2023 Guardians Offseason Thread!

[I'mWithDan]

Almost had him!

We could have sold the team to him, in exchange for him playing for it.

 

[Huber.]

We could have sold the team to him, in exchange for him playing for it.

I'm over it. TREA TURNER is a nice consolation prize.

 

[Criznit]

We could have sold the team to him, in exchange for him playing for it.

Also, seeing how we are changing the name again, this time to the Cleveland Judges - he would have been a perfect fit

 

[Alabuckeye]

Instead of “play ball!” It’s “the Judges are in session” with a gavel knock!

 

[petes999]

Calling it now...

Sean Murphy will be a Guardian by midnight tonight.

It mean nothing, but just as we are going to trade from our surplus of MIF help that Oakland needs (along with everything else), they add Diaz to play 2nd (at 2 year $14 mill contract). Sure, he can be utility, but at $7 mill for Oakland - when they had Clement? And, it gets them to full 40 man (in few days), so they cannnot add Hankins nor probably anyone else tonight if they expect 2 or 3 for 1 trade for Murphy on 40. Few guys can be cut like Clement but normally, a team ready to make a bigger trade won't clog up their roster until they know which team won the bidding and for whom. If after 2 days, they haven't milked everyone to the limit, they are just being stupid and why they are always in this position (a mess).

 

[avs2000]

We aren't going to get Reynolds at that price plus Reynolds had 2.9 WAR in 22, while Straw had 2.7... If Straw finds his bat his WAR cause of the top CF defense in baseball, will surpass Reynolds...

We had no hitting production from the C position, so getting a decent hitter there who can play defense, would effect the whole teams production greater than Reynolds would... (Reynolds has been a negative CF so that negates his bat).

Just a feeling but I believe Straw will rebound at the plate next year, not saying .280 but I would take .240 with his defense

 

[Criznit]

It mean nothing, but just as we are going to trade from our surplus of MIF help that Oakland needs (along with everything else), they add Diaz to play 2nd (at 2 year $14 mill contract). Sure, he can be utility, but at $7 mill for Oakland - when they had Clement? And, it gets them to full 40 man (in few days), so they cannnot add Hankins nor probably anyone else tonight if they expect 2 or 3 for 1 trade for Murphy on 40. Few guys can be cut like Clement but normally, a team ready to make a bigger trade won't clog up their roster until they know which team won the bidding and for whom. If after 2 days, they haven't milked everyone to the limit, they are just being stupid and why they are always in this position (a mess).

I guess the A's could "realistically" keep Murphy with the hope/expectation there is another gear in his offensive profile. In theory a Murphy who OPSes around/north of .800 until the deadline/ whole 2023 season, could be as valuable (and likely more) as a trade asset in the 2023 off-season.

It's a gamble, but might be worth rolling the dice in this case...

 

[Urban]

IMO the reason Antonetti is going all in on next year is because he knows he'll be trading Bieber after next season for a boatload of prospects and not letting him walk after '24.

I think you are putting the cart way before the horse on this "all in" talk with one signing to date.

The Guardians have the youngest team in baseball and it would defy how we've seen Antonetti and the front office have operate in the past to cash in their chips on one season during the offseason.

 

[MirORich]

I think you are putting the cart way before the horse on this "all in" talk with one signing to date.

The Guardians have the youngest team in baseball and it would defy how we've seen Antonetti and the front office have operate in the past to cash in their chips on one season during the offseason.

Guardians have a lot of Chips

Would need to make 2-3 splash trades to be put in the category of cashing in their chips.

They can easily withstand and justify one such splash deal for a really good player who can be here multiple years and then likely recoup a chip or two if they need to be traded prior to their FA in 3-4 years

 

[Mott the Hoople]

ReGuarding a potential Murphy / Naylor combination.
1. Naylor would for sure start the season in AAA to get more playing time experience. No need for a kid to sit on the bench.
2, Then Naylor would probably get called up by mid-season.
3. Plus, catchers ALWAYS get injured, so there would be plenty of AB's for both over the season.

 

[Gson]

ReGuarding a potential Murphy / Naylor combination.
1. Naylor would for sure start the season in AAA to get more playing time experience. No need for a kid to sit on the bench.
2, Then Naylor would probably get called up by mid-season.
3. Plus, catchers ALWAYS get injured, so there would be plenty of AB's for both over the season.

Disagree with some of this....

Starting the season AAA when he really has NOTHING left to prove will be a waste. Bo wasn't brought onto the ML roster for the finish to the season and/or the playoffs to be demoted on the auspices of needing more seasoning until midseason.. There is adequate incentive to break camp with the parent club, but be brought along in a controlled fashion: Personal catcher for Aaron Civale.. thereby getting at least one start every five day, at minimum. He'll also be given a day game after a night game.. a day each week of DH'ing.. etc.. All planned.. all controlled..

By working out a controlled schedule under the guidance of Tito and his brother, this kid should flourish..

At least that's the plan for now.. until such time as any other back stop is brought on board. If it's Murphy.. this would work.. if it's someone else..

w/r to getting injured.. two things.. 1.) Catchers are and always will be tough guys.. they can't do what they do by being primadona's.. 2.) Being healthy is a skill.. assisted by the training staff... Cleveland has an excellent staff in that regard.. and a good student will learn to TRUST the staff to help them stay on the field..

we'll see..

 

[petes999]

A's GM just said on a guy like Murphy, if you can't improve your major league roster, you hold onto a guy like Murphy. In trades, he wants to minimize risk (sounded like balance pitcher/position ready leave/lower level type).

Yes, typical GM speak but it maybe like the Olson trade for Pache and Langeliers and then lower level fillers A+ fillers. Thus, they key is ready guy, near ready and some depth.

 

[Criznit]

A's GM just said on a guy like Murphy, if you can't improve your major league roster, you hold onto a guy like Murphy. In trades, he wants to minimize risk (sounded like balance pitcher/position ready leave/lower level type).

We could provide the A's with whatever they desire IMO. Really pulling out all the stops to squeeze out max value, which I understand. However, they have sent out mixed signals IMO and the current strategy has them missing out.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Disagree with some of this....

Starting the season AAA when he really has NOTHING left to prove will be a waste. Bo wasn't brought onto the ML roster for the finish to the season and/or the playoffs to be demoted on the auspices of needing more seasoning until midseason.. There is adequate incentive to break camp with the parent club, but be brought along in a controlled fashion: Personal catcher for Aaron Civale.. thereby getting at least one start every five day, at minimum. He'll also be given a day game after a night game.. a day each week of DH'ing.. etc.. All planned.. all controlled..

By working out a controlled schedule under the guidance of Tito and his brother, this kid should flourish..

At least that's the plan for now.. until such time as any other back stop is brought on board. If it's Murphy.. this would work.. if it's someone else..

w/r to getting injured.. two things.. 1.) Catchers are and always will be tough guys.. they can't do what they do by being primadona's.. 2.) Being healthy is a skill.. assisted by the training staff... Cleveland has an excellent staff in that regard.. and a good student will learn to TRUST the staff to help them stay on the field..

we'll see..

I also disagree with some of this

Not so sure Naylor is a finished product.
Naylor didn't play in 2020. He had a poor season in 2021. He's played about 60 games in AAA in 2022.
If Murphy is brought in, he better be the full-time catcher. I know Naylor would play day games after night games. But I'm not sure if that's enough.
However, if a FA like Vazquez is brought in, I'm sure a more 50/50 plan could be developed.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

This is where your internal scouting kicks in. If you believe Naylor has the bat and glove to be the 120 game catcher soon enough, I am not sure it makes sense to give a ton of prospects for Murphy unless you just plan to flip him to someone else next year.