2017-18 Hot Stove

The Hot Stove has been moving extremely slowly this season. Right now, star players like JD Martinez, Yu Darvish, Lorenzo Cain, Jake Arrieta, and Eric Hosmer remain unsigned. As players get picked up, we'll continue updating this article. However, there's still been some high impact moves this offseason! From the bullpen reloading in Colorado to the Marlins fire sale, there are plenty of useful cards on new teams next season. Obviously Giancarlo is the one people are most excited about, but players like Ozuna, Cozart, and Chacin are big additions for their teams too. Hopefully, as fans of major, exciting moves, we will get to see Manny Machado move to a contender too!

For our first wave, completed by 2017's end signings, we've got the following players:

The biggest and most controversial trade of the off-season! Honestly, if a manager in our MLB Showdown league tried to trade a guy like Stanton for the middling prospects the Marlins got in return, the trade would've been vetoed. However, the MLB didn't stop this deal and now baseball's most storied franchise has another absolute monster bat for their team! Even if you're not a Yankees fan, it's hard not to feel intrigued by Stanton hitting towards those shorter fences in New York. With improved lineup protection and a friendlier hitter's park, can Stanton make an even better chart in 2018?

Stanton's other star teammate, Ozuna was also sold off for spare parts this offseason. He provides a big bat for the middle of the Cardinals' order, something they sorely needed. Teaming up with veteran stud Matt Carpenter and young gun Tommy Pham, it should be an exciting rebound season for the Cardinals. They're all hoping Ozuna reaches OB 10, HR at 17 status by the end of next season!

The Rockies have been going all in on their bullpen this offseason, also signing Tier 3 relievers Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw. However, Davis will be their closer and the crown jewel of their signing frenzy (which may also end up including Greg Holland and Addison Reed). Davis has been an incredibly consistent and dominant reliever the past four seasons, putting up another Tier 2 year in 2017. He should be a lockdown arm in the ninth for the preseason darling Rockies.

Cozart had an absolutely electric 2017, starting in the all star game and putting together a stellar card. However, after signing with the Angels, he'll be shifting from shortstop to the hot corner. He and reigning SS Simmons should create a very range-y left side of the infield. If Cozart can recreate his 2017 numbers, the Angels will challenge the Astros for the AL West, because this card and Trout are as lethal a 2-3 combination as exists in the MLB.

Chacin has been a consistent, albeit not so flashy, starter these past few seasons. With a solid mid-3 era last season, Chacin put together a Tier 3 card that'll help bolster a young Brewers team. Teaming with fellow Tier 2 and 3 pitchers like Chase Anderson, Zach Davies, and Jimmy Nelson, the Brewers now have an extremely balanced rotation (if there's no regression). That's plenty solid to contend for the playoffs in a Showdown league, with its four man rotations, and means signing an Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn would put Milwaukee in extremely great shape in real life as well.

Castillo was one of the best catchers at catching baserunners last season, gunning a Pudge-like 49% of attempted base-stealers in 2017. Matched with his sweet power numbers, Castillo may have a low OB but gives a cost-effective amount of HRs and catcher defense to any Showdown team. The White Sox are hoping he helps their young rotation grow in 2018 too.

The veteran Kinsler may have saw his OB drop precipitously in 2017, but his chart is still lethal and should give the Angels another solid contributing bat in 2018. He'll almost certainly be placed in the backend of the Showdown lineup with his low OB, but he's going to be one of the more dangerous 7 or 8 hitters in Showdown.

Perhaps the greatest Tampa Bay Ray of all time, it'll be strange seeing Longoria in a different uniform. He'll be dressing up for an aging Giants team searching for a strong bounce back in 2018. Honestly, their pitching cannot possibly be as bad (especially if Bumgardner stays healthy), which hopefully will ignite and help their lineup. With greater protection from guys like Buster Posey, hopefully Longoria goes back to his OB 8, HR at 17 ways in 2018.

Alright, hopefully we get to update this with more big signings or trades soon (looking at you, Manny Machado and Chris Archer!)