2021 Around MLB: Return of the Dead Ball Era

[CDAV45]

If you want a catcher, call Pittsburgh about Stallings.

A year older than Stassi, and about the same arby cost...but with three years of control.

He is an elite defensive catcher, just won a GG. Over their careers they have hit equally as well.

Pittsburgh system is loaded with catchers.

Stallings is a notch below Stassi with the bat, but better defensively. Jacob's OPS+ in 21 was 92 and it was 91 in the goofy 2020 season. Stassi OPS+ was 104 in 21 and 138 in 2020, which I doubt he ever repeats. I like Stassi's swing and he carries a bit more power than Stallings. Stallings is more of the same in my eyes, and I was/am hoping for a little more. I wonder if Willson's knee is going to be healed in time to start the season? Yes I've reduced myself to hoping Willson Ramos can return.

 

[CDAV45]

Puzzling move by Angels. Are they really expecting to compete in 2021?

With Trout and Rendon healthy why wouldn't they be expecting to compete? They know they need pitching and if Thor stays healthy for them then they've got a stud. If he doesn't then they're out $21M. I've gotta admit that I'm a little jealous. Not that they signed Thor, but that they have $21M to gamble and not give a single shit.

 

[sportscoach]

@CDAV45

I wonder what it would cost to get a kid like Varsho from the D-Backs?...

Honestly via trade there isn't much out there... Stassi, Carson Kelly and Jacob Stallings all could be available... I don't think we are leaning towards a rental if we have to trade for a C so Kelly or Stallings when it comes to that.

I think I would go Stallings... his price tag would be lower than Kelly's plus at the same time, his improvement at catcher is something that tells me, behind the scenes he has to be an extremely hard worker. We also have been in contact with the Pirates about Reynolds, so I think we know about Stallings as well (at least due diligence wise).

 

[Tondo]

C. Kelly > Stallings

And it's not really close.

Any offer for Kelly includes one of Lavastida or Naylor, whoever they value more.

They don't really need position players, they need and want pitching, both SP and high end RP. I'd make a bunch arms available to them for Kelly: Hentges, Mejia, Morris, Burns, Torres, Wolf, Curry, Mikolajchak etc

They can pick a couple to go along with Naylor or Lavastida

 

[sportscoach]

C. Kelly > Stallings

And it's not really close.

Any offer for Kelly includes one of Lavastida or Naylor, whoever they value more.

They don't really need position players, they need and want pitching, both SP and high end RP. I'd make a bunch arms available to them for Kelly: Hentges, Mejia, Morris, Burns, Torres, Wolf, Curry, Mikolajchak etc

They can pick a couple to go along with Naylor or Lavastida

I'm not getting rid of Naylor or Lavastida for Kelly...

 

[Tondo]

I'm not getting rid of Naylor or Lavastida for Kelly...

You're not getting Kelly for a bunch of periphery prospects and if you trade for a C with some control, one of those two is expendable (and frankly, the bare minimum they'd ask as headliner in return)

 

[Gson]

You're not getting Kelly for a bunch of periphery prospects and if you trade for a C with some control, one of those two is expendable (and frankly, the bare minimum they'd ask as headliner in return)

Disagree with this..

 

[sportscoach]

You're not getting Kelly for a bunch of periphery prospects and if you trade for a C with some control, one of those two is expendable (and frankly, the bare minimum they'd ask as headliner in return)

Then I am not trading for Kelly...

 

[CATS44]

We love our small sample sizes...lol.

Kelly career wRC+....88
Stallings....................90

Kelly career fWAR (984 PAs)....2.9
Stallings (852).........5.0.

Kelly career def fWAR...16.1
Stallings....................34.5

Projected arby:

Kelly....$3 mil.
Stallings...$2.6 mil.

Its not close is correct.

 

[sportscoach]

We love our small sample sizes...lol.

Kelly career wRC+....88
Stallings....................90

Kelly career fWAR (984 PAs)....2.9
Stallings (852).........5.0.

Kelly career def fWAR...16.1
Stallings....................34.5

Projected arby:

Kelly....$3 mil.
Stallings...$2.6 mil.

Its not close is correct.

Kelly does have the better bat of the two and is younger. So when it comes to overall offense, it's Kelly, but Stallings is much better defensively...

 

[Tondo]

We love our small sample sizes...lol.

Kelly career wRC+....88
Stallings....................90

Kelly career fWAR (984 PAs)....2.9
Stallings (852).........5.0.

Kelly career def fWAR...16.1
Stallings....................34.5

Projected arby:

Kelly....$3 mil.
Stallings...$2.6 mil.

Its not close is correct.

Oh look, a poster named cats44 is quoting stats from the past comparing apples to oranges (age/level)

And btw, you won't get Stallings for periphery prospects either, so if you invest a couple of good prospects, do it for the younger player with more pedigree/upside and better recent/future production (and less injury risk due to age).

 

[CDAV45]

We love our small sample sizes...lol.

Kelly career wRC+....88
Stallings....................90

Kelly career fWAR (984 PAs)....2.9
Stallings (852).........5.0.

Kelly career def fWAR...16.1
Stallings....................34.5

Projected arby:

Kelly....$3 mil.
Stallings...$2.6 mil.

Its not close is correct.

Good grief! The last 3 yrs of OPS+ for each. Carson Kelly- 112, 73, 104 Jacob Stallings- 87, 91, 92. Kelly started his major league career at the age of 21. Stallings started his at the age of 26. Are you really so fucking stubborn that you wouldn't consider the how or why? Kelly is a better hitter and it's not close. Stallings is the better defender of the 2, but they are both above average. I'm not trying to speak for anyone else, but I'm sick of seeing our C hit terribly. We're essentially a NL team with them in the lineup.

 

[CDAV45]

Oh look, a poster named cats44 is quoting stats from the past comparing apples to oranges (age/level)

Damn, you beat me to it! lol

 

[CDAV45]

@CDAV45

I wonder what it would cost to get a kid like Varsho from the D-Backs?...

Honestly via trade there isn't much out there... Stassi, Carson Kelly and Jacob Stallings all could be available... I don't think we are leaning towards a rental if we have to trade for a C so Kelly or Stallings when it comes to that.

I think I would go Stallings... his price tag would be lower than Kelly's plus at the same time, his improvement at catcher is something that tells me, behind the scenes he has to be an extremely hard worker. We also have been in contact with the Pirates about Reynolds, so I think we know about Stallings as well (at least due diligence wise).

With Lavastida in Columbus and Naylor in Akron, we could absolutely be looking for a rental. In fact, I doubt they're looking for a longterm piece without trading one of those 2(preferably Naylor with his brother).

 

[sportscoach]

It goes like this... Gomes is the most experienced and having a young pitching staff, his experience and knowing Cleveland well, would not be a bad idea at all...

Stallings... the strongest defensive player in the group and honestly the weakest hitter as well. This organization always prioritizes defense over offense at the catching position, so his value is as a catcher, not as a batter...

Kelly, the youngest of these guys and likely the most upside with the bat, a decent fielder but doesn't compare to Gomes or Stallings when it comes to that aspect.

Stassi- rental, decent bat, decent fielding (would be better if he had a strong arm). Probably the easiest to afford via trade of the three...

With Lavastida in Columbus and Naylor in Akron, we could absolutely be looking for a rental. In fact, I doubt they're looking for a longterm piece without trading one of those 2(preferably Naylor with his brother).

Hedges is a free agent in 23... and at the moment our only catchers projected are Lavastida and Naylor... Naylor won't be ready in 23 and we don't know if Lavastida will be as well. He will be at AAA in 22, with a pit stop maybe at the big league level. He still needs time as an actual catcher since he does lack innings there.

Having a veteran catcher with these two makes a ton of sense, so getting a player with more than one year of control makes a ton of sense, so either we get a player with more than one year of control or extend Hedges. Lavastida and Naylor are still young and need a veteran around them.

Personally I see a Gomes-Perez relationship with those two and both guys are athletic enough to play off of catcher as well. Lavastida originally being an INF, I expect he could play 1B/3B and maybe even some corner OF as well. Naylor physically might be able to play off catcher as well.