# 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:** 8
**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 8, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/141 "2015-02-08T03:08:25Z")
Nothing happening on the hot stove, so [here’s an article](http://grantland.com/features/worst-mlb-contracts-2015-alex-rodriguez-ryan-howard-prince-fielder/) about the worst contracts in baseball. The story touches on [Bobby Bonilla](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/bobby-bonilla-baseball-contract/) who, even though he retired after the 2001 season, gets a check for 1.2 million every year, starting in 2011 and ending in the year 2035. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/142 "2015-02-16T06:30:43Z")
Just released in Reno: Arizona Diamondbacks - 72.5 (Over -115, Under -105) Atlanta Braves - 73.5 (Over -115, Under -105) Baltimore Orioles - 84.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Boston Red Sox - 86 (Over -110, Under -110) Chicago Cubs - 81.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Chicago White Sox - 82 (Over -110, Under -110) Cincinnati Reds - 79 (Over -110, Under -110) Cleveland Indians - 81 (Over -110, Under -110) Colorado Rockies - 70.5 (Over -115, Under -105) Detroit Tigers - 86.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Houston Astros - 73.5 (Over -115, Under -105) Kansas City Royals - 83 (Over EVEN, Under -120) Los Angeles Angels - 87.5 (Over -105, Under -115) Los Angeles Dodgers - 91 (Over -110, Under -110) Miami Marlins - 81.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Milwaukee Brewers - 80 (Over -110, Under -110) Minnesota Twins - 68.5 (Over -115, Under -105) New York Mets - 81 (Over -115, Under -105) New York Yankees - 80 (Over -110, Under -110) Oakland Athletics - 82.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Philadelphia Phillies - 67 (Over -110, Under -110) Pittsburgh Pirates - 85.5 (Over -110, Under -110) San Diego Padres - 84 (Over -110, Under -110) San Francisco Giants - 85 (Over -105, Under -115) Seattle Mariners - 85 (Over -110, Under -110) St. Louis Cardinals - 87.5 (Over -105, Under -115) Tampa Bay Rays - 77.5 (Over -120, Under EVEN) Texas Rangers - 76.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Toronto Blue Jays - 83.5 (Over -110, Under -110) Washington Nationals - 93 (Over -110, Under -110) I’m gonna take both the Dodgers and the Twins with the over. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/143 "2015-02-16T15:17:08Z")
Oh, I’ll take the over on the Blue Jays. The additions of Donaldson and Martin should make up for Buerhle aging. Otherwise it’s the same team - most of the other changes are fairly neutral. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/144 "2015-02-16T16:29:07Z")
Whoa, Philly that bad? I know they’re rebuilding, but 67 as the over/under? ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/145 "2015-02-16T16:56:13Z")
And here’s how those predictions would break down into divisions: **BOS 86** \*\*BAL 84.5 \*\*\* TOR 83.5 NYY 80 TBR 77.5 **DET 86.5** KCR 83 CHW 82 CLE 81 MIN 68.5 **LAA 87.5** \*\*SEA 85 \*\*\* OAK 82.5 TEX 76.5 HOU 73.5 **WAS 93** MIA 81.5 NYM 81 ATL 73.5 PHI 67 **STL 87.5** \*\*PIT 85.5 \*\*\* CHC 81.5 MIL 80 CIN 79 **LAD 91** \*\*SFG 85 \*\*\* SDP 84 ARI 72.5 COL 70.5 - Wild card ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/146 "2015-02-16T17:30:52Z")
The Yankees will retire Andy Pettitte’s number. Seems quite a stretch for a pitcher who was very good, but isn’t Hall worthy, plus has PED ties. If Pettitte has pitched for a team with less of a history, maybe I can see it, but he wouldn’t make my list of the top 20 Yankees of all time. > **[The Yankees will retire Andy Pettitte's number 46 - MLB | NBC Sports](https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/02/16/the-yankees-will-retire-andy-pettittes-number-46/)** > > He'll also get a plaque in Monument Park ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/147 "2015-02-16T21:00:46Z")
It gets weirder, the Yankees are also going to retire Bernie Williams’ number and Jorge Posada’s number as well! i seriously thought MLB’s Twitter account had been hijacked. Who’s next, Bucky Dent? ---
**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 16, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/148 "2015-02-16T21:58:16Z")
It’s getting out of hand. Last year they gave Paul O’neill and Tino Martinez plaques in monument park. I think Bernie Williams deserves it. He was their best offensive player during that run of four titles, won a batting title, had excellent postseason numbers and played his whole career with the team. But the way things are going, Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch can look forward to their ceremonies. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/149 "2015-02-16T22:46:38Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > It gets weirder, the Yankees are also going to retire Bernie Williams’ number and Jorge Posada’s number as well! i seriously thought MLB’s Twitter account had been hijacked. Who’s next, Bucky Dent? I look forward to the day when the Yankees, due to having retired so many numbers, have to assign players three-digit numbers, or negative numbers, or irrational numbers. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/150 "2015-02-16T23:09:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I look forward to the day when the Yankees, due to having retired so many numbers, have to assign players three-digit numbers, or negative numbers, or **irrational numbers**. Emphasis mine. That’s how to describe some of the contracts the Yankees are still carrying. They’re not the only ones of course. Lookin’ at you, Phillies. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/151 "2015-02-16T23:11:05Z")
They may as well retire Sabathia’s and A Rod’s numbers as well. Irrational contracts and insanely overpaid players who won’t help the team at all this year. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/152 "2015-02-16T23:28:24Z")
That would be bloody. The entire Yankees team, fighting over who gets _i_ on their uniform. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/153 "2015-02-16T23:37:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That would be bloody. The entire Yankees team, fighting over who gets _i_ on their uniform. Brings up another possibility: maybe they could move to Roman numerals. Then the Yankees could all be 509. ---
**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 17, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/154 "2015-02-17T01:05:19Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > They may as well retire Sabathia’s and A Rod’s numbers as well. Irrational contracts and insanely overpaid players who won’t help the team at all this year. I don’t think the Sabathia contract was a bad idea, in theory anyway. Even with the extension it only takes him through his age 36 season. You hope for a David Wells or Andy Pettitte type of pitcher in his mid-30’s, but it obviously doesn’t always work out. The Teixeira contract might be equally bad or even worse. I won’t even talk about Rodriguez. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/155 "2015-02-17T02:59:39Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > And here’s how those predictions would break down into divisions: > > **WAS 93** > MIA 81.5 > NYM 81 > ATL 73.5 > PHI 67 > > **STL 87.5** > \*\*PIT 85.5 \*\*\* > CHC 81.5 > MIL 80 > CIN 79 > > **LAD 91** > \*\*SFG 85 \*\*\* > SDP 84 > ARI 72.5 > COL 70.5 > > - Wild card Giants vs Pirates, winner vs. Nationals, and Cardinals vs. Dodgers? Didn’t we do this last year? I mean…I’ll take a repeat if that’s what y’all want… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/156 "2015-02-17T04:22:51Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Brings up another possibility: maybe they could move to Roman numerals. Then the Yankees could all be 509. I didn’t remember the numeral for 500. I had to look it up to get this. It was worth it. Tip o the hat. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/157 "2015-02-17T15:06:55Z")
The strike zone may get smaller? > **[MLB notes: Strike zone may shrink in 2016](https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/mlb-notes-strike-zone-may-shrink-in/article_c51776e9-76b4-509f-b0ca-7b886c3b2bf8.html)** > > With offense on the decline and strikeouts at an all-time high, Major League Baseball is looking into shrinking the strike zone, ESPN.com reports, citing Yahoo Sports. Seriously? Some baseball folks are so worried about the slow pace of the game and they’re proposing measures to increase walks? The article says the strike zone has actually increased by about 40 square inches since 2009, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true. At least not by the rule book. MLB is always directing umpires how to call strikes, but I don’t know that the book definition of the zone has changed. And we all know that each ump has his own quirks. Side note - I wonder if research exists showing offensive statistics by home plate umpire. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/158 "2015-02-17T15:48:27Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > The strike zone may get smaller? > [MLB notes: Strike zone may shrink in 2016](http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/mlb-notes-strike-zone-may-shrink-in/article_c51776e9-76b4-509f-b0ca-7b886c3b2bf8.html) > Seriously? Some baseball folks are so worried about the slow pace of the game and they’re proposing measures to increase walks? The article says the strike zone has actually increased by about 40 square inches since 2009, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true. At least not by the rule book. MLB is always directing umpires how to call strikes, but I don’t know that the book definition of the zone has changed. And we all know that each ump has his own quirks. Side note - I wonder if research exists showing offensive statistics by home plate umpire. The point isn’t to increase walks, but to increase hits. A smaller strike zone forces pitchers to throw more hittable pitches. [Here](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/04/enforcing-the-rules-ruined-baseball-huh-how-about-that/) and [here](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/13/the-strike-zone-is-getting-really-really-big/) are a couple of articles from last fall that provide a little background on the expanding strike zone. Oddly, though they’re written by the same author about a month apart, they say much the same thing but seem to draw opposite conclusions. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/159 "2015-02-17T16:23:09Z")
Of course I get that the point is not to increase walks, but wouldn’t it be a major side effect of a smaller zone? The strike zone that’s shown on both articles is the rulebook definition, but have you ever actually seen an umpire consistently call a pitch sternum-high a strike? Anything approaching the belly button is typically deemed “ball high.” I have no problem with a big strike zone. Make hitters swing the bat. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019/160 "2015-02-17T16:57:37Z")
Anthony Bosch just got 4 years in prison for running the Miami doping ring that A-Rod and so many others linked to. The judge actually sentenced Bosch to more time than even the prosecution had asked for, and also denied his request to delay the start of his jail time in order to complete a drug treatment program he is undergoing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-2014-2015-offseason/703019.md?page=9)