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2018-2019 MLB Hot Stove Thread

Pilchard

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May have started this thread a little early, but:

Twins hired former Deac commitment Rocco Baldelli as its next manager.

In 1999, WF received a commitment from Baldelli out of HS (he is from Rhode Island and was a little under the radar when he committed to WF as Rhode Island is not a hotbed of baseball talent, and Baldelli excelled in a number of sports), but Baldelli's stock rose on the eve of the draft, and the Rays selected him with the 6th pick of the 2000 MLB draft. Rocco made a quick rise through the Rays minor league system, and made his MLB debut at age 21 and was 3rd in the ROY voting after the 2003 season. Baldelli looked to be a future star, but suffered a ton of injuries and illnesses that curtailed his career. He retired at age 29 in 2010. Most recently, Baldelli coached in the Rays system. Hope Rocco does well in Minnesota.

Also, Nats teenage sensation Juan Soto (tied for 2nd most HRs all-time by a MLB teenager) turned 20 today.
 
Weird that the Angels went with a retread like Ausmus.
 
There is a trend to go with younger analytic friendly managers right now. Allows the Front Office to play a greater role in the managing decisions.
 
O's missed out on Cuban super prospect Victor Victor Mesa and his brother Victor, Jr. despite having the most international money available. Somehow they also missed on Gaston the third best Cuban prospect. They also don't have a manager or a GM. That's good, right?
 
Marlins had the same amount of space as you guys. Bad that you missed Gaston though.
 
Orioles have neglected the international market for years. It finally dawned on them this year that was an idiotic strategy. Despite having more international bonus money than any other MLB franchise, the O's are having trouble signing players because they don't have the key contacts in Latin America that other MLB teams do; so, they get beat by the Marlins and Rays for international prospects despite offering more cash. Angelos has run that franchise into the ground, resulting in a 115 loss season, and a beautiful ballpark that sits empty all season. Sad.
 
Buck Showalter did an other-worldly job making that franchise a contender for a solid five-year run. One of the best in the game
 
Orioles have neglected the international market for years. It finally dawned on them this year that was an idiotic strategy. Despite having more international bonus money than any other MLB franchise, the O's are having trouble signing players because they don't have the key contacts in Latin America that other MLB teams do; so, they get beat by the Marlins and Rays for international prospects despite offering more cash. Angelos has run that franchise into the ground, resulting in a 115 loss season, and a beautiful ballpark that sits empty all season. Sad.

I mean, 2012-2016 was a pretty good run and wasn't all that long ago. In baseball, it seems like if you are going to be bad - be really bad. Look at the Astros and Cubs recently (also wasn't that long ago that the Nats had back to back 100+ loss seasons). O's are going to draft Bobby Witt, Jr. for the future. It will be interesting to see how the rebuild works out.
 
Orioles have neglected the international market for years. It finally dawned on them this year that was an idiotic strategy. Despite having more international bonus money than any other MLB franchise, the O's are having trouble signing players because they don't have the key contacts in Latin America that other MLB teams do; so, they get beat by the Marlins and Rays for international prospects despite offering more cash. Angelos has run that franchise into the ground, resulting in a 115 loss season, and a beautiful ballpark that sits empty all season. Sad.

Also no one in their right mind wants to move to Baltimore.
 
Good to see the Maryland Defense League is still standing at the ready
 
May have started this thread a little early, but:

Twins hired former Deac commitment Rocco Baldelli as its next manager.

In 1999, WF received a commitment from Baldelli out of HS (he is from Rhode Island and was a little under the radar when he committed to WF as Rhode Island is not a hotbed of baseball talent, and Baldelli excelled in a number of sports), but Baldelli's stock rose on the eve of the draft, and the Rays selected him with the 6th pick of the 2000 MLB draft. Rocco made a quick rise through the Rays minor league system, and made his MLB debut at age 21 and was 3rd in the ROY voting after the 2003 season. Baldelli looked to be a future star, but suffered a ton of injuries and illnesses that curtailed his career. He retired at age 29 in 2010. Most recently, Baldelli coached in the Rays system. Hope Rocco does well in Minnesota.

Also, Nats teenage sensation Juan Soto (tied for 2nd most HRs all-time by a MLB teenager) turned 20 today.

Rocco was drafted by the Rays the year after they took Josh Hamilton as the first pick. I'm sure they envisioned a Mantle & Maris type combo for many years into the future but life happened.
 
Heard a baseball insider claim that the final two for Harper would be the Cubs and the Yankees. I know the Yankees have the cash, but it would seem like over-kill at the corner OF spots with Judge and Stanton locked in the Bronx for the next decade.
 
Some guy for SNY reporting the Yankees are out on Harper. Most recent betting odds have the Phils as favorites for both Harper and Machado. Arrieta already stating that he is going to do his part in recruiting free agents.
 
I wonder how much Machado's dogging it and cheap shots will cost him.
 
Depending on who you want to believe, the Phillies either do or do not have the re$ource$ to sign both Harper and Machado. Both guys hurt themselves some by playing below expectations this past season.
 
They have the resources. Do they have the will?

I have been a Phillies fan my entire life, but having two of the least likable players in the majors would make it suck.
 
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