23 Offseason - Other Team Needs and Actions

CDAV45 said:

Absolutely there is risk in every move/decision. I'm not sure why you used Vargas as an example, but you're right. He's not a sure thing and I don't know if a sure thing exists.

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Cause Vargas is kind of the main target type of we traded Bieber

sportscoach said:

Cause Vargas is kind of the main target type of we traded Bieber

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Certainly seems like that would be the reasonable route, but we could be way off base as well. This type of talk is fun to me and I instigate more than my fair share I would guess, but in the end I don't expect much to be done this offseason. This isn't the first time I've said this either. My biggest hopes at the moment is that they don't bring Hedges back or give Straw CF. They should look to bring in a better hitting backup C and move Straw to 4th OFer/defensive replacement/pinch runner. Those 2 things would go a long way towards making this team better. If they can add a bat by dealing Plesac, Rosario and/or some minor league depth then by all means.

CDAV45 said:

Absolutely there is risk in every move/decision. I'm not sure why you used Vargas as an example, but you're right. He's not a sure thing and I don't know if a sure thing exists.

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I used Vargas as he has been the player most discussed on here. No other reason other than that.

Philadelphia Philies – 87-75 (19th FG System)

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/offseason-outlook-philadelphia-phillies/

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphi...ies-trea-turner-bogaerts-correa-carlos-rodon/

While many will look back and say anything can happen if you just make the playoffs (even last gasp Wild Card slot), part of how the Phillies made it to the WS is due to having Harper back from injury in the middle of their lineup. That and spending $222 million on their roster doesn’t hurt one’s playoff chances that took off after Girardi was fired (22-29 with him and 65-46 without him).

With Phillies now going up against the Braves and the Mets, they are looking for one key piece – that SS in Turner who can give them one more bat in the lineup. With Nola and Wheeler at the top of their rotation, they do not perse need an Ace in FA but rather a solid middle of the rotation starter. However, in an arms race with Mets, Braves and Dodgers, the better the pitcher will only help their chances. I read that they will give Abel every opportunity to earn a spot, but with him and Painter just being in AA last year, I would expect them to be another year out. Long-term they need that FOR starter as they have to see what happens as Nola is FA after next year and Wheeler the year after.

For Rule 5, there shouldn’t be that much of an issue as they are sitting at 36 players. Only Rojas and Miller are must adds with a few NYC.

BTV NTC -- Sam Coonrod, Yairo Munoz, Garrett Stubbs

Who do they have that the Guardians want? Really no one outside of Painter and Abel. I did mention Rojas as an interesting return for Plesac (if trade is made). However, when you look further, he splits are reversed; thus not the right handed OF that we would want in the minors. FG has a few relievers in the upper system (probably because of the lack of top end overall talent that relievers can be so high). McGarry has a 98-99 mph FB and nasty slider but he walked 53 batters in 87 innings. Thus, he is still a project that is dependent on needing better control (and we think Karinchak is bad).

If there is one other hole they need to fix, it is to find that dominate closer (if it is not Dominguez) as they did closer by committee last year and have some turnover this offseason there.

Houston Astros 106-56 (28th FG System)

https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/houston-astros-offseason-needs-17583264.php


Here I thought the obvious answer for Houston off-season plans was to get Verlander back. Yet, fans area worried about an aging line up and are thinking the focus is instead on 1B, C and/or OF bat where Brantley, Gurriel and Verlander may all be getting too old to want back. Yet, to have a staff that is supposed to take you back to the WS again with McCullers as your aged vet (7 years) compared to 2-3 years for the rest, I just don’t buy they leave the pitching staff as is even with the great years of Javier and Valdez. Even our fans don’t think McK is ready to supplement Bieber as the FOR starter. Sometimes experience matters (even if it is another year that Bieber has).

With a depleted farm system, there are only 3 options to help Houston next year (Brown – P, Lee – C and Diaz – 1B – has played 50 games). And, they really don’t have a OF option other than putting Alvarez in LF and finding a DH solution. However, even though, Lee and Diaz are the top of their farm system, the FV grades of 40 on FG and 50 on MLB, they would be ranked in the high teens (at best) in our system.

Would you imagine going in with Lavastida as our catcher, Brennan as CF or Noel/Arias as our 1B? Even for us and our modest expectations, that is a tall order and expect to contend with Chicago in our weaker Central division. With their expectations of WS, their focus in building via FA which include Contreras as C and Rizzo/Abreu at 1B who are 31 and 33/36 next year (younger than Gurriel at 39 and Verlander going on 40).

Sitting at 36 players, not a Rule 5 issue with Murray and Gonzalez as must adds with a few NTC candidates including our friend Maton.

BTV NTC – Brandon Bielak, Josh James, Phil Maton, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor

Who do they have that Guardians want? Everyone would want Alvarez or Altuve but it ain’t happening. Should Diaz come back to play 1B for us as a sub? Maybe …. But then who do we leave off the roster Battenfield? Funny how these prospect lists get shuffled so much each year as Battenfield was projected to be much better than Diaz. Maybe it changes again next year. Even Palacios was in the 10-15 prospect list per Bimbo at the beginning of year (above Kwan). Hard to project these guys. Yet, in reality, Brown is the only Houston prospect that is worth a major trade for but will not even be close if Houston wanted a Bieber trade in the middle of the year.

The Astros had a fine 2022 season.. They drew from the depth of their MiLB system to fill spots that were otherwise vacated.. There are three guys from the Stros that may be of interest.. one a Change of Scenery guy, one a get healthy and return to form guy and one just an interesting prospect:

Korey Lee.. is in desperate need of a change of scenery.. As a catcher, you'll find few others who can pop and throw with his kind of arm.. If he wasn't a catcher, he'd be an RP..

Forest Whitley.. the massively talented but oft injured league ace level talented SP.. for no other reason that he might be worth a gamble.. this is where upside dreams reside..

Christian Gonzalez.. a 21 year old middle infielder who might remind anyone looking as a younger, better defensive players as Spongebob.. Everything about this kid's make up and game say.. watch closely, he could become very interesting at the highest levels of baseball..

None of these three guys should be expensive.. save for, perhaps, an over evaluation of Forest.. We'll see..

Looks like Jose Abreu is about to become a Houston Astro.

Are the Red Sox contemplating a rebuild? They probably should because they very well might finish in the basement of the AL East.

CDAV45 said:

Are the Red Sox contemplating a rebuild? They probably should because they very well might finish in the basement of the AL East.

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If their rebuild doesn't include an overhaul of the player personnel department..it won't matter.. The Red Sox just don't understand/how to evaluate Major League Talent.. without it, they will fail and die a thousand deaths from that razor sharp paper they use to give their fans hope that Casas and Dalbec and Durran, and.. and.. and.. so many others.. are ML quality..

His name is Richie Palacios.. Give us a call Trader Jerry and we'll talk you into it.

Criznit said:

Mariners Looking For Left-Handed Hitting Second Baseman

Over a year ago, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto publicly declared that the club would not be supplanting …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

His name is Richie Palacios.. Give us a call Trader Jerry and we'll talk you into it.

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it gets weirder than that:

OIC2021 17 mins ago

Andres Gimenez is the center piece of a major deal being worked on by the Guardians.
Power hitting C Cal Raleigh is the target for the Guardians.
Other names being discuss include Zach Plesac and or Aaron Civale being flipped . On the M’s side, George Kirby and Jesse Winker coming to the Guards.

Gson said:

it gets weirder than that:

OIC2021 17 mins ago

Andres Gimenez is the center piece of a major deal being worked on by the Guardians.
Power hitting C Cal Raleigh is the target for the Guardians.
Other names being discuss include Zach Plesac and or Aaron Civale being flipped . On the M’s side, George Kirby and Jesse Winker coming to the Guards.

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Kirby YES! Raleigh is warty, but would have been LOVED in 2022. Winker can fuck himself. If this actually goes down, hopefully the M's pick up all he is owed and we immediately ship him out somewhere else.

Criznit said:

Kirby YES! Raleigh is warty, but would have been LOVED in 2022. Winker can fuck himself. If this actually goes down, hopefully the M's pick up all he is owed and we immediately ship him out somewhere else.

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This is another "insider" type who claims to be all knowing.. or a full and complete bullshit artist.. You can never know with these types..

Criznit said:

Kirby YES! Raleigh is warty, but would have been LOVED in 2022. Winker can fuck himself. If this actually goes down, hopefully the M's pick up all he is owed and we immediately ship him out somewhere else.

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If you look at BTV, Raliegh for Gimenez is about a wash ... Winker has no value. The guy may have had some people fooled here if readers don't go too far down the hole why would Seattle fix 2nd base issues by creating a C issue? Which is easier to fix? When I saw need of lefty 2nd baseman, you think of Gimenez but Seattle has nothing that we want other than Raliegh and Kirby who are the 2 most untouchable players they have other than Ford.

But, the the poster thinks that Seattle should sweaten the deal with Kirby (more advanced version of Espino) for either Civale or Plesac ... Please, our FO isn't even stupid enough to low-ball a team this much. You probably cannot even get Kirby for just Gimenez ...

Why would we trade Gimenez? Who plays MIF this and next year? Two unproven rookies?

Kirby would be the prize here. Raleigh is ok, but overrated, he'd be the return for Plesac plus gap between Gimenez vs Kirby.

Even if you trust your internal MIF options, nah