Hot Stove

[msgkings322]

You know, its been an up and down few months for me personally. How has it been for you?

More down than up to be honest

 

[LHG]

More down than up to be honest

Sorry to hear that.

 

[msgkings322]

Sorry to hear that.

Thanks, sorry to hear about your “downs” as well

 

[tzill]

Jon Morosi: Eric Haase is in agreement on a minor-league contract with the Giants that includes an invitation to spring training. His salary is $1.6M plus incentives if he makes the team; he has an opt-out after spring training.

The Giants continue building their catching depth along with Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez. Haase, 31, has a career .228/.278/.396 slash line with 48 homers over 383 games. -12 DRS over 2080.2 innings in the majors. He’s played a little outfield in the majors, too.

 

[calsnowskier]

Jon Morosi: Eric Haase is in agreement on a minor-league contract with the Giants that includes an invitation to spring training. His salary is $1.6M plus incentives if he makes the team; he has an opt-out after spring training.

The Giants continue building their catching depth along with Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez. Haase, 31, has a career .228/.278/.396 slash line with 48 homers over 383 games. -12 DRS over 2080.2 innings in the majors. He’s played a little outfield in the majors, too.

No risk / moderate reward signing. He has been hot garbage for 3 years, but he had 2 good seasons back in ‘21 and ‘22. He is probably cooked. But he offers at worst another body to catch thrown pitches in ST.

 

[LHG]

I do wonder if he gets the inside track on the backup spot as a veteran or if Vitiello let Susac and Rodriguez every chance to take that spot

 

[calsnowskier]

I do wonder if he gets the inside track on the backup spot as a veteran or if Vitiello let Susac and Rodriguez every chance to take that spot

I think Susac has the inside track. He already has a 40 spot. Rodriguez has a 40 spot as well, but he’d has options. Haas only gets paid if he makes the team.

 

[calsnowskier]

MLB free agent outfielders still on the market (age, 2025 Fangraphs WAR):
Kyle Tucker (29, 8.7)
Cody Bellinger (30, 7.0)
Harrison Bader (32, 4.4)
Mike Tauchman (35, 2.4)
Max Kepler (33, 1.6)
Miguel Andujar (31, 1.5)
Austin Hays (30, 1.4)
Jesse Winker (32, 1.3)
Starling Marte (37, 1.3)
Randal Grichuk (34, 1.2)
Michael Conforto (33, 0.7)
Will Brennan (27, 0.4)
Jason Heyward (36, 0.3)
Mark Canha (37, 0.2)
Garrett Hampson (31, 0.2)
Tommy Pham (38, 0.1)
Austin Slater (33, -0.2)
Travis Jankowski (35, -0.3)
Alex Verdugo (30, -0.3)
Manuel Margot (31, -0.4)
MJ Melendez (27, -0.8)
Hunter Renfroe (34, -0.8)
Chris Taylor (35, -0.9)

I assume a couple of these guys toward the bottom of the list may be in camp as NRIs.

Kepler got hit for PEDs. 80 day suspension.

 

[LHG]

I think Susac has the inside track. He already has a 40 spot. Rodriguez has a 40 spot as well, but he’d has options. Haas only gets paid if he makes the team.

You may be right but it is far from a slam dunk. I do wonder if the Giants will extend a spring training invite to Diego Cartaya as well. If so, the battle for the backup will be the following:
Daniel Susac
Eric Haase
Jesus Rodriguez
Logan Porter
Diego Cartaya

 

[LHG]

Kepler got hit for PEDs. 80 day suspension.

Yeah, I saw that. Apparently, he is going to start his suspension regardless whether he is signed with a team or not. With the season he had, I wonder if that tanks the rest of his career. Of course, he was the 5th best of the remaining outfielders on the market by measure of WAR so probably not.

 

[calsnowskier]

Yeah, I saw that. Apparently, he is going to start his suspension regardless whether he is signed with a team or not. With the season he had, I wonder if that tanks the rest of his career. Of course, he was the 5th best of the remaining outfielders on the market by measure of WAR so probably not.

I am not certain, but my understanding is that suspensions do not take place unless the player is “under contract”. So I believe that some team will need to sign him in order for the clock to start. So if the Giants sign him to a 1 year contract for 5M (just a scenario), they would actually only be on the hook for 2.5M since he would forfeit half his annual salary.

 

[calsnowskier]

You may be right but it is far from a slam dunk. I do wonder if the Giants will extend a spring training invite to Diego Cartaya as well. If so, the battle for the backup will be the following:
Daniel Susac
Eric Haase
Jesus Rodriguez
Logan Porter
Diego Cartaya

I agree nothing is a “slam dunk”. The job is open in ST. But if everyone is essentially the same, I think Susac gets the tie breaker.

 

[LHG]

I am not certain, but my understanding is that suspensions do not take place unless the player is “under contract”. So I believe that some team will need to sign him in order for the clock to start. So if the Giants sign him to a 1 year contract for 5M (just a scenario), they would actually only be on the hook for 2.5M since he would forfeit half his annual salary.

It is ESPN but this article does say this:

"As part of a negotiated settlement with the league, Kepler does not technically need to sign before his suspension begins. He will receive credit against his 80-game penalty through games played by the Phillies if he is not on a team before the season, a source with knowledge of the situation said. A league spokesperson declined comment."

 

[LHG]

I know this isn’t Giants’ related (that we know) but if the numbers thrown around are true then this is crazy.

Yankees, Cody Bellinger "At An Impasse"

ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that the Yankees and free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger are stuck in negotiations.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[LHG]

I know this isn’t Giants’ related (that we know) but if the numbers thrown around are true then this is crazy.

Yankees, Cody Bellinger "At An Impasse"

ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that the Yankees and free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger are stuck in negotiations.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

I'm going to guess that Boras knew the Bregman deal was coming down the pike with the Cubs and wants to get the same money for Bellinger.

 

[filosofy29]

Boston Red Sox…welcome to #tier2

 

[LHG]

Boston Red Sox…welcome to #tier2

Unless I've recently missed some recent signing, I do believe that they are the only MLB that has not yet signed a major league free agent. Of course, they have been active in trading with the Cardinals.

 

[Hangman]

**** the dodgers.