"Hot Stove" MLB Season Is Here!

The way that the Mets choked last year was unreal.

They are going for broke in 2023.

If it doesn't work, they are left with a pretty bad $ situation. 

So the Mets sign Verlander, the Phillies sign Trea Turner, 11 years and $300 million contract with a full no trade clause, aaaaand the New York Yankees re-sign...

Brian Cashman to a four-year contract through the 2026 season... gtfo

Phillies give an 11 year deal to a 29 year old that depends on speed, that's not smart.

At least the Mets get Kate Upton in their deal

See, the Yankees are loaded 

Anyone know why Kershaw keeps signing one year deals with Dodgers? Are they his fav. team or something?

He is only 34 and in 2019 he made 31 million, why would he sign one year for 20 million now, 12-3 last year after coming back from injury, better than Mets pitcher 5-4. Just seems strange in this day of baseball to me, hell a Pittsburgh outfielder that hit 262 with his highest HR total in 4 year career of 27 demands to be traded, now that is baseball.

Trea Turner leaves Dodgers for Phillies which gives the NL Champs another bat to go with Harper and the others plus he is a shortstop which is always good to have a good one of those that hits with power.

11 years at the 300 price and he will be 40 at the end of it, Phillies have not confirmed the deal yet but it is posted everywhere on internet and that is never wrong.

Good to see my Philadelphia teams just getting better, might be moving after all.

@JEG53

 Kershaw has a bad back. It hasn't been right for a while now. I remember when he had a herniated disc, he opted for therapy. Never went under the knife. 

Maybe other teams know that, and the Dodgers are the only team that try to get all they can out of him.

Let's see if this will get any traction: https://www.insider.com/mlb-used-two-balls-again-this-year-and-evidence-points-to-a-third-2022-12

Meh, this puts a big ? around Pujol's and Judge's records...

Bell to Cleveland for 2 years and $33 mil.

Belinges to the Cubbies on a one-year $17.5 mil deal.

Damn looks like Padres offered Turner $342 mil and he chose Philly...

Supposedly, the Giants are offering Judge $360 mil... I hope he takes it.

@undermysac

 Thanks sac, I thought he must have something wrong but did not find anything.

Taijuan Walker to the Phillies for 4 years, wow.

As I said Judge would get more than 300 million,

how about 360 for 9 years staying with the Loaded Yankees.

Meh, what a fucking waste of money... it seem the Padres offered Judge 10 years for $400 million, Giants the same and the Yankees, but he decided to stay in the Bronx. The deal will have a full no-trade clause.

Haniger agrees to a 3-year. $43.5 million deal with the Giants.

Taillon to the Cubs on a 4-year, $68 million contract.

Joe Quintana to the Mets, on 2-year, $26 million contract.

Kenley Jansen to the Red Sox, on 2-years, $32 million contract.

Quintana to the Mets is a sneaky good addition. 

Their staff now minus Degrom has somehow gotten right again, maybe better. Considering Degrom's availability. 

JV, Max, Carrasco, Peterson, Quintana 

All guys had an era under 4 last year. Max under 3, JV under 2.

Bassit had a 3.42 and started 30 games. I wonder if he could still get resigned?

@undermysac

 Wonder if the Mets are upset over lost in playoffs last season.

Wilson Contreras to the Cardinals on a 5-year, $87.5 million contract.

Boston will sign OF Masataka Yoshida on a 5-year, 90 million contract.

It looks like the Padres finally managed to convince a big FA to join them: Xander Bogaerts on a 11-year, $280 million deal. The guy is 30, so I guess they offered him so many years because of the Tatis and Machado contracts.

Only 3 big FA left on the market: Correa, Swanson and Rodon.

@yaongingy

 Are the Mariners looking for pitching? That would be a great spot for Rodon imo.

No idea sac, the last rumors are he is seeking a 7-year deal.

Some rumors the Yankees are working on another big deal, might be Correa?! Bleah I hope it's not true, they would need Rodon more...

David Robertson to the Mets, 1-year, $10 million deal.

Nimmo to return to the Mets, 8-year, $162 million deal.

@ArtSchlichterJr

 He actually demanded a trade after 4 years with Pittsburgh, he hit 262 last year with 27 homers. When I grew up those numbers would have him in Double A ball but today he gets to be a primadonna.

Looks like there is a new Evil Empire in NY: Kodai Senga to the Mets on a 5-years, $75 million deal.

So with this latest deal the NY Mets payroll is at $345 million and with the luxury tax it's $421 million! Absolutely mental, now imagine if the Mets fail to win the WS in the next 2 years.

Ok I have to ask, where are these luxury taxes going exactly? Yeesh...

Google says: Of the remaining sum, 50% of the remaining proceeds collected for each Contract Year, with accrued interest, will be used to fund player compensation as described in the MLB Players Benefits Plan Agreements and the other 50% shall be distributed to clubs that did not exceed the Base Tax Threshold in that Contract Year.

Steven Cohen is the owner of the Mets, he is also the richest owner in the MLB, and from what I've read even with this luxury tax he wont lose money, probably at worst break even. The guy has an art collection worth around $1 billion, his most expensive painting is worth $165 million, a Picasso, so money ain't an issue for him.

I dunno if his gamble will pay off, as good as Scherzer and Verlander are, imo their age will pay a big role in their performance, for the next 2 years. Also, their contracts for those 2 years are worth a little more than that Picasso.

Out of curiosity I checked the futures for the 2023 season and Bet365 has the following odds:

1. Dodgers 6.50

2. Astros 6.50

3. Yankees 9.00

4. Braves 10.00

5. Blue Jays 11.00

6. Mets 11.00

7. Padres 11.00

Really surprising to see the Mets odds so high, but the most surprising odds are those of the Padres, their line-up is absolutely stacked, yet their pitching not being on par is probably the reason for those odds.

@yaongingy

 That's great info, seriously. 

Mlb players in 2023 are getting paid more than a Picasso is worth.

@undermysac

 I got it from reddit, a lot of great stuff being posted there. Fe the Mets luxury tax is about the same as the WHOLE salary cap of the Pirates, Orioles and Rays.

does the Mets owner care bout the luxury tax