2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

I think the Cubs will go hard after Salty. There's been alot of Rumors about wanting a C who can hit LH as well. probably wanting a compliment to Wellington.

I dunno why though.

[legacyme3]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

I think with the way Farrell benched Salty and had Ross play the remainder of the WS that the writing was on the wall for his departure. He's a pretty good catcher but he makes some really bewildering mistakes/bad plays.

Yeah, I figure, but with who your options are this offseason, I think you have to extend such an offer to him.

If the Sox don't get Salty (or the draft pick), they are going to be forced to replace him. Internally, none of the catchers in the minors will be ready for 2014, and externally, there just aren't many options better than him. (Only catcher with better "skill" than Salty available is McCann, and I want no part of that guy.)

Ross won't be able to take a full 162 game season being the primary catcher.

I'm just confused as to why they didn't extend an offer to Salty. It doesn't make much sense to me, even if he's a frustrating catcher defensively.

[TeixeiraFanatic]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

Yeah, I figure, but with who your options are this offseason, I think you have to extend such an offer to him.

If the Sox don't get Salty (or the draft pick), they are going to be forced to replace him. Internally, none of the catchers in the minors will be ready for 2014, and externally, there just aren't many options better than him. (Only catcher with better "skill" than Salty available is McCann, and I want no part of that guy.)

Ross won't be able to take a full 162 game season being the primary catcher.

I'm just confused as to why they didn't extend an offer to Salty. It doesn't make much sense to me, even if he's a frustrating catcher defensively.

They didn't extend a QO to him because they'd owe him $14 million next year if he took it. Just because they didn't give him the offer doesn't mean they can't resign him. It would be ill advised to give him a QO since they've given out 3 to Napoli, Drew and Ellsbury.

[legacyme3]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

I'm well aware of how Free Agency works. I'm advocating giving him the QO just so there's a backup in case he leaves. 14 million for one year is a lot, but Salty is in many ways an above average catcher, which is something of a rarity.

Now, if he leaves, not only do we not have an above average catcher, but we also don't get a draft pick in exchange.

It wasn't guaranteed he'd accept the QO, this was something of a career year for him, and this is his best chance at getting a high level long term contract. If he accepts it, big deal, there are worse things than paying Salty 14 million for one year of his career. It's a risk I feel you have to take.

And let's not talk as if the Sox care about the money that much. They aren't Yankees or Dodgers level, but they have a lot of money, and going above the Luxury Tax threshold for one season doesn't really mean a lot. It's only a problem if you do it every year, which as we've established wouldn't happen, since the QO is only for one year.

Bottom Line - If the Sox don't re-sign Salty, and lose him for nothing, I'm not going to be a happy camper. I'll be even less happy if we replace him with fun cop Brian McCann.

[Boilerbuzz]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

So Rick Renteria is the new Cubs manager...

Who!? As a Chicago kid that grew up on the Cubs, I WANT to see them do well. But letting Grace and Maddux walk took me over to the White Sox. But I still care. With that said: WHO!?!? Typical Cubs. And all the talk sounds EXACTLY like the Sveum talk...

Yawn. But Cub fan will keep buying in.

So, what can you Padre fans tell me about this dude?

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

It's not about the Manager. It's about developing players and bringing better players in. Just look at STL and how important a manager is. His reputation around baseball is he's good at that aspect. He will also help w/Baez, Lake, Castro, Almora, Soler.

[Boilerbuzz]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

It's not about the Manager. It's about developing players and bringing better players in. Just look at STL and how important a manager is. His reputation around baseball is he's good at that aspect. He will also help w/Baez, Lake, Castro, Almora, Soler.

I don't believe that at all. A good manager is CLEARLY a positive impact on a team. Death-troit will find out. White Sox found out with LaRussa. But if you truly believe that, why was Sveum let go so quickly?

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

I don't believe that at all. A good manager is CLEARLY a positive impact on a team. Death-troit will find out. White Sox found out with LaRussa. But if you truly believe that, why was Sveum let go so quickly?

His Handling of Castro and Rizzo to an extent.

[Boilerbuzz]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

His Handling of Castro and Rizzo to an extent.

I don't know. The manager has less of a impact on the development of players than the coaches. I, personally, think Castro and Rizzo are a little over-hyped, but I could be expecting someone with the impact of Mike Trout...

But, yeah, I hear you.

[areobee401]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

The job of an MLB manager is about managing personalities more than anything else. A Gm has a lot of say in how players are handled or developed. Of course the manager has input in the matter, but the GM has heavy influence.

[SPTO]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

Apparently there's rumors that the Angels have it bad for David Price and are willing to trade Trumbo AND Bourjos to the Rays and probably throw in a prospect too for the services of Mr. Price.

Steep price to pay but hey, that rotation would be NASTY if they could get him.

[AC]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

The Angels don't have a prospect to throw in that would make Trumbo + Bourjos + ___ fair.

[Travis40]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

The Angels don't have a prospect to throw in that would make Trumbo + Bourjos + ___ fair.

Yeah, they have one of the worst systems in baseball. Maybe they could throw in Cowart or Cron...I don't know if that would do it though.

[AC]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

Yeah, they have one of the worst systems in baseball. Maybe they could throw in Cowart or Cron...I don't know if that would do it though.

I like C^2 but that offer would likely get beat by a number of other teams.

[snepp]

Re: 2013-14 Hot Stove League Thread

I don't think the Rays would want a first baseman that struggles to post a .300 OBP that's going to make a ton of arb money due to sexy home run totals.