Mega Thread 2024-2025 MLB Hot Stove

[Dixie Flatline]

The Chicago Cubs have been talking to the Miami Marlins concerning a trade for LHP Jesus Luzardo, according to reports.

Luzardo was limited by elbow and back issues in 2024 to just 12 starts and 66 2/3 innings. Injuries have plagued Luzardo's career to date, as he has been restricted to just 512 innings across six seasons with the Athletics and Marlins. He has a career 4.29 ERA.

Luzardo is under team control via arbitration for another two seasons, and he is entering his age-27 season. If he remains healthy and gets back to his best, then he would be a strong bargain for whichever team acquires him, but at this stage of his career, it is difficult to assess whether Luzardo would ever remain healthy again.
According to reports, the Marlins are looking for a "young controllable bat" in exchange for Luzardo, and speculation has the Cubs being asked to give up a top prospect like James Triantos or Owen Caissie for Luzardo.

Bob Nightengale (@bnightengale.bsky.social)

The Cubs now bring in veteran catcher Carson Kelly on a 2-year, $11.5 million contract. They remain busy on the trade front trying to move Cody Bellinger, showing interest in Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo, while also seeking a 3B.

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[Dixie Flatline]

The Baltimore Orioles have signed RHP Tomoyuki Sugano to a one year, $13 million contract. The Orioles had a spare spot on their 40-man roster, so no corresponding move was required. Sugano goes from the NPB to the MLB for the first time in what will be his age-35 season. He spent 12 years with the Yomiuri Giants, pitching in excess of 1,800 innings of 2.43 ERA ball. The Giants posted Sugano to the MLB in the 2020-2021 offseason but he was not able to come to terms with any MLB team, despite putting up a 1.97 ERA. Sugano returned to the Giants on a four-year contract that paid him $40 million, and which contained opt-outs after each season should he choose to leave for the majors.

Sugano has surprassed nine years of service time in the NPB so the Giants do not receive a fee from the Orioles, nor will the Orioles be required to give up anything other than salary to sign Sugano. He joins the Orioles off the back of arguably his best season in the NPB, where he posted a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings across 24 starts. It was the second lowest ERA of his career and earned him the MVP award in the NPB's Central League for the third time.

However, the underlying metrics suggest that Sugano is likely to be past his best by the time he gets to Baltimore. According to Baseball America's scouting report, Sugano's average fastball velocity has dropped from 94-96 mph earlier in his career to 92-93 mph last season. However, Sugano is supremely gifted at hitting his spots, walking just 16 batters all season for a 2.6% walk rate that is lower than what any MLB starter could manage (minimum 100 innings).

Baseball America credits Sugano with five pitches, including a fastball, an above average slider and splitter.

The Orioles will likely slot Sugano in behind Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez in the rotation. Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers, Albert Suarez, Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott are the options for the remaining two spots, assuming that the Orioles do not sign any other starting pitcher this off-season (and they remain interested in re-signing RHP Corbin Burnes).

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Houston Astros have signed catcher Joe Hudson to a minor league deal according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He has been assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land but will likely receive an invitation to big league Spring Training.

Hudson briefly played in the majors in 2024. He started with the Cubs on a minor league deal and was then traded to the Mets in April. He was selected to their major league roster in June, but only played in one big league game and did not get a plate appearance. He replaced catcher Francisco Alvarez in the bottom of the ninth in an 11-1 game against the Cubs. The Mets then outrighted him off the roster and he elected minor league free agency at the end of the season.

Hudson has appeared in 19 MLB games across four seasons and has a career .167/.219/.200 batting line in 33 plate appearances.