I moved it here to keep the other thread cleaner...
Civale and Bieber will try to be extended so neither guy will be available in a trade...
Plesac is open to being traded, I dont think they want to move Quantrill, TMac, Morgan, Morris and Espino... I think anyone else should be available for the right price when it comes to pitching.
I am thinking Arias is the man who would be available in the INF... Jones could also be available, but I am thinking Freeman, Valera, Rocchio and Lavastida won't be open to be traded...
So a deal with Plesac, Jones, Arias, Johnson and like a Battenfield would have to get us Mullins... Would you be willing to part with Mullins plus someone maybe like Mancini for that?
Again, IMO Plesac doesn't fit what Baltimore needs. They need six years of control, not four.
Johnson is not a consideration for anybody. He can easily be picked up on waivers in December. (The Orioles have first shot at any AL player put on waivers)
But, as GM, my job is to make the team better, so I have to measure any gain by what I view as the difference between Plesac and Morgan, plus the drop from Morgan to a kid who has never pitched in MLB. I value Plesac more highly than the fans do. I value him more highly than Espino, because its doubtful that Espino could produce at Plesacs level in 2023, let alone 2022.
From Baltimores point of view, how could the Orioles sell a trade of Mullins to its fanbase?
Well, they could point to one of the ranking services and say that they just traded Mullins for three of the Guardians top five prospects, or four of their top ten...including their top pitching and hitting prospects...and that all of them might be playing in Baltimore in 2022.
So, maybe Espino, Jones, Arias, and a throw in (Zimmer, Chang, Clement, etc) for Mullins.
Thats a lot to give up, and it doesn't have to be Mullins. It could be Reynolds or Laureano.
But from my point of view, I'd be giving up spare parts, and losing Espino is the only one that really hurts. I'd still have the four that I value the highest... Rocchio, Valera, Freeman, and Lavastida.
I have Arias as my fifth option among MIFs. Adding an OF means less of an opening for Jones. And my rotation for next year is intact thru at least eight SPs.
I've spent no money, so I still have cash to fill the other outfield spot and/or protect myself at 1B. My 40 man situation has been eased somewhat.
And with Mullins added to Jose, Amed, Straw, Gimenez...and the bevy of near ready (2023 at the latest) prospects, the team is almost set for at least two years. Four years, if I can extend Jose.
Looking ahead twelve months to next off season, I'd have Valera, Rocchio, Freeman, and Lavastida ready for MLB...which just might fill my need in one corner of the OF and behind the plate. The only real concern might be 1B, if Bobby flops.