Hot Stove Thread 2014-15

Reports from a few places are saying now the Royals' Big 3 relievers are off the table, but they are willing to trade Omar Infante.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/103608632/sources-pirates-sign-pitcher-francisco-liriano-to-3-year-contract

A sign that maybe, possibly Pirates ownership is finally getting it. Pittsburgh is close to a three year, $39 million dollar contract with Francisco Liriano. At least they managed to keep one of their three significant free agents. Signing Burnett for one year to replace Volquez likely means a downgrade from 2014, but a one-year risk is a good one for a small market.

Now if they will use the savings from letting Russell Martin go to upgrade elsewhere, they might actually show they are willing to build on their recent success rather than let it fall apart.

 

So we're now on signing Burnett DOES mean Pittsburgh wants to win?

The ever-changing status of A.J. Burnett and what he means to oop.

 

Once again, you were in such a hurry to launch another lame attack in my direction that you didn't even bother to understand the post you are responding to.

As a replacement for Liriano, Burnett would have been a clear sign that the team is going the cheap route again. Given the team's history, I was absolutely right to doubt that they would do what is necessary to keep Liriano until they proved otherwise. They earned that doubt and I have made it clear from the beginning that my issue with the Burnett signing is that I thought the Pirates might use that to cover for letting both Liriano and Volquez go.

Now that the team finally stepped up and kept a key free agent, Burnett is the lesser of the two offseason signings for the rotation. In that role, the one-year gamble makes more sense. It is a risk given his age and how badly he pitched in 2014, but it's not like Volquez deserves much trust. He was one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball two seasons ago.

I'm being fair and acknowledging that the Pirates finally did what they should be doing, at least in this one instance. I'm sorry that the point of my post sailed right over your head.

 

Jon Lester appears to be down to the Red Sox and Cubs, having told the Giants no thanks. Dodgers could always blow everyone out of the water, though.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12003057/free-agent-jon-lester-choice-slowed-negotiations

 

Per teh Twitterz: Lester to Cubs, 6 years, $155M.

 

At least the Dodgers didn't get him.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24877558/cubs-sign-jon-lester-to-6-year-155m-deal

CBS has it. I'm sure others do as well.

 

From Mark Zuckerman....

2011-14
Lester: 55-42, 3.61 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.257 WHIP, 6 yrs/155M
Zimmermann: 53-33, 3.00 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.117 WHIP, ??

I suppose Boston is probably in the market for a guy like Zimmermann. Who plays 2B for them?

 

First post in a long time... Good to see some familiar faces.

Are the Cubs finished?

 

Probably could use one more pitcher, though not sure they'd go for Scherzer (maybe Shields).

Of course, they could always deal one or two of their big prospects for an arm. But they probably wait til the 2015 deadline to do that, if then.

EDIT: The Cubs probably trade Wellington Castillo now that they have Montero (and Schwarber on his way before long).

 

Yes, I believe they were just mathematically eliminated from the 2015 playoffs.