# MLB Hotstove: 2014-2015 Offseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019 "2014-10-30T15:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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 12, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/181 "2015-03-12T13:54:20Z")
They’ll be damned if they’re gonna pay him that money and let him walk, even though they clearly don’t want him. Like he somehow wins if he just goes away. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/182 "2015-03-12T15:52:39Z")
It’s the sunk-cost fallacy yet again. It isn’t about money, since they’re committed to paying him no matter what (unless they somehow convince him to retire, which if it hasn’t happened yet, isn’t going to). It’s about protecting their own foolish pride, nothing more. If the Yankees cut him, it looks like they’re admitting a mistake in having given him the contract (as if there was any doubt left). If they cut him, he signs elsewhere (doubtful but possible), and he somehow does something to beat them even once, they look stupid for cutting him. And pretty much any front office in any sport would see it the same way. Get _over_ it, people. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/183 "2015-03-12T16:01:53Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Sometimes you need to make sure you’re on the same page as to what the catcher’s signs are. Nothing worse for a catcher than getting crossed up by his pitcher. We all shouldn’t have to wait because the pitcher and catcher are meatheads. And it’s completely unfair to the hitter that you could have 2 strikes on him and he has to wait at the plate while you strategize the precise pitch and location you’re going to throw. If they screw up the signs, they should have to wait till the next batter comes to the plate before conferencing. ---
**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 12, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/184 "2015-03-12T16:17:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It’s the sunk-cost fallacy yet again. It isn’t about money, since they’re committed to paying him no matter what (unless they somehow convince him to retire, which if it hasn’t happened yet, isn’t going to). It’s about protecting their own foolish pride, nothing more. If the Yankees cut him, it looks like they’re admitting a mistake in having given him the contract (as if there was any doubt left). If they cut him, he signs elsewhere (doubtful but possible), and he somehow does something to beat them even once, they look stupid for cutting him. And pretty much any front office in any sport would see it the same way. Get _over_ it, people. This is rather odd. You start by noting the sunk-cost fallacy and “foolish pride,” suggesting that you agree with the previous posters’ arguments, but then you say that every front office would do the same thing, and that people just need to get over it, suggesting that the previous posters’ arguments are misguided or silly. It sounds like your argument is, “Baseball management does stupid stuff, but because they all do it equally stupidly, we shouldn’t bother pointing out or criticizing their stupidity.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/185 "2015-03-12T16:46:20Z")
I’m criticizing _front offices in general_ for having too much foolish pride, leading them not to recognize their thinking is fallacious. I did so clearly enough for most native English speakers. ---
**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 12, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/186 "2015-03-12T18:26:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m criticizing _front offices in general_ for having too much foolish pride, leading them not to recognize their thinking is fallacious. So you were telling front offices to get over it? Fair enough. It seemed that you were telling critics of front offices to get over it. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I did so clearly enough for most native English speakers. And there it is. I would have been disappointed if you managed to make a post without acting like a petulant five year old. ---
**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 12, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/187 "2015-03-12T22:52:22Z")
I have a better solution to the A-Rod problem: spike his coffee with steroids. One failed test means a lifetime ban. Bye bye contract. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/188 "2015-03-13T13:02:01Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > What’s up with pitchers tearing ACLs shagging fly balls and now fielding bunts? You’d think they’re the clumsiest group of professional athletes out there. I suspect this sort of thing has always happened but in the past they’d just tell the guy to rest and put ice on it for awhile, then be puzzled as to why he sucked. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/189 "2015-03-13T14:48:45Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > My favorite story from yesterday is that ARod hit his first spring training home run and the Yankees twitter account acted like he never stepped on the field. They more or less live tweeted the game and made not one mention of ARod. Even their game recap headline was “Ellsbury and Beltran notch RBIs in contest with Red Sox.” I don’t know that the Yankees have to love and embrace ARod, but maybe they can at least acknowledge that he does play for their team. Interesting follow up: > [@](#): > > So, why not acknowledge his home run? According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, there is “no directive from the team to omit A-Rod from the Twitter account.” Feinsand also notes that the **Yankees account is run by MLB Advanced Media, not an in-house employee**. The issue will be addressed, and will be “rectified” moving forward, according to the report. > **[MLB News, Expert Analysis, Rumors, Live Updates, & more](https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/)** > > Sports News, Scores, Fantasy Games So its the MLB who doesn’t want to acknowledge A-Rod, apparently? I wouldn’t imagine that the Yankees care too much one way or the other about A-Rod. They aren’t going to do anything this year, so why not have A-Rod play 3B/DH? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/190 "2015-03-13T17:33:07Z")
It’s DH, maybe exclusively, for him this year, AIUI. They re-signed Chase Headley to play 3B. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/191 "2015-03-13T18:24:32Z")
Even better. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/192 "2015-03-13T20:56:41Z")
Send him down to Tampa. Or Staten Island. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/193 "2015-03-13T21:26:21Z")
Why? To get the rust off? They should know by the end of March if he can still contribute to the big club. But if the most competitive roster they can put on the field, both now and for the next few years, does not include him, there is absolutely no reason to make space for him. His contract is \*not \*a reason. If he’s done, or even if the bullshit outweighs whatever value he may have left, the right decision is to just cut his ass. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/194 "2015-03-13T23:36:09Z")
Not for the rust, for the _pain_. Make him finish out his career playing Single A ball as a lesson to future generations. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/195 "2015-03-14T16:30:27Z")
Veterans of five year cannot be sent to the minors without their consent so the Yankees could not stash ARod in the minors. They would have to offer him his release. They would still be stuck with his salary (above the minimum) even if another club then picked him up. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/196 "2015-03-14T19:41:16Z")
Then trade him to Japan. Or Cuba. Or Mars. ---
**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 14, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/197 "2015-03-14T20:43:37Z")
Carlos Beltran should be the every day DH, if he’s healthy this year. The Yanks should get someone else to play right field and release A-Rod. It’s just not worth keeping him around. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/198 "2015-03-16T02:43:17Z")
Beltran is neve healthy and A-Rod can hit a little, after all. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/199 "2015-03-16T14:24:20Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why? To get the rust off? They should know by the end of March if he can still contribute to the big club. But if the most competitive roster they can put on the field, both now and for the next few years, does not include him, there is absolutely no reason to make space for him. His contract is \*not \*a reason. If he’s done, or even if the bullshit outweighs whatever value he may have left, the right decision is to just cut his ass. Yes and if he can contribute, there is really no reason NOT to include him on the roster. Why wouldn’t they? Because people may dislike the Yankees? Yeah, I’m sure that has never happened before. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/200 "2015-03-16T16:05:34Z")
There’s also the clubhouse stuff to consider, most of which never comes out so we don’t really know. If the guy’s poisonous enough there, the negative effect on his teammates and the coaching staff can outweigh whatever marginal contribution he might make to a team that has only an outside chance at playing in October anyway. He might also have an effect on YES subscriptions and ticket sales, but probably not, since any publicity is good publicity in that regard. It is not at all certain he can still hit MLB pitching, btw. Spring ball doesn’t tell you anything. This is a guy coming off over a year away, injuries, PED detox, and the march of time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=11)