2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Tanaka arrives in New York -- in a chartered 787 that cost $200,000. Although it seats 200, there were five people on the plane. Plus a poodle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/sports/baseball/tanaka-rents-boeing-787-for-entrance.html?_r=0

 

Reports are that Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs are replacing Wheels and Sarge in the Phillies announce booth.

 

30 for 30: Here's how the Yankees landed A-Rod and the Red Sox didn't.

http://grantland.com/features/30-for-30-shorts-the-deal/

 

AJ Burnett to the Phillies for 1 year, $16 million:

http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2014/02/aj_burnett_signs_with_phillies_according_to_report.html

 

Lucky for the Pirates, that took long enough that their excuse for not spending lasted until most of the top free agents are gone. That was the claim early on, that they were going to wait on Burnett. Doesn't hold up very well now that he signed elsewhere. The front office has certainly proven the best that Pittsburgh has had in a very long time, but ownership still isn't making the commitment needed to win with any consistency.

 

I wouldn't pay 16 million for Burnett regardless of what market I was in.

 

As a Phillies fan, I have mixed feelings about this. It's only one year, and there is every chance Burnett will be OK for about half of that year. Anything after that I will regard as a bonus. They're not gonna outslug anybody, so even a questionable proven starter is not to be scorned.

 

I'm of the opinion that there are no bad one-year deals.

If he flops, you bench him and he's gone after the season.

If he's good and the team flops, you deal him at the deadline.

 

Probably a good move. I like Burnett but he's 37.

Seems like they'll be able to use that $16 million a little more wisely in the coming years. Cole clearly is going to be Cy Young caliber for years to come. Why not start saving to give him what he'll be worth?

 

The term is what makes it fine for a team like the Phillies.

I think the Pirates did well geting 2 good years out of Burnett at 6 per and letting him go when he bcame too expensive. It's almost like they are making smart organizational decisions like the A's and Rays do.

 

oop 2012 -- paying A.J. Burnett shows the Pirates are dumb.

oop 2014 -- not paying A.J. Burnett shows the Pirates are dumb.

 

Burnett was so shitty with the Pirates that his ERA with them was 3.41 thru 393.1 innings.

389 strikeouts, 129 walks.

26-21 record