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Reasons Baseball's Hot Stove Is So Chilly

No surprise here: bad economy has slowed activity to a crawl

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 2, 2008 3:00 PM CST
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(Newser) – December is usually prime time in baseball's hot-stove league, but with the market seemingly frozen, Tony Massarotti lists reasons why for the Boston Globe:

  1. The economy. With the possibility of dipping revenue over the next year (or years), teams are reluctant to jump into long-term, expensive player contracts.
  2. CC Sabathia. “Pitching still wins,” writes Massarotti, meaning that a big prize like left-hander Sabathia has huge sway over the free-agent market. Teams are waiting to see where he goes before pursuing the next-best thing.

  1. Compensation. At the other side of the market, teams have been less likely to sign smaller free agents before Dec. 1 because they didn’t want to sacrifice a draft pick.
  2. Scott Boras. This agent controls a strong stable of talent, and is a master of delaying negotiations in order to play teams off one another and get his way.
  3. Collusion? Are the owners up to something to depress the player market? It seems unlikely, but some owners will take great measure to cut costs.

Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez set the record with 62 saves during the 2008 season, but hasn't yet signed with a team for 2009.
Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez set the record with 62 saves during the 2008 season, but hasn't yet signed with a team for 2009.   (AP Photo)
Pitcher CC Sabathia stands to land the off-season's biggest free-agent contract, and teams are waiting on second-tier players until he signs.
Pitcher CC Sabathia stands to land the off-season's biggest free-agent contract, and teams are waiting on second-tier players until he signs.   (AP Photo)
Agent Scott Boras represents a wealth of baseball talent, and his reputation for dragging out negotiations and playing teams off each other could be slowing what's usually a booming marketplace.
Agent Scott Boras represents a wealth of baseball talent, and his reputation for dragging out negotiations and playing teams off each other could be slowing what's usually a booming marketplace.   (AP Photo)
In this Aug. 14, 2008 file photo, Boston Red Sox's Coco Crisp watches the flight of his RBI single off Texas Rangers' Tommy Hunter in the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston.
In this Aug. 14, 2008 file photo, Boston Red Sox's Coco Crisp watches the flight of his RBI single off Texas Rangers' Tommy Hunter in the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
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sports • C.C. Sabathia • contract negotiations • Scott Boras • baseball • offseason

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