Major League Baseball HOT STOVE!

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Let's kick it off!  



2 years/$20 million

My New York Mets are putting together an awfully promising team for 2015.  Signing this proven vet tells me that the time to go for it is now.  Even more good news for New York tonight after Jacob deGrom takes home the NL Rookie of the Year award.  : D

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Apparently the Red Sox are interested in Pablo Sandoval.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Cuban outfielder Yasmani Tomas is on his way to the states and is apparently ready to sign with an MLB team.  The Phillies are the favorites to land him. 

[RI]

Marlins rumored to be offering Stanton a $300m+ contract.

[NewYorkExpress]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-plans-pursue-free-agents-pablo-sandoval-jon-lester-max-scherzer-article-1.1997950

Apparently the New York Yankees don't want any of the top free agents-even though they badly need a 3B and a SS, positions manned by star free agents Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.

Have fun with finishing last in the AL East next year, Yankee fans.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

RIP RUSSELL MARTIN AND HIS PIRATES UNIFORM. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

RIP RUSSELL MARTIN AND HIS PIRATES UNIFORM. 

I feel bad for you, Uncle Gramps.  It's like when we let go of Paul Lo Duca.  I like having a fiery little backstop to get the team going and pick up big hits. 

So, how does a 2015 New York vs. Pittsburgh NLCS sound to you? 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

RIP RUSSELL MARTIN AND HIS PIRATES UNIFORM. 

I feel bad for you, Uncle Gramps.  It's like when we let go of Paul Lo Duca.  I like having a fiery little backstop to get the team going and pick up big hits. 

So, how does a 2015 New York vs. Pittsburgh NLCS sound to you? 

The Mets?  You're cute

[RI]

Pirates sign AJ Burnett, 1/8.5.

Stanton and Marlins closing in on 13/325 extension with no-trade and opt-out.

[Associate Justice PiT]

RIP RUSSELL MARTIN AND HIS PIRATES UNIFORM. 

I feel bad for you, Uncle Gramps.  It's like when we let go of Paul Lo Duca.  I like having a fiery little backstop to get the team going and pick up big hits. 

So, how does a 2015 New York vs. Pittsburgh NLCS sound to you? 

    Cardinals have to be there, and advance to the World Series. It's part of our Faustian bargain to rule the NL forever.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

RIP RUSSELL MARTIN AND HIS PIRATES UNIFORM. 

I feel bad for you, Uncle Gramps.  It's like when we let go of Paul Lo Duca.  I like having a fiery little backstop to get the team going and pick up big hits. 

So, how does a 2015 New York vs. Pittsburgh NLCS sound to you? 

    Cardinals have to be there, and advance to the World Series. It's part of our Faustian bargain to rule the NL forever.

I have a feeling the Mets ascent to greatness will include an early-round ousting of the Redbirds.  Revenge for stealing what was to be triumph from us in 2006. 

[The Dowager Mod]

 The Phillies offered A.J. Burnett $12.75 million, He's taking $4.5 million less to play with the Pirates.
Buuuuuuurn Philly.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

The Phillies offered A.J. Burnett $12.75 million, He's taking $4.5 million less to play with the Pirates.
Buuuuuuurn Philly.

The Phillies are in major rebuild mode, Burnett would not like to writhe in obscurity on a bad team for a year.  Believe me, it's a tough thing to do in that city because the fans are just so brutal. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Phillies offered A.J. Burnett $12.75 million, He's taking $4.5 million less to play with the Pirates.
Buuuuuuurn Philly.

We are happy to have him back.  8.5 for 200+ good innings is worth it.

[RI]

Big day already:

1) Stanton signs for 13/325.
2) Russell Martin to Toronto for 5/82.
3) Atlanta trades Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to Cardinals for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins

Seems like the Heyward trade came out of nowhere, but it makes some sense. St. Louis needed another outfielder after Taveras's death, and they clear room for Carlos Martinez to start. I'm not sure I understand it from the Braves's point of view, though.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

2) Russell Martin to Toronto for 5/82.

They can have him at that price. 

[© tweed]

I'm not sure I understand it from the Braves's point of view, though.

they get a pitcher with significant upside who is under team control.  they weren't going to re-sign Heyward (free agent after 2015) unless they paid him market money, which could be in the $150m range.

[Lambsbread]

Am I the only one who believes there should be a ban on contracts like the one Stanton got? It's awful. Dude could get fed up with playing for that team after 5 years and he won't be able to leave because of his massive contract.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Am I the only one who believes there should be a ban on contracts like the one Stanton got? It's awful. Dude could get fed up with playing for that team after 5 years and he won't be able to leave because of his massive contract.

Opt out clause after 6 in his deal.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Not necessarily Hot Stove stuff, but my Metsies are once again changing the dimensions of their park, this time bringing in the ridiculous right-center field wall.  

http://metsblog.com/metsblog/mets-will-announce-new-citi-field-dimensions-next-tuesday/

Now the field will resemble Shea Stadium, which was enough of a pitcher's park as it is.  



I'm very happy with this, as Citi was absolutely absurd when it first opened.  

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Being a long suffering Pirate fan I have no room to talk, but Hokey, are you seriously going to tell us  you expect the Mets to even sniff a wild card spot, much less their division? 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Being a long suffering Pirate fan I have no room to talk, but Hokey, are you seriously going to tell us  you expect the Mets to even sniff a wild card spot, much less their division? 

I expect the Mets to win the NL East with anywhere between 91-95 victories, yes. 

Harvey - deGrom - Niese - Wheeler - Syndergaard/Colon/Montero/Gee (whoever impresses the most)

Familia - Parnell - Mejia - Edgin - Black at the forefront in the 'pen. 

It's about pitching, Uncle Gramps.

[Smash255]

Being a long suffering Pirate fan I have no room to talk, but Hokey, are you seriously going to tell us  you expect the Mets to even sniff a wild card spot, much less their division? 

I expect the Mets to win the NL East with anywhere between 91-95 victories, yes. 

Harvey - deGrom - Niese - Wheeler - Syndergaard/Colon/Montero/Gee (whoever impresses the most)

Familia - Parnell - Mejia - Edgin - Black at the forefront in the 'pen. 

It's about pitching, Uncle Gramps.

ROTFLMMFAO

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Being a long suffering Pirate fan I have no room to talk, but Hokey, are you seriously going to tell us  you expect the Mets to even sniff a wild card spot, much less their division? 

I expect the Mets to win the NL East with anywhere between 91-95 victories, yes. 

Harvey - deGrom - Niese - Wheeler - Syndergaard/Colon/Montero/Gee (whoever impresses the most)

Familia - Parnell - Mejia - Edgin - Black at the forefront in the 'pen. 

It's about pitching, Uncle Gramps.

ROTFLMMFAO

Don't bust the lil guy's bubble, Smash. 

[RI]

Hanley Ramirez to Boston, 5/90