Morgan may still develop, but he won't get taller....and the odds of a 5-10 SP ever becoming a solid rotation piece are so long that its not worth the effort, if an org has other options. Cleveland is an org that has other options.
If I was a scouting director, I wouldn't draft any 5-10 prospect as a SP. Its not that difficult to fathom.
A decade ago I was involved indirectly in college football recruitment in NE Ohio. Ohio State had a self imposed rule. The Buckeyes did not recruit any offensive tackle who was under 6-3, no matter how good he was. The way they looked at it, they might miss a good one, but the odds were so long that it wasn't worth wasting one out of their 85 allowed scholarships.
I'm no longer connected, but my guess is that the height limit has been raised.
While the fav comparison for Morgan is Tomlin, Josh was three inches taller.
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The question isn't whether Thomas is....or will be...a better player than Ward. Its much more involved than that.
If you look at both of their complete bodies of work, there is no doubt that Ward has been more productive. If you look at our roster needs, there is no doubt that Ward is a better fit. Thomas is strictly a LF, if he plays in Cleveland....while Ward can play all four corner positions.
Then you have to look at their present situations. Thomas is a starting OF on a team that is short on outfield options. Ward plays on a team that has no place for him to get regular at bats. Thomas is necessary to Washington, while Ward is expendable to Anaheim. (Thomas will cost more to acquire, but is less of a fit.)
I'd rather have Yepez than Thomas, although he would cost more than his supposed value, too....but not as much as Thomas. It may be that we could acquire both Ward and Yepez for what it would cost for Thomas.
I dont care about the age differences in this instance. But for those that do, why don't they care about the age differences between Morgan and the armada of arms that are right behind him?
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If you look at our projected pen, we have Clase, Karinchak, Sandlin, Stephan, Hentges, and Gose at the moment. Hentges and Gose are out of options. With only 17 pitchers on the 40 man, it is highly likely that at least two vet relievers will be brought in for a look-see....and Tito will certainly want some added experience in the pen.
Which brings us to Allen. He also is out of options. If there are no health issues in the rotation, what should be done with him?
IMO he doesn't seem to fit as a reliever. As a trade chip, his lack of an option limits his value. Would Tito and the FO be willing to put him in the pen, just in case a SP gets hurt? If so, it means that they view him as the #6.
But what value in trade does he really have? He's a lefty, and lefties, even if they are ineffective seem to have nine lives. He is young and does have a pedigree. He was a Top 100 in all four major ranking systems.
If he had an option left, he would undoubtedly be in the Columbus rotation. But we have a solid rotation and a plethora of close to MLB ready SP prospects. What orgs are not so blessed and would look at him as a legit immediate rotation option? And looking at him that way, what would they give for him now?
Trading Allen for a spare part or for the infamous future considerations could end up being the worst trade that we've made since whenever. Or it could be a nothing burger.
The Angels may be a team that may look at Allen as a legit immediate rotation option. Would either team be willing to trade a spare part (Ward) for Allen?
Would Baltimore see enough value in him to want him as part of a package for Hays?
Looking at Oakland and Arizona, Allen would certainly be a legit immediate rotation option.