2025-26 Offseason Around the League Thread

[sveumrules]

Looks like Danny Jansen signed with the Rangers for two years and $14.5M.

Eric Haase remains unsigned from what I can gather.

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Looks like Danny Jansen signed with the Rangers for two years and $14.5M.

Eric Haase remains unsigned from what I can gather.

Saw that, seems like a lot!

Maybe he's going to be their regular catcher?

[sveumrules]

19 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Saw that, seems like a lot!

Maybe he's going to be their regular catcher?

They gave Kyle Higashioka a similar deal last year at two years and $13.5M.

If the two of them can approximate what they did last year behind the plate - 256 PA of 97 wRC+ and 1.2 WAR for Kyle plus 325 PA of 106 wRC+ for 1.4 WAR from Danny - that would buy them an extra win or so over what they got from their catchers in 2025.

[tmwiese55]

Good deal for Jansen.  If Contreras is again going to insist on playing virtually every day I'm perfectly fine spending league min on a catcher. Someone like Haase is adequate imo, but hey if there's a younger guy out there I'm all for it.   Not like I'm saying Haase is awesome, but he knows the guys/pitchers/culture and has had his moments. Usually found a way to get on base or do something positive whenever he started. 

Basically if you're only playing 3 times a month why spend money on it.   If Contreras gets hurt then yea you'd have to trade for a notch better or roll with the hotshot prospect. 

[markedman5]

 

[Mr Southpaw]

Someone had mentioned starting the year with Siegler as our backup catcher. He would add to the infield depth, and if Contreras got hurt, we could always call up Quero until we find another solution.

[markedman5]

 

[wallus]

11 million a year for Houser? Wow.... good for him though

[sveumrules]

14 hours ago, wallus said:

11 million a year for Houser? Wow.... good for him though

Yeah, I thought he seemed in line for the classic one year, seven-ish million dollars kind of contract for sure.

MLBTR and FanGraphs didn't have Adrian ranked in their Top 50 FA, but ESPN had him at #39 for two years and $20M, so I guess we know which list the Giants front office is using.

Ended up with a career best season at 125 IP of 80 ERA- | 89 FIP-, but the shape of that production was somewhat concerning with 68.2 IP of 51 ERA- | 77 FIP- over 11 starts with the White Sox to begin the year, but 56.1 IP of 116 ERA- | 103 FIP- over his final 10 starts with the Rays after the deadline.

Kind of crazy a guy who has never started 30 games or reached 150 IP in a season is apparently considered a durable innings eating #4 starter nowadays, but I guess that's just indicative of the current pitching hellscape.

[markedman5]

Joey Wiemer……designated for assignment……..

[markedman5]

Cubs have their right handed first base platoon option

 

[bensheeps]

Waiting to hear money, but if reasonable this is one that I thought could fit with the Crew.

 

[Scooterfletcher]

On 12/17/2025 at 6:41 PM, markedman5 said:

Joey Wiemer……designated for assignment……..

I’ll take Wiemer back on a Urias type deal, but it might work out similarly where he never plays for the big league team again.  

[KCBrewerfan34]

3 year $13 million guaranteed for Song. 

[markedman5]

 

[Madhawk23]

2 hours ago, markedman5 said:

 

IMO, Rays had a very good day on the trade front.  Received prospects Jacob Melton, Anderson Brito, Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn and a Comp A pick....for Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz going elsewhere.  Gotta figure that Rays are gonna Rays here and turn at least three of these prospects into studs in 2-3 years.  

[sveumrules]

Yeah, looks like the Rays are in a little re-boot phase here.

From 2008-13 they won the second most games in MLB and made the playoffs four of six years.

Followed that up with a stretch from 2014-17 where they didn't make the playoffs or finish over .500 at all.

Then from 2018-23 they made the playoffs five of six years winning the 4th most games in MLB.

Last two years have been 80 and 77 wins. 

[wallus]

Gotta assume Lowe is gonna DH for the Pirates?

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, wallus said:

Gotta assume Lowe is gonna DH for the Pirates?

Yeah, think that he and Spencer Horwitz will be the primary 1B/DH in some combination.

Lowe's 1,015 innings at 2B last year were his most since 2021 (1,093 innings) and his defensive metrics absolutely tanked...

2018-24 (3,951 innings)
-9 DRS | -7 FRV

2025 (1,015 innings)
-14 DRS | -9 FRV 

[wallus]

2 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Yeah, think that he and Spencer Horwitz will be the primary 1B/DH in some combination.

Lowe's 1,015 innings at 2B last year were his most since 2021 (1,093 innings) and his defensive metrics absolutely tanked...

2018-24 (3,951 innings)
-9 DRS | -7 FRV

2025 (1,015 innings)
-14 DRS | -9 FRV 

I like them picking up Lowe much more than signing Naylor or Schwarber for big money.

[sveumrules]

20 minutes ago, wallus said:

I like them picking up Lowe much more than signing Naylor or Schwarber for big money.

Yeah, figure any improvement was more likely to come via trade than FA for the Pirates.

Maybe they could re-direct some of that Schwarber offer to Eugenio Suarez on like a three year deal and he takes it if they are far enough out in front of the other bids, but that's probably the best FA bat they have even an outside shot at.

[SF70]

3 hours ago, markedman5 said:

 

The trades today likely take Baltimore & Houston out of the Freddy Peralta sweepstakes. Bidding war just got reduced some along with the odds of Peralta getting traded. Still think he goes.

[liveforoctober]

On 12/15/2025 at 2:17 PM, sveumrules said:

Looks like Danny Jansen signed with the Rangers for two years and $14.5M.

Eric Haase remains unsigned from what I can gather.

I am open to many possibilities BUT if Bill is going to catch a million games this year I am very open to either 1) signing someone like Haase to a vet minimum as he will only catch once a week at most 2) sign the best backup bat you can find (a la Gary Sanchez) but keep Siegler as an emergency so you can pinch hit said bat at will.

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

I am open to many possibilities BUT if Bill is going to catch a million games this year I am very open to either 1) signing someone like Haase to a vet minimum as he will only catch once a week at most 2) sign the best backup bat you can find (a la Gary Sanchez) but keep Siegler as an emergency so you can pinch hit said bat at will.

I'm hoping Brewers can pull off a Drew Millas trade to fill that backup catcher spot and give Quero everyday reps at AAA, but think signing a random veteran stopgap is definitely the most likely option.

[wiguy94]

2 hours ago, wallus said:

Gotta assume Lowe is gonna DH for the Pirates?

Did Cutch retire or Pirates not interested in bringing him back?