2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Count the Rangers in on Tanaka. They're in "go-for-it" mode and still have room in their budget. Of course, it gives Darvish a running buddy too.

 

I had seen some reports that they were less likely to be in on Tanaka after giving Choo a big contract, but much of that seemed to be coming out of New York. (Yankee wishful thinking?)

 

Rosenthal thinks they're out, but after taking a swim through Twitter, the local beat guys all think they'll still try and get in on Tanaka. Other national writers expect Texas to try and get in as well. They do still have money — Choo's first year is very budget-friendly.

 

The Choo signing was outstanding. That's a long-term deal that I actually see panning out.

 

The Rangers' payroll for 2014 right now is $115.9 million according to Cot's. That's without the $30M for Fielder from the Tigers, which doesn't kick in until 2016 (5 payments of $6M yearly).

The only walk years in 2014 are Soto, Frasor and Cotts — all replaceable guys, and Feliz is the only one in 2015. So they have a lot of flexibility in going after Tanaka.

 

With all the talk of state tax and not wanting to play in NY, what seems most likely with Choo is that the agent (Boras?) was playing hardball with the Yankees, looking for more (Ellsbury) money. The Yankees called his bluff & went to Beltran. Then with the Yankees out of it, the market didn't get him the better offer that they thought was out there, settled for the lesser offer and tried to save face.

 

The one story I read was that the Yankees offered $140 million for seven years, then quit on Choo entirely when Boras asked for $143 million. Seems more like the Yankees did as much to fuck that up as Boras. Hmmm. The deceitful agent who cares more about his own reputation than making sure his players get the best deal or the spoiled GM who actually whines about the pressure that comes with a big payroll. Yeah, there's a fun contest to follow.

 

Of course. There are two free agent seasons: The regular season and the Boras season. Usually the Boras season is after New Years, but all the cherry picks went fast this year and collapsed the calendar.

 

No way will the Rangers sign Tanaka.
If not the Yanks, then Arte Moreno needs to remind Texas that his team is still in the division.

 

The position-player white flight continues in Texas as Chris McGuiness is DFA'd and traded to Pittsburgh for a pitcher. Mitch Moreland is one nervous cracker right now.

 

I expect any day for Nolan Ryan to go all-Phil-Robertson red neck in a tell-all interview.

 

The Braves and big bucks?
http://www.baseballnation.com/2014/1/3/5271204/phillies-new-tv-deal-braves-nl-east

Not only do the Braves have corporate ownership.
They have faceless corporate ownership.
So you lose the whole ego effect of a high-profile owner.
I'd love to see Ol' Ted Turner ride in on a buffalo and buy the team back.
Or maybe some rap mogul consortium - that would be fun.