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MLB Hot Stove Turns Tepid, But There Are Still Burning Questions

By Steve Contursi

Jul 1, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the baseball bat of San Francisco Giants outfielder Gregor Blanco against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the baseball bat of San Francisco Giants outfielder Gregor Blanco against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Even though it’s almost expected that the MLB Hot Stove will cool off as we approach the holiday season, it didn’t turn off the reflex action of checking the transaction wires two or three times over the weekend, only to be disappointed that nothing was happening of any consequence.

But on the other hand, the holiday-imposed timeout might give pause to some of the moves that teams and players have been contemplating, but haven’t pulled the trigger on just yet. For instance…

What to Do with Jose Bautista?

Jose Bautista is a man without a country or a team. The Blue Jays keep flirting, but they won’t ask him out for a second date. Teams like the Orioles and Rangers have openly said they wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole, for reasons that are widely known. Now, supposedly the Rays are open to signing him, which makes no sense at all, but it fits in well with the whole fiasco we are witnessing. Where she stops, nobody knows.

Do the Pirates Really Want to Trade McCutchen?

This one has been alive and kicking for far too long. If you want to trade a guy, you trade him. What seems to be the problem here? Meanwhile, Andrew McCutchen is left out there to twist in the wind awaiting his fate. Not the best showing of the Pirates franchise by far. The Pirates need to think about that over the holidays.

More from Call to the Pen

Edwin Encarnacion, Please Call Home

He would do that, I guess, if he had a home. But one of the more exasperating aspects of this offseason is that Edwin Encarnacion is still out there as the odd man out, with no impending prospect for ending this soon.

The Mets Are Still “Weighing Their Options”

The Mets have a glut of outfielders. The Mets had a glut of outfielders last year. And apparently, it might come down to eenie, meenie, minie, mo before they can decide on which one to trade. Typical for this franchise.

Are the Tigers Still Trying?

Have the Tigers given up on their fire sale that has yet to take place, or are they hoping against hope that they can trade away all that money and bring a championship to their aging owner? And if yes, are there any realistic takers out there?

Next: Cardinals Top 10 Prospects for 2017

What Is the Ultimate White Sox Plan?

The White Sox still have some trade chips left to deal if they are going all-in on their future. A report yesterday, for instance, indicated that the Yankees are interested in Jose Quintana, and Todd Frazier sits in the wings as potential trade bait, so how far do they go now? Or do they wait until the July trade deadline to make a final killing?

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