Hot Stove Thread 2014-15

John Fisher sucks. If he isn't willing to pay anyone he should sell the A's.

 

I feel like there's still some tiny chance that Beane is just three levels ahead of everyone and they win 190 games the next two years and he's a genius again.

But it sure looks like he's just hit a wall.

 

I have learned better than to question Beane's madness.
I have been pretty well convinced he could grab two dudes off the BART, make them platoon mates and they'd rake.
Moss's peripherals have been in decline over the last few seasons and he is a very poor defender

 

With Hochevar coming back and Finnegan seemingly ready to stay in the bigs, I'd love to see them get a bat with a little power in exchange for Holland. I don't know if they can find somebody willing to give up a proven major league hitter.

 

I get trading Moss. He's aging with injury problems. But they got essentially nothing in return.

 

I am surprised by the vacating of a core in little more than four months. He is rebranding the team. It's what he does.

 

Yours.

 

Plenty of places to learn that lesson. When it comes to sports, a level playing field is far better.

 

Actually, what I think baseball needs most is a salary floor, but that is not happening without a cap. Do I want another strike or a lockout? Of course not. But that doesn't mean I can't point out the flaws in the current system.

The rest of your post mixes up competitive balance and fairness. There is nothing wrong with dynasties in sports, but they should be earned. They are not fully earned when a team builds one in part due to a built-in advantage.

The NFL system gives every team a fair shot at building a great team. The Raiders and Jaguars have every bit as much of an opportunity to build a winner as the Patriots and Ravens, to use your examples. They fail to do so because they are run like shit.

This is still sports. Some teams are going to win more than others. That is the point. But it should also be fair, and in that respect, the NFL, NBA and NHL all do a better job than MLB.

 

The White Sox made bare moves last night. One was signing FA closer David Robertson to a 4 year $46 million deal. While Jon Heyman reports Jeff Samardzija is on his way to Chicago.

These moves come off the heels of the White Sox signing Adam Laroche.

 

I can't believe the Yankees would go to four years and $46 million for Robertson. The qualifying offer was 12.5 15.3, so he signed for an average salary of less than that. The only question is the contract length.

The guy's been great. Has proven he can do it in New York, and has been all class.

 

Yankees ... becoming Pirates-like with their non-commitment to win.