# MLB Offseason Thread 2024-2025 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 1, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526 "2024-11-01T01:39:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/121 "2024-12-07T02:21:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t think Manfred is a baseball fan or knows shit about it. He can’t keep his freaking hands off of things. I admit that I like the pitch clock and like the shift ban. It would be better if the batters were capable of going the other way but that’s asking too much for the modern player. The pitch clock wouldn’t be necessary if the batters weren’t in the habit of stepping out and regrouping every freaking pitch. I despise the ghost runner rule but if you really must have it, why not wait till the 12th inning? Now we’ll have a home run derby in lieu of extra innings for the ASG. Manfred is slowly turning the game into Calvinball. Bananaball. The Banana’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. I don’t mind the attempts to shorten the game while I’m at home watching. When I paid for a seat I want it to go as long as possible. ---
**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 7, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/122 "2024-12-07T02:49:31Z")
RHP Clay Holmes and the Mets have agreed on a [3 year, $38 million](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42821944/rhp-clay-holmes-new-york-mets-reach-3-year-38-million-deal) deal. Holmes will be a starter, something he hasn’t done since 2018. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/123 "2024-12-07T02:55:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Bananaball. The Banana’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. True. OTOH, it’s kind of like if Larry O’Brien - the commissioner of the NBA in the late '70s - thought to himself, “wow, the Harlem Globetrotters are really popular, and we’re struggling to even get on TV. Maybe we should start having our players do comedy routines and juggle basketballs.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/124 "2024-12-07T03:03:50Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > RHP Clay Holmes and the Mets have agreed on a [3 year, $38 million](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42821944/rhp-clay-holmes-new-york-mets-reach-3-year-38-million-deal) deal. Holmes will be a starter, something he hasn’t done since 2018. Good news for 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 7, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/125 "2024-12-07T17:18:17Z")
St. Petersburg has [approved bonds to help finance](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42804000/st-petersburg-approves-bonds-new-13b-ballpark-rays) a new Rays stadium. That makes the deal only partway done, however. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/126 "2024-12-07T19:49:15Z")
The Golden At Bat rule is just about the dumbest idea they’ve ever come up with. Had that rule existed in 1960, Bill Mazeroski likely doesn’t lead off the bottom of the ninth. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/127 "2024-12-07T20:09:09Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Bananaball. The Banana’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. > > True. OTOH, it’s kind of like if Larry O’Brien - the commissioner of the NBA in the late '70s - thought to himself, “wow, the Harlem Globetrotters are really popular, and we’re struggling to even get on TV. Maybe we should start having our players do comedy routines and juggle basketballs.” The NBA did implement the 3-point shot during his tenure (1979), which some have indeed decried as having irretrievably altered the game in a unsatisfying and trite way, and the original idea was indeed the brainchild of Abe Saperstein, founder of the Trotters. ---
**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 7, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/128 "2024-12-07T21:38:45Z")
Just to confirm, the A’s GM said that they needed to [make a statement](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42820861/a-sought-make-statement-severino-deal-forst-says) with the Severino signing. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/129 "2024-12-07T22:29:23Z")
Willy Adames gets a 7 year $182m deal with the Giants. I wonder if teams are forecasting a big influx of cash should Manfred be successful in getting rid of the blackout rules. ---
**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 7, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/130 "2024-12-07T22:40:54Z")
[Here’s a link](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42837911/sources-giants-willy-adames-agree-7-year-182m-deal) with all the details. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/131 "2024-12-09T00:21:08Z")
Boy does this say a lot. From about halfway into your link: > [@](#): > > They are planning to play the next three years in West Sacramento, California, before they hope to move into a new stadium in Las Vegas. So, 1. They’re stuck in Sacramento for three years, 2. But, it’s not the REAL Sacramento, the big city that’s the capital of America’s richest, most populous state. It’s “West Sacramento,” a little suburb. 3. Oh, and they don’t _exactly_ have a solid stadium plan in Vegas. What a joke. But they have Luis Severino! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/132 "2024-12-09T01:49:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s “West Sacramento,” a little suburb. That’s where the stadium, Sutter Health Park, is located (think Cumberland, GA, home of the Braves, or Miami Gardens, where the Marlins play). It’s where the Sacramento River Cats (AAA) play. Capacity is between 14,000 and 15,000. So for the next 3 seasons, there could be two major league clubs playing in minor league ballparks. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/133 "2024-12-09T03:44:34Z")
Juan Soto signs with the Mets. > [@](#): > > Superstar outfielder [Juan Soto](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/36969/juan-soto) and the [New York Mets](https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/nym/new-york-mets) are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources told ESPN on Sunday night, the largest deal in professional sports history. > > The deal includes an opt out after five years and no deferred money, sources said. It has escalators that can reach above $800 million. > **[Sources: Mets land Soto on 15-year, $765M deal](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42864917/sources-mets-land-juan-soto-15-year-765m-deal)** > > Juan Soto and the Mets are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources told ESPN, the largest deal in professional sports history. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/134 "2024-12-09T03:50:55Z")
I’m not terribly sad to see Soto go. He’s a great player, no question. But for the money they aren’t spending on him, the Yankees could get 2 or 3 very good players. Judge in right, Dominguez in center, and I don’t know in left (moving over from third base). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/135 "2024-12-09T03:56:16Z")
As great a haul as Soto is, it’s very hard to say he’s worth more than Shohei Ohtani. This just completely resets major free agent deals. Total reset. Shohei Ohtani’s deal reflected his uniqueness - he is like no other player. Soto is a great player but he wasn’t even the best player on his own team last year and even compared to other early superstar FAs like Bryce Harper this is wildly, wildly out of kilter. Every big FA to come will logically be worth more than they were before. Any hope I had of the Jays extending Vladdy Guerrero for under $400 million is gone. He’s the same age as Soto. How can he settle for less than half of this? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/136 "2024-12-09T04:10:26Z")
A crazy contract. Yelp, Yanks have some work now, filling a lot of positions. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/137 "2024-12-09T04:15:59Z")
Soto’s averages out to $51m/year, Ohtani’s averages out to $70m/year - but yes, with inflation, I’d guess they come about the same considering how far back Ohtani’s pay is deferred. I wonder how much this is going to bite the Mets in luxury tax. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/138 "2024-12-09T17:15:49Z")
I’d assume that depends on other moves they make and the corresponding impact on payroll. The Mets already had the highest payroll in baseball. They could win 108 games in 2025 and still pay more per win than any other team. There is a LONG conversation to be had here about baseball’s economics but what this illustrates is that the reality presently is that players do not have the same value to all teams. Juan Soto might or might not be worth $765 million to the Mets, but he most certainly is not worth it to the Pirates, because their ability to generate more revenue by winning just isn’t as great in Pittsburgh as it is in NYC. There are not many markets where a contract north of $400 million **could** be worth it. ---
**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 9, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/139 "2024-12-09T22:45:55Z")
The Phillies have signed [Jordan Romano](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42876850/sources-closer-jordan-romano-phillies-agree-deal) to a one-year deal after he was nontendered by Toronto. I can’t find anything about the financial terms, but it’s believed to be over the $7.75 million he earned as the Blue Jays closer. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526/140 "2024-12-09T23:00:13Z")
I’m not sure why Toronto didn’t want him. He was hurt most of 2024 but was highly effective prior to that. Maybe something about the injury spooked them but it could be a great pickup for Philly, while Toronto doesn’t appear to have enough MLB relief pitchers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread-2024-2025/1009526.md?page=8)