Official MLB Spring Training Thread.

Hot stove begins to warm as 121 players become free agents under Article XX B

2014-2015 MLB free agent power ranking

Here are some of the best and most interesting Free Agents:

• Michael Cuddyer
• Adam LaRoche
• Victor Martinez
• Asdrubal Cabrera
• Hanley Ramirez
• Pablo Sandoval
• Russell Martin
• Norichika Aoki
• Melky Cabrera
• Nelson Cruz
• Hiroki Kuroda
• Jon Lester
• Francisco Liriano
• Justin Masterson
• Jake Peavy
• Ervin Santana
• Max Scherzer
• James Shields
• Andrew Miller
• David Robertson
• Rafael Soriano

And of course, Yanks already win the offseason.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11789246/alex-rodriguez-eligible-new-york-yankees-season-long-suspension-ends

This is going to be a big offseason for the Tigers. They could get really crippled this off-season, and they already had some major issues to work out...

Ehh. Dodgers will choke and Cubs will lose again. This won't change much here.

I really want to get Lester back, but if the starting price is really at the $25M/year mark then we might be better off chasing Shields or someone who'd be closer to $15-18M. Yoenis Cespedes might also be traded from the Red Sox, and if so we should probably flip him for prospects. It might be the way to let him go anyways since we need room for Castillo next year. If there's one 'big' position player free agent I think they'd would chase it'd be Sandoval, but I personally hope they don't as I'd rather see what Cecchini could do to start 2015. Besides that I think we established solid starters (Napoli, Pedroia, Craig) or legitimate prospects (Vasquez, Bogarets, Betts, Castillo) throughout the rest of the roster.

Wow, the Cubs hire Joe Madden

You're a troll. Dodgers don't deserve shit because they lost. You're nothing more than a butt hurt troll looking for attention. The finals? The **** you talking about nut sucker? It's called the World Series you gooch sniffer.

Bullshit. Total bullshit. I'm not even going to say it, that's how totally absurd it is. **** sports writers everywhere.

Wow at Kluber getting the CY Young. Felix had obviously better stats...

On a brighter note, supposedly the Tigers have managed to re-sign V-Mart! We can have our psycho scary 3-4-5 lineup again!

Angels' Mike Trout, 23, wins MVP

Clayton Kershaw wins NL MVP

As far as Trout goes all I have to say is: finally!

Kershaw is a beast.

And now, like LeBron, Manning, A-Rod, Nowitzki, Mickelson, Shaq and many others before him he is now on the clock. The onslaught is coming, the onslaught is coming.

Potential dark horse candidate for MVP next year: J.D. Martinez. About a 3rd of the way into the season the man became an absolute BEAST of a hitter. If he continues his insane hitting next year, he could definitely be a MVP candidate.

A player who plays 30-35 of 162 games shouldn't be consider league MVP.

mhm, I know how you feel about this topic.

Giancarlo gonna get 325 million cuz he's got a monster dong.

At the end:

Giants>Dodgers. And that is what counts.

I'd rather win the World Series than be regular season champions, but hey, that's just me.

My gawd. 13 years, 325 million for Giancarlo. I'm shocked the Marlins are opening up the wallet. Full no trade as well, so he's in a Marlins uni for at least 5 years.

Here is the link for the Stanton deal:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11893223/giancarlo-stanton-miami-marlins-agree-13-year-325-million-deal

Also,

Jason Heyward, Shelby Miller in Braves-Cards swap

Russell Martin, Blue Jays agree

So who else thinks the Marlins will hate themselves for that deal in a few years?

Well, the contract includes a 6 year out clause, so if you look at the contract as a 6 year deal it looks great.

As for a 13 year evaluation, lets go to projections:

And a more reserved projection with a steeper decline:

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/11/17/giancarlo-stanton-miami-marlins-325-million

Marlins also in talks with Adam Laroche and James Shields apparently. Marlins need a SP and 2B/SS. They'll be contenders with a frontline starter and more up the middle infield depth.

There's something wrong with this world when sports figures makes more money then 95% of the planet will ever have.What a screwed up world......People are starving,homeless,sick,etc... really sad. :(

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/11929658/boston-red-sox-pablo-sandoval-agree-deal

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/11927406/boston-red-sox-talks-acquire-free-agent-hanley-ramirez

GTFO with this. If you really feel this way, stop watching sports, stop posting on blogs and do volunteer work for the starving/homeless/sick/etc.

individuals with Unique skill sets that are part of billion dollar entertainment industries get paid more. Not new.

I'm hearing Hanley will move to a corner outfield spot, but I'm curious to know how are outfield shakes out now. Right now I would think that Mookie Betts will have the job in center locked downs going into this year (and will like earn it quickly if he doesn't), so even if are to presume Jackie Bradley is a sunk cost, Allen Craig, Daniel Nava, Rusney Castillo, Shane Victorino, Yoenis Cespedes and now Hanley Ramirez gives us a ton of talent and money tied up at the corner outfield positions, at the expense of other roster spots (notably pitching).

If I had to guess we start Castillo, Betts and Ramirez, get rid of Cespdes and Victorino (who are gone after 2015 regardless) and bench Nava and Craig. Craig could then probably move into a full-time DH role if Ortiz retires after 2015.

It is widely assumed that the Sox will trade one or more of their outfielders, probably for pitching.

@Master_Live: To add to that, there are rumors that the Sox are talking to the Tigers about such a trade. The Tigers still need one more outfielder, and the suggestion is they may go and trade Price to free up money to attempt to re-sign Sherzer.

I hate Boston, but they know what they're doing. It'd be amazing if they flip Cespedes + others for David Price and then resign Lester. Sick.

@yokofox33: I hope the Tigers do a trade like that with Boston and then sign Scherzer or Lester to a long term deal. Don't think Price will stay in Detroit after the year, so get something for him while you can.

Of course you make no mention of Hanley bolting the Dodgers. Worst. Troll. Ever.

So the Boston/Tigers trade rumors are getting a bit more refined now. Supposedly the trade being tossed around is Porcello for Cespedes.

Definitely not what I was expecting. Could be worth it though as long as they are able to get their pitching rotations straightened out.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11951977/oakland-athletics-trade-josh-donaldson-toronto-blue-jays

Umm can anyone explain to me why the hell Oakland did this trade? It is all for prospects, but not a single one of them sound promising?

Mariners sign Nelson Cruz to a 4 year, 57 million dollar deal.

This COULD be a good deal as the Mariners desperately need some hitting power, but I feel they might have overpaid as Cruz won't hit up to expectations.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12008073/jon-lester-sign-chicago-cubs

o.o why isn't the doyers doing anything? What happen to the deep pockets!?

You would think a pitcher of Lester's caliber would want to sign to a team that had a shot at the World Series. Apparently not...

Honestly, this is just a huge waste of his talent.

Epstein is making changes and they've got the top-ranked farm system in the majors. With all that behind them I think the cubs will return to relevance sooner rather than later. I would have given Lester that price but we've got enough pieces that we can potentially flip into some pitching right now.

The Cubs are on the up swing.

Scherzer suppossedly wanting 200 mill. Dude has his head up his ass...

Beyond that, I find the lack of moves by the Tigers disappointing. Still need a couple.more bullpen guys and an outfielder. Could use a 3rd baseman as I worry about Castellanos. His defense was just so horrid last year...

Fucking Marlins...