***Official - 2025 Major League Baseball Thread (11 Viewers)

[dino259]

The Brewers Pat Murphy won manager of the year for the second consecutive season (last time this happened was Bobby Cox 20 years ago), and Brewers GM Matt Arnold just won his second straight MLB Executive of the Year award (the first time that has ever happened.) Somehow I'd think we'd have more to show from it than lots of regular season wins and just one playoff series win in two years. Maybe next season our ship comes in.

I was back in Wisconsin for part of the thirteen game winning streak and it was a lot of fun. I'm afraid those are the kind of little victories I have to settle for as a long-time Brewers fan once removed. You can't really hoist a banner for back-to-back executive of the year awards.

That's what it takes for a small market team like the brewers to be competitive and just make the playoffs.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Four players took their qualifying offers:

Through the complexities of his contract, Imanaga could have picked up his 2027 option which would have come to a guaranteed two-year total of about 30M, which is 8M more than the qualifying offer for just this one year.

He seems to be betting on himself for improvement in 2026, opening the door to a longer and more lucrative deal. He had a hamstring injury that took him out for a couple of months, and he really wasn't the same pitcher as before.

I am glad he's back with the Cubs.

 

[HellToupee]

The Orioles trade away pitching?

Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward

 

[Eephus]

Rodriguez for Ward makes me wonder if the Orioles know something about his rehab. We're talking about Mike Elias though so .

I'm sure it'll be a very thorough medical exam.

 

[Gally]

The Orioles trade away pitching?

Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward

And isn't one of the log jams of young guys in the OF? So why get an outfielder as a return? Doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[kupcho1]

You can't really hoist a banner for back-to-back executive of the year awards.

If it were possible, the Washington Capitols would have done it already.

 

[Don Quixote]

The Orioles trade away pitching?

Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward

And isn't one of the log jams of young guys in the OF? So why get an outfielder as a return? Doesn't make a lot of sense.

The O’s are lefty heavy, so I think he fits in as a righty bat. I’m still surprised by the move though, as think the Orioles could use pitching more (but, as mentioned, must not trust him to stay healthy).

I think it comes down to the next move, as maybe they think it will be easier to find someone to slot in the rotation off the FA market than to get a righty OF bat.

 

[Eephus]

The Orioles trade away pitching?

Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward

And isn't one of the log jams of young guys in the OF? So why get an outfielder as a return? Doesn't make a lot of sense.

The O’s are lefty heavy, so I think he fits in as a righty bat. I’m still surprised by the move though, as think the Orioles could use pitching more (but, as mentioned, must not trust him to stay healthy).

I think it comes down to the next move, as maybe they think it will be easier to find someone to slot in the rotation off the FA market than to get a righty OF bat.

They're still paying Tyler O'Neill $30M over the next two years to do Taylor Ward things but that's a sunk cost.

Ward is in his final year of team control so the O's need to think about their next move immediately. He turns 32 next month and generally patient power hitters haven't aged particularly well. If they can't get an extension done he could be an attractive asset at the deadline but in that case, what are they even doing.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Roster Resource lists the Angels' projected rotation as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez and Caden Dana. An impressive collection of talent that hasn't accomplished much in MLB for various reasons.

They hired Mike Maddux away from the Rangers to be their pitching coach. Will be interesting to see if he can work any magic with that group.

 

[Eephus]

Roster Resource lists the Angels' projected rotation as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez and Caden Dana. An impressive collection of talent that hasn't accomplished much in MLB for various reasons.

They hired Mike Maddux away from the Rangers to be their pitching coach. Will be interesting to see if he can work any magic with that group.

The same Anaheims have given Jack Kochanowicz 33 starts over the past two years.

 

[-fish-]

Randy Jones passed away today. Grew up watching him at San Diego/Jack Murphy Stadium. 1976 Cy Young winner with 22 wins and 25 complete games.

Opened a barbecue joint after he retired with pretty decent food. He was always very friendly and loved to talk baseball.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

1976 Cy Young winner with 22 wins and 25 complete games.

315 innings pitched, too.

 

[Gally]

Angels' projected rotation as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez and Caden Dana.

They are moving him back to being a starter? Interesting.

 

[Eephus]

Angels' projected rotation as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez and Caden Dana.

They are moving him back to being a starter? Interesting.

Might as well try to stretch him out again and see what happens. It's easier to move him to a high-leverage role if he doesn't work out in the rotation than to do the opposite.