MLB (non-Phillies) 2025-26 Hot Stove

[Philsmania]

Giants hiring an NCAA coach as their next manager...

San Francisco Giants to hire Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as next manager:...

Pujols now longer a candidate in Anaheim but is in San Diego and Baltimore.

https://www.mlb.com/news/albert-pujols-will-not-be-angels-manager

Angels hire their third choice after Toriii Hunter declines as well. A joke of a franchise.

https://www.mlb.com/news/kurt-suzuki-angels-manager

[zambonir]

Suzuki's probably a decent pick. Interviewed for the Giants job too. But hilarious that all three of the finalists were people who already were advisors to Minasian. Would be like if the Phillies job opened and they only interviewed Bowa and Rollins (not that that wasn't the Phillies Way).

Incidentally the team seems to have scrubbed its extensive lists of baseball operations and other employees. Being cagey, or just a glitch/possible website revamp?

https://www.mlb.com/phillies/team/front-office

[zambonir]

Hee hee, he's on a one-year deal. No wonder nobody else wanted it.

[andyb]

That is going to be a disaster.

[zambonir]

Seems like there will just a be new GM (as well as, potentially a new manager) after that.

Trout must really feel loyal to Moreno (and his money).

[andyb]

Trout must really feel loyal to Moreno (and his money).

Well we do need a right-handed power bat.

[andyb]

Bowden's trade candidates. Phillies are mentioned with Duran (Red Sox OF). Of course I look at 9 and 10 together and wonder if Bohm for Jo Adell is actually a match that might help both teams. Bohm's best match is the Angels and we do need a RH power bat.

Tarik Skubal heads the top 10 MLB stars most likely to be traded this offseason

[andyb]

Bowden's top 50 free agent with predicted salaries:

Schwarber 5/160 - about right?
Suarez 6/164 - seems too long
Realmuto 2/34 - will he get 3 (or higher AAV)?

I could see us in the mix for 1-year deals with the likes of Devon Willams, Ryan Helsley, or Cedric Mullins (all $10 million or less). At that price I think we clearly keep JT, let Ranger go, and think about Kyle. Tucker just seems too expensive with all the other payroll needs.

Top 50 MLB free agents for 2025-26: Contract predictions, team fits for Tucker,...

[Philsmania]

Look, I genuinely appreciate all Ranger has done for us but six years with his health history is nuts.

[zambonir]

It's both too long and too high. But every pitcher is a health risk no matter the term or their age. I wouldn't feel that much better about signing Ranger to a three-year deal if it was $30 AAV.

I don't think Bowden is a great source for these kind of predictions (versus MLBTR) anyway, even if he claims to be talking to GMs and agents. But pitching is scarce, and he has Valdez, Ranger and Cease all getting six-year deals. Imai, seven. Gallen, five. The next few after that all predicted at $75M/three years.

[andyb]

Among Schwarber, Realmuto, and Suarez - who would you bet to worth more WAR in the 2028 season? To me the answer is an obvious Suarez and he is the least likely player that we will resign among the three. Presents a conundrum....