Hot Stove Thread 2014-15

Any Albeledejo sightings? Sigh. Give up 4 straight HRs one time against your chief rival...

 

Someone else probably can answer this for me: Why would the Nats give up Clippard for a guy who would be Desmond's backup?

 

I believe Desmond is in his walk year and there has been talk of trading him. Also, I think Escobar could play second base.

I'm not saying I agree. Clippard has been a very valuable set up man five of the last six seasons and was decent, but not great, when the Nats used him to close games in 2012. He is only 29, but he has carried a heavy workload as relief pitchers go. Maybe that was a concern for Washington.

 

He'll play 2B this year and SS if/when Desmond is traded or leaves via free agency.

 

Wouldn't Rendon be the second baseman, or are they putting him on third and moving Zimmerman to first? Just asking because I'm not that familiar with the Nats and like you said, Clippard has been excellent for them in the 'pen.

Plus, are the Nats really becoming cost-conscious or is it that Desmond is really going to want so much that he'll be in Los Angeles or New York next year?

 

Zimmerman is moving to 1st. Rendon, as far as we know, will be at third. Things can change, obviously, but that's the plan right this second.

Here's a good breakdown of the trade -- and where the Nats go from here -- from CSN's Mark Zuckerman.

More thoughts on the Tyler Clippard-Yunel Escobar trade | Nats Insider

 

Giants sign Nori Aoki -- one year, $4 million with a club option for 2016.

SF Giants agree to terms with free-agent outfielder Nori Aoki - SFGate

Decent move since Pagan gets hurt so much and Blanco can never handle the offensive side of being a full-time player. Plus, odd year, who cares?

 

Nationals, Scherzer agree to seven-year contract | MLB.com

Max Scherzer to the Nats for seven years. Saw a report on Twitter that had him getting "approximately $180 million."

 

The Rangers are kicking the tires on Yovani Gallardo. Word is Jurickson Profar is not part of the package going the other way to Milwaukee, but Luis Sardinas is.

Darvish, Holland and Gallardo would be as solid a top three as you'll find outside of the Nats rotation nowadays. Unfortunately it drops off quick on the back end.

 

Did anyone see that coming? Didn't they already have an extra starter?

 

Guy, they do have one too many right now. Adding Scherzer to Zimmermann, Strasburg, Fister and Gonzalez makes Tanner Roark their sixth spot, though I'm guessing they trade one of the others before the season.

 

Gallardo is a nice addition, but let's not go too crazy. There are questions about all three guys and the Dodgers lead a decent sized list of teams with better options for the top three spots in the rotation.