2020-21 Offseason Discussion

[Criznit]

The acquisition of both Rosario and Gimenez could hint at the fact the front office does not have much faith in Tyler Freeman as a ML SS. Reports are he managed 8 dingers at the ALT site in 2020 so offensively speaking he has to end up somewhere... 2B appears to be the spot, but is he OF capable? If not, they have to think Rosario is... Gimenez in CF?!?!

 

[Martyinnewyork]

I think Freeman is viewed as a 2B who needs another year of development. Rosario looks like a stopgap till Tyler is ready.

 

[CDAV45]

The acquisition of both Rosario and Gimenez could hint at the fact the front office does not have much faith in Tyler Freeman as a ML SS. Reports are he managed 8 dingers at the ALT site in 2020 so offensively speaking he has to end up somewhere... 2B appears to be the spot, but is he OF capable? If not, they have to think Rosario is... Gimenez in CF?!?!

I agree that it appears Tyler will be a 2B. I think Rosario could increase his value exponentially with a good season at 2B and I honestly expect him to do so. My question to you guys(especially Tondo), is Owen Miller as good as Tyler Freeman? Clearly from a purely prospect perspective Freeman is more valuable at this time due to age and being a HS draft pick. However, it appears to me that the skillsets are eerily similar. If that is the case and MC intends to bolster the lineup by trading some prospects, would it not be more beneficial to trade Freeman and keep Miller? Assuming they will perform similarly.

I think they view Arias as the SS of the future should his offense continue to trend in the right direction. He can play excellent defense and the power upside in his bat is much closer to what Lindor provided than Gimenez could hope to do IMO. Gimenez is a nice young player though and I don't want to undersell what he is capable of. I just don't think the power profile is in line with what we've become accustomed to. Not just us, but several teams across the league.

 

[MadThinker88]

I think Freeman is viewed as a 2B who needs another year of development. Rosario looks like a stopgap till Tyler is ready.

I suspect that Tyler Freeman is the 2B as early as 2022.

Aaron Bracho is more of an offensive force, better suited defensively for 2B (than SS) but there are already concerns about the body type & weight of Bracho. Additionally he might not be as tall as the listed 5' 11". If he loses another step in range, it will get dicey where to play him. The swith-hitting bat (if it continues to perform) will demand at-bats but the performance of others along with Bracho's range & glove will drive the question of where...

 

[Criznit]

I agree that it appears Tyler will be a 2B. I think Rosario could increase his value exponentially with a good season at 2B and I honestly expect him to do so. My question to you guys(especially Tondo), is Owen Miller as good as Tyler Freeman? Clearly from a purely prospect perspective Freeman is more valuable at this time due to age and being a HS draft pick. However, it appears to me that the skillsets are eerily similar. If that is the case and MC intends to bolster the lineup by trading some prospects, would it not be more beneficial to trade Freeman and keep Miller? Assuming they will perform similarly.

I think they view Arias as the SS of the future should his offense continue to trend in the right direction. He can play excellent defense and the power upside in his bat is much closer to what Lindor provided than Gimenez could hope to do IMO. Gimenez is a nice young player though and I don't want to undersell what he is capable of. I just don't think the power profile is in line with what we've become accustomed to. Not just us, but several teams across the league.

My guess is, Owen Miller plays AAA ball at the hot corner.

 

[CDAV45]

My guess is, Owen Miller plays AAA ball at the hot corner.

You could be right, but I'm not confident that you are. Miller's arm strength will keep him on the 1B side of the diamond, just like Freeman. There is more strength in Miller's frame and I like his swing mechanics better than Freeman's, but they are both very good hitters that do not project to have more than 10-15 HR potential. That can obviously change, but it's impossible to predict.

I don't see a legitimate 3B prospect in the system. The closest one being Rodriguez IMO.

 

[AZ_]

Freeman could take the Bregman path to the big leagues if they trade Ramirez near the deadline or next offseason.

 

[Gson]

Freeman could take the Bregman path to the big leagues if they trade Ramirez near the deadline or next offseason.

Sort of like:

"Alex Bregman, SS, Grade A-: Age 21, 2015 first-rounder out of Louisiana State, hit .259/.368/.330 in 112 at-bats in Low-A then .319/.364/.475 in 160 at-bats in High-A. Combined for 13 steals. Pure hitter with strong strike zone judgment, moderate power, all-around instinctive play, capable of producing Dustin Pedroia-like offensive numbers. It is an obvious and common comparison but a valid one. Bregman is also a decent defensive shortstop who could stay at the position for some teams but will likely end up at second base long-term."

Sounds eerily familiar.. yes it does.. good call..

 

[AZ_]

Sort of like:

"Alex Bregman, SS, Grade A-: Age 21, 2015 first-rounder out of Louisiana State, hit .259/.368/.330 in 112 at-bats in Low-A then .319/.364/.475 in 160 at-bats in High-A. Combined for 13 steals. Pure hitter with strong strike zone judgment, moderate power, all-around instinctive play, capable of producing Dustin Pedroia-like offensive numbers. It is an obvious and common comparison but a valid one. Bregman is also a decent defensive shortstop who could stay at the position for some teams but will likely end up at second base long-term."

Sounds eerily familiar.. yes it does.. good call..

Bregman is definitely the best, smartest prep hitter I’ve ever seen.

A bit undersized, the power came a little late, but I’ve always seen a bit of that game in Freeman.

Always understood the strike zone.

Bregman (A, A+ age 21): .415 SLG
Freeman (A, A+ age 20): .410


Heading into his age 22 season at Double-A, hoping the power shows up and I’d have absolutely no problem letting him play 3rd by mid-season or September.

 

[Kevalier]

Freeman could take the Bregman path to the big leagues if they trade Ramirez near the deadline or next offseason.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I actually think the team doesn't trade Jose either at the deadline or a year from now. With the payroll already being gutted, they don't have the need to deal him and another extension is feasible especially if there is an ownership change over the next few years.

 

[CDAV45]

Bregman is definitely the best, smartest prep hitter I’ve ever seen.

A bit undersized, the power came a little late, but I’ve always seen a bit of that game in Freeman.

Always understood the strike zone.

Bregman (A, A+ age 21): .415 SLG
Freeman (A, A+ age 20): .410


Heading into his age 22 season at Double-A, hoping the power shows up and I’d have absolutely no problem letting him play 3rd by mid-season or September.

I hope you're right AZ, but I just don't see that happening for Freeman, and I'll explain why. Structurally he's smaller than Bregman who weighed 10lbs more while being the same height. The swings aren't very comparable either IMO. Freeman has a smooth, short to the ball, contact oriented swing. He's a hitter for sure and I expect him to transition to the big leagues with minimal hiccups. Bregman's lower half is more stout and his barrel looked to be much quicker than Freeman's through the zone. I see Freeman as being a high average, high OBP with modest power. 10-15 HR a season typically with a couple of years exceeding that. I think he'll be a doubles machine. I see him more like a Cesar Hernandez type of hitter, which is a compliment in my eyes.

The one that is more likely to profile like Bregman is Miller IMO. Stout, strong lower half with a quick barrel and wrists.

Neither have the desired arm strength for 3B.

 

[AZ_]

I hope you're right AZ, but I just don't see that happening for Freeman, and I'll explain why. Structurally he's smaller than Bregman who weighed 10lbs more while being the same height. The swings aren't very comparable either IMO. Freeman has a smooth, short to the ball, contact oriented swing. He's a hitter for sure and I expect him to transition to the big leagues with minimal hiccups. Bregman's lower half is more stout and his barrel looked to be much quicker than Freeman's through the zone. I see Freeman as being a high average, high OBP with modest power. 10-15 HR a season typically with a couple of years exceeding that. I think he'll be a doubles machine. I see him more like a Cesar Hernandez type of hitter, which is a compliment in my eyes.

The one that is more likely to profile like Bregman is Miller IMO. Stout, strong lower half with a quick barrel and wrists.

Neither have the desired arm strength for 3B.

Any of this projection on my end is based on the assumption that Freeman is going to fill out a bit.

Its admittedly optimistic, but the videos posted of him this offseason and the note he was launching a bit more at the alt site has me on the positive end of this comp right now.

 

[kriegs]

OOF

 

[macbdog]

OOF

Next Dolan is going to trade the history of Bob Feller for cash considerations.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

Everyone knows true Twitter insiders send out their info at 4 a.m. and don't allow replies.