2024-25 MLB off-season news and notes discussion thread

[Cas]

Why would he not want to go to Houston?

Maybe he doesn't want to live in Texas. Maybe he doesn't like their uniforms. Why knows?

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Why would he not want to go to Houston?

According to Derrick Goold and Katie Woo, seems like he's not totally against it, just doesn't want to do it NOW. I think he's waiting for Bregman and other shoes to drop to see if a team/city he likes more throws their hat in the ring and if they don't and the Astros are still interested he'll be fine with it later.

I think his fantasy is to go to the Dodgers but I don't see them giving up much or sending Muncy to the bench for him.

 

[MMC]

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Picture the Toronto Blue Jays keeping first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term. Trading shortstop Bo Bichette. Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

None of those outcomes is particularly likely. All, however, are in play, according to sources briefed on the Jays’ discussions.

The Jays are in talks with Guerrero about a long-term extension that would buy him out of his final year of arbitration and free agency. They are fielding interest in Bichette, who also is entering his walk year. And they are at least on the periphery of the Bregman sweepstakes, though other free agents, for now, appear better fits.

The perception within the industry remains that the Jays are desperate to do something big. Club president Mark Shapiro is in the final year of his contract. General manager Ross Atkins has just two years left. And the team is coming off a season in which it finished last in the AL East and won only 74 games.

Still, the Jays do not appear to be shopping Bichette. Executives from three rival clubs, granted anonymity for their candor, said the Jays are open to moving him, but only for a high price. Good luck, with Bichette coming off his down year, under club control for only one more season and set to earn $16.5 million in 2025.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

9 teams (ATL, CHC, HOU, LAD, NYM, NYY, PHI, SF, TEX) were over the luxury tax threshold this past season. That's a new record high (and almost a third of the league).

Record 9 MLB teams docked $311M in luxury tax

The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees were the highest penalized among the record nine teams to be over the MLB's luxury tax threshold for 2024.

www.espn.com