Hitch

$450m that was meant to say...

The number will always get higher than predicted in FA. Especially with the Mets in town. You put $400m in front of him when he's yours, he's probably saying yes. You put $400m in front of him on the open market, the Mets will put $550m.

Although will take us over the first tax line with several holes still to fill. I mean, I'd do it. 100%. But I don't think JH, will.

This. The guy cannot hit a fastball. Stay well away.

And agreed, now is the time to spend some prosect capital.

I don't think there is much chance of 2 big signings. I think it will be 1 biggie, 1 cheaper option, and one trade/a couple of trades. Yeah I wouldn't just give Campbell away, but if you're right that the league sees him higher than myself (I'm not sure they do, but he's a hard one to judge), if we can send him for other needs I would do it ASAP. $7.5m off the tax isn't huge, but it's not nothing, and he has no position. Where has this Marte talk come from? Has there been any talk the Diamondbacks want to trade him? $20m on the luxury tax is a meaty hit when it comes to our finances, too. If we get him, don't expect a big FA signing. Lodolo is another I see having little chance of getting moved...Ryan feels more and more the most likely, and it'll take prospects, not Duran to get him.

I think we're at $205 when we release Lowe? I'm not sure how much more we are expecting to add with arbs, but let's say it leaves us with $39m for the first tax line. That isn't anywhere near enough to get in two infielders if one is Alonso/Bregman/Buchette, and we're likely to add salary for the No2, even with Duran possibly going out (I'm far from convinced). I've seen a few predictions we can stay under the first tax line and be okay - I do not think that is happening. I do think Henry will spend over the first tax level, but I would be very surprised to see him go over the second. So we've likely got around $59 to spend. Not a lot with our holes and more than likely kills any long shot dream of getting Skubal and extending.

They're definitely going over the line. They need to just to fill the holes. Luxury tax wise, we're not in the best shape with the holes we have.

3 years, no? Regardless, Detroit wouldnt take it in a million years. I'd give up a lot for Skubal if we can get an extension with it. If not (and with where our luxury tax is, I don't see it), go grab Ryan instead.

This the most likely outcome I've seen so far. Surprised to have not seen more around Kim - but I play him at 2nd personally.

It might be yours - it's sure as s*** not going to be ours.

No chance on Arenado I don't think. He's dropped off severely. Would be a daft move now.

I think Bres is less precious than you might think. He's made a series of trades of prospects, though admittedly a good few were rule 5 guys that weren't getting added. I'd like to see us move Campbell if the league still values him highly. Outside of left field, I don't see him having a position defensively, and even then, we're guessing he can play there. And his bat still has a lot to prove too. Let him figure it out somewhere else if we can get good value.

I like it, I think. Bit annoying that Donovan bats leftie though. I'm struggling to see why that Ryan trade is a major overpay for Boston, though? I'd do that all day! Interestingly, Andy McCullough is proposing that Alonso doesn't have the market we all think he does - he's a year older from when he couldn't get a long term.deal last year, and while he had a good year, it's not like he showed anything that's changed anyone's mind on what he can do (McCullough's words). Interesting take. I wonder if it's a case of waiting out Alonso, ala JD in '18.

I think some iteration of above is what's going to happen. I'll be shocked if we sign a free agent pitcher. It'll come in the trade and then money put on the lineup, with the possibility of an additional trade.

Somebody is going to get absolutely burned by signing Murakami and I really hope it isn't us. In his 2025 NPB season he hit .093 against fastballs of 93 mph or higher. And his career average against 93+ mph fastballs is only .188. Stay the F away from that! Rotation wise - I only see one hole? A #2.

I don't think we're signing a single free agent starting pitcher.

Yeah, agreed, as in not wating to sign a player with a QO.

I'm actually more confident after not giving Gio the QO that we are now going to get out and grab two significant free agent signings for the infield and trade for a lower cost No2 (Ryan) and sadly not go after Skubal.

It's not about folk hero's or what we'd do. It's what our manager does and has done for his whole time as a manager. He loves platoons. It's not down to injuries, it's quite literally his philosophy.

Hard to know what we've got with Sandoval right now. He could definitely be our 4 if he's healthy.

Even so, a lot of teams will be very high on him.

Just a hunch, watching him with teammates, watching his interactions on the documentary. I've mentioned a few times you shouldn't necessarily trust what you see on these programs, so I realise I'm possibly talking out of my ass here and going against my own advice, but something just feels off to me. It feels more than just that he's a bit different, but all guesswork.

I agree. I'm not saying trade him, only that if the long term plan was platoon only, then send him now when his reputation is stellar. I don't believe that is the long term plan, though.

I don't know what to tell you, Cora has specifically said he believes in platooning rookies to start with. Mayer didn't have much of a season last year so you have to believe that he will be platooned this coming season. I don't think he will be long term, but if that was to be the plan - trade him now. Cora - “I don’t know, maybe (the rookies will play) Friday, maybe Saturday, maybe Sunday,” Cora said, as seen on NESN. “Let’s wait until we see the lefty, and then when you seen the lineup you guys can ask me. “The lefties here are real lefties,” Cora said. “There’s stuff here. Especially the guys in the bullpen. I truly believe that if you’ve got stuff, you’re going to be here, you’re not going to be in Triple-A or Double-A. So what they see here is different. “I think the gap is big. It’s very big. When you play a team six times a week and you’re constantly moving guys up and down, the good ones are here. It gets to a point down there — I’m not saying it’s what they did, I think they’re very talented and they’ve earned the right to be in the big leagues — but there’s a big gap." “We can’t play 13 position players. We cannot,” “I get it, people get frustrated, but I get frustrated, too. I get the same question over and over again, but I’ve been doing it like this since 2018. Rafael Devers platooned in 2018, and right now he’s one of the best hitters in the big leagues.”