Winter Meetings Thread

[Guest]

I'm wondering if the concept of debate threads has ever been introduced--I would gladly volunteer to lead them and apply the rules, or if someone else wants to do it (preferably not a moderator), that would be great as well.

With each formal and structured debate, we could make the title of the post "Debate: Imai will be signed by January," and allow users to take a stance. Once a stance is taken, each individual who has registered for the debate can do rebuttals, clarifications, agreements, etc. Of course, reasonably, the debates should have a unilateral answer, but we could do interpretive debates as well.

I already see the opposition--isn't that what we're doing here? But maybe we could add a "debate wins" system where users win one Debate Point for every debate they win (has to be the correct answer as well as the most sophisticated within the opinion group). 

Does this sound fun or redundant?

[Tryptamine]

Looks like you can cross King off the list

 

[Neuby]

I thought the Mets would be in heavy on King. I just assumed last night after Kelly got $20M a year , the Cubs would be out on King.

[Bertz]

10 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Looks like you can cross King off the list

 

Is he reported to have signed somewhere?  None of the big names have said anything.

[Tryptamine]

Just now, Bertz said:

Is he reported to have signed somewhere?  None of the big names have said anything.

It's been reported it's basically between the Orioles/Yankees/Red Sox with King strongly preferring Boston

[Tryptamine]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/red-sox-yankees-orioles-finalists-for-michael-king.html

[Neuby]

1 minute ago, Bertz said:

Is he reported to have signed somewhere?  None of the big names have said anything.

 

 

Just now, Tryptamine said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/red-sox-yankees-orioles-finalists-for-michael-king.html

 Now they are updating it saying those are just teams he's considering ... not finalists ? Basically he's picked a coast but he's leaving the door open for the Mets and Phillies.

[Jason Ross]

6 minutes ago, Neuby said:

I thought the Mets would be in heavy on King. I just assumed last night after Kelly got $20M a year , the Cubs would be out on King.

I doubt much has really changed on the Michael King market. Cease bested his FanGraphs crowd sourced AAV by $1m, Edwin Diaz hit it right on the spot, Devin Williams beat his by $1m. Merrill Kelly is the only really big increase on AAV ($4m). on the pitching side (hitters have outpaced their AAV more). 

I'd still expect him in the $20-22m AAV range (with $24m at the top).

[Tryptamine]

Seeing as we've had almost no connection to Valdez and I don't think any connection to Suarez, I think we're basically Imai or bust at this point.

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

It's been reported it's basically between the Orioles/Yankees/Red Sox with King strongly preferring Boston

The report that this is coming from names those three teams but it doesn't suggest they're the only teams. But that all three are competing. I think there's room for other teams to be involved based on the wording. 

[chibears55]

Hoyer not looking to add anyone of significant to the pen or rotation, I said before when Imanaga returned, they have their rotation set and more with Steele returning in May/June and some depth with Rea, Assad, Wicks, and possibly Wiggins later in year. I still feel at best Hoyer will add a couple depth type starters.

I want to be wrong cause they need another TOR type starter, I just dont see them doing it this offseason.

Same with bullpen, they have a bunch of in house guys already and I doubt Hoyer going to spend more than 5 mil on a reliever, so at best he'll likely add a couple depth type arms here too, nothing exciting. 

But Hey, all is ok, they promoted Zombo to VP of pitching after 1 year so the Nationals wouldn't hire him 🙄 😉 

Edited December 14, 2025 by chibears55

[Dfan25]

Of the rumored targets , Zac Gallen and Ryne Stanek follow Tyler Zombro on instagram . There you go Cubs are signing Gallen and Stanek  😁

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Of the rumored targets , Zac Gallen and Ryne Stanek follow Tyler Zombro on instagram . There you go Cubs are signing Gallen and Stanek  😁

I'll say I do really want Stanek if he's not the top guy they add.  Stanek seems like he has a decent chance to make a few changes and become fun as hell.  And if you do something like Fairbanks and Stanek he would start out in low pressure as the 6th inning guy.

[Cuzi]

4 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Of the rumored targets , Zac Gallen and Ryne Stanek follow Tyler Zombro on instagram . There you go Cubs are signing Gallen and Stanek  😁

I cant wait to see how Hoyer rebuilds like half the roster next year. So glad we extended him.

This man better damn well hope Imai signs here and lives up to the hype.

[Neuby]

Just now, Bertz said:

I'll say I do really want Stanek if he's not the top guy they add.  Stanek seems like he has a decent chance to make a few changes and become fun as hell.  And if you do something like Fairbanks and Stanek he would start out in low pressure as the 6th inning guy.

 

Agreed Stanek is intriguing but only if you add another big arm in front of him .... I guess Fairbanks.

[Cuzi]

 

Quote

 

Hawkins said that all of the players who sign early deals in free agency typically get an offer that's above their perceived market value, which is why they're quick to put pen to paper. And the Cubs' mindset has been to "kind of withstand that first rally" when players are being overpaid so the market can settle down.

Hawkins also noted that these early free agency deals, "are these perfect storms that really work out well for a player," because of reasons like a team's desperation or clear need to improve a specific position.

 

I really despise everything about how these guys operate. You are telling me the back-to-back WS champion Dodgers are out here desperate to make a move early and sign one of the best relievers in the game?

[ToolDRT]

11 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

 

I really despise everything about how these guys operate. You are telling me the back-to-back WS champion Dodgers are out here desperate to make a move early and sign one of the best relievers in the game?

I don’t feel the need to post much anymore, you type exactly what I’m gonna say. Our mentality is borderline foolish at this point. Glad others see it. 

[chibears55]

47 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

 

I really despise everything about how these guys operate. You are telling me the back-to-back WS champion Dodgers are out here desperate to make a move early and sign one of the best relievers in the game?

Yea, I mean why look desperate and spend a little extra on the really good FA, when you can wait and grab the lesser talented ones thatll take way less money and years 🙄😏

[Tryptamine]

It's going to be funny when Jed, who expressly said they needed to improve the rotation, does nothing a trade deadline after needing to improve the rotation and also doing nothing.

[BKHoo]

It sounds like the entire American League East wants him, and the price is going up.

[Guest]

25 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

It's going to be funny when Jed, who expressly said they needed to improve the rotation, does nothing a trade deadline after needing to improve the rotation and also doing nothing.

Yep. He wants to value every single dollar in his pocket, and he can't effectively mobilize the money and allocate it towards specific players who benefit the team. That's why I disagree with the management. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, BKHoo said:

It sounds like the entire American League East wants him, and the price is going up.

Did someone say something remotely economics-related?

That is completely true. And I think it will have an effect on other pitchers as well and increase their prices, maybe even in a bubble-like way. But in any case, it only makes Jed less willing to spend a single cent from his gilded pocket.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, ToolDRT said:

I don’t feel the need to post much anymore, you type exactly what I’m gonna say. Our mentality is borderline foolish at this point. Glad others see it. 

I always say, "Dollars aren't worth anything until they're spent."

Just don't get why rich, greedy dudes like Jed don't want to spend anything on pitchers with substantial value.

[Guest]

49 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Yea, I mean why look desperate and spend a little extra on the really good FA, when you can wait and grab the lesser talented ones thatll take way less money and years 🙄😏

They want to build their team to be stable for 2032, but they are also closed to long-term contracts as well as the fact that they need to go in steps to stabilize their time. Imai is a stabilizer and with his pretty divided pitches, he provides consistency to the bullpen. Conversely, waiting on all of this and watching every other team be proactive will only be detrimental.

You can squeeze an orange to get out some juice, but you can't get 100% of the juice out.

[ToolDRT]

16 minutes ago, The Cubs Dude said:

I always say, "Dollars aren't worth anything until they're spent."

Just don't get why rich, greedy dudes like Jed don't want to spend anything on pitchers with substantial value.

Jed is garbage at his job, but he doesn’t set the budget. The “rich, greedy” dude is Ricketts, in this scenario.