2025-26 Off-season (non-Nats)

[imref]

You'll never guess who the Padres just hired as their hitting coach

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/padres-to-hire-steven-souza-jr-as-hitting-coach.html

He can coach fielding in no-hitter situations as well.

[imref]

Randy Knorr to SD to be Stammen’s bench coach as well.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

You'll never guess who the Padres just hired as their hitting coach

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/padres-to-hire-steven-souza-jr-as-hitting-coach.html

Stammen is  bringing in Knorr as his bench coach, too. Must have really admired the organization at the start of its heyday.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Sonny Gray to the Red Sox. Quite expensive ($35 million, with a $30 million option and $5 million buyout for 2027). Let's see how much $ change hands.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/cardinals-trade-sonny-gray-red-sox.html

Edit: Rosenthal says the Cards are getting Richard Fitts (I won't go Beavis and Butthead with that name) and a good minor league prospect in Brandon Clarke (LHP, #86 on FG's MLB list, 4th in the Sox system, 50 FV, 97 MPH fastball and nice slider - sounds like Susana-lite).

[imref]

Sonny Gray to the Red Sox. Quite expensive ($35 million, with a $30 million option and $5 million buyout for 2027). Let's see how much $ change hands.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/cardinals-trade-sonny-gray-red-sox.html

$20M going from STL to BOS.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Also heard they've renegotiated the contract to $31 million this year and a mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout.  That's a pocket change deal for the Sox, which explains the pitchers the Card got back.

[imref]

Also heard they've renegotiated the contract to $31 million this year and a mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout.  That's a pocket change deal for the Sox, which explains the pitchers the Card got back.

Red Sox are taking a $31M cap hit. They parted with their #5 prospect who is still in A ball, and another unranked prospect who struggled in the majors this past year. And that's for one year of Gray.

Seems like Gore would bring a bigger haul?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Red Sox are taking a $31M cap hit. They parted with their #5 prospect who is still in A ball, and another unranked prospect who struggled in the majors this past year. And that's for one year of Gray.

Seems like Gore would bring a bigger haul?

well, the $20 million lowers  the cap hit. I'm not sure if it lowers it to $11 million or $21 million.

Agree Gore  should get more.

[Slateman]

well, the $20 million lowers  the cap hit. I'm not sure if it lowers it to $11 million or $21 million.

Agree Gore  should get more.

Significantly more. Pitching is expensive

[imref]

well, the $20 million lowers  the cap hit. I'm not sure if it lowers it to $11 million or $21 million.

$21M cap hit per MLBTR

[JCA-CrystalCity]

$21M cap hit per MLBTR

probably $10 million applied to this year's salary plus $10 million applied to next year's buyout / pption.

[imref]

Cease heading north of the border:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/blue-jays-to-sign-dylan-cease-to-seven-year-deal.html

[imref]

O’s spending.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/orioles-sign-ryan-helsley.html

[imref]

The Edwin Diaz era ends in Queens:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/mets-devin-williams-agree-to-three-year-deal.html

[Natsinpwc]

Are you sure? I’ve read before they what to sign both.  They have the money.

[imref]

Are you sure? I’ve read before they what to sign both.  They have the money.

The speculation I saw was that it would be one or the other as they need to fill other holes. But we'll see....

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Skenes got tired of playing with a bunch of hacks, so they picked up a new Password. Somehow they improve and lower their payroll

[Count Walewski]

Very interesting trade between the Pirates and Red Sox. The Pirates are sending Boston a back-of-the-rotation starter coming off TJ surgery in exchange for a much-hyped prospect who strikes out in 30% of his at-bats. Could be a bust for both teams but I suppose the Pirates have more of the potential upside here.

How much of the Pirates trying to contend is real versus positive PR for owners ahead of the lockout?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I like Oviedo. May just be a long reliever for them, but supposedly he came back with 2 reshaped fastballs to go with his good breaking stuff. Fastballs were his weakness. Improve that, without losing velo, and he becomes a lot more than just a depth guy. Strikes me as a deal where both sides swapped upside guys from a position of depth

[imref]

Rosenthal says the Pirates have made Schwarber an offer believed to be 4 years for around $100M

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rosenthal says the Pirates have made Schwarber an offer believed to be 4 years for around $100M

I think  he can top that

[blue911]

I think  he can top that

It’s a fair contract and probably get it done if it was Philly. Not Pittsburgh though

[varoadking]

I think  he can top that

The Nats should top that...

[Slateman]

Mike Soroka signed a 1 year deal with the DBacks

[Slateman]

The Nats should top that...

Nah, that's the kind of contract that smart teams avoid.