Wow! Did this year's Hot Stove burn hot and fast, or what? The big contracts keep dropping and the stove is fast running out of fuel. Yes, there are some under-the-radar deals still to be had and the trade market might come to life as the free agent market dries up, but this Hot Stove League season is getting close to being in the books and we're still about 2 months from the start of spring training.
We can all breath a sigh of relief that Dansby Swanson SS is not going to be Dodger. The Cubs are widely reported to be finalizing a contract for 7 yr/$177 M. BTW, did you know Dansby Swanson had a higher WAR last year than Carlos Correa? He's about a year older than Correa but his contract is for 6 fewer years and about $ 2 M AAV. Good signing by the Cubs. The Cubs need Cody Bellinger OF/1B and Jameson Taillon RHP to mount comebacks. If they do, they will be a much improved team in 2023.
The Dodgers signed J. D. Martinez DH to a 1 yr/$10 M contract. Martinez is entering his age 35 season and is pretty much limited to DH'ing these days but still has some pop in his bat. Look for the Dodgers to sign a few more value contracts before the Hot Stove completely dies out. I understand they still have a ton of talent on that team but unless some prospects step up, they are noticeably weaker than last season, particularly with the loss of Trea Turner SS.
Andrew Benintendi OF signed a 5 yr/$75 M contract with the White Sox. I like the Giants chances with LMJ and Blake Sabol over that contract any day.
Couple thoughts - Dodgers look vulnerable all of a sudden. No big moves and several losses including Bellinger who I think they will miss more than most realize. Several players like Muncy and Taylor could slip more and pitching isn’t as strong as previous years.
ReplyDeletePadres will be a juggernaut offensively and they have a great bullpen. Rotation could be their only slight weakness but they have time to upgrade. They are my pick to win the West!
Giants saved their off-season with Correa. The more I think about it the happier I am about having him. Haniger could end up being a monster signing and guys like Davis and Villar have a chance to be big RBI guys with the table setters in front of them. I would like to see them add another LH bat like Brantley or even Conforto and we could have the weapons to finish in 2nd above the Dodgers!
Exciting hot stove for sure and there are still some interesting players available. I will have to get out to spring training for a few games and can’t wait to take my kids to Oracle to watch Correa and buy a few of his jerseys.
I think the Giants have had a great offseason. Maybe the best I can remember as a Giants fan. Aaron Judge was a better fit in the short term but I think Correa may be the better fit long term and these contracts are long term commitments.
DeleteA agree they could use a upgraded lefty bat but I would place greater priority on a bullpen arm or two. There are only so many roster spots and it's not out of the question that one or more out of Wade Jr, Blake Sabol or Brett Wisely could step up end be the lefty bat upgrade from within. A Belt reunion is a possibility too.
The guy to watch for the Cubs this year is Alexander Canario, who they got from us in the Kris Bryant deal. He had a monster minor league season in 22, across several levels and culminating in AAA Iowa. He's poised to make the leap this season. Might be a rookie of the year candidate if he continues his tear.
ReplyDeletePerhaps another Bryan Reynolds?
DeleteUnfortunately Canario reportidy suffered major injuries breaking his ankle and separating his shoulder on a freak play in Dominican winter ball running to 1st base. There is no timetable for his return, but Cubs are hopeful to get him back fully healthy sometime in 2023 . That kind of hurts the Giants trading away a prospect like Canario
DeleteI seem to remember this is not the first serious injury for Canario.
DeleteYes, it was reported that Canario had surgery for a torn labrum on Nov 2020 on the same shoulder that he recently injured. Hope a promising project like Canario makes a full recovery.
DeleteSo there's still the Rogers twin (LHP) on the market, if they want closer experience to buttress Dotel.
ReplyDeleteTrades may follow. What seems obvious is that they have too many at 3B, even assuming Longoria is really gone. I fear that they'll flip Villar for somebody (most likely CF or a Toronto C), which would sadden me. I think Villar could well lead the team with about 30 HR and gradually improve into a plus 3B with a little patience. Which is why he's marketable. And at this point the team will lack patience.
E.g., perhaps Luciano + Villar might bring back Reynolds.
There was a time Bryan Reynolds was considered a plus OF – but not the last 2 years. Injuries? Age?
ReplyDeleteYear-over-year, YtY has improved in CF, Slater has regressed.
Mark Contreras, a one-year somewhat positive CF, was DFA'd by Minnesota, but he has never shown anything positive hitting.
Haniger has played some CF but much more RF where he has been positive.
Because of Oracle's alley in right-center, theory is you play RH in CF, LH in RF to put the gloves between them. Thus, YtY in CF and Haniger in RH is not as good covering the alley.
Wade is negative (DRS) but better in RF than CF. In his 4 years in MLB, his only good hitting year was 2021 when just about every Giant was having a career (or near career) year.
If the Giants can get enough hitting elsewhere they could use a player like Bryce Johnson in CF. He has improved his hitting in AAA, but whiffed offensively in his brief MLB appearance last year.
To be "strong up the middle" to help their pitchers, the Giants need to address CF and 2B, although Crawford at 2B would be magnificent where Estrada is horrible.
The 2 CFers they wanted stayed in NY.
Is there one they can trade for?