Early 22 GM Thread! (Trade Ideas here)

[sportscoach]

@Sebastian this one can be switched to Around MLB and Trades

 

[CDAV45]

The idea that high contact, high BABIP, guys are Punch and Judy hitters is bunk.

We don't need more power. We hit more home runs than Chicago, but they scored more runs. Which would you rather have, homers or runs.

Everybody looks a SLG and says Chicago has more power, but it ain't so. Chicago has better contact hitters.

Batting average is a component of SLG. If our guys had hit for the BA that Chicago did, our team would have had a higher SLG and a better OPS...without a single additional home run....and would have scored more runs. We would have been fourth in the AL in scoring.

The emphasis in acquisitions this winter has to be on contact hitters who get on base, not on three outcome batters. Solid defense would be a plus. Straw was a good start.

Unless we don't want to improve.

Bunk my ass CATS. Give me one example of what you’re talking about. I’ll wait.

Thank God you ain’t calling the shots because not only would you create an offense that didn’t score much, it would be boring as hell. And don’t try to make this solely about home runs because it’s not. Outside of JRam and sometimes Reyes we have nobody that can impact a baseball with any authority or consistency. We don’t need another Myles Straw or Amed Rosario. We need a few hitters that can knock those guys in and take some of the workload off of JRam.

Edited to say nice slight which is typical. I’d say if Chicago’s 2 power hitting OFers wouldn’t have missed a large portion of the season the HR total would have been different.

 

[rmacd]

In playoffs, especial with 2 strikes and risp, several batters were cutting down on swings serving the ball into open areas.

 

[Criznit]

I'm not sure Gallo is much of a fit/improvement for us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't kick his tires. If the Yanks are looking to move/recoup some of their losses they absorbed when they traded for Gallo.... We match up pretty good, but it's a dangerous game.

I'm a soft pass for now, but the cost of his acquisition at this time is at best murky... Will he remain a Yankee (likely) will the Yanks simply move on and DFA him (not likely)?

 

[CATS44]

Bunk my ass CATS. Give me one example of what you’re talking about. I’ll wait.

Thank God you ain’t calling the shots because not only would you create an offense that didn’t score much, it would be boring as hell. And don’t try to make this solely about home runs because it’s not. Outside of JRam and sometimes Reyes we have nobody that can impact a baseball with any authority or consistency. We don’t need another Myles Straw or Amed Rosario. We need a few hitters that can knock those guys in and take some of the workload off of JRam.

Edited to say nice slight which is typical. I’d say if Chicago’s 2 power hitting OFers wouldn’t have missed a large portion of the season the HR total would have been different.

I just gave you the example of what an improvement in BA and OBP would have meant for us vs the White Sox.

If you can't see the upgrade that two more Myles Straws would give to this offense, I can't help you.

Zimmer, Mercado, Chang, Harold, and Johnson combined for just under 1300 PAs...about twice what Straw had.

They had a combined OBP of about .297. Geesh, what kind of offense would we have if we had two batters with OBPs of .349 to replace those 1300 PAs....two spots in the lineup?

 

[sportscoach]

Bunk my ass CATS. Give me one example of what you’re talking about. I’ll wait.

Thank God you ain’t calling the shots because not only would you create an offense that didn’t score much, it would be boring as hell. And don’t try to make this solely about home runs because it’s not. Outside of JRam and sometimes Reyes we have nobody that can impact a baseball with any authority or consistency. We don’t need another Myles Straw or Amed Rosario. We need a few hitters that can knock those guys in and take some of the workload off of JRam.

Edited to say nice slight which is typical. I’d say if Chicago’s 2 power hitting OFers wouldn’t have missed a large portion of the season the HR total would have been different.

@CDAV45 tell me what our batting average 5-9 was for the season? We just need actual hitters right now...

 

[DCTribefan]

Edited to say nice slight which is typical. I’d say if Chicago’s 2 power hitting OFers wouldn’t have missed a large portion of the season the HR total would have been different.

This^^

 

[CATS44]

Yeah.

They lost two batters.

We lost nearly an entire rotation....and a reliever, and two corner OFs.

When assessing the two teams, which do you think will gain the most by a return to health?

We won't have Eddie next year, but they won't have Madrigal.

But the point was...and still is...that Chicago's offense was better than ours...not because of power, but because of batting average and OBP.

We don't need more power...and the Ks that come with it. We need more contact.

Notice that the Guardians must agree, because the org has concentrated on drafting and otherwise acquiring an overwhelming number of high contact young hitters.

Also notice the number of players in this thread that I have on my target list that have plus contact skills and don't K at an unfathomable rate.

I'm tired of watching Guardian batters that K 30% of the time, or more.

I'm interested in scoring runs, and the best way to do that is to have a lineup full of batters who get on base. The top five scoring teams in the AL were all in the top six in OBP.

All but one of the top five in scoring were also in the top five in PAs, which when you think about it makes sense. The more plate appearances, the more chances to score.

Cleveland was dead last.

The top scoring team in the league was Houston. They were also first in BA and OBP and PAs. They had nearly 400 more PAs than we did.

We were 6th in the league in ISO. Sixth is not exactly Punch and Judy....nor pop guns.

Our dream should be more Brantleys, Merrifields, Straws, and Arreazes...not more three out come holes in the batting order.

 

[Tondo]

I'd try to trade Plesac and A. Rosario, both have outperformed their peripherals. Rosario has a sub 300 xwOBA, his avg season at the plate was BABIP fueled and he's not a good SS.

Others on my "best used as a trade chip" list: Chang, Hentges, all OF not named Straw.

Trade proposals:
Plesac for C A. Kirk...throw in some prospects and/or Hentges/Chang if needed.

OF/1B M. Beaty (LAD) for prospects. 3 of Hentges, Tena, Planez, X. Curry, A. Melendez

A. Rosario for OF T. Ward (LAA), throw in whoever they want from our OF, maybe D. Johnson or O. Gonzalez, plus a lotto ticket like Planez or SS Tolentino (father is/was Angels broadcaster) or a fringe 40 depth arm like A. Scott, JC Mejia.

Alternate Kirk at C/DH and Franmil in RF/DH. Beaty and Ward at worst form a very strong platoon OF, both are improving bats entering their prime years with 4 years of control left. Both are blocked in their org. Beaty also offers protection in case B. Bradley fails.
Steamer conservatively projects them at 100 and 105 wRc+, coming off 114 and 111 wRc+ seasons in 2021. Not superstars, but they'd solidify the lineup. Beaty is a good contact hitter and would replace Rosario 2nd in the lineup. Ward and Kirk would slot in 5th/6th and lengthen the lineup, taking some pressure off Bradley, Gimenez and Miller/Chang/Palacios

 

[Gson]

I'd try to trade Plesac and A. Rosario, both have outperformed their peripherals. Rosario has a sub 300 xwOBA, his avg season at the plate was BABIP fueled and he's not a good SS.

Others on my "best used as a trade chip" list: Chang, Hentges, all OF not named Straw.

Trade proposals:
Plesac for C A. Kirk...throw in some prospects and/or Hentges/Chang if needed.

OF/1B M. Beaty (LAD) for prospects. 3 of Hentges, Tena, Planez, X. Curry, A. Melendez

A. Rosario for OF T. Ward (LAA), throw in whoever they want from our OF, maybe D. Johnson or O. Gonzalez, plus a lotto ticket like Planez or SS Tolentino (father is/was Angels broadcaster) or a fringe 40 depth arm like A. Scott, JC Mejia.

Alternate Kirk at C/DH and Franmil in RF/DH. Beaty and Ward at worst form a very strong platoon OF, both are improving bats entering their prime years with 4 years of control left. Both are blocked in their org. Beaty also offers protection in case B. Bradley fails.
Steamer conservatively projects them at 100 and 105 wRc+, coming off 114 and 111 wRc+ seasons in 2021. Not superstars, but they'd solidify the lineup. Beaty is a good contact hitter and would replace Rosario 2nd in the lineup. Ward and Kirk would slot in 5th/6th and lengthen the lineup, taking some pressure off Bradley, Gimenez and Miller/Chang/Palacios

Hmmm.. took a look at this posting.. some more than just a little okay.. some.. well.. hate the idea of Kirk in a Guardians uni.. unless it's the Roller Derby team.. otherwise.. it's just not a pretty picture.. Kirk fell off his original pace (and onto the free donuts wagon) He didn't have much of a pace with the tools of ignorance, anyway (read: he sucked and still sucks as a catcher).. Other than his salary level, he's not the kind of backstop that does well for Cleveland.. how about

Trade # 1:
Jays get: Logan S Allen, Will Benson, Nolan Jones and Zach Plesac (47.3 by BTV #'s)
Guards get: Jordan Groshans Lourdes Gurriel JR. and Reese McGuire (47.7 by BTV #'s)

Note: Gurriel Jr and McGuire start immediately.. Groshans is a 3B/OF/1B/DH.. with a fabulous hit tool..

Trade # 2:
Angels get: Tanner Burns and Amed Rosario (22.7 by BTV #'s)
Guards get: Jo Adell and Sam Bachman (23.2 by BTV #'s)

Note: Adell starts from the get go and realizes his potential. Battenfield or Pilkington can be added to the Angels.

Trade # 3:
Dodgers get: Jose Fermin 1.1
Guards get: Matt Beaty 1.1

Note: This is what Beaty is worth..

The Guardians realize two starting outfielders at the ML level, a catcher that has more to offer on both offense and defense and a swiss army knife from the dodgers than can play. This could work..

 

[Tondo]

BTV is useless

And Beaty's 114 wRc+ would have been the third best bat (by far) in our lineup in 2021

Kirk had a 371 xwOBA, that's elite territory. Some Jose Ramirez had 372. Steamer projects a 121 wRc+ and 353 wOBA for Kirk. 5 years of control left, he's not even 23yo, same age as Lavastida, T. Burns and 2021 comp pick T. Mace. But yeah, let's overpay for the underachieving hype prospect Adell and hope he magically starts to hit.

 

[Criznit]

Some talk about how valuable Straw is and how much he has improved our lineup and even outfield defense. No issue there.

HOWEVER.

This is the same guy who was ejected from the 26 man roster of current World Series combatant - The Houston Astros....

Have they missed a beat since his "loss"?

Nope.. They had better options...

Point is, the more guys like Straw and Rosario (IN PARTICULAR) in your lineup the more average you get. You need guys like JRam, Franmil and even Bradley types to maximize their values..

 

[Gson]

BTV is useless

And Beaty's 114 wRc+ would have been the third best bat (by far) in our lineup in 2021

Kirk had a 371 xwOBA, that's elite territory. Some Jose Ramirez had 372. Steamer projects a 121 wRc+ and 353 wOBA for Kirk. 5 years of control left, he's not even 23yo, same age as Lavastida, T. Burns and 2021 comp pick T. Mace. But yeah, let's overpay for the underachieving hype prospect Adell and hope he magically starts to hit.

-I like beaty.. for good reason.. he'd be a good addition..
-Jose Ramirez.. really?..
-Lavastida is a baseball player.. Kirk is a bat swinger..
-no hope needed w/r to Adell.. he did start to hit.. pretty fair finish to his season in September.. There is a lot of talent there...

If Adell can be had for Burns & Mace.. do it..

 

[CATS44]

Not really.

Its like saying that Bauer had little value, because we kept winning without him.

Houston traded from excess.

***************

Houston, as was noted earlier, had the highest scoring team in the league.

Their batting average was .267.
OBP was .339.
SLG was .444.

Our team BA was .238.
OBP was .303.
SLG was .407.

So what we need? More power, or better BA and OBP?

BA, being a component of both OBP and SLG, is the answer. We need more contact...period.

Lets look at the numbers.

Had our BA been the same as Houston, our OBP would have been .329...without adding a single walk. Our SLG would have been .447 (higher than Houston)...without adding a single HR.

Our OBP would have ranked 4th in the AL.
Our SLG would have ranked 3rd in the AL.
Our OPS would have ranked 4th....

Toronto.....796
Houston.....783
Boston.......777
Cleveland...776

Toronto scored 846 runs.
Boston scored 829 runs.
Houston scored 863 runs.

We would have been right there with them. Instead, we scored 717....all because our team didn't make enough good contact.

Toronto, Boston, and Houston were all top five in lowest K rate. We were 10th.

While the other three had mixed BB rates, from 4th to 10th, we tied for 11th.

As GM, I'm shopping for more base hits, more walks, and a hell of a lot fewer strike outs. Its the surest way to score a lot more runs. If a few more home runs come with it, fine, if not...*shrug*.

 

[CATS44]

'Waiting for Adell'

The third in a series, behind...

'Waiting for Frazier'
'Waiting for Zimmer'

I wouldn't mind having him, but I sure wouldn't count on him to help in 2022, and I wouldn't trade much for him.