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Hot Stove Glossary

By Tim Dierkes [December 11, 2008 at 3:43pm CST]

After grappling with hundreds (if not thousands) of hot stove reports during the '08 Winter Meetings, I'm attempting to define the commonplace phrases and terms. As frustrating as this jargon can be, the hard-working baseball journalists who bring us the rumors and inside information must be applauded.

official - Doesn't get misused - a deal is only official if a team announces it.
done deal - Should be reserved for deals that are truly complete, yet someone jumps the gun with it weekly. See also: finalized
set to sign/acquire - One step below the done deal. Doesn't leave much wiggle room. See also: on the verge, on the brink, tentative agreement
close to a deal - This trade or signing is likely, but I'm leaving some wiggle room. See also: nearing a deal, closing in on
working to sign/acquire - Things are coming along positively, but I'm not ready to call it close. See also: escalated, making progress, heating up, stepped up efforts
in discussions - They're talking, but I'm not making any promises.
life support - Faint chance of this deal occurring - I'm not ready to call it dead.
dead - Should be reserved for talks with 0% chance of being revisited, yet we frequently see dead talks "resurrected."
inquired - One party called another to ask about something or express interest. The party receiving the inquiry may have zero interest.
internal discussions - Rarely misused. Front office guys from one team are talking amongst themselves about something.
shopping - Implies a GM is aggressively calling other teams to try to find a trade partner for a player. GMs seem to dread the word because it makes them lose leverage. Also applies to an agent trying to find a team to sign his free agent.
believed to be - Meaningless phrase, yet a popular way to hedge. Can be combined with phrases above for a double hedge. See also: appear to be, seem to be, apparently
Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments.

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Comments

"on/off the table"

Posted by: wildabeast4 | December 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM

'Reckless and irresponsible to comment' means 'How did you hear this!?!?!'

Posted by: Otis26 | December 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM

Another term that is used frequently is "interested in." This would be very hard to define though as a team can have varying levels of interest in a particular player.

Posted by: Marc | December 11, 2008 at 03:52 PM

don't think you missed anything, but it's hard to put a phrase on the GM's that shake their head no when asked about a player...what is that defined as?

Posted by: AstrosCoverage.blogspot.com | December 11, 2008 at 03:54 PM

Hi Tim,
Great List. I think one term you can add is "Yankees are interested" for every FA. Way for Agent to raise the price.

BTW, you did awesome job of keeping up with everything during winter meetings.

Posted by: Yankees_Universe | December 11, 2008 at 03:55 PM

Great job all week, Tim. I've "wasted" far too many hours on this site all week, but enjoyed it immensely.

Posted by: hemingways | December 11, 2008 at 04:00 PM

There should be a new term for a GM leaving the winter meetings in his private jet to woo a player at his home and throw gobss of money at him like he's playing monopoly. Maybe, "the Yankees had internal discussions and are planning to CASHMAN Sabathia later this week."

Posted by: DKA | December 11, 2008 at 04:02 PM

"CC has rejected the Yanks offer" means CC is coming to NY.

Posted by: Yewnork | December 11, 2008 at 04:03 PM

you missed: conundrum - why did the padres not take atlanta's offer 6 weeks ago?

Posted by: gsulife | December 11, 2008 at 04:04 PM

My favorite is "friend". 1) Who exactly are these friends that leak what the players are saying, and 2) How can I avoid having them?

Posted by: JLa | December 11, 2008 at 04:11 PM

"according to major league sources..." This might mean a GM, or it might mean an assistant trainer. Generally, it means nothing.

Posted by: AtlantaMike | December 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM

"[player's name]'s Train has Left the Station: Means that player's GM will transparently attempt to erect a magic fairy-market, and when nobody bites, the player will be kept in San Deigo, missing train notwithstanding.

Posted by: Bubdylan | December 11, 2008 at 04:15 PM

Tim, this is wonderful. Really.

As a terminologist and sometime linguist, I'd like to propose we write a grant proposal and try to get some money to study rumor language. This would really have a positive long-term impact on rumorology. Talk about an interesting topic...

Posted by: O's in '13 | December 11, 2008 at 04:47 PM

O's -- Excellent idea! Or worth kicking the tires over, at least...

Posted by: JLa | December 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM

Tim, add DARK HORSE.

Posted by: IFiredScottBoras | December 11, 2008 at 04:51 PM

"A source familar with negotiations"

I've always wondered if that just means the guy paid to leak information in hopes of gaining leverage for either the team or the agent....

Posted by: KangarooBoxer26 | December 11, 2008 at 05:06 PM

Great list. This should be a linked in bold off to the right.

Posted by: ryanbraun8 | December 11, 2008 at 06:18 PM

"expected to" should be one.

Posted by: bravesboy | December 16, 2008 at 10:14 PM

targeting

Posted by: mynameborat | January 21, 2009 at 04:52 PM

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