moonslav59

I think the Joe Ryan situation will come down to what other teams offer. MIN wants top prospects, and we have some, but all we need to do is outbid the next best offer. They probably prefer Abreu over Duran, and maybe even Campbell and Garcia, so maybe a third team needs to get involved. Two trades could really help our 2026 chances, but I doubt they want to dampen the 2027 and beyond chances for a hear and now solution. My idea is to trade some of the future, but only for players with 3+ years of control 2 like Ryan- with a hopeful extension to follow. Duran + for Paredes? Campbell, Arias and Early for Ryan? Sign Alonso & Polanco/Suarez and Matz and we'd look pretty golden.

I was talking 40 man roster. No way all 3 are on the 26. There might be just 1.

He's gotta stay healthy. Period.

That would break a long streak, but if we trade for one, I agree. (We may sign another Sandoval type or another Criswell type, although I think we originally signed him to a MiLB deal.)

It was odd that our 4 slot had a worse OPS than 5, 6, 7 & 9. Only the 8 slot was worse at .617. Story led the team in PAs up 4th and did well. (14 different players were slotted 4th to start a game!) PAs 4th Player OPS 199 Story .815 118 Narvaez .762 75 Abreu .506 63 Ref .874 55 Yoshida .713 53 Casas .551 53 K C .404 42 Romy .365 We gotta do better. The 2 and 4 slots are key.

I've been pumping up spending big on batters and trading for a solid #2 SP'er, but what if we decide to give up some more of the future and go bold. Trade for two pitchers and spend up to the second tax line? Maybe something like this: Duran & Sandlin for Lodolo (saves about $3M AAV) Campbell, Arias & Early for Ryan (saves about $2M AAV) $70M to spend to second line: $27M Alonso $20M Suarez $14M Polanco $8M Josh Bell There is a reason I posted this here and not the realistic thread: 1. L Anthony LH 2. R Alonso DH 3. S Polanco 2B 4. R Suarez 3B 5. L Abreu RF 6. R Story SS 7. S J Bell 1B 8. R Narvaez C 9. R Rafaela CF Bench: Mayer, Wong, Garcia, DHam/Sogard/Eaton SP: Crochet, Ryan, Lodolo, Bello, Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison/Tolle/Perales RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Fitts, Bernardino, Murphy/Criswell/Winckowski/Moran/Kelly/Mullins

Article on Jo Jo Ingrassia... https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-prospect-jojo-ingrassia-proving-value-in-arizona-fall-league?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage

That is most likely, or a three way trade. The Duran for Lodolo type trade is the longshot.

I almost mentioned Kim. We could get Alonso and Kim for close to $50M. 1B Alonso 2B Story SS Kim 3B Mayer

There is a good chance there won't be a choice between DHam & Sogard or even Eaton. Once we DFA or trade Grissom, we may have room for all 3, or 2 without Eaton.

I know I'm repeating myself, but I really think trading for a #2 is the best path forward, and then spend to the max JH allows on adding bats. I'd prefer 2 mega bats to 3 pretty good ones or 3 pretty good ones to 4 decent ones. I figure the first tax line is about $45M and the second one is $65M away. The quality sharply increases when you divide these two numbers by 2 or 3. (I'm not going 4, unless there is a little left over to sign someone like Matz.) Using AAV numbers and fangraphs' estimates, here are some ideas I like or might like: At $45-48M: 2 Players.... 28 Schwarber + 20 Suarez 28 Schwarber + 16 Okamoto or 27 Alonso + 20 Suarez (or 22 Torres) 3 Players... 20 Suarez, 14 Polanco + 12 O'Hearn (0r 8 Hoskins) 20 Suarez, 16 Okamoto + 8 Fairbanks 16 Okamoto, 15 H-S Kim +14 Polanco

Exactly, and if Casas proves himself, he can challenge Yoshida for the DH slot. (Another player that should have to earn a slot, but instead will be handed the DH slot before ST'ing starts. Campbell needs to find a position. I'm not sure he plays good enough defense to be a multi-position utility guy. He could also challenge Yoshida at DH. Depending on who our 1Bman is, he may challenge there, too- along with Casas, but he should not and will not be just handed a FT slot. His best position might be DH, then LF and maybe 3rd at 1B. His 2B ship might have sailed.

This weeks key games: #3 TEX A&M at #20 MO #7 BYU at #8 TEX Tech (One should drop out of the top 12) #9 Oregon at #20 IA (I'm picking an upset, here.) ________________________________ 1 OSU at Purdue, 1. IN at Penn St, LSU at 4. ALA, 5. GA at Miss St, Navy at 10. ND

The 13 QO's Given: Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs Kyle Schwarber, OF/DH, Phillies Bo Bichette, SS/2B, Blue Jays Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros Dylan Cease, RHP, Padres Ranger Suarez, LHP, Phillies Edwin Diaz, RHP, Mets Zac Gallen, RHP, D-backs Shota Imanaga, LHP, Cubs Michael King, RHP, Padres Trent Grisham, OF, Yankees Gleyber Torres, 2B, Tigers Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Brewers MLBTR's top players w/o QO: 4. Murakami 5. Bregman 7. Imai 8. Bellinger 11. Alonso, 12. Naylor 16. D Williams 19. Okamoto 20. E Suarez Selected: 23. Polanco, 25. M Kelly, 27. Giolito

If we trade for a solid #2 SP'er, and I think we might, we may end up needing to include someone like Early or Tolle (Perales?)- maybe Harrison, Dobbins, Fitts, Criswell or Crawford. It's really nice to have this depth, but with a tight budget likely and a team philosophy of holding onto to top prospects, I'm not sure we part with the younger SP'ers. I'm also not sure of what trade value returning from injury pitchers have, like Crawford, Dobbins & Perales. We will also be carrying Houck on the 40, until the start of the season, when we'll move him to the 60 Day IL. I'd like to see us add Lodolo, Ryan or Lopez plus someone like M Keller. MVP likes FA Woodruff. Others like Cease and Gallen, but I think we'll need the cash for big batters. I doubt we trade for 2 SP'er. Maybe... 1. Crochet 2. Ryan/Lodolo/Lopez/Keller 3. Bello 4. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford 5. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison (assuming none are part of the trade.) Fitts, Criswell, Tolle, Early, Perales (assuming none are part of the trade.)

I would, too, and I think we might, but I'm going with under $45M, until I see it.

Who said that? That is silly.

If the difference in AAV is just $1-2M between Schwarber and Alonso, I'd go with Schwarber. The shorter years might appeal to JH, too. I like Bregman, but we need power and I'm afraid he is in a noticeable decline. His D is a plus, but I'm with Drew on the major need being a mega power bat. If we can somehow do both, then yes. I like Bichette, but he's not a great defender, nor is he a big power bat, let alone a mega one. Pass. If we go "light" my guys are Suarez and Polanco, fully realizing there are risks involved. Trade for a #2, sign Suarez & Polanco, and maybe there's enough money to get that cheaper 1B bat (Hoskins, Bell or ___.) If there's enough money, add Matz. One interesting option might be to sign Schwarber to DH, trade Duran + for K Marte, Abreu for Ryan or Lodolo and play Masa in LF. He could maybe platoon with Garcia/Campbell or bring Ref back for another go.

I'm not that high on Merrill Kelly. I only mention him because of I know JH does not like long contracts. E Suarez has been almost everywhere, including AZ, My top choices: Schwarber or Alonso Suarez & Polanco Trade for Ryan or Lodolo One guy played for AZ for a while. Next tier: Bregman or Bichette.

Yup. Those are just the 3 that got some votes. I doubt we get any of those 3.

3 years is something JH might agree to, as well. Kt's the logical next step over 2 for Gio and Sandoval. Baby steps.

I get that, and Okamoto might provide as much or more than Suarez, but I'm basically tired of hoping on players to regain what they had or end up with another Masa. I'm looking at players that are doing well and have been for the last 1-3 years. I like your plan. I'd rather trade for a pitcher and spend the $45M on bats. How would you spend $45M after a Duran for Lodolo trade?

Okay. I missed that this is what defines the best approach. Sorry.

If only players would do what their told!

Okay, I guess .800 is not good enough. 2nd best strike approach is a bit misleading. It was also his second worst out of 3 or 4 seasons, depending on which ones you throw out as small sample sizes. 3rd best out of 4 is not something that proves anything.