MLB (non-Phillies) 2025-26 Hot Stove

[David_Criss]

3/45 is a lot of coin for a bullpen arm. I didn't think he'd get that much and at that price am elated it isn't the Phillies who signed him.

[Philsmania]

Robert. The pitcher who sent the Phillies to the World Series!

And Ranger got the save in that game!

[BaseballCat]

I saw on X that Suarez and Braves were trending and I was like “Oh No”…‍

[andyb]

Mets getting Jorge Polanco to fill part of the 1B hole. Never played 1B before but it is the Mets. He had a good year last season but that could be an outlier at his age. More a 750 OPS guy at this point rather than 800+. Kind of like if we moved Bohm to 1B but got an aging 3B offensively.

Jorge Polanco agrees to 2-year, $40 million deal with the Mets: Sources

[zambonir]

Yeah that's a big chunk of change. Okay if he can repeat last year, and maybe he can (the article says he cut his Ks and also had a really low BABIP that could improve, power was good). Mets are definitely a bit baffling.

[bkox]

Aiming to level playing field, MLB to regulate use of data and tech in minors

[julio]

Aiming to level playing field, MLB to regulate use of data and tech in minors

Annoyingly poor journalism there. Lots of references to the narrative that some organizations are spending “big bucks” on in-game data collection in the minors, while other organizations are kvetching about that. But not one scintilla of actual data. How much are certain clubs actually spending on this stuff? How does the cost of outfitting an organization’s minor league parks compare to, for instance, the cost of a five-year contract for a DH who is an MVP contender?

No mention of which teams have actually made the “big” investments; is it the Dodgers and Mets…or is it, perhaps, less wealthy but more creative clubs? The Rays? The Brewers? What is the reality here?

It’s typical modern “journalism.” Compelling narrative, but no data…so the reader has no idea whether the narrative reflects reality, or whether it just pulls a predictable emotional response.

[zambonir]

I'm sure the reporter would love to have the info you want and equally sure not one team in MLB is willing to share it (nor are the vendors). Even the publicly owned Braves wouldn't have info that granular available. Several of the people quoted wouldn't go on the record by name. This is a breaking news story about something that hasn't even happened yet. As it gets closer to reality (or actually happens) far more of that info will come out.

But indeed, I'm just wondering where the Phillies fit into this picking order. We know they have enough money to be one of the top-spending and most innovative teams in this space, but are they? I recall one of our major league players not wanting to rehab in Clearwater (I think Marsh, not Harper who of course no longer rehabs at all) because they didn't have the same level of pitching machine as CBP.

The implication is the smaller market teams, as usual, are trying to equalize costs, so I doubt it's the scenario you suggest for teams like Tampa and Milwaukee.

[fish]

This got me wondering- because I thought Clearwater was supposed to be pretty advanced but I guess it’s just because of what I’ve read over the years of what the Phillies hoped to do. That 500 million upgrade on the adjacent land seems to be on hold because of “ownership change”. Not sure of the owner of what that changed.

To read this article it’s as if there have been few upgrades made over the last 20 years-

Phillies ballpark proposal is ‘relatively imminent’

[zambonir]

I think the ownership change was the Phillies adding multiple investors. That influx was mentioned as being tied to the Clearwater development specifically, rather than any additional need at the MLB level. I assume there is a lot of non-baseball stuff involved in those plans, but yes, clearly if they were still having their meals in a tent it was not exactly luxe either!

[bkox]

Ha-Seong Kim to Braves, $20M

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) December 16, 2025

[zambonir]

Well that seems like a guy the Phillies could have gotten if they'd wanted him. But putting him at 3B would have been questionable (and they'd have had to trade Bohm). Presumably other teams saw it that way, this is more like a pillow contract.

Sources: HR record-setter Murakami picks ChiSox

[andyb]

The collapse in his market is stunning. Imagine there is zero belief in his play at 3B from contending teams (and the Phillies with incumbents at 1B and DH were not a fit).

But if you asked me whether the guy that signed for $34 million has a reasonable chance of being an All Star at the plate given his age and the analytics around his power I would definitely had said yes.

[zambonir]

Seems like a combination of the fielding inflexibility and this:

Few teams were publicly connected to the slugger, and reports from all corners of the baseball world indicated that teams were feeling gun-shy about his contact rate in NPB, which would’ve been the lowest in baseball in the majors last year if carried over.

White Sox To Sign Munetaka Murakami

But $17M is certainly nothing. Surprised it wasn't at least a five-year with opt-outs. If he works out he'll be getting $25-30 next time (depending how the lockout goes. Wonder if that was a factor for some teams too).

[julio]

But if you asked me whether the guy that signed for $34 million has a reasonable chance of being an All Star at the plate given his age and the analytics around his power I would definitely had said yes.

...and it's not as if the rest of the White Sox roster is overflowing with All-Star candidates.

[allentown]

Wasn't he the first Japanese player who was linked with Phillies this off-season?

[zambonir]

I'm not sure there was ever any documented interest. Just, they want to try and get a Japanese player, and they theoretically were willing to open 3B or might have wanted him if they didn't get Schwarber (he's LHB).

I think Okamoto was seen as a better fit (older, better defensively if not great, more MLB-ready bat. And right-handed. But lower ceiling).

[andyb]

I think the line about lowest contact rate in baseball was a bit of hyperbole. He would be among the lowest and it is probably projecting him to be the lowest. Fangraphs notes the skepticism here but I also would say that Murakami has a higher walk rate and OPS and is young enough to improve (certainly against the players he is compared with in the article who are generally well into their 30s). 2025 was also lower than 2023 and 2024 and one has to ask if that is trend or injury.

Phenomenal Cosmic Power, Itty Bitty Contact Rate: White Sox Sign Murakami

Risky move yes, but risks on 25-year-olds work out more than risks on 30 year olds. I doubt the Phillies were seriously interested if they thought they were going to retain Schwarber. DD does care about defense much more than some past GMs did (i.e. Klentak).

[bkox]

Red Sox reportedly land Willson Contreras in trade with Cardinals

[bkox]

The New York Mets will receive a rookie-ball arm in the deal that sends Jeff McNeil to the A's, sources tell ESPN. The Mets also will be sending cash to help cover McNeil's $15.75 million salary, plus the $2 million buyout on a club option for next year.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) December 22, 2025