The Skillz Report

Know Your MLB '19: Hot Stove Recap

Each year, I aim to present this feature prior to Opening Day—this year, it finally happens! It wouldn't be winter without the MLB Hot Stove League; learn who went where and why right here.

Jon Jay, White Sox

Kelvin Herrera, White Sox

Blake Parker, Twins

Shelby Miller, Rangers

Kevin Plawecki, Indians

David Robertson, Phillies

Yasmani Grandal, Brewers

Keon Broxton, Mets

Andrew Miller, Cardinals

Jurickson Profar, Athletics

Joakim Soria, Athletics

Matt Kemp, Reds

Yasiel Puig, Reds

Alex Wood, Reds

Ben Gamel, Brewers

Domingo Santana, Mariners

Anibal Sanchez, Nationals

Daniel Murphy, Rockies

Jonathan Lucroy, Angels

Clayton Richard, Blue Jays

Matt shoemaker, Blue Jays

Nelson Cruz, Twins

In a bit of a surprising move, the 38-year-old slugger hooks up with the rather young Twins on a 1Y/

Michael Brantley, Astros

After 10 seasons in Cleveland, one of the game's most underrated players heads to Houston on a 3Y/$45M deal, replacing last year's Marwin Gonzalez/Tony Kemp combo. Brantley, 31, returned to health in 2018 and made his third All-Star team (.309, 17, 76).

Daniel Descalso, Cubs

If the cubs didn't lead the NL in defensive versatility before, Descalso's acquisition assures they do now. After hitting .238, 13, 57 for Arizona in '18, 32-year-old Descalso joins Chicago on a 2Y/$5M deal.

Matt Adams, Nationals

Adams must be a real nice dude, because this is the SECOND team to bring him back after trading him. Adams, who hit .239, 21, 57 for the Nats and Cards last year, returns to DC on a 1Y/$4M deal. He turned 30 in August.

Matt Harvey, Angels

What happens when the Dark Knight takes up residence in sunny Anaheim? We'll find out, now that the 29-year-old Matt Harvey has joined the Angels on a 1Y/$11M deal (with $3M more available in incentives). Harvey went 7-9, 4.94 in 32 games (28 starts) for the Mets and Reds in 2018.

Omar Narvaez, Mariners

With Mike Zunino gone, Narvaez, 26, was acquired from the White Sox to fill the catching void. In 2018, he hit .275, 9, 30 in 97 games, but had an alarming 12 PB.

Jordy Mercer, Tigers

After five-plus years as Pittsburgh's SS, Mercer, 32, moves on to replace Jose Iglesias as Detroit's SS (1Y/$5.25M). Last year, Mercer missed time with a calf strain and hit .251, 6, 39.

Justin Bour, Angels

30-year-old Bour joins the Halos on a 1Y/$2.5M deal after being non-tendered by Philadelphia. 2018 was subpar for Bour; he hit .227, 20, 59 between Miami and the Phillies. He'll handle 1B for LA until Shohei Ohtani returns from surgery to DH, moving Albert Pujols to 1B.

Lance Lynn, Rangers

Though Lynn didn't wow anyone with his numbers in '18, he's a proven winner who's still relatively young (31), and Texas needed arms—so Lynn becomes a Ranger for 3Y/$30M. He was 10-10, 4.77 for the Twins and Yankees in '18, but only allowed two HR in his final 54 IP.

Edwin Encarnacion, Mariners

For now, anyway; the 35-year-old heads west after two years in Cleveland. In the three-team deal, 1B Carlos Santana rejoins the Indians, as does 1B/OF Jake Bauers. Mucho dinero moved in this deal as well.

Charlie Morton, Rays

Coming off the best year of his career at 35, usually-frugal Tampa imports ex-Astro Morton for 2Y/$32M. Whether he'll be deadline trade bait isn't known...but is strongly suspected by this writer. Last season Morton went 15-3, 3.13, and led the league in HBP for the fourth time in six years.

Jeurys Familia, Mets

I did a double-take learning of Familia's "new" team; remember he finished 2018 setting up in Oakland. Signed for 3Y/$30M, I'm gonna guess Familia will return to closing for the Mets.

Tanner Roark, Reds

This is the first and only time one Tanner will be traded for another in sports history (prospect Rainey goes to Washington from the Reds). A free agent after the '19 season, 32-year-old Roark was 9-15, 4.34 in 30 starts in 2018.

Jake Bauers, Indians

Bauers endured an up-and-down rookie season with Tampa (.201, 11, 48); he joins the Tribe in the three-team deal sending Edwin Encarnacion to Seattle and Carlos Santana to Cleveland (for now, anyway). Bauers' role is undetermined at present, but he's likely to at least make the roster.

Joe Kelly, Dodgers

Who'd have thought Joe Kelly would last SIX years in Boston? He did, going 26-11 over 182 games (41 starts). Since the Dodgers couldn't beat him in the 2018 World Series (0.00 ERA in six IP), they signed him instead—3Y/$25M. I'd guess he's going to be a starter for that price.

Ian Kinsler, Padres

Neither Jose Pirela or Carlos Asuaje really distinguished themselves at 2B for the 2018 Padres—enter Kinsler, 36, on a 2Y/$8M deal. Kinsler, late of the champion Red Sox, hit .240 with 14 bombs last season while earning his 2nd Gold Glove.

James McCann, White Sox

28-year-old McCann, non-tendered by Detroit after a .220/.267/314 2018 season, hooks up with Chicago on a 1Y/$2.5M deal. He's unlikely to be more than a part-timer with Welington Castillo still in the mix.

Alex Colome, White Sox

Colome was a luxury for Seattle in 2018, so why not deal him for needed catching help? Colome saved 47 games for the 2017 Rays and will likely close again in Chicago.He was a combined 7-5, 3.04 with 12 saves for Tampa and Seattle last year.

Luke Weaver, Diamondbacks

2018 wasn't Weaver's year; the once-promising righty struggled for consistency all year and was eventually demoted to the Cardinals bullpen. Having finished 7-11, 4.95, the 25-year-old goes to the desert in the Paul Goldschmidt trade.

Billy Hamilton, Royals

After five seasons lighting up the basepaths in Cincinnati, Hamilton heads west after being non-tendered—all of his numbers were down in 2018. At 28, and only on a 1Y/$4.5M deal (plus incentives), Hamilton could prove to be a "steal".

Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

It was once unthinkable Arizona would trade their centerpiece, but as he entered his walk year of 2019, contract extension talks stalled, leading the D'Backs to part ways. Incoming: P Luke Weaver, C Carson Kelly, prospect Andy Young, and a draft pick.

James Paxton, Yankees

With Lance Lynn and JA Happ on the market and Sonny Gray of little use to them, the Yankees plugged a rotation hole with the Mariners ex-ace. Paxton, 30, authored a no-hitter among his 11 wins in 2018. Young P Justus Sheffield and two other prospects head west in the deal.

Chris Owings, Royals

Paul Goldschmidt isn't the only longtime D-Back changing addresses this winter. Owings, at one time Arizona's primary 2B who later, shifted to a utility role, joins KC on a 1Y/$3M deal; he hit .206, 4, 22 in 106 games last season.

Yan Gomes, Nationals

With Matt Wieters out, Washington now has a 1-2 catching punch of Kurt Suzuki and 31-year-old Gomes. He's made a fine career comeback the past couple years, hitting .266, 16, 48 last season. Three kids go to Cleveland in the swap.

Jay Bruce, Mariners

Bruce signed a long-term deal to re-join the Mets just last winter, but their new GM wanted Robby Cano more, so the Mariners took Bruce's contract to add better balance to the deal. 31-year-old Bruce hit just .223, 9, 37 last year, as he dealt with a bad hip.

Jean Segura, Phillies

Segura is one of those guys you want until you have him, apparently—the Phillies will represent his fourth team in five years. The pricey SS will take over for Scott Kingery; he hit .304, 10, 63 last season.

Carlos Santana, Indians

It's not often a club RECEIVES a $34M contract in a salary dump, but the Mariners unloaded Jean Segura's $58M in their trade for 32-year-old Santana (.229, 24, 86 last season), then swapped him to Cleveland for Edwin Encarnacion.

Jonathan Schoop, Twins

Brewers GM Doug Melvin's harsh words notwithstanding, Schoop has been one of the game's better 2B in recent years but comes off a disappointing showing for Milwaukee, who traded for him in mid-2018. But Schoop, 27, was .293, 32, 105 just two years back. He will earn $7.5M with possible incentives in 2019.

Patrick Corbin, Nationals

After seven years with Arizona, Corbin (11-7, 3.15 last season) takes his talents to DC on a 6Y/$140M deal. The 29-year-old was highly sought, but in the end chose Washington when other teams maxed offers at 5Y.

Robinson Chirinos, Astros

Adrian Beltre isn't the only longtime Ranger to move on this winter; Chirinos, in Texas since 2013, set numerous career highs in 2018...but he batted just .222 and is 34 years old, so Texas declined his option. Houston signed the FA to a 1Y/$5.75M deal, believing he can be an adequate replacement for catcher Brian McCann.

Jose Alvarez, Phillies

He's one of the steadier relievers no one's heard of (average 67 games with a 3.36 ERA for the Angels since 2015), but he's leaving Anaheim for Philadelphia in 2019. On the surface, i can't see a baseball reason for the deal, or financial—new Angel Luis Garcia is the same age with the same service time and worse numbers. ???

Edwin Diaz, Mets

Unless he's a royal buttface, no way a club will deal a young, affordable, effective closer just to dump a teammate's salary...unless said salary is absolutely obscene. Seattle bids goodbye to Robby Cano and Diaz, who saved 57 of 61 last year and is three years from free agency...sorry, Seattle.

Robinson Cano, Mets

It's not clear what aging, post-PED Cano has left, but for the money still owed him (about $120M off his Mariners deal), the Mets surely expect performance. Seattle is shedding payroll, and has Dee Gordon to play second base.

Andrew McCutchen, Phillies

The Phillies want to move Rhys Hoskins to first base, which means they need a new outfielder. 32-year-old McCutchen, who signed for 3Y/$50M, spent last season with the Giants and Yankees (combined .255, 20, 65 in 155 games).

C.J. Cron, Twins

If even reigning HR champs can end up jobless—cough Chris Carter cough—then 30-HR dudes with twice as many bombs as any teammate can be D4A'd. Ex-Ray C.J. Cron is now a Minnesota Twin, and potentially Joe Mauer's replacement at 1B.

Josh Donaldson, Braves

The ex-MVP battled injuries in '18 (.246, 8, 23 in 52 G), but Atlanta still deemed Donaldson worth 1Y/$23M. A Braves fan growing up, Donaldson's arrival pushes incumbent 3B Johan Camargo into a super-sub role a la Marwin Gonzalez.

Brian McCann, Braves

After a health-challenged 2018 (.212, 7, 23), Houston allowed the 34-year-old McCann to walk...and he walked all the way back home to Atlanta, where he spent his first nine seasons. Signed for 1Y/$2M, McCann will likely play part-time.

Kurt Suzuki, Nationals

After two disappointing seasons from 4x All-Star C Matt Wieters, Washington hopes to upgrade with the 12-year vet Suzuki (.271, 12, 50 in '18). Suzuki, a Nat in 2012-13 as well, signed for 2Y/$10M.

Lonnie Chisenhall, Pirates

On the DL each of the past three seasons and displaced by other players, the Indians let their eight-year UT go after a lost 2018 (.321, 1, 9 in 29 G). Chisenhall, who can play multiple positions, signed for 1Y/$2.75M, but could earn up to $3M more in incentives.

Jesse Chavez, Rangers

Chavez, not quite ready to join his 10th MLB team, re-ups with his original 2018 club on a 2Y/$8M deal. He closed '18 on a roll working out of the Cubs' pen, and has eclipsed 20 starts three separate times...no word yet on a role for the 35-year-old.

Aledmys Diaz, Astros

With UT Marwin Gonzalez likely to command substantial free agent $, the Astros traded prospect Trent Thornton to Toronto to land Diaz (.263, 18, 55 last season).

Mike Zunino, Rays

The Mariners needed a CF, and gave up the arbitration-eligible Zunino to acquire OF Mallex Smith. Zunino hit .201, 20, 44 last season, but struck out in 40% of his at-bats.

Jeff Mathis, Rangers

Moving to replace 34-year-old Robinson Chirinos (who was bought out), Texas signed the 35-year-old Mathis (.200, 1, 20 last season) to share catching duties. Their D improves, but their O weakens.

Mallex Smith, Mariners

The capable, speedy outfielder batted .296, 40 RBI, 40 SB last season, playing extensively at all three OF positions. Seattle's Dee Gordon experiment in CF is over; Smith is a significant defensive upgrade.