2025/26 MLB Hot Stove League

[felser]

On 1/19/2026 at 1:18 PM, ghost of miles said:

Of course the Dodgers have the right, under current rules, to spend like this if they're willing to pay the luxury taxes cited above. And I'm no fan of a salary cap--that's not about reducing fiscal inequality among teams (fiscal inequality as a general value, last time I checked, is something tycoon owners have no problem with at all), it's about controlling player salaries.  And yes, the Dodgers have done other things to create their present prowess in addition to exorbitant spending. But if you want to hate a team that goes out and buys any player it wants, hard to beat L.A. in that category these days. 

I favor a hard salary cap in MLB (both ceiling and floor) based on negotiated % of league revenue, even though my local team (Phillies) is one of the bigger spenders.  With the difference in local income streams, teams like the Pirates, Royals, Indians, Reds, Twins, Brewers, Rays have little to no shot at competing with the big boys, even though some of those teams (Indians and Brewers come to mind) are run extraordinarily well.   I like how it works in the NFL, where GM skill is integral (makes me very thankful for Howie Rosen!).  It doesn't take a genius to go spend $2 billion on the best FA's money can buy.

[JSngry]

Salary caps are evil.

Value is to be rewarded, not stifled.

Lazy ownership and management seems to always be rewarded in some form or fashion. Put a salary cap on them, eh? Then we can talk.

[GA Russell]

In the Canadian league, the cap and the floor are very close to one another.  As a result, every team has the same payroll.

This suggests to me that on Opening Day, every team has an equal chance to win the Grey Cup.

[GA Russell]

Mickey Lolich has died at 85.  RIP.

Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series hero, dies at 85

[Dan Gould]

Tigers just got better, signing the Astros lefty.  I would put them at good odds to win the Central.

Not at all certain that Kiner-Falefa is the answer at 2B for the Sox - good glove, yes but pretty anemic bat.  I am  glad that if this is likely the last signing of the offseason that they have kept all four OFs and not traded any of the established starters they went into the offseason with.  An embarrassment of riches in the OF and a lot of depth in SPs is a good thing to have.