2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

That's now how WAR works. A team of replacement players — aka, the Willie Bloomquists of the world — isn't going to win 0 games. It might win about 40 or 50, which would put it in 1962 Mets territory. So that's the baseline you're starting with, not 0.

Anyway, Yankees' batters totaled 13.6 WAR last year, which ranked 25th in MLB. Average team WAR for batters was about 23. Red Sox led all of baseball with 39.7 WAR. Marlins were last at -1.1 WAR.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2013-value-batting.shtml

 

Hey, Willie Bloomquist, the pride of South Kitsap, is gonna save the Mariners! Maybe they could get Brent Lillebridge too, he's a Husky. I mean, if decathletes are the best athletes in the world because they're good at a lot of stuff but not great in anything, then utility players must be the best players in baseball!

 

Brewers trade OF Norichika Aoki to Kansas City for lefty reliever Will Smith:

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2013/12/5/5178576/royals-acquire-norichika-aoki-from-brewers

 

Edward Mujica to the Red Sox for 2 years, $9.5 million:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/05/red-sox-sign-edward-mujica/

 

That's a really nice pickup for the Royals, and presumably saves them some money to use elsewhere.

 

Looks like David Lough might be the odd man out, especially if they wind up with Beltran.

I'm a little put off by them trading for Aoki with only one year of control, but they needed to move a reliever. I guess they're all in for 2014.

 

Brian Wilson back to the Dodgers for one year, $10 million:

http://tracking.si.com/2013/12/05/dodgers-brian-wilson-agree-one-year-deal/

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/mariners-willing-to-pay-cano-230-240mm.html

 

Why do teams over bid for player in geometric proportions?

 

Jon Heyman just said on MLB Network that the Yankees won't go over $175 million.

 

good for the Yankees but why would Seattle offer him$50+ million more than that

 

They apparently didn't:

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/408735740663959552