2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

I don't think there has ever been a guy like this, though. Even moreso if he ends up with an MVP award this season.

Regardless, $22.5M -- the over/under average deal -- would seem to be a pretty safe low-end bet for what he could get in arbitration, hence there would be no reason whatsoever for him to take a deal that averages that through his free-agency years.

 

He'll set a record for a first-year arbitration guy, sure.

IIRC, the record is $10m, set by Ryan Howard.

$30m is not on the table for a first-year arbitration guy.

 

Rick, I thought you might know something about this subject: Is Javier Baez expected to reach the Cubs some time this upcoming season? Thanks.

 

If you ask nutjob Cubs fans: July

More realistically: September for sure.

(meaning September for certain, *maybe* July but probably not)

 

Burnett will always have a special place in my heart because along with Cutch, he was just as much a part of the Pirate resurgance as anyone. But that said, the Pirates will have Liriano, Cole, Wandy, Morton and Volquez, Crompton or Locke for the fifth spot. I am fine with that, and Tallion will be up this summer.

The $16 mil not spent this year can always be banked and used for next year's free agent market. It would have been nice to keep Burnett, but they are not in dire need to keeping him.

Pedro is the guy I don't want to see them lose down the road.

 

I'm ambivalent about the Cubs, but that group of hitters they've got coming through the minors right now (Baez, Kris Bryant, Alberto Almora, Jorge Soler, Arismendy Alcantara) has the potential to be as good as that produced by the Brewers about 10 years ago (Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, JJ Hardy, etc.).

 

Absolutely. Once again, nutjob Cubs fans will tell you that the team is already penciled in for division titles from 2016-2029, but they really do have an amazing base of young talent.

Which they darn well ought to, considering that in the 2.5 years since Epstein took over they've:

1) Let two major free agents go for compensation picks
2) Traded a dozen major leaguers for prospects
3) Spent about $60 million in the international market for prospects
4) Had the No. 2 and No. 6 overall picks (and had the first-round pick from the year before turn into a top-5 prospect in baseball).



I hadn't really thought about those Brewers as a comp until the Baseball Prospectus podcast brought it up in their Cubs season preview a few days ago, but it's really apt.

 

They'll find a way to fuck it up.

I'm sure of it.

 

David Price, matchmaker:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140214/LIFE01/302140086/Nashville-love-story-stars-SportsCenter-s-Sara-Walsh-former-Vandy-teammates?odyssey=obinsite

 

Those of you who had Mark Mulder in your keeper leagues will have to wait yet another year...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-mark-mulder-comeback-ends-injury-20140215,0,3994057.story#axzz2tRP09gyS

 

Nashville love story stars SportsCenter's Sara Walsh and former Vandy teammates
----------

Headline makes it sound like they have decided to live as a threesome.

NTTAWWT

 

Braves and Craig Kimbrel agree on a 4-year extension thru 2017 with an option for 2018:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/braves-craig-kimbrel-agree-to-extension.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The track record of extreme strikeout closers staying healthy is not good, but maybe Kimbrel can break the mold ...

EDIT: Jayson Stark reporting it's at for least $42 million over 4:

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/435064656563277824