Non-White Sox Off-Season Hot Stove

[fathom]

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’d probably jump all over this if I was the Cubs but they are trying to win now, so they probably won’t move Hoerner.  But he’s a FA after 2026 and I would damn sure take advantage of Hoerner’s 6.2 bWAR from last season that I would be shocked if he ever matches again.  Then they could just start SoxTalk’s favorite player at 2B.

It’s crazy how Cubs bloggers value Nico as basically the best trade chip on the planet.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 minute ago, fathom said:

It’s crazy how Cubs bloggers value Nico as basically the best trade chip on the planet.

If he loses a step, and he will, he won’t be putting up 4+ WARs.  Whatever team gives him a long-term contract into his 30’s after this season is making a mistake IMO.

[WestEddy]

13 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

If the Sox (or Dbacks in this case) would have taken on the full deal, the returns would have been much different.

I agree. But how often does that actually happen? Who is giving away prospects to unload bad contracts?

[chitownsportsfan]

12 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Besides the fact that the Sox already have one bloated LF/DH salary in Benintendi for two more years that they don’t want, and another $20 million dollar salary in Robert that they have been looking to trade.

We don't need to be taking on salary right now, full stop. use any excess resources in the org to continue to build up the analytics and scouting teams in LA and Asia.

[southsider2k5]

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I agree. But how often does that actually happen? Who is giving away prospects to unload bad contracts?

With as many teams as are out there in financial trouble, it would actually be a great way to acquire talent.  Why teams and GMS are scared to do it?  No idea.

[WestEddy]

5 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

We don't need to be taking on salary right now, full stop. use any excess resources in the org to continue to build up the analytics and scouting teams in LA and Asia.

Looking at the Arenado deal, the D-backs just picked him up on a 2/$11M deal for their most recent 8th rounder, who happens to be a starting pitcher. Could the D-backs have done better on the free agent market? The Angels paid Yoan Moncada $5M last year and didn't give up a minor league arm. 

Looking at the deal that SSShowdown posited, they'd send Lee to Phil for Castellanos, RHP Matthew Fisher (#10, MLB), and half of Castellanos' $20M salary. Could the Sox do better than his -0.6 fWAR for $10M? Austin Hays put up 1.2 fWAR for half of that. Hays will be 31 in July; Castellanos starts the season at 34. The Sox end up trading Lee (and $5M they're overpaying for a veteran RF who will suck) for Fisher and hope for a dead cat bounce out of Castellanos.

Is that a good trade?

[southsider2k5]

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Looking at the Arenado deal, the D-backs just picked him up on a 2/$11M deal for their most recent 8th rounder, who happens to be a starting pitcher. Could the D-backs have done better on the free agent market? The Angels paid Yoan Moncada $5M last year and didn't give up a minor league arm. 

Looking at the deal that SSShowdown posited, they'd send Lee to Phil for Castellanos, RHP Matthew Fisher (#10, MLB), and half of Castellanos' $20M salary. Could the Sox do better than his -0.6 fWAR for $10M? Austin Hays put up 1.2 fWAR for half of that. Hays will be 31 in July; Castellanos starts the season at 34. The Sox end up trading Lee (and $5M they're overpaying for a veteran RF who will suck) for Fisher and hope for a dead cat bounce out of Castellanos.

Is that a good trade?

I can't help but look at the fact the Sox and Luis Robert deals with Cincy seem to have a clear delineation.  For a couple of million dollars, they could have let him walk.  For $20 million they can have him for a full season.  And if the Reds reporting is true, they can trade Robert and pay $10 million to get three pitching prospects with some rust (injuries, poor MLB performance, you know the Getz Special).  The question then becomes, are the three pitching prospects worth $10 million to the Sox.

[chitownsportsfan]

6 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Looking at the Arenado deal, the D-backs just picked him up on a 2/$11M deal for their most recent 8th rounder, who happens to be a starting pitcher. Could the D-backs have done better on the free agent market? The Angels paid Yoan Moncada $5M last year and didn't give up a minor league arm. 

Looking at the deal that SSShowdown posited, they'd send Lee to Phil for Castellanos, RHP Matthew Fisher (#10, MLB), and half of Castellanos' $20M salary. Could the Sox do better than his -0.6 fWAR for $10M? Austin Hays put up 1.2 fWAR for half of that. Hays will be 31 in July; Castellanos starts the season at 34. The Sox end up trading Lee (and $5M they're overpaying for a veteran RF who will suck) for Fisher and hope for a dead cat bounce out of Castellanos.

Is that a good trade?

Only if they just ate Nick's salary and cut him loose. We need to find ABs for Quero and Baldwin so we can see what they are. Adding a DH fucks that. 

[GreenSox]

6 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Looking at the Arenado deal, the D-backs just picked him up on a 2/$11M deal for their most recent 8th rounder, who happens to be a starting pitcher. Could the D-backs have done better on the free agent market? The Angels paid Yoan Moncada $5M last year and didn't give up a minor league arm. 

Looking at the deal that SSShowdown posited, they'd send Lee to Phil for Castellanos, RHP Matthew Fisher (#10, MLB), and half of Castellanos' $20M salary. Could the Sox do better than his -0.6 fWAR for $10M? Austin Hays put up 1.2 fWAR for half of that. Hays will be 31 in July; Castellanos starts the season at 34. The Sox end up trading Lee (and $5M they're overpaying for a veteran RF who will suck) for Fisher and hope for a dead cat bounce out of Castellanos.

Is that a good trade?

Or, use Castellanos as the $$ equalizer for the Robert trade.  Robert and, say, Lee for Castellanos and Crawford and maybe more....?
That gives them an upgrade at CF (and the potential for a big one) a serviceable catcher for no additional $.

[WestEddy]

5 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

I can't help but look at the fact the Sox and Luis Robert deals with Cincy seem to have a clear delineation.  For a couple of million dollars, they could have let him walk.  For $20 million they can have him for a full season.  And if the Reds reporting is true, they can trade Robert and pay $10 million to get three pitching prospects with some rust (injuries, poor MLB performance, you know the Getz Special).  The question then becomes, are the three pitching prospects worth $10 million to the Sox.

Was it all 3, or somebody like one of those 3? I'd think getting all 3 would be a good haul. One of them and the Comp Pick and another dude is probably what Getz is shooting for. 

[DirtySox]

 

 

[WestEddy]

6 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Or, use Castellanos as the $$ equalizer for the Robert trade.  Robert and, say, Lee for Castellanos and Crawford and maybe more....?
That gives them an upgrade at CF (and the potential for a big one) a serviceable catcher for no additional $.

I suggested a Mets deal of Robert for Senga, Acuña and Clifford/Ewing. I don't think Robert brings back that good a prospect at this point. 

[GreenSox]

2 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I suggested a Mets deal of Robert for Senga, Acuña and Clifford/Ewing. I don't think Robert brings back that good a prospect at this point. 

Probably not; of course,  Senga is much better than Castellanos so this might be ambitious too.  But I'd do it if the mets would.  .

[southsider2k5]

14 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Was it all 3, or somebody like one of those 3? I'd think getting all 3 would be a good haul. One of them and the Comp Pick and another dude is probably what Getz is shooting for. 

The off sounded like Petty coming off of a bad start in the majors, and two dudes coming off of TJS.

[WestEddy]

This guy was a big deal for a hot moment. He was even bandied about when the Eaton trade with the Nationals happened. 

 

The Cleveland #Guardians have signed INF Carter Kieboom to a minor league deal.

— Jays insight (@JaysInsight) January 13, 2026

 

[chitownsportsfan]

7 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

This guy was a big deal for a hot moment. He was even bandied about when the Eaton trade with the Nationals happened. 

 

 

55 grade name. 35 grade player. Nobody in central is doing jack s%*# other than Sox to improve. Pathetic.

[Ducksnort]

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

 

 

Got damn. That's a lot of dough.

[ChiSoxFanMike]

3 hours ago, WestEddy said:

I agree. But how often does that actually happen? Who is giving away prospects to unload bad contracts?

If Jerry had to be convinced just to sign Murakami, there is zero chance he will take on more salary just to get a random prospect.

A bad salary swap involving Benintendi would be nice, but that’s easier said than done.

[WhiteSox2023]

Cubs get their version of Derek Hill.

Cubs claimed OF Justin Dean off waivers from the Giants.

Dean served as a late-game defensive replacement for the World Series champion Dodgers last postseason before being claimed off waivers by the division-rival Giants in early November. The speedy 29-year-old center fielder makes a ton of sense as a bench outfielder for the Cubs since he’s capable of handling all three spots in a pinch.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

8 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Cubs get their version of Derek Hill.

Cubs claimed OF Justin Dean off waivers from the Giants.

Dean served as a late-game defensive replacement for the World Series champion Dodgers last postseason before being claimed off waivers by the division-rival Giants in early November. The speedy 29-year-old center fielder makes a ton of sense as a bench outfielder for the Cubs since he’s capable of handling all three spots in a pinch.

Yep, guys like this aren't the sexy name by any means but teams obviously see value in keeping them rostered. Third team Dean's been apart of this offseason. They just need to be played correctly and not relied on as a starter.