Amed Rosario - Play or Trade?

[Criznit]

I know there was a similar poll earlier, but I think it's time to revisit and limit the options.. @LL3

Spoiler: vote first

I vote.... Play...

Lots of reasons why, it's a deep dive and I'm lazy.

 

[Benway]

Here's a little mental exercise: If Amed were to be traded for Arráez straight up, would we be a better or worse team for it?

 

[bushwick_bill]

Play 100%

 

[Criznit]

Here's a little mental exercise: If Amed were to be traded for Arráez straight up, would we be a better or worse team for it?

Better without a doubt.

 

[CDAV45]

Trade 100%

 

[sportscoach]

Sincerely if this was OOTP, I'd say trade 100% but in real life it's play...

 

[petes999]

You got two guys who need regular at-bats to advance - Arias and Freeman. One of the 3 needs to be traded as Arias has had 2 years in AAA and won't go back down. Freeman was up for 2 months and shouldn't go back down (especially as Rocchio and Tena will be there). And, you have V just say that Brennen and Freeman will surprise people this year with the bat. By getting rid of one, you can then sign a Clement type (still with Oakland as a NRI) or trade for someone with a bag of balls PTBNL or cash type to fill that 13th spot (keep the bench warm duty). The question is who do you want long-term. If Rosario, fine, just sign his ass then. If Freeman and/or Arias, then they got to play to break-in.... do it at the beginning of the season. As said elsewhere, it would have been different without Bell as you could have rotated people through the DH role for additional at-bats for Arias/Freeman.

 

[Gson]

Depends on what the return is.. any other answer relies on insufficient information...

 

[Derek]

Easy. Trade.

He’s a non-extension candidate in the final year of his deal.

 

[MGMT]

Easy. Trade.

He’s a non-extension candidate in the final year of his deal.

This. It’s a no brained for the FO given its operational approach - and that isn’t a bad thing; I’m just saying given the historical body of work it’s essentially an open and shut case imo.

 

[Cleveland is the Reason]

Easy decision.

You play him. Contract year guys see boosts in play typically. There are a number of short term guys on the roster with Shane, Bell, Zunino. Rosario makes you better short term.

I also read that he is going to be the best SS in free agency next year. So if he has a good year I’m sure they can offer him the qualifier and get a pick for him if he signs elsewhere with no better options available to teams. Or he plays another year on the qualifier and you can look to trade him.

No lose situation with him I think.

 

[petes999]

Easy decision.

You play him. Contract year guys see boosts in play typically. There are a number of short term guys on the roster with Shane, Bell, Zunino. Rosario makes you better short term.

I also read that he is going to be the best SS in free agency next year. So if he has a good year I’m sure they can offer him the qualifier and get a pick for him if he signs elsewhere with no better options available to teams. Or he plays another year on the qualifier and you can look to trade him.

No lose situation with him I think.

Tim Anderson would be the best but team option will keep him off the market. Crawford is almay also there but older. And, Ushella never gets listed but will most likely be starting SS for Angels and has better glove than Rosario even if older. Machado may hit the market (but at $30 million 5-year reamining player opt-out it is less than 50/50) but Baez (with an opt-out and no SS market on a losing team) may want to up his 4-yr $25 million remaining contract.

Even though Rosario will be the best "SS" on the market as all others have been locked up long-term, there will be other options of converting back one of these other guys (Urshella or Machado) or getting a older Crawford for a desperate team. Thus, Rosario may get $15 million for a few years on the market without any tags but when a team loses a pick by signing a "tendered" guy, it makes them hesitant to go all in when there maybe other options (like trading with Yankees/Rays for the SS that doesn't work out in their system) or coming after Guardians when Gimenez refuses to resign and 3-years left (but it would take a astronomical haul to do it next off-season).

Good thought and if Rosario has a break-out year, it may happen. But as discussed here before, Rosario doesn't have the power or plate discipline to walk enough to get those $20 million offers no matter how weak the market is; otherwise, the trade market now would be tempting enough for the Guardians to pull the trigger and go with Arias or Freeman.

 

[Cleveland is the Reason]

Tim Anderson would be the best but team option will keep him off the market. Crawford is almay also there but older. And, Ushella never gets listed but will most likely be starting SS for Angels and has better glove than Rosario even if older. Machado may hit the market (but at $30 million 5-year reamining player opt-out it is less than 50/50) but Baez (with an opt-out and no SS market on a losing team) may want to up his 4-yr $25 million remaining contract.

Even though Rosario will be the best "SS" on the market as all others have been locked up long-term, there will be other options of converting back one of these other guys (Urshella or Machado) or getting a older Crawford for a desperate team. Thus, Rosario may get $15 million for a few years on the market without any tags but when a team loses a pick by signing a "tendered" guy, it makes them hesitant to go all in when there maybe other options (like trading with Yankees/Rays for the SS that doesn't work out in their system) or coming after Guardians when Gimenez refuses to resign and 3-years left (but it would take a astronomical haul to do it next off-season).

Good thought and if Rosario has a break-out year, it may happen. But as discussed here before, Rosario doesn't have the power or plate discipline to walk enough to get those $20 million offers no matter how weak the market is; otherwise, the trade market now would be tempting enough for the Guardians to pull the trigger and go with Arias or Freeman.

The demand seems to always be there for shortstops in free agency though. And maybe with the shift rules teams start to value the ball in play more than power like they did in the glory years of baseball.

And Amed will be young for a free agent, which sometimes makes teams a bit more comfortable to spend on them.

He puts up another top of the league hit total season I can see someone spending for him.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

For now, you play him.
But I do predict a trade by the deadline. Amed may show vulnerabilities defensively, without the shift. This would give his replacement (Arias) more seasoning.
The G's WILL NOT give Amed the QO - because he might take it. It's @ $19 million. Plus, they will not just let him walk.
So I expect them to sell low at the deadline.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

If the G's are in first place in July I can't see them trading him given it would involve putting a rookie like Freeman or Arias in as a starter in a pennant race. Unless - one of the youngsters was having a Kwan-type rookie season.