to say the odds favor the Yankees, than the Phillies, than the Mets, if those are the top 3 with money to burn.

[Brad]

The Phils have been seen as the front runners for awhile for him and Harper.  The new Mets GM wants to make a splash so I think they will make a serious push. Phillies made a serous run last year only to fade in the stretch so I think they're a serious contender in the NL East. I think the Braves are the team to beat in the East but it's hard to know until early next year. 

[paul secor]

Harper - Machado - just what the Yankees need.

[Matthew]

The noise here in San Francisco is that the Giants are going to make a run at Harper. Makes sense, as he could be someone to build around, and the Giants have a desperate need for someone who is alive! The past two years, the Giants players have been dead; how I wished there was a hot-head around (other that Baumgartner going after Puig all the time) to put some fire in the players. Bochy likes a certain style of player, the Buster Posey type, who plays with no emotion, Harper would change that quick.

[ghost of miles]

19 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

This is gonna make Paul's day.

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/11/04/report-the-yankees-are-out-on-bryce-harper/

Not so much being out on Harper but that they want to go all in on ... Machado.

If its true and Harper doesn't take aim at the short fence ... we Red Sox fans thank you Mr. Cashman.

Not a fan of going for Machado over Harper... not at all.  

[Dan Gould]

FWIW Yankee fans I think that Steve Phillips is about as good a reporter as he was a GM. (And I know he was GM for a NL pennant winner and with a few good draft picks ...  still a very mixed bag and he never got another opportunity so ...)

[Brad]

Allegedly, the Giants have a strong interest in Harper and the White Sox might be a suitor for Manny. 

[Dan Gould]

Wow finalists for AL MVP don't even include JD Martinez.  Betts, Ramirez and Trout. 

I know he faded on the triple crown chase but that seems surprising he couldn't get the votes to be in the top 3.

[ghost of miles]

4 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

Wow finalists for AL MVP don't even include JD Martinez.  Betts, Ramirez and Trout. 

I know he faded on the triple crown chase but that seems surprising he couldn't get the votes to be in the top 3.

As great a year as Mookie had, from my division-rival standpoint J.D. was more of a difference-maker for the Red Sox this season.  

[JSngry]

[Soulstation1]

CC resigns w NY 

He’ll get his 3000K this season 

[felser]

On 11/5/2018 at 10:12 AM, ghost of miles said:

Not a fan of going for Machado over Harper... not at all.  

They can both hit.  Machado is a gold glove 3B and subpar SS, so him insisting on playing SS screams "there's no team in I".  Harper had dreadful defensive stats in '18, which concerns me, though I know defensive stats are not as foolproof as others at this point.  I'm in Philly.  The buzz here is mainly about Harper, especially after Machado's postseason (the "hustle" comments are not gonna play well in Philly), but I wonder if Boros isn't just playing the Phillies to drive up the bidding on Harper, since the Phils have a lot of $ available.  We shall see.  Either/both would look great in red pinstripes, of course, even with their imperfections, but whether they still will in their mid-30's is a totally different question (remember Ryan Howard - and he was already in decline when they signed him to that contract, though the injury exacerbated it).

[paul secor]

I hope that the Yanks go for pitching - not Manny or Harper.

[Dave Garrett]

Something you don't see very often: a short clip in color of the Polo Grounds in 1963. 

 

[Brad]

That’s pretty cool.  I was there in 63. 

[Brad]

Jake is the Man! Cy Young baby 

[paul secor]

21 minutes ago, Brad said:

Jake is the Man! Cy Young baby 

Now the Mets just need a team to play with him.

[Brad]

Well, we have the best starting staff in baseball and a few good young players.  Another or two big time bats plus a bullpen would put them in the mix. 

[paul secor]

If the Yanks had the Mets' pitching staff (assuming they were all healthy), they'd have it made next year.

[felser]

13 hours ago, paul secor said:

If the Yanks had the Mets' pitching staff (assuming they were all healthy), they'd have it made next year.

I'm sure Cashman is working on it...

[paul secor]

Cashman seems to go for offense. He just signed Sabbathia - Mr. 5 innings and out - for another year.

[Brad]

John Heyman was on today for his weekly spot on WFAN in NY and he believes that the Yanks will sign Happ and Patrick Corbin. He also believes that Machado will wind up on the Yankees and Harper the Phillies. 

[Dan Gould]

World Series MVP Steve Pearce re-signed for a year.

All smiles here.

[Brad]

On 11/6/2018 at 9:59 AM, Dan Gould said:

Wow finalists for AL MVP don't even include JD Martinez.  Betts, Ramirez and Trout. 

I know he faded on the triple crown chase but that seems surprising he couldn't get the votes to be in the top 3.

The final vote total showed he was 10 votes behind Ramirez. Bergman was six votes behind him. 

[Patrick]

Congrats to Mookie. So does the proper pronunciation rhyme with "bookie" (like the Mets outfielder) or more of the boo/Lou sound in first syllable? Or totally optional, as long as you smile while saying it?