2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

If they do nothing more to improve the roster for 2014, I will be right whether you want to admit it or not.

 

Really?

And if they do nothing more and finish 91-71 and make the playoffs?

 

If the Dodgers lost two position players and one of their top pitchers to free agency and their major acquisition was Edinson Volquez, who had a 5.71 ERA last season, would that be acceptable?

 

Derek Jeter is retiring after the 2014 season.

fb.com/derekjeter

 

I created a separate thread to keep the Manky-trolling here to a minimum:

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/98922/

 

Burnett's ERA the 2 seasons prior to coming to Pittsburgh was 5+ so perhaps the Pirates are looking for similar results with Volquez. They took a chance on Liriano, and it worked out.

PNC Park: Home of the Reclamation Projects!

As for the Dodgers ... eh, whatever. It's been 26 years.

 

The Red Sox knocked $23 million off their 2013 payroll and were almost universally projected to finish low -- perhaps even last -- in the AL East.

 

The Pirates really crapped the bed this offseason. They could make a case for losing Burnett and replacing him with internal options to be the right move, but then they needed to upgrade a few of their offensive spots with the money they saved.

The Cardinals had the biggest gap between the quality of their offseaso and the rest of their divisions' that I've ever seen, between the Pirates and Reds doing nothing, the Cubs continuing to tank on purpose in perpetuity, and the Brewers' general Breweriness.

 

Two years ago, they weren't contenders. Now they are a team that just made the playoffs. Going with prospects, scraps and reclamation projects is fine if you aren't ready to contend.

Also, Volquez is a much longer shot now than Burnett was two years ago. Burnett had put together more solid seasons at that point in his career. Volquez had one outstanding season, blew out his arm and has never come close to that level since.

Burnett pitched for the Yankees his two seasons before arriving in Pittsburgh. That means facing the tougher lineups of the American League and pitching in a hitter's park. He also had a 5.15 ERA his last season in New York, significantly lower than Volquez's 5.71 in 2013. Throw in the fact that not only was Volquez in the National League last season, he spent most of the year pitching his home games in San Diego and the rest in Los Angeles, so he had the advantage of working in pitcher's parks much of the time and still sucked.

 

Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma out 4-6 weeks with a finger injury:

https://twitter.com/TNT_Mariners/status/433688046148395008

 

Did they add players who helped in 2013?

 

How do you know the Pirates didn't?

The Red Sox were being laughed at for signing Victorino and keeping Lackey in the rotation.