Mega Thread 2024-2025 MLB Hot Stove

[RPCB]

The voting for the Hall of Fame has just been announced. Three players have been elected to the Hall of Fame for 2025, namely, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, joining Dave Parker and Dick Allen (who were elected by the Classic Baseball Era committee).

Ichiro fell one vote short of being a unanimous election to the Hall of Fame. Both Ichiro and Sabathia were elected in their first year of eligibility. Billy Wagner was elected in his tenth and final year of eligibility.

Ichiro is the first Japanese-born player to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Whoever that was should have his or her voting credentials taken away. Ichiro was so obviously a HOF selection this year that it was stupid for anyone not to vote for him.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Athletics announced that former player Dave Stewart has been hired as a special asssistant to player development for the 2025 season. The exact nature of his new role with the Athletics is yet to be formally announced. Stewart pitched in the majors between 1978 and 1995, and made 212 starts for the Oakland Athletics between 1987 and 1992, with a combined ERA of 3.56. Stewart won World Series MVP while with the Athletics as they defeated the Giants in the 1989 World Series. An earthquake that interrupted one of the games that was being staged at Candlestick Park allowed Stewart to start both games 1 and 3. He threw a complete game shutout in game one, and then went seven innings in game three, giving up three earned runs with the Athletics claiming the victory before going on to sweep the Giants in four.

Stewart won a second World Series (along with Rickey Henderson) with the Blue Jays in 1993. He came back to Oakland in 1995, playing his last season with the Athletics.

Stewart served as an assistant to GM Sandy Alderson in 1996, and spent time in front office and coaching roles with a number of clubs, including the Padres, Blue Jays and Brewers. He was named the GM of the Diamondbacks and held that role from September 2014-October 2016. He had been part of the group that was trying to get an expansion franchise in Nashville Tennessee, but it emerged that he was no longer part of that group.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Cleveland Guardians announced that they have signed RHP Paul Sewald to a one-year contract with a mutual option for the 2026 season. Sewald is reportedly guaranteed $7 million on the deal, which will be paid out as a $1 million signing bonus, a $5 million salary for 2025 and a $1 million buyout on a $10 million option. Sewald also has incentives based on the number of appearances pitched in 2025. He will earn $100,000 for each of 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 relief appearances.

The Guardians designated RHP Pedro Avila for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. The Guardians also signed RHP Riley Pint to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement with catcher Christian Bethancourt and LHP Richard Lovelady on minor league contracts with invitationt to Spring Training. Bethancourt has previously played with the Athletics, Rays, Miami and Cubs. He has a career .229/.259/.367 slashline in the majors and will join the Blue Jays as depth behind starter Alejandro Kirk.

Lovelady split time between the Cubs and Rays in 2024. He pitched 28 2/3 innings for the Rays with a 3.77 ERA, a 16.8% strikeout rate, a 7.6% walk rate and a 53.5% groundball rate. The Rays designated Lovelady for assignment to create roster space for outfielder Jake Mangum, whom the Rays wished to protect from the Rule 5 draft. Lovelady was non-tendered, making him an immediate free agent.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Chicago Cubs are interested in Astros RHP Ryan Pressly, as well as a number of veteran free agents, including Kenley Jansen, David Robertson, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley (all but Raley are right handed pitchers). The Cubs missed out on signing LHP Tanner Scott, who chose an offer from the Dodgers over the Cubs, while the Cubs have also been linked to Carlos Estevez.

Pressly has a no-trade clause in his contract, but the Astros might be interested in convincing him to waive that clause to move to the Cubs, as they are currently projected to be $3 million over the first luxury tax threshold. Pressly has a salary of $14 million this season, so trading him would put the Astros back under the threshold and give them an opportunity to sign an oufielder, such as Jurickson Profar, to replace Kyle Tucker.

The Cubs and Astros have already done business this off-season, with the Cubs acquiring OF Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneski and top prospect Cam Smith. Presumably the parties did discuss a trade involving Ryan Pressly at that stage, but it clearly did not go ahead.

The Cubs would likely need to pay a premium to sign the likes of Jansen or Robertson as free agents, given their body of work. This would mark a change in approach by the Cubs under Jed Hoyer. As noted previously, the largest guarantee the Cubs have given to a reliever was $9 million to RHP Hector Neris last off-season. Jansen or Robertson would likely require a higher guaranteed salary than what they paid to Neris. Of course, Robertson has previously pitched for the Cubs, having played at Wrigley Field in 2022 but at that stage, he was looking to reestablish himself after having undergone Tommy John surgery. Given that the Athletics and Orioles each signed Jose LeClerc and Andrew Kittredge for $10 million guaranteed salaries for 2025, Robertson may well be looking for more.

What we’re hearing about the Cubs: Bullpen, Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong and more

Where can the Cubs go for bullpen help? Can Swanson bounce back from surgery? Where will Crow-Armstrong hit in the lineup?

www.nytimes.com