# MLB Hot Stove / Offseason 2015-2016 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 2, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418 "2015-11-02T14:38:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**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:** [February 29, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/281 "2016-02-29T03:20:10Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Julio Franco was great. But he never had a “big” (in MLB terms), multi-year contract. I completely agree with you. I even mentioned that he wasn’t a superstar. I may have misinterpreted a comment to mean that they couldn’t think of anyone who was actually still productive at that age. I certainly wasn’t trying to lump him with the all-time greats. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/282 "2016-02-29T14:00:48Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I wonder if there’s ever actually been a good big signing of a guy that old. The Randy Johnson signing with Arizona was pretty good, but he was 35 then. Houston signing Roger Clemens at 41 worked out for them. Any hitters? Toronto gave Paul Molitor what was, at the time, a pretty good deal for his age 36-38 years, and got their money’s worth. Quite honestly I can think of no other better examples. Obviously San Francisco got a lot of great late years out of Barry Bonds but he was there from 1993 on and I think every contract he signed was an extension. He could probably have kept hitting for years more than Bud Selig not ordered all the teams to blacklist him (c’mon, we all know it happened.) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/283 "2016-02-29T14:42:49Z")
I wonder what exactly did happen. Did Bonds get zero offers or just inadequate ones? It should have been easy to prove collusion when a player had an OPS of 1.045 and couldn’t find a job. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/284 "2016-02-29T15:37:48Z")
Bonds stated, at the time, that he would play for the minimum. Nobody made an offer. I remember it well because in 2008 Toronto was getting terrific pitching - they had the fewest runs allowed in the league by a very wide margin - but just couldn’t score enough runs to win, and were running through pathetic left fielders and DHs to an extent that started to become really comical. Having Barry Bonds as the DH might well have put them in the playoffs. The GM, J.P. Ricciardi, was repeatedly asked why he didn’t just call up Barry Bonds, and he never really did answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/285 "2016-03-01T01:37:25Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I hang out at a lot of Chicago sports bars.I’ve never seen this kind of buzz about baseball before the first exhibition game. Random people discussing the Cubs starting lineup with me and even the batting order for opening day. I think, for the first time in my life, I’m truly experiencing what the hot stove league experience must have been like in the past. Cubs fans are setting themselves up for massive disappointment. Ring or Bust rarely ends in a satisfactory way. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/286 "2016-03-01T01:59:09Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I wonder if there’s ever actually been a good big signing of a guy that old. The Randy Johnson signing with Arizona was pretty good, but he was 35 then. Houston signing Roger Clemens at 41 worked out for them. Any hitters? It is rare but does happen. David Ortiz is a recent example of a player who has aged very well, though he has mostly signed short term contracts. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/287 "2016-03-01T14:56:26Z")
[Check out this pick off play.](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/college-pitcher-pulls-off-sneakiest-pick-off-move-you-ll-ever-see-205950365.html) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/288 "2016-03-01T15:45:33Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > Cubs fans are setting themselves up for massive disappointment. Ring or Bust rarely ends in a satisfactory way. It’s not just World Series talk, there are a lot of exciting young players on the Cubs that make the team exciting to watch. Bryant, Schwarber, Rizzo plus I’d like to see more of Baez. It’ll be a 3 team race in the NL Central between Cubs/Cards/Pirates. The Cubs will be competitive , but injuries can always happen, plus I expect Arietta to fall back down to earth. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/289 "2016-03-01T16:28:33Z")
The Red Sox signed David Murphy to a minor league deal yesterday. I’m a little surprised he couldn’t get a major league deal from anyone. He’s getting up there in age and never been a big power guy. But he’s usually positive WAR, career 10.3 WAR in 10 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/290 "2016-03-01T19:53:59Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > It is rare but does happen. David Ortiz is a recent example of a player who has aged very well, though he has mostly signed short term contracts. Sure, but that’s like the Molitor situation - or for that matter his predecessor, Dave Winfield. If you sign a guy like that to a few years’ extension, no big deal, especially if he’s already on your team. A long deal, though, is potentially a budget-crusher. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/291 "2016-03-01T21:11:51Z")
Chapman suspended 30 games! This new massive overreaction to a ‘domestic violence epidemic’ is ridiculous. The guy wasn’t even charged with a crime. I hope he appeals this and wins and I’m certainly not a Yankees fan. [http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/03/01/aroldis-chapman-domestic-violence-suspension-decision-new-york-yankees?xid=si\_social](http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/03/01/aroldis-chapman-domestic-violence-suspension-decision-new-york-yankees?xid=si_social) ---
**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:** [March 1, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/292 "2016-03-01T21:11:55Z")
Aroldis Chapman has been suspended 30 games because of the domestic violence issue. Expect that number to drop on appeal. ETA: Ninja’d by **Dale/** , but I added more information. ETFA: the link above says he will not appeal. But the union will probably do so for him. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/293 "2016-03-01T22:08:33Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Chapman suspended 30 games! This new massive overreaction to a ‘domestic violence epidemic’ is ridiculous. The guy wasn’t even charged with a crime. The players’ union evidently disagrees with you, because they agreed last August to a policy that provides for suspension in exactly such a situation. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/294 "2016-03-01T22:37:43Z")
I think the players’ union is wrong and the commissioner’s office is wrong. I don’t care if Chapman got a speeding ticket, hit a woman, or participated in a coup d’etat. There’s a legal system to handle criminal matters. The commissioner should handle baseball matters such as corked bats, arguing with an umpire, doctoring the baseball, or charging the mound. Suspending a team’s closer for a month is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/295 "2016-03-01T23:03:27Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Suspending a team’s closer for a month is ridiculous. Who cares what his job in the bullpen is? Would he deserve 30 days if he was the spot starter? The league has a policy, the union agreed to it, and you’d have to incredibly tone deaf not to see the reason behind the policy. I agree it’s very harsh to suspend a player who has not been convicted of a crime, but the public is becoming increasingly pissed off at stuff like this. Ask the NFL if they wish they could handle the Ray Rice thing differently. MLB is an entertainment business and lives and died by PR. In baseball news, the Blue Jays signed Rafael Soriano for reasons known only to God. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/296 "2016-03-01T23:48:08Z")
I’m getting angrier at MLB, ESPN just pointed out that 30 games is 18% of the season. That’s incredible for someone who hasn’t been charged with anything. I’d be happy if the Yankees lost 162 games this year but I don’t like this precedent at all. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/297 "2016-03-02T00:43:42Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I don’t care if Chapman got a speeding ticket, hit a woman, or participated in a coup d’etat. Yes, we know. You have made this painfully obvious. > [@dalej42](#): > > ESPN just pointed out that 30 games is 18% of the season. It’s lucky that we have ESPN to point out such important information. I don’t think there’s any other way of working out 30 as a percentage of 162. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/298 "2016-03-02T04:33:19Z")
I’m a Yankee fan and I’m okay with the Chapman suspension. If he hadn’t taken a gun and shot up his garage, I doubt there would have been a MLB penalty. Even Chapman agrees that he behaved badly. As for Soriano, that might work out very well for the Jays. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/299 "2016-03-02T12:38:30Z")
Only 30 days? A token gesture. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418/300 "2016-03-02T14:06:13Z")
I’m curious what the Dope baseball minds think of the high ratings analysts are giving to the Cleveland starting rotation (multiple sources rank them in the top 5 in MLB, and even ahead of the Mets). I am not so sure about this, given that only one member of the rotation has had a really good season (Kluber, and he had his troubles last year following up the Cy Young). Carrasco and Salazar pitch well in spurts but have not been consistent performers. And then there’s the enigma of Trevor Bauer, perennially promising and still young, but who walks lots of batters and recently confessed that the “aspects of preparation and daily work in baseball aren’t seen as enjoyable to him”. Can these guys carry a mediocre (at best) offense in the A.L. Central? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-2015-2016/736418.md?page=16)