Mega Thread 2024-2025 MLB Hot Stove

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LHP Sean Manaea will reject the qualifying offer extended to him by the Mets, according to reports. Manaea has pitched almost 1,200 major league innings for a number of teams and had one of his best seasons in his career for the Mets in 2024. He signed a two-year deal with the Mets last off-season which came with an opt-out after the first season. He was paid $14.5 million in 2024, and exercised an opt-out that means he foregoes a salary of $13.5 million in 2025. The Mets made him a qualifying offer that would be worth $21.05 million for 2025.

Manaea enjoyed particular success after adjusting his arm slot to be more akin to Chris Sale, and over his last 20 starts for the Mets, he put together a 3.05 ERA with a 26% strikeout rate and a 8% walk rate.

Should Manaea sign with another club, the Mets are in line to receive a later round draft pick that can be no higher than the fourth round, since the Mets have paid the competitive balance tax.

 

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The Atlanta Braves have announced that they have selected the contract of RHP Rolddy Munoz to the 40-man roster, thereby protecting him from next month's Rule 5 draft. Munoz turns 25 next April and spent the 2024 season between High-A and Double-A. His twin brother, Roddery, was also a Brave for a while and made his MLB debut for the Marlins in 2024. Rolddy is yet to make his MLB debut but clearly the Braves see enough in him to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft by another team. Munoz put up an ERA of 4.24 between High-A and Double-A in 2024, and was ranked the 18th best prospect in the Braves' system by FanGraphs.

 

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The Mets announced that they have signed veteran infielder Rafael Ortega to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. They also announced that they have signed infielder Donovan Walton to a minor league contract with a Spring Training invitation. Ortega joins the Mets for the second time in his career, having spent the majority of the 2023 season between the Triple-A affiliate and the big league team (mostly off the bench).

 

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One of the big ticket free agents this off-season is drawing interest from a number of teams. Shortstop Willy Adames is drawing interest from the Astros, Blue Jays, Braves and Red Sox, while the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees have also been linked to him.

 

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RHP Nick Martinez has accepted the qualifying offer made to him by the Cincinnati Reds, meaning that he will be with the Reds in 2025 on a $21.05 million deal. Martinez joined the club on a two-year, $26 million contract last off-season after both he and his former team, the Padres, declined their options for the 2024 season. Martinez signed with the Reds and put together a 3.10 ERA season from 142 1/3 innings (3.21 FIP). Martinez bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen.

 

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The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their home games to the George M. Steinbrenner Field for 2025, and there was the intention that the site of the Tropicana Field would be the basis for a new home stadium for the Rays that would be set to open in 2028. However, it now appears that this plan is in jeopardy of falling over as a result of the Hurricane that severely damaged the Field earlier this year. According to reports, the city council and county commission have decided to postpone the scheduled bond votes that were key to securing financing for the redevelopment of the stadium by a month.

It also appears that the Rays are drawing criticism from the county for deciding to move their home games to the Steinbrenner Field, which is located in a different county to the county in which the Tropicana Field is located. While there is not yet the sense that the vote could fall over, it now appears that the county commissioner is not in a hurry to put the matter to the vote, which would delay the securing of financing and therefore imperil the likelihood of the redeveloped stadium being ready in time for Opening Day 2028, and thus potentially hastening the relocation of the Rays away from Tampa Bay.

Rays say county’s stalling has likely killed the new stadium deal

John Romano | Delays on bond votes have halted stadium groundbreaking plans and jeopardized baseball’s future in Tampa Bay.

www.tampabay.com

'It's unfortunate': Pinellas County commissioner feels betrayed by Rays' decision to play in Tampa for 2025

A Pinellas County commissioner will vote against issuing the bonds necessary to finance the Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal after the team announced it will play its 2025 season in Tampa.

www.abcactionnews.com

 

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Say goodbye to Minute Maid Park and hello to Daikin Park, after the Astros reached agreement with Daikin Comfort Technologies North America on a 15-year naming rights deal for the Astros' home field. The Astros will be playing at Daikin Field until the end of the 2039 season at least.

According to reports, the naming rights deal with Minute Maid Co. was meant to continue until the end of the 2029 season but was ended prematurely for as yet unknown reasons. The Astros received approximately $170 million from Minute Maid Co for the naming rights. Minute Maid Co remains a marketing partner but no longer has naming rights.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/houston-daikin-park-minute-maid-park-19924657.php

 

[largebus]

Well I was wrong about the AL ROTY but it was very close between Cowser and Gil.

 

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The Baseball Writers Association of America have announced that Stephen Vogt and Pat Murphy are the AL and NL Managers of the Year. Vogt had a meteoric rise as manager, having only retired as a player about two years ago. Vogt was named as bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners after retiring as a player, and then was hired to replace future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona in Cleveland. Vogt lost Shane Bieber early in the season but guided the Guardians to first place in the AL Central ahead of the Twins, Royals and Tigers, then reached the ALCS where the Guardians lost to the Yankees.

Pat Murphy was promoted to replace Craig Counsell, who jumped ship to the Cubs last off-season. With the Brewers trading away Corbin Burnes to the Orioles last off-season, it was not expected to be a strong season for the Brewers, but the Brewers finished the 2024 regular season 10 games clear of the Cardinals and Cubs with a 93-69 record with shortstop Willy Adames hitting 32 homeruns and driving in 112 runs, catcher William Contreras leading the club with 99 runs, 167 hits (including 37 doubles) and 78 walks, while they received strong pitching performances from Freddy Peralta (3.68 ERA in 173.2 innings pitched, and an even 200 strikeouts). The Brewers ended up losing the NL Wild Card in three to the Mets.

 

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With the Rule 5 draft imminent, clubs have been busy adjusting their rosters to protect those players that they do not want to expose to the Rule 5 draft. In order to avoid being eligible for the Rule 5 draft, a player must be on the 40-man roster as of today. Summarising the roster moves made by clubs as known to this point:

• The Colorado Rockies have selected the contract of OF Zac Veen to their 40-man roster. No equivalent move needed to be made as they now have 39 players on their 40-man roster. Veen ended the 2024 season in Triple-A.
• The San Francisco Giants have selected the contracts of RHP Carson Seymour and RHP Carson Ragsdale to their 40-man roster. They designated RHP Kai-Wei Teng for assignment to create roster space.
• The San Diego Padres have selected the contracts of LHP Omar Cruz, RHP Henry Baez and RHP Ryan Bergert to their 40-man roster. No corresponding moves needed to be made as the Padres have 37 players on their 40-man roster. The Padres drafted Cruz in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in 2023. Baez signed with the Padres as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 and pitched primarily as a starter in High-A before being promoted to Double-A part way through the season. Bergert most recently pitched at Double-A in 2024.
• The Red Sox have selected the contracts of RHP Hunter Dobbins and OF Jhostynxon Garcia to the 40-man roster, and have designated RHP Bryan Mata and RHP Isaiah Campbell for assignment to open roster space.
• The Philadelphia Phillies have selected the contracts of RHP Moises Chace, RHP Mick Abel and RHP Jean Cabrera to their 40-man roster. RHP John McMillon was outrighted by the Phillies to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies roster count is at 39.
• The Cleveland Guardians selected the contracts of four players to their 40-man roster, namely pitchers Franco Aleman, Nic Enright and Doug Nikhazy, and outfielder Petey Halpin. The Guardians designated OF George Valera and pitchers Peter Strzelecki and Connor Gillispie for assignment.
• The Chicago Cubs have selected the contracts of OF Owen Caissie and INF Ben Cowles to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, designating OF Brennen Davis and RHP Adbert Alzolay for assignment.
• The Detroit Tigers have selected the contracts of RHP Chase Lee, RHP Tyler Mattison and RHP Tyler Owens to their 40-man roster, designating INF Eddys Leonard, and pitchers Ricky Vanasco and Brendan White for assignment.
• The Texas Rangers have selected the contracts of RHP Emiliano Teodo, INF Max Acosta and RHP Winston Santos for promotion to the 40-man roster, and have returned 2024 Rule 5 draft pick Carson Coleman to the Yankees.
• The Minnesota Twins have selected the contracts of RHP Marco Raya and RHP Travis Adams. No corresponding move to designate any players for assignment was required, as the Twins had room on their 40-man roster for the promotions.
• The Kansas City Royals have selected the contracts of LHP Noah Cameron, RHP Luinder Avila and RHP Eric Cerantola to their 40-man roster. No corresponding moves were required, as the Royals had room on their 40-man roster for the promotions.
• The New York Yankees have selected the contracts of infielder Caleb Durbin and utility player Jesus Rodriguez to their 40-man roster. They also announced that RHP Carson Coleman has been returned to them by the Rangers. There were no corresponding moves announced by the Yankees to create roster space.
• The Baltimore Orioles announced that they have selected the contracts of RHP Kade Strowd and RHP Brandon young to their 40-man roster. No moves were needed to create roster space, as the Orioles had space on their 40-man roster.
• The Los Angeles Angels selected the contracts of infielder Matthew Lugo and LHP Jack Dashwood, and designated OF Jordyn Adams and INF Eric Wagaman for assignment.
• The Cincinnati Reds selected the contracts of utility player Tyler Callihan and RHP Luis Mey to their 40-man roster. No moves were required to create roster space.
• The St Louis Cardinals have selected the contracts of OF Matt Koperniak and RHPs Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby and Matt Svanson. They also announced that LHP Drew Rom went unclaimed on waivers and has been assigned outright to Triple-A. The Cardinals have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
• The Tampa Bay Rays have selected the contract of OF Jack Mangum to the 40-man roster and have designated LHP Richard Lovelady for assignment to create roster space.
• The Miami Marlins have selected the contracts of INF Deyvison De Los Santos, INF Jared Serna and LHP Dax Fulton to their 40-man roster. No moves were required to create roster space.
• The Athletics have selected the contracts of RHP Gunnar Hoglund, RHP Ryan Cusick and OF Denzel Clarke to their 40-man roster. The Athletics did not need to make moves to add these players to their 40-man roster.
• The Houston Astros have selected the contract of LHP Colton Gordon to their 40-man roster. No moves were required to create roster space for Gordon.
• The Chicago White Sox have selected the contracts of shortstop Colson Montgomery and RHP Juan Carela to their 40-man roster.
• The Washington Nationals have selected the contracts of OF Robert Hassell III and RHP Andry Lara to their 40-man roster. No moves were required to create roster space. For those with long memories, they may recall that Hassell was one of the trade pieces the Nationals acquired from the Padres when they traded Juan Soto to San Diego in 2022.
• The Milwaukee Brewers have added RHP Logan Henderson and RHP Chad Patrick to their 40-man roster. No roster moves were required.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays have executed a trade where the Mets have acquired OF Jose Siri from the Rays in exchange for reliever Eric Orze.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Thirteen players received qualifying offers from their teams and twelve of them have declined those qualifying offers by the deadline. The only player to accept a qualifying offer was RHP Nick Martinez, who accepted the qualifying offer made to him by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. The list of players to refuse the qualifying offer is below:

• Willy Adames, SS, Brewers
• Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
• Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros
• Corbin Burnes, RHP, Orioles
• Max Fried, LHP, Braves
• Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Dodgers
• Sean Manaea, LHP, Mets
• Nick Pivetta, RHP, Red Sox
• Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles
• Luis Severino, RHP, Mets
• Juan Soto, OF, Yankees
• Christian Walker, 1B, Diamondbacks

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The problem with FIP for the purpose of awards is it tries to measure what should've happened rather than what actually happened. Its basically moral ERA. Fine for evaluating future performance but you don't give awards based on what should've happened or what might happen next season.

Nolan Ryan for example was a strikeout pitcher and is hilariously overrated by FIP because it doesnt take into account his own terrible fielding and wild pitches.

I almost fell off my chair at work today when I was perusing my son's team statistics on Gamechanger and I found the FIP for the pitchers on the team (including my son). He's 13 and in his first year of playing baseball!

Interestingly, for most of the pitchers on the team, their FIP is much better than their ERA. For example, my son's ERA is currently 42.00 (my son has a pitch to contact style at the moment, because he needs to add velocity to generate better swings and misses through changing pitch speeds, so while he generally fills the strike zone, he also gives up hits), and the best pitcher on the team has an ERA of 10.89 (he's really good for two innings, but then loses steam in the third inning and starts giving up hits and runs). My son's FIP is calculated at 12.04, and the FIP of the best pitcher on the team is 2.318.

I'm not sure if this league-wide as I only see the stats for the players on my son's team, not across all the teams in his division.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The stove is starting to bubble mildly as we head towards the end of November.

The Detroit Tigers have signed utility player Jahmai Jones to a minor league deal. He receives an invitation to Spring Training and will be paid a salary of $810,000 if he makes it to the active roster. Jones spent most of 2024 with the Yankees after he was claimed off waivers from the Brewers in February 2024. The Yankees kept him on the active roster for most of the season as he was out of options, but only gave him 47 plate appearances during the season and then outrighted him off the roster in early August.

Jones has hit a career .198/.257/.278 in 137 career plate appearances across four seasons, although his numbers in Triple-A this year were more encouraging, as he hit .304/.390/.490 in 34 Triple-A games.

Detroit Tigers sign Jahmai Jones to minor league deal. His brother, dad played for Lions

Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones, who signed a minor league contract, has played 69 games in his MLB career with four teams in four seasons.

www.freep.com

 

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The Chicago Cubs have acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Angels, according to the Angels. He was traded for cash considerations after Los Angeles designated him for assignment last week. To create roster space for Thaiss, the Cubs have designated RHP Trey Wingenter for assignment.

The Cubs will be the first organisation Thaiss has represented after being drafted by the Angels in the first round of the 2016 draft.

 

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The Chicago White Sox have signed OF Austin Slater to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with up to $500,000 available in incentives. Slater is signed to a major league deal. No corresponding move will be required to create roster space for Slater, as the White Sox already have room on their 40-man roster.

Slater has been in professional baseball for over 10 years, having been drafted by the Giants in the 8th round of the 2014 draft. He made his MLB debut for the Giants in 2017, playing mainly as a fourth outfielder, hitting .254/.335/.368 in 544 plate appearances in his first four seasons. The COVID-shortened season of 2020 was Slater's break-out season, hitting .282/.408/.506 in 104 plate appearances in 2020, while playing in 31 of the 60 games managed during that season.

The Giants tended to platoon Slater as a specialist against left-handed pitching between 2021-2023, and he hit .257/.345/.412 in 343 games between 2021-2023. Unfortunately, the magic wore off for Slater in 2024, as he hit just .209/.321/.266 in 212 plate appearances as he began the itinerant phase of his career, moving from the Giants to the Reds and then to the Orioles.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Athletics have managed to avoid arbitration with first baseman/outfielder Seth Brown by agreeing to terms on a one year contract for the 2025 season, according to the A's. The financial terms have not yet been disclosed. Brown fell off a cliff in 2024 and was passed through waivers unclaimed. He accepted an assignment to Triple-A so as to not forfeit the remainder of his $2.6 million salary and then found his hitting and earned a promotion back to the majors. When he was removed from the Athletics' 40 man roster, he was hitting a measly .189/.251/.306 in 195 plate appearances but returned to hit .271/.312/.448 in 205 plate appearances after spending time in the minors.

 

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The Colorado Rockies announced that they have re-signed catcher Jacob Stallings to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2026. According to reports, Stallings will be paid $2.5 million, comprising a $2 million salary in 2025 and a $500,000 buyout on a $2 million mutual option. Stallings also has the capacity to earn up to $1 million in bonuses and incentives. Stallings takes the 40th spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster. Stallings played in 82 games for the Rockies in 2024, hitting .263/.357/.453 in 281 plate appearances.

 

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The Chicago Cubs have traded for RHP Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a non-rostered A-ball outfielder prospect Alfonsin Rosario. To create room on the Cubs' 40-man roster, the Cubs have designated infielder Patrick Wisdom for assignment.

Morgan pitched 42 innings for the Guardians in 2024, putting up a 1.93 ERA with a .222 BABIP. Morgan will be under team control for another three seasons and is projected to earn just $1 million in salary in 2024.

The Cubs have designated Wisdom for assignment, despite the fact he has hit 84 homeruns for the Cubs over the past four seasons. Wisdom is a slugger and generally hits left-handed pitching well, but he slumped to a slashline of .171/.237/.392 in 174 plate appearances in 2024. The Cubs could trade Wisdom for the next week or put him on waivers within the next five days. He could also be non-tendered, though this must be done by the end of this week. The Cubs might take a chance of non-tendering Wisdom in the hope of signing him back on a cheaper, minor league deal, but Wisdom would likely want to check out whether any other team would be prepared to give him a shot.

 

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After trading OF Jose Siri to the Mets, the Rays are planning to run with Jonny DeLuca as their full-time centre fielder in 2025, according to reports. The Rays acquired DeLuca from the Dodgers as part of the return for RHP Tyler Glasnow last season. DeLuca had a delayed start to the 2024 season with a broken hand, but once he was cleared, he appeared in 107 of the Rays' remaining 130 games. He struggled to make an impact with his bat, but he stole 16 bases and produced strong defence at all three outfield positions.

Rays trade Jose Siri to Mets for reliever Eric Orze, add Jake Mangum

The moves are made as a deadline nears to protect prospects from being selected in December’s Rule 5 draft.

www.tampabay.com

 

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The Athletics have signed LHP Matt Krook to a minor league contract after he elected free agency earlier in November. Krook has bounced around the leagues during his career, having originally been drafted by the Marlins in 2013 but not signed due to issues in his physical, then being drafted by the Giants in 2016, before being traded to the Rays in 2018. In 2021, Krook was drafted by the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft and then was turned into a full-time reliever by the Yankees in 2023, making his MLB debut that season with a total of four innings across four separate stints. He gave up 11 earned runs, with six walks and only three strikeouts. The Yankees designated him for assignment in the 2023-2024 offseason and he went to Baltimore in a trade for cash considerations. Despite good numbers at Triple-A, the Orioles only gave him one inning of major league work, allowing three runs (two earned) off a three run homerun to Wyatt Langford. He was designated for assignment at the trade deadline and sent to Triple-A.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The San Diego Padres have signed first baseman Trenton Brooks to a minor league contract. No word on whether he has an invitation to Spring Training, but generally minor league contracts signed in November typically come with invitations. Brooks made his MLB debut for the Giants in 2024, playing 12 games and hitting .120/.241/.120 in 29 plate appearances. He was sent through waivers unclaimed and outrighted off the roster, electing free agency at the end of the season.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

After designating him for assignment, the Rays have traded infielder Austin Shenton to the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. The Mariners designated RHP JT Chargois for assignment to create roster space for Shenton on the 40-man roster.

It represents a homecoming for Shenton, who was drafted by the Mariners in 2019 before being traded to the Rays in 2021 in exchange for RHP Diego Castillo. Shenton made his MLB debut for the Rays in 2024, hitting .214/.340/.405 across 50 plate appearances, but was designated for assignment to create roster space for players the Rays wanted to protect from the Rule 5 draft.

Chargois has pitched for the Twins, Dodgers, Mariners, Rays and Marlins through his big league career, and also has spent a season in Japan. He has a career 3.35 ERA and a 3.84 SIERA across a career 231 1/3 innings, but he has had injury concerns and never been trusted in situations beyond low leverage situations.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

In the meantime, the MLB has announced that LHP Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves) has won the NL Cy Young award.



He becomes the fifth Milwaukee/Atlanta pitcher to win the Cy Young, joining Warren Spahn (1957), Tom Glavine (1991, 1998), Greg Maddux (1993, 1994, 1995) and John Smoltz (1996).

Sale earned 18 wins for the season, pitching 177 2/3 innings with 225 strikeouts, a 1.01 WHIP a 6.2 bWAR and a 2.38 ERA.

He becomes the fifth oldest player to win his first Cy Young award, behind Early Wynn in 1959, Dennis Eckersley in 1992, R.A. Dickey in 2012 and Warren Spahn in 1957.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Tarik Skubal is named the AL Cy Young winner.