Mega Thread 2024-2025 MLB Hot Stove

[Dixie Flatline]

According to the Seattle Times, 1B Rowdy Tellez has an opt-out opportunity in his contract with the Mariners. Tellez will be able to request his release on 23 March 2025 if he has not been added to the Mariners' 40-man roster by that date. The Mariners would then have 24 hours to add him to the roster or release him.

Tellez has had a good Spring Training to this point, hitting .297/.333/.595 with three homeruns in 39 plate appearances.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

It appears that the Atlanta Braves have released LHP Jake Diekman. He was in camp as a non-roster invitee and was reassigned to the Braves' minor league camp on Sunday. Diekman pitched for the Braves in seven Spring Training games, putting up 7 1/3 innings in total. He gave up four earned runs on six hits and four walks, with eight strikeouts and a 45% ground ball rate.

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[Dixie Flatline]

According to the YES Network, RHP Carlos Carrasco can trigger an opt-out in his minor league deal with the New York Yankees on Saturday if he has not been added to the 40-man roster by that point. The Yankees would have 48 hours to put him on their 40-man roster or let him become a free agent. According to the reports, Carrasco is likely to begin the year in the team's rotation, but to do so, they would need to put him on the 40-man roster and can achieve this by putting RHP Gerrit Cole on the 60-day IL.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Although he was overshadowed by the prominence of rookie RHP Paul Skenes, RHP Jared Jones also turned heads for his performances as a starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. However, his immediate future is under a cloud after the Pirates announced (through their manager Derek Shelton) that the Pirates would skip Jones' next start in Spring Training due to "elbow discomfort". Jones reportedly first experienced discomfort in his most recent bullpen session earlier this week. The Pirates have already sent Jones off for imaging and is seeking a second opinion before proceeding with a firm diagnosis and recovery timetable.

Whenever the phrase "elbow discomfort" is uttered, minds immediately jump to the prospect of a torn UCL which would require Tommy John surgery to repair. Jones started the 2024 season strongly, pitching to a 2.63 ERA in his first seven starts. He was roughed up in May and by early July was on the IL due to a lat strain that kept him out of baseball for about six weeks. Jones finished the 2024 season having pitched 121 1/3 innings with a 4.14 ERA, and was looking ready to step up to the second or third starter in the rotation behind Skenes and RHP Mitch Keller.

Pirates pitcher Jared Jones sidelined with right elbow discomfort

BRADENTON, Fla. — Prior to Wednesday’s Grapefruit League contest against the Rays, Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced that right-hander...

www.post-gazette.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Atlanta Braves announced that they have signed OF Alex Verdugo to a one year, $1.5 million contract. As he has basically missed all of Spring Training, Verdugo has agreed to start the 2025 season with an assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett to ramp up (veteran players have the right to refuse an optional assignment once they have accrued five years of MLB service).

Verdugo was acquired by the Yankees from the Red Sox last off-season and had his worst season in the majors to date. While he started hot, hitting .275/.362/.450 in his first 141 plate appearances, he slumped in May and never recovered, hitting .221/.270/.330 from May onwards.

The Braves are dealing with some uncertainty in their outfield options. With Ronald Acuna Jr expected to return to the starting lineup after tearing his ACL, the Braves were counting on Jarred Kelenic and Jurickson Profar to support Acuna's return, but Kelenic has struggled in Spring Training and Profar has not played for two weeks after he hurt his wrist diving for a ball in the outfield.

At full strength, the best outfield alignment for the Braves would be Profar in left field, Michael Harris II in centre and Acuna in right field, with Kelenic an option off the bench and Bryan De La Cruz (on the 40 man roster currently) in Triple-A as depth.

Signing Verdugo probably threatens the hold Kelenic has on an active roster spot, as they are both left-handed hitters and are both capable of playing centre but better suited to a corner outfield spot. Kelenic has a minor league option available, so it is conceivable that the Braves option Kelenic to the minors and use Verdugo to start the season as a bench bat to support the outfield.

Braves sign free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo to one-year, $1.5 million deal

Verdugo was the No. 38 free agent on The Athletic's offseason Top 40 Big Board.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Ralph_Wiggum]

The Atlanta Braves announced that they have signed OF Alex Verdugo to a one year, $1.5 million contract. As he has basically missed all of Spring Training, Verdugo has agreed to start the 2025 season with an assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett to ramp up (veteran players have the right to refuse an optional assignment once they have accrued five years of MLB service).

Verdugo was acquired by the Yankees from the Red Sox last off-season and had his worst season in the majors to date. While he started hot, hitting .275/.362/.450 in his first 141 plate appearances, he slumped in May and never recovered, hitting .221/.270/.330 from May onwards.

The Braves are dealing with some uncertainty in their outfield options. With Ronald Acuna Jr expected to return to the starting lineup after tearing his ACL, the Braves were counting on Jarred Kelenic and Jurickson Profar to support Acuna's return, but Kelenic has struggled in Spring Training and Profar has not played for two weeks after he hurt his wrist diving for a ball in the outfield.

At full strength, the best outfield alignment for the Braves would be Profar in left field, Michael Harris II in centre and Acuna in right field, with Kelenic an option off the bench and Bryan De La Cruz (on the 40 man roster currently) in Triple-A as depth.

Signing Verdugo probably threatens the hold Kelenic has on an active roster spot, as they are both left-handed hitters and are both capable of playing centre but better suited to a corner outfield spot. Kelenic has a minor league option available, so it is conceivable that the Braves option Kelenic to the minors and use Verdugo to start the season as a bench bat to support the outfield.

Braves sign free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo to one-year, $1.5 million deal

Verdugo was the No. 38 free agent on The Athletic's offseason Top 40 Big Board.

www.nytimes.com

I have been a Braves fan my whole life(Actually bought tickets for their home series this season against the Angels) and I agree we needed some OF help. Verdugo is kind of a prick haha but does have talent.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

LHP Ryan Yarbrough has opted out of his minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and is now a free agent after being informed over the weekend that he would not make the Opening Day active roster.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to select RHP Shelby Miller to the active roster after he exercised an upward mobility clause in his minor league contract with the Diamondbacks.



The Diamondbacks will need to make a corresponding move to their roster in order to fit Miller on the roster. However, it seems likely that the Diamondbacks will designate catcher Rene Pinto for assignment as he reportedly was saying his goodbyes in the clubhouse. The Diamondbacks claimed Pinto off waivers from the Orioles in January but it appears that the Diamondbacks will run with Jose Herrera as the backup to Gabriel Moreno.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Mixed news for the Athletics with presumptive starting second baseman Zack Gelof set to undergo surgery to repair a fracture in his hamate bone that rules him out for an uncertain period of time and means he starts the 2025 season on the IL.

The Athletics will likely open the season with Luis Urias at second base, but the Athletics have also informed prospect Max Muncy that he will break Spring Training camp with the Athletics rather than return to the minor leagues. For the avoidance of doubt, this is a different Max Muncy to the former Athletic who now plays for the Dodgers, although they share the same birthday. Muncy was a first round selection by the Athletics in 2021 and hit .278/.374/.491 in 203 plate appearances in Triple-A in 2024. Muncy is primarily a shortstop but can also play second base and hit .290/.391/.395 in 23 Spring Training games.

Gelof to miss Opening Day, undergo surgery to repair hamate bone fracture

MESA, Ariz. -- Zack Gelof, the expected everyday second baseman for the Athletics in 2025, will miss the start of the regular season. The A’s held out hope over the past week that there would be enough time for Gelof’s right hand to heal before Opening Day on March 27.

www.mlb.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Baltimore Orioles have selected the contract of RHP Matt Bowman and have placed RHP Tyler Wells on the 60-day IL, with Wells out at least a couple of months following UCL-related surgery in June 2024. Bowman played for four different major league teams in 2024, pitching 30 2/3 innings with the Twins, Diamondbacks, Marlins and Orioles. With Baltimore in 2024, he pitched 15 2/3 innings for a 3.45 ERA. Although the Orioles outrighted Bowman at the end of the season, he returned to Baltimore on a minor league contract that contained an opt-out clause.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Rays will miss their top pitcher LHP Shane McClanahan for the opening games of the season after the Rays put him on the 15-day IL. According to reports, McClanahan is suffering from a nerve problem in his tricep area on his pitching arm, which is at the lower end of potential outcomes after he exited his start over the weekend with triceps tightness.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a trade that sends LHP Jose Suarez to Atlanta in exchange for RHP Ian Anderson.

Suarez signed with the Angels and made his professional debut for the Angels back in 2015, reaching the majors by 2019. Suarez managed a 7.99 ERA in 83 1/3 innings through the end of the 2020 season, with a 9.5% walk rate compared to an 18.6% strikeout rate. However, Suarez pitched 98 1/3 innings across 23 appearances (14 starts) in 2021 for the Halos and put up a 3.75 ERA with a 4.12 FIP. He became a full-time starter for the Angels in 2022, with 20 starts, and managed a 3.96 ERA/3.91 FIP.

However, Suarez's career has been derailed since 2023 with poor results. Since the start of the 2023 season, Suarez has thrown 86 innings for a 6.91 ERA in 33 appearances. His walk rate has climbed to 11.6% while his strikeout rate fell to 20.6%, and he also has allowed 17 homeruns since the start of 2023.

The Angels are acquiring RHP Ian Anderson from the Braves. He had a good start to his career, picking up Rookie of the Year votes in 2020 and 2021 when he pitched to a combined 3.25 ERA with a 24.5% strikeout rate in 30 starts. In 2022, his career regressed, as he put up a 5.00 ERA (despite a 4.25 FIP) in 22 starts. He then lost the entirety of the 2023 season to Tommy John recovery. He remained in the minors in 2024 with a 3.44 ERA in 68 innings from 15 starts at Triple-A, and he wound up being traded after a Spring Training where he walked 18 opponents in 17 innings.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Chicago White Sox are in total rebuild mode and they're busy churning the bottom of their roster. To that end, they announced over the weekend that they have claimed RHP Mike Vasil off waivers from the Rays, putting RHP Prelander Berroa on the 60-day IL to create a roster space on the 40-man roster for Vasil.

Vasil has jumped between a number of clubs this off-season. He was with the Mets at the end of the 2024 season but was drafted by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft and then traded to the Rays in exchange for cash shortly thereafter. He spent Spring Training with Tampa Bay, putting up a 5.91 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, but did not make the Opening Day roster. The Rays put him on waivers and had he cleared waivers, he would have been offered back to the Mets. However, the White Sox claimed him and now take him with the Rule 5 roster stipulations.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Seattle Mariners announced that they have released OF/DH Mitch Haniger. Haniger is owed $15.5 million on the last year of a three year, $43 million contract he signed with the Giants prior to the start of the 2023 season. Haniger burst onto the scene in his first stint with Seattle, hitting .263/.337/.480 in 530 games between 2017-2022. He signed with the Giants in free agency after the end of the 2022 season but only managed .209/.266/.365 in 229 plate appearances in his only season in San Francisco. The Giants traded Haniger and RHP Anthony DeSclafani to Seattle in exchange for LHP Robbie Ray, but Haniger could not recapture the magic from his first stint in Seattle, hitting only .208/.286/.334 in 423 plate appearances in 2024. He slumped to a .167/.250/.389 slashline in seven Spring Training games before suffering shoulder soreness that has kept him from playing since early March.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Chicago White Sox announced that they have released infielder Brandon Drury. As an article XX(B) free agent, Drury had the opportunity to opt out and test free agency if he was not added to the 40-man roster. However, he recently suffered a thumb fracture, which left him in danger of missing the start of the season.

Drury only managed to hit .169/.242/.228 in 97 games for the Angels in 2024, and he only signed a minor league contract with the White Sox in February. He looked primed for a bounce-back season, hitting .410/.439/.821 in 41 plate appearances in Spring Training before suffering the fracture to his thumb.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Kansas City Royals announced that they have granted RHP Ross Stripling and catcher Luke Maile their release. Both players had opt-out opportunities in their contracts as Article XX(B) free agents and had requested their release if the club had not added them to the active roster.

Stripling has played for a number of MLB teams since making his debut in 2016 with the Dodgers. He was an All-Star while with Los Angeles in 2018 but was traded to the Blue Jays in 2020 after his pitching regressed with Los Angeles. He bounced back with Toronto in 2022, putting up a 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings. He then signed with the Giants in 2023 and the Athletics in 2024 and struggled to replicate this form. After he became a free agent again, he signed a minor league contract with the Royals but didn't make much impression, giving up 13 earned runs on 17 hits in eight innings of work in Spring Training.

Maile signed a minor league contract with the Royals in February and hit .333/.391/.571 in ten Spring Training games. However, the Royals probably see that as a small sample size given that Maile has nine years of MLB action under his belt and they have Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin as their top two catchers.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

It has not taken OF Manuel Margot long to find a new club after he was granted his release by the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. The former Ray will head to Detroit after signing a major league team with the Tigers. Margot hit well in Spring Training with Milwaukee, putting up a .250/.314/.375 slash line but was the odd man out for the Brewers as they already had four outfielders and a fifth ready to return from injury. The Tigers have a need for an outfielder, with centre fielder Parker Meadows and right fielder Matt Vierling set to start the 2025 season on the IL.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Boston Red Sox announced that they have released RHP Adam Ottavino after he triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league contract. LHP Matt Moore has decided not to exercise his opt-out provision and will remain with the Red Sox at Triple-A affiliate, Worcester.

Ottavino pitched for Boston back in 2021, throwing 62 innings and putting up a 4.21 ERA/3.96 FIP. He then joined the Mets in 2022 and spent three seasons in New York, pitching a total of 183 1/3 innings for a 3.14 ERA/3.66 FIP. However, in 56 innings in 2024, he managed an ERA of 4.34/3.67 FIP, but given his age and the lower production, clubs decided to not offer Ottavino a major league contract, so he signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in February. He has not had a good Spring Training, allowing six runs in five innings, with five walks issued to the 25 batters he faced.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Altanta Braves are in agreement with RHP Jesse Chavez on a minor league contract. He is in the mix for the last spot on the Opening Day roster for the Braves, with the final spot apparently between Chavez and AJ Smith-Shawver. If Chavez makes the roster, it will be the fifth consecutive season that he has pitched for the Braves. Chavez was drafted by the Cubs in the 39th round of the 2001 draft, but did not sign, then was drafted by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 draft. He reached the majors with the Pirates in 2008 and has subsequently pitched for nine clubs across 17 big league seasons.

Chavez played an important role for the Braves in their World Series run, putting up 2.14 ERA in 33 2/3 innings in 2021. He pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings during the 2021 postseason.

Chavez had signed a minor league deal with Texas earlier this offseason but was released last Friday and promptly signed with the Braves.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Texas Rangers have put RHP Dane Dunning on outright waivers, but have not designated him for assignment. Accordingly, Dunning remains with the team and will continue to play in games until the waiver process has been completed. Rival clubs have 48 hours to claim Dunning off waivers, but would inherit the entirety of the $2.66 million salary agreed by the Rangers with Dunning. Should Dunning clear waivers without being claimed, the Rangers could outright him off the 40-man roster.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

RHP Jake Woodford has opted out of his minor league deal with Colorado and the Rockies are expected to grant him his release.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Alejandro Kirk are in agreement on a five-year extension worth $58 million. It appears that the extension takes effect after the 2025 season. The Blue Jays signed Kirk out of Mexico in 2017 and he made his MLB debut for Toronto in 2020. After hitting .259/.336/.455 in 214 plate appearances between 2020-2021, Kirk became the regular catcher for Toronto in 2022. He responded by delivering an All-Star season and earning a Silver Slugger award, hitting .285/.372/.415 in 541 plate appearances in 2022. The Blue Jays ensured that Kirk would be their regular catcher by trading Gabriel Moreno to the Diamondbacks as part of the trade for Daulton Varsho.

However, Kirk took a step back at the plate in 2023 and has not reached the heights of his 2022 season since, hitting a combined .251/.327/.358 since the start of the 2022 season. But with his strong defensive capabilities, he still represents two to three wins above replacement, and the Blue Jays are satisfied that this represents his floor while the 2022 season represents the upside.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies executed a trade yesterday that sent OF Nolan Jones to Cleveland in exchange for utility Tyler Freeman. The Guardians picked Jones in the second round of the 2016 season and he made his MLB debut for Cleveland in 2022, before the Guardians traded him to Colorado in exchange for Juan Brito in November 2022. Jones finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .297/.389/.542 in 2023 with the Rockies. He took a significant step back last year, hitting just .227/.321/.320, with Jones suddenly becoming a groundball hitter (52.7% ground ball rate compared to about 43% in 2023). He only managed three homeruns in 2024.

Jones will compete with Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel to play right field for the Guardians on a regular basis. Brennan has been roughly league average in a platoon role with the Guardians in 2024, and has options remaining.

Freeman doesn't hit much, but offers versatility around the baseball field, being capable of playing in centre field and all infield spots except first base and catcher. There is an opportunity for Freeman to get some regular playing time with the Rockies likely to be without second baseman Thairo Estrada for at least the early part of the season.