# Major League Baseball Hot Stove League Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382 "2016-11-10T18:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/61 "2016-12-01T16:39:39Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Huh… is there a contingency for that? Yep “Call it in the air!” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/62 "2016-12-01T16:52:43Z")
Adam Kilgore’s take on why WS home field should remain decided by the All Star Game: [article link](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/12/01/the-all-star-game-should-still-decide-home-field-advantage-in-the-world-series/?utm_term=.3a9601fef038). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/63 "2016-12-01T17:09:44Z")
I heartily agree with Kilgore’s comments inb their entirety, _except he leaves out the fact that this stops all the bitching,_ and there’s some utility in that. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/64 "2016-12-01T17:40:45Z")
I didn’t have strong feelings one way or the other about the ASG deciding WS home field. I actually forgot that it was odd/even year alternating before that. Best record is still not a perfect solution, so I’m guessing there will still be some complaining from somewhere come WS time. And I always thought a 1st rounder was too steep just because a team made a token qualifying offer that everyone in the world knew would be rejected. So I can live with that change, too. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/65 "2016-12-01T17:45:54Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Adam Kilgore’s take on why WS home field should remain decided by the All Star Game: [article link](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/12/01/the-all-star-game-should-still-decide-home-field-advantage-in-the-world-series/?utm_term=.3a9601fef038). Bah! The change I would have applauded would have been the cancelling of the ASG completely. Between baseball packages on cable and the proliferation of interleague play, there is really no reason for it to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/66 "2016-12-01T21:54:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Some teams/stadia already ban it anyway. Players are whining about it, but I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal. You aren’t allowed to smoke in the dugout or drink whiskey, either. Seriously, it’s gross. If not being “gross” is now the standard, then non-stop spitting is out, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/67 "2016-12-01T22:36:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I heartily agree with Kilgore’s comments inb their entirety, _except he leaves out the fact that this stops all the bitching,_ and there’s some utility in that. Well, it stops the bitching about using the ASG to decide. I believe the bitching has already begun about the new system, in the form of “you have to look at quality of competition” and “does it really mean anything if you win 95 and I win 94” and on like that. Hopefully there’ll be less of it under this format, but I ain’t holding my breath. If a strong AL team next year coasts to a division title with 91 wins, say, and faces a lightly regarded wild card NL team that somehow squeaked its way to 92 wins in a lousy division, I guarantee there’ll be a lot of complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Lightbrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3e96dc/32.png) [@Lightbrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightbrite)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/68 "2016-12-02T03:27:31Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > MLB and the union agreed on a new CBA for the next few years. Among the changes: > > - DL stays have been reduced from 15 days to 10. > > - The All-Star Game no longer decides the home stadium for the World Series. Now the team with the better record gets home-field. That all-star game nonsense … good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/69 "2016-12-02T06:55:55Z")
WRT a tie for better record among the two world series teams, that’s happened exactly once since divisional play started (2013, when Boston and St. Louis also tied for the best record in baseball); there were two ties in pre-divisional years, plus 1951 when the Yankees and Giants had the same number of wins but the Giants had 3 more losses (that was the Bobby Thompson homer/3-game playoff year). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/70 "2016-12-02T20:45:09Z")
St Louis sends Jaime Garcia to Atlanta in exchange for John Gant, Chris Ellis, and Luke Dykstra. > **[Hot Stove Digest: Braves acquire Jaime Garcia from Cardinals](https://sports.yahoo.com/news/hot-stove-digest-braves-acquire-jaime-garcia-from-cardinals-014342455.html)** > > Welcome to The Stew’s Hot Stove Digest, our daily rundown of MLB news, rumors and gossip for Hot Stove season. Here you’ll find a quick recap of all the day’s action and other fun stuff from around the internet that we think is worth your time. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/71 "2016-12-04T21:27:05Z")
Astros sign Carlos Beltran and have now patched three major holes in their lineup from last year. They’re still rumored to be trying to trade for either Chris Sale or Chris Archer. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/72 "2016-12-05T00:17:59Z")
Matt Holiday signs a one-year deal with the Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/73 "2016-12-05T03:27:18Z")
The Braves are trying to trade for Chris Sale, but refuse to part with Dansby Swanson. ---
**Author:** ![ImAWalkingCorpse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/65b543/32.png) [@ImAWalkingCorpse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImAWalkingCorpse)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/74 "2016-12-05T14:03:22Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Matt Holiday signs a one-year deal with the Yankees. I was disappointed the Royals weren’t able to get in on that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/75 "2016-12-05T16:06:53Z")
The Blue Jays have signed the immortalk Steve Pearce. Combining this with the Kendrys Morales signing it’s now obvious they never intended to bring Edwin Encarnacion back, so let the guessing begin as to where he’ll end up. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/76 "2016-12-05T17:24:28Z")
I’ve read two articles that said the Red Sox will not pursue Encarnacion despite the fact that Beltran is off the market. To that I say, good. I don’t really want EE at the exorbitant cost he’s sure to want. I really think they’ve already got the pieces to plug the hole at DH. And it seems there are at least a half dozen teams interested in Chris Sale. Who wouldn’t be? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/77 "2016-12-05T17:55:08Z")
Mark Melancon is now a San Francisco Giant. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/78 "2016-12-05T18:57:11Z")
The Dodgers managed to hold on to Rich Hill for [three years and $48 million](http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/dodgers-re-sign-rich-hill.html). I assume there’s a player-friendly clause in the contract that allows him to decide if he gets to finish any perfect-game bids. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/79 "2016-12-05T20:09:11Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Mark Melancon is now a San Francisco Giant. I approve. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382/80 "2016-12-05T20:24:21Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I’ve read two articles that said the Red Sox will not pursue Encarnacion despite the fact that Beltran is off the market. To that I say, good. I don’t really want EE at the exorbitant cost he’s sure to want. I really think they’ve already got the pieces to plug the hole at DH. So many teams are plugging their 1B/DH holes are bargain prices that I wonder if Encarnacion will get the payday he wanted. Granted, you only have to find one team to pony it up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-league-baseball-hot-stove-league-thread/771382.md?page=5)