moonslav59

How is that dending the FO? Now, if some said this, it might be viewed as defending the FO: Wins: 78 in '23 81 in '24 '89 in '25 I'm upset at the limited budget, too. I'm not sure I can blame Brez for not spending what he's not allowed to spend, and I don't think Bregman or Bichette ate the guys I'd break the trend on. I think maybe Alonso came closest, out of those already signed. I'd have offered more than Polanco got, and since that was a shorter term deal, I have to think that was a FO decision and not a JH one, but who knows how he'll do, going forward. It's frustrating to keep seeing our stars bolt of be traded, and most were prime or post prime, but the history has not been all that bad on those choices. Of course we like to harp on the handful that turned out badly: Lowe, Beltre, maybe Damon, Lester, maybe Sale and worst of all Betts, but we quickly forget Pedro, Mueller, Agon, Beckett, Ellsbury, Price, JD and maybe Bogey, too. Some minor-some major bitching when these guys left, too. No doubt, we are running out of options, and this looks all-to-familiar. I'm not sure anybody is thrilled with the situation, but there is time, and there are options that can more salvage the offseason. We've added Gray, Contreras and Oviedo. We need one more major piece or maybe two moderate to semi-major pieces and we'll look better on paper than last year without even counting on younger players naturally progressing. Am I confident we do what I feel needs to be done? HELL NO, but they surprised me last winter. (Then surprised me the wrong way with the Devers dump and failure to replace, in kind at the deadline.) It sucks watching a quality player leave, and he had a big influence over the younger players on the team. Replacing him will not be easy.

I heard $70M is deferred.

Spotrac. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/tax

When $160M was already an overpay, yes. So, the Cubs counter with $180M/5, then you'd say pay more, then more, then more...

That's assuming JH would expand the budget, later on. $35M+ a year!?!? No way. That contract would have crippled the budget for 5 years. It's an either/or situation.

We are almost the same, now. Add Suarez and we are the same or better. Add Suarez and a decent LH'd RP'er and we're better. Not significantly better, as we all hoped, but IMO- better.

There is zero chance anyone trades a top prospect for Donovan. We might trade scraps for Vientos or sign Willi Castro, but we are not trading a top 4 prospect for Donovan. I doubt we trade Witherspoon for him, either, and we shouldn't, despite the 2 years of control.

I guess it would have been better to have not gotten Breggie, last winter, then, right?

I doubt we add a #2. Yes. I think they feel we don't need one. They say they are not going to trade an Of'er. I'm not sure why they think that way. Not only do we have 4 FT OF'ers, we also have Campbell and even Masa who can play LF. Maybe they believe Tolle, Early and the rookie bats will carry us. I'm not upset at losing Breggie at that cost and length. I was over Alosno. I do think we can find ways to make us better. I like a lot of what Brez has done, but I'm not sure he'll go as far as I want or as far as many others seem to want. I think they realize we need a bat and a 3Bman. Suarez seems to be the last man standing now. Overpaying for him shouldn't take 5 years, so maybe there is hope. How many here really think Brez and JH should have outbid the Cubs for Breggie?

I have no idea. I doubt we do nothing. Do you think we should have offer Breggie $180M/5?

No way should we have paid $176M/5, so it's hard for me to get upset at anyone for this happening.

There is no evidence or trend that shows Brez is trading away even 20% of top prospects.

We need a HR hitter with an .800+ OPS to bat clean-up, and he's a RHB. If we add a #2 SP'er we'll be fine

It's not too late to sign Suarez and trade for a #2 SP'er and look like a winner.

Maybe this would be a good time for you to become a Dodgers fan.

BTV says he's worth about $5M a year, so pay all but $4M a year and move on.

Sign Suarez and trade an OF'er for a #2.

I hope not.

I'm 100% for not trading Casas. I'm a fan of his. I think he'll win the DH role.

Yes, and the plan that they'd pitch part of season 1 never worked out.

I didnt say you did. You asked me why I said what I said.

Curious why many seem to write off our returning injury players but think other teams will be better based on returning injury players. I wonder why.

Agreed. The only downside is that we have a 1Bman and 3 DHs.

The pessimism on this board is stunning! Yet, expectations for guys like Cole to bounce back is high.

Injury updates from MLBTR: Casas is coming back from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. He told reporters, that he’s uncertain if he’ll be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. “As of right now, not too sure. Not trying to get ahead of myself, but I do see myself progressing well enough to maybe get into some spring training games. We’ll see how that goes because that’s a benchmark as well.” Marcelo Mayer expects to be fully ready for Spring Training. His 2025 season was cut short by a wrist injury in August. “I’m pretty much doing full baseball activity, like a normal ramp-up, as I would for a regular season going into spring training,” Mayer said. Anthony is also expected to be good to go for the spring. An oblique injury cost him most of September and all of the postseason. The team believed he might have been able to return for the ALCS, but they were knocked out in the ALDS. Kutter Crawford is on track to return to action for the first time since 2024. He missed all of last season with knee and wrist issues. “At this point, it’s just normal progression,” Crawford said. “I got off the slope yesterday, and it felt good. And now we just build up the mound progression.” Carlos Narvaez had knee surgery at the start of the offseason, but told reporters (including Smith) he would be a full go come springtime.