moonslav59

Well, he seemed reluctant at deadlines, but not in winters, so point well taken. He doesnt want to overpay.

Yes, the talk is PIT will be buyers.

We didn't have many other options to platoon with Duran. He and Yoshida both bat lefty, as does Anthony. Brez made sure to not give Cora RHB option other than Romy, who plays 1B/2B/DH. Refsnyder did platoon with Abreu in 2024 and some for both in 2025, but was hurt for much of the year.

Wong has been doing too well to sit anymore than he does.

We could find a SS next winter (Neto?)

It meets our two most pressing needs. Maybe Narvaez is snapping out of his 3 month funk. (Catcher is the next highest need area.)

Eventually, Bello needs to get over the 1st inning yips, though, but run with what works, now.

Yoshida has been our best batter for a month, now.

No. I've said I prefer Cheng & Monasterio to Story until the Arias experiment begins. We need middle infield help. I'd prefer Neto but he's costly. BLowe or Torres are rentals at a tiny fraction of the cost.

Early, Witherspoon, Phillips, Azocar & Gonzales for Neto. KC for Lugo and $4M

Torres is hitting RHPs 240 points higher this year but his career is .745 v R and .840 v L. BLowe kills RHP and is deserving of a platoon v L. .859/.606 this year and .842/.682 career (not terrible v L) Jeffers is the all-around killer: .938 v R and .966 v L, this year. That's better than Willson! Career .712 vs .860. Jeffers and either one is fine with me, if we go the rental route. If Lugo is close to free for the taking- maybe offer KC or Bello, I'd do it. BTV accepts: Bello, KC and Wong for Lugo and Salvador Perez, but SP is a .621 DH with 14 dingers, but he kills lefties. (So does Romy!) Bello, KC, Phillips and $8M for Lugo is accepted Bello +$8M for Lugo is a yes KC for Lugo +$7M is a yes

Pedro's OLAY moment.

That would be one way to handle the IP limits and our "more games remaining" schedule than other AL teams. A 6 man rotation, which includes an opener + Bello could work. The "opener" would be available other days and maybe Bello could pitch a little every in between day. Suarez Gray Tolle Bennett Sandoval (Moran?)> Bello If Crochet, Oviedo, Crawford or Houck every return they could bounce someone to the pen or go there themselves.

I'd prefer B Lowe, but Torres is a RHB. I'd like and think possible: Jeffers & BLowe. (If Lugo is a straight dump, then hell yes! Add him.)

Take away the money but count the years of control and these are the "Values:" 172 Crochet & 170 Anthony 162 Suarez & 140 Ceddanne 114 Tolle 89 Abreu 67 Bennett & Durbin 49 Willson & 45 KC 35 Mayer & 25 Narvaez 22 Bello & Chapman 20 Duran & 17 Whitlock 15 Slaten 11 Gray & Rivera 9 Siegler & 7 Yoshida

He's almost worth Crochet, and when you figure money, they think he's way better. (see the list)

BTV: 83 Rafaela 69 Arias 63 Tolle 39 Suarez 36 Abreu 31 Early & Eyanson 29 Mayer & 28 Durbin 24 Azocar, 22 Gonzales & 20 Primera 21 Crochet & 19 Bennett 17 Soto & 13 Valera 16 Narvaez 12 Witherspoon, 11 Delzine & Anthony 10 Willson 9 Godbout & 8 Phillips & Slaten All others are under 6

BTV has Tolle (64) worth more than Early (31) + Eyanson (31)

Lugo & G Torres seems more likely.

We may be lucky to get just 2 players from all you listed, and they'd probably be Steer and the underwater Lugo. My most I could imagine might be Langeliers and Torres. Neto and Jeffers would be, too. Most likely possible and what I'd like? Jeffers & Torres/B Lowe

BTV accepts that trade as a "minor overpay" by KCR (by $30M) Arias, Eyanson, Early, Mayer, Azocar & Gonzales for Witt & Lugo

BLowe kills LHPs and Jeffers does fine vs both. They both may be "realistic" targets.

The younger guy at a fraction of the cost may allow us to extend Gray by a year or two, or we could sign Jeffers, BLowe, Torres and many other rentals being mentioned, now as big fills to our current needs.

For all we know Mayer may out fWAR lindor from 2027 to 2031. I doubt it, but giving back prospects or players is or can be very costly. We've been throwing money numbers out there, but we have no idea what the NYM will include. They may seek the most money relief with little player returns over the opposite. Assuming they pay $50M ($10M per year,) is AAV would be $22M. Alonso's is $31M x 4 (one less year and he's a year youinger) Bregman is $31M x 4 (someone I did not want at even what we offered for him.) Schwarber is $30M x 4 (I hesitate to count him, but many of us wanted him at that money.) All these deals end a year earlier, which limits the "down years" by one and changes the proportions of good vs dent vs bad year significantly. Enough to offset $30-31M vs $22M? Probably not, but then add the players we give up and it's not such a clear choice anymore. TBH, I'd rather have Lindor than Bragman & Mayer. That's mainly because I thought Breggie would have been a mistake. It's closer on Alonso & Mayer v Lindor, but because we have 4 DHs already and not that I think Lindor will outhit them.. Same with Schwarber. We need a SS not a DH, so that's big plus for Lindor over any of these three mentioned.

We know Brez likes to keep top prospects, so I'm seriously doubting we do something earth-shattering at the deadline. Brez keeps those moves for the winter. I'm thinking he trades for .... C: Jeffers (rental) 2B: BLowe (LHB) or Torres (RHB) both rentals Trading for controlled players like Neto might happen, this coming winter.