sportscoach
RD's Guardians PR Man!
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- Dec 8, 2016
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Instead of looking it as depth of starters, we really have a need for relievers. Even with Clase, healthy Kar (if he regains his form that bimbo blamed on injury), sandlin, Gose, Hentges, Allen (out of options) ...., you need Stephan as 7th reliever. Heck RR has Morgan as 8th guy for 13th pitcher. They will bring in more NRI along w Santos for 8th spot, maybe even Shaw, but to fill 2 spots on 40 man (as 7th/8th reliever) for Stephan to start in AAA means more 40 man cuts (baring trade). Guardians need to add Catcher, 8th reliever and possibly OF to 40 man with Naylor/ Vargas on 60 DL as first 2 freed up spots. No way do they give a 2nd 40 man roster spot to any off-the-street NRI reliever.
Do they cut Moss (as "their" plan) to add reliever for Stephan to be AAA starter? They are risking Cantillo for Moss, why cut him days after the Rule 5? They lost Mejia and risked Garza to keep Moss. No way do they do that, especially if, they had already seen a need for 2 relievers if Stephan is in AAA, when Mejia could have been 7th guy
Who else would you cut? Maybe Mercado ... Okay, but again, they need to add an OF NRI/FA in his spot instead (not a 2nd reliever) as its doubtful Kwan and Palacios are both added to Straw, Zimmer as our 3rd and 4th OF at the start of season. With Naylor on DL, Reyes as DH (spot OF maybe), they already will need a Clement, Jones or Rosario to take/fight for that 5th OF/utility mix (to go along with Straw, Zimmer, Mercado and one of Kwan/Palacios). Heck Mercado/Clement will probably be cut anyway for a FA OF (just keeping them as a placeholder/back up plan for now).
There is just no 40 man room for Stephan to be anything but a 7th reliever, baring a major trade which is less likely in a 3-4 week shortened ST to make plans accordingly. Sure, it can happen few days/week before season starts. But, do you prepare for a season, anticipating a possibility? No... Stephan will prep as a reliever.
One error here... Moss has already been cut and is apart of the Phillies now....
Next, I really do think we will make a move away from the current roster. We have too many position players now and not enough proven MLB bats. I think at least one trade that is a 3-4 players for 1 is going to happen. This would create the spot to get a catcher and veteran RP. Also we have never been stingy about brining in veteran RP arms on minor league deals, so we will bring in as many arms as possible. Plus we don't know what guys like Broom, mean to the organization.
I actually expect someone out of LF in a sense to get a bullpen spot to start the season...