MLB (non-Phillies) 2025-26 Hot Stove

[zambonir]

Weird tweet. Is Passan actually reporting the HOF cap choice or is it his opinion? Never mind that it should also say, "when he is inevitably inducted into...." (since the 140-character limit is long gone).

[Philsmania]

It's not dissimilar to the argument about Schilling and others in terms of what cap they wear--do you go with larger body of work or greatest moments. Rolen as well--his greater body of work was probably with the Phillies but his greatest moments were in St. Louis. Size of body of work would say Tigers cap for Verlander (and he did pitch in a couple of WS for them) but greatest fame was in Houston.

[zambonir]

For Verlander, Houston is where he had the championships (one of them as a trade deadline acquisition), three All-Star nods and two Cys (plus a runner-up); with Detroit he had a ROTY, one CY (two runner-ups) and six All-Star nods. Also led the AL in WAR three times in Detroit. The difference between him and Schilling/Rolen is he obviously has nothing but fondness for his former team and vice-versa - so much so that he's now playing for them again.

The Halladay/Mussina solution (no cap at all) would make the most sense for him, but it's up to the player (or family). In Roy's case he was clearly so fond of the Philllies and they him that, arguably, his time there was over-weighed merely because of the perfect game and no-hitter, and fact that he got to pitch in the post-season at all. If memory serves the Phillies also changed the minimum years on their Wall of Fame requirements to accomodate him (as well as Moyer, who then mysteriously fell out of consideration).

[bkox]

Hamate bone epidemic

News: Arizona Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll broke the hamate bone in his right hand and is undergoing surgery today, sources tell ESPN. He will miss the World Baseball Classic and his ability to play Opening Day is now in question.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) February 11, 2026

Mile Elias announced that Jackson Holliday fractured his right hamate bone during a batting practice session and will need surgery. pic.twitter.com/910D3ilXhH

— FOX Sports: MLB ( @MLBONFOX ) February 11, 2026

[Philsmania]

Ah yes, the hamate bone which Dave Hollins seemingly regrew.

[BostonRoss]

Verlander played for the Tigers for 12 full seasons. I wonder how many players in the Hall who played 12 seasons for a team are depicted wearing another team's cap.

[andyb]

Halladay went with no team on his cap. Not quite the same as putting another team on of course but I imagine it has happened before.

[zambonir]

I wonder how many of them played 12 seasons for a team, period! (At least since free agency.)

In addition to Halladay and Mussina, Maddux and LaRussa don't have a cap. Catfish Hunter might have been the first.

Randy Johnson had 10 years in Seattle and they weren't even his first team. He went in as a Dback of course.

[BostonRoss]

Maybe the first with a blank cap was Grover Cleveland Alexander, who was inducted in 1938.

Johnson is close to 12 seasons with 10 with Seattle, but that's only two more years than he was with Arizona.

[fish]

Eesh, 18.5 million for Bassit?No thanks.

[andyb]

3.96 ERA in 170 innings. This is Taijuan Walker on a 1-year deal. 2.1 bWAR last year and while 2024 was a bad year he was worth at least 2.1 WAR or more in the 5 previous seasons.

$9 million per WAR on a 1-year deal is really just the proper market price. It will be really interesting to see what Gallen gets. He was worse last year but is only 29 and was better than Bassitt in the previous years. He really should be looking at 3 years and $60 million unless he wants a 1-year deal to reset his market value.

[zambonir]

As Matt noted on Bsky the other day, hard for the Phillies to even sign a $4-5 million depth starter of any note when they're paying 110%

[fish]

As Matt noted on Bsky the other day, hard for the Phillies to even sign a $4-5 million depth starter of any note when they're paying 110%

I don't know what a "depth starter" could even look like from existing major league free agents. Everyone left is end of their career types established enough that most wouldn't sign up for bus rides from Philly to Lehigh. They either have to trade for another Jonathan Bowlan (which would mean trading someone like Sosa) or rely on AAAA pitchers like a Tyler Phillips.

Might as well go with what they have now and react later if they have to.

[zambonir]

It looks like Jose Quintana ($6 million) or Chris Paddack ($4 million) or Frankie Montas (already being paid $17 million by Mets, so major league minimum, but is basically a Tyler Phillips type himself now).

I suspect they'll bring someone into camp on a minor league deal with opt-outs, or just find another arm for the Pigs rotation. Agree they won't do anything major unless something bad happens (be that injury or Painter getting rocked).

[RolenRules]

Quintana would have been a good addition

[zambonir]

Yup but he would have cost the Phillies $12.6 million in real money. Was about the same pitcher as Walker last year (by WAR and FIP, and Walker suffered from his role constantly changing).

I'd like the Phillies to spend more money but since it's clear they do have a cut-off point and would only blow past it for big reasons (like Bichette) I don't blame them for holding off until July. It will just be tricky to add someone if there's an injury to the top three pitchers (after Wheeler) or one of Painter or Walker. Had they actually been able to shave a little of Casty's money they might have made a move. Making Bowlan the emergency starter option probably not the worst idea. They got by with Matt Strahm and Bailey Falter in the rotation for a while in '23.

[andyb]

Gallen gets 1 year at the QO price though some of it is deferred. I guess it makes sense his market was depressed as he is in that category of just good enough to get a qualifying offer.

Diamondbacks To Re-Sign Zac Gallen

[Jazzhead]

I agree that the only sane way to deal with the 110% tax is to spend only at the right time and to fill the right position of need. Right now the rotation may work out fine - Wheeler may be back by June and Painter may prove adequate or better in the meantime. It's crazy to spend $12-plus million now on mediocre insurance for a theoretical rotatIon plug when the need come mid-summer may be very different.

[flyers19rw]

The Phillies already have done that with Walker. No need to add to that cost.