Hot Stove Update: Baseball General Managers Talking To Each Other

Oct 16, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on the phone before game three of the 2012 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Reports are circulating through all major news outlets and social media networks that baseball general managers are talking to each other. Sources indicate that major discussion points include: baseball players, the salaries of said baseball players, the service time and arbitration statuses of said baseball players, potential transactions involving some combination of baseball players and currency between teams, how these baseball players feel—both physically  as well as mentally—and also local weather patterns and perfunctory health inquires and whatnot. Oh it’s been raining here for the last few days, what about there? and I’m feeling fine, how about yourself? things of that nature. Standard social politeness and all that.

Reports indicate that the major methods of communication employed by these loquacious general managers are: telephone, cellular telephone, text message, and instant message, of which there are a variety of services and providers. Some general managers favor certain methods of communication over others, at the time of filing, specific preferences have not been made available. There are, however, various stereotypes involving age that the reader might employ in order to make assumptions.

Questions remain: Which combinations of general managers are in the most serious and involved discussions? Do some talks include more than two general managers? With the advent of conference call technology, is it possible that three, perhaps even four general managers are able to discuss potential baseball transactions at any given time? Is video chat being utilized? If so, where do individual general managers decide to position themselves in their offices in order to present the most formidable yet trustworthy disposition to the other general managers? Do they sit in front of an impressively decorated bookshelf, or is the standard “sat at desk, working” posture the ideal projection? Would it be too arrogant to position oneself in front of various framed degrees, awards and certificates? How long is too long to keep another general manager on hold? There is a fine line between sound negotiation tactics and just being an ass, no doubt.

General managers of baseball teams are talking to other general managers of other baseball teams. They are discussing baseball players and baseball finances and negotiations are in various states of import and consequence. Details as they develop.

Kyle writes baseball nonsense at The Trance of Waiting. You can follow him on Twitter @AgainstKyle.