***Official*** MLB 2025 Thread

[gut]

About time to kick this off with the news that Roki Sasaki will be posted to move to MLB. Here is the main course after the Yoshi and Shota appetizers. Also, just like Shohei, he is coming over under 25 (he's 23), so is subject to international amateur signing rules....which hypothetically gives every team a realistic chance at signing him.

I think its a horribly short-sighted move by Sasaki. Sure, it paid off for Shohei, but he is a fucking unicorn. His arm could disintegrate (and it has, twice) and he can just ho-hum be the best DH in baseball. Sasaki doesn't have that backup plan. I would have just waited the 2 more years and then come over and get that Yoshi money.

[lol wow]

i played little league with a dude named matt sasaki dude could bang hit like 780

[gut]

Rays continue their existence as a Yankees feeder team by literally playing next year at the Yankees spring training facility.

George is smiling in the afterlife.

[Sanlmar]

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[Sanlmar]

About time to kick this off with the news that Roki Sasaki will be posted to move to MLB. Here is the main course after the Yoshi and Shota appetizers. Also, just like Shohei, he is coming over under 25 (he's 23), so is subject to international amateur signing rules....which hypothetically gives every team a realistic chance at signing him.

I think its a horribly short-sighted move by Sasaki. Sure, it paid off for Shohei, but he is a fucking unicorn. His arm could disintegrate (and it has, twice) and he can just ho-hum be the best DH in baseball. Sasaki doesn't have that backup plan. I would have just waited the 2 more years and then come over and get that Yoshi money.

He’s coming here for Western medicine.

There were many signs last season his arm ain’t right. Lotta dimished metrics. Maybe he wants his bag now before his next surgery. Dodgers will find this irresistible.

[Dan Druff]

Two MLB teams will be playing in minor league stadiums in 2025.

The Sacramento A's will have their inaugural season, and the Tampa Bay Rays will be at the Yankees' spring facility, due to damage to their field: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-field-tampa


Neither stadium can hold 12,000 people.

[go_buccos]

Two MLB teams will be playing in minor league stadiums in 2025.

The Sacramento A's will have their inaugural season, and the Tampa Bay Rays will be at the Yankees' spring facility, due to damage to their field: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-field-tampa


Neither stadium can hold 12,000 people.

Also those Florida pop-up storms in summer... Yikes.

O/U number of Rays home rainouts in 2025: 25.5

[Dan Druff]

Dodgers meeting with Juan Soto tomorrow.

Teoscar Hernandez is a free agent, and may or may not return.

They're actually light at OF, especially given that they're going to try Mookie in the infield again (did they not learn?)

Right now the OF projects as Pages, Edman, and Outman. Not exactly what you'd expect of a big market team with deep pockets.

[The Boz]

Two MLB teams will be playing in minor league stadiums in 2025.

The Sacramento A's will have their inaugural season, and the Tampa Bay Rays will be at the Yankees' spring facility, due to damage to their field: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ng-field-tampa


Neither stadium can hold 12,000 people.

Also those Florida pop-up storms in summer... Yikes.

O/U number of Rays home rainouts in 2025: 25.5

Usually not long enough to cancel the game, just long enough to ruin the day for fans. Not enough cover at the Stein for 11,000 people during a storm on the concourse.

[Sanlmar]

Also those Florida pop-up storms in summer... Yikes.

O/U number of Rays home rainouts in 2025: 25.5

Usually not long enough to cancel the game, just long enough to ruin the day for fans. Not enough cover at the Stein for 11,000 people during a storm on the concourse.

Those home games could present an interesting handicap especially early on.

[Dan Druff]

Snell to Dodgers.

5 years, $182m.

Snell will be 32 when the season starts, and near 37 when the contract ends.

Like Tyler Glasnow and Yoshi Yamamoto, Snell has durability issues. In 9 seasons since 2016, Snell has pitched over 130 innings just twice.

Snell had an injury and then a horrendous beginning to his 2024 season. However after racking up an ERA near 10 (yes, 10), he had a 1.23 ERA and 114/30 K/BB over 80.1 innings over his final 14 starts, and suddenly he became a hot commodity. He had another year with the Giants and opted out of it, which he wouldn't have if he didn't turn around like this.

Snell has had two Cy Young seasons, in 2018 and 2023. The rest of the time, he's ranged between good and mediocre.

Dodgers seriously need load management. I know that's not a thing in MLB, but it should be. Provided the Padres don't give them a hard time regarding the NL West title, they really should keep the innings down for Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani (remember, he pitches), Snell, and yes, even Kersaw if he comes back. The problem is that these pitchers don't want to be load managed. They like the gaudy win and K numbers. They want to shoot for the Cy Young.

All of the high priced pitching in the world won't matter if they're injured or worn down by the postseason. Dodgers were able to skate through the 2024 postseason with Flaherty, Yamamoto, Buehler, and a bunch of no-namers in the bullpen. But that's not a model they should be duplicating.

This signing also casts doubt upon whether Flaherty or Buehler will be brought back.

[Sanlmar]

After all these years of intense interest and analysis I find I am apathetic about Dodgers news now.

It is quite possible I watched more Dodgers games this past decade than you, Druff.

I fear you’ll have to walk these streets alone now

[Sheesfaced]

After all these years of intense interest and analysis I find I am apathetic about Dodgers news now.

It is quite possible I watched more Dodgers games this past decade than you, Druff.

I fear you’ll have to walk these streets alone now

[Sanlmar]

Saw Bill Burr talk about “The Code” on Rogan. I have long held the gay-ification and decline of MLB really accelerated when rules removed players policing players. MLB players had an unwritten code of conduct.

Slide into second. Collision with catcher at home plate. Hit by pitch. Etc

Pedro Martinez can explain

While the rest of you simps are sitting in the theater singing along to Wicked - Simpdog and I will be reading this

[gut]

After all these years of intense interest and analysis I find I am apathetic about Dodgers news now.

It is quite possible I watched more Dodgers games this past decade than you, Druff.

I fear you’ll have to walk these streets alone now

A new toy for Prior to break. Unlike Druffs thoughts, I would bet they are looking to bring Flaherty and Buehler back. They are convinced they need 15 starting pitchers....injuries happen!

Doctor, heal thyself.

[Dan Druff]

Rumors are that Soto is going to Boston

[Dan Druff]

Tommy Edman signs 5 year, $74m extension.

Without the huge postseason, he doesn't get this -- or he gets less.

A good analysis of this deal is here: https://archive.ph/lvFgg


The more amazing thing is that Edman was acquired for almost nothing. They gave up the struggling Miguel Vargas and two no-name minor leaguers. They even got the useful Michael Kopech thrown in from the White Sox, as part of this deal! Huge win for them on this trade, and not just in hindsight. Cards stupidly sold Edman low because of his injury. They had some doubts if he'd be the same guy coming back, and he wasn't -- he was even better.

This actually isn't a bad deal for the Dodgers, even if Edman regresses some. He is a utility player, and likely has a number of good years ahead of him. He turns 30 in May, but this deal finishes up when he's not even 34 1/2. More importantly, as the article states, the Dodgers need someone like him. His offensive numbers should also go up if he gives up batting left handed.

[BCR]

Man I was sure I had seen the last Shane Bieber Cleveland start already. California kid with California wife into fashion. Him taking less money to stay in Cleveland seemed highly unlikely. Details not out there yet on his contract, but if it’s anything like the $ Jose left on the table, they should build a statue of both of them outside the stadium. The organization drew better last year. They owe it to them to spend some more $ now.

[gut]

Man I was sure I had seen the last Shane Bieber Cleveland start already. California kid with California wife into fashion. Him taking less money to stay in Cleveland seemed highly unlikely. Details not out there yet on his contract, but if it’s anything like the $ Jose left on the table, they should build a statue of both of them outside the stadium. The organization drew better last year. They owe it to them to spend some more $ now.

I saw:

Right-hander Shane Bieber is coming back to the Guardians. He and the club have reportedly agreed to a deal with a $10MM salary in 2025, with a $16MM player option for 2026 that comes with a $4MM buyout. That makes it a $26MM guarantee over two years but Bieber can potentially return to free agency after banking $14MM in year one. He reportedly turned down more money with other clubs in order to return to Cleveland.

I would guess he turned down more total guaranteed in favor of the bridge/prove-it deal. Considering Clevelands spending (or, lack-thereof) habits, its a sizable chunk for, at best, 2/3rds of a season of Bieber.

[lol wow]

doyers need soto to get the haters furious