moonslav59

Not saying I'd do this, and KCR might say no, but how about Jh Garcia for Bubic? We can bring Ref back as the RHB OF/DH platoon option, and we don't want Garcia on the ML roster as a short-side platoon, anyway, so maybe... We also have Campbell as a RHB option, but like Garcia, we'd only call him up as a FT player- not in a platoon role. Would we offer Campbell for Ragans? He's 27 and has a 117 ERA+ and 2.87 FIP from '24-'25. (3 years: 120 ERA+ and 2.96 FIP.) Campbell and Sandlin? Ragans has 3 years of control and a $4.4 AAV for the next 2 years. He's not the #2 I want, and I'm usually against trading for mid-rotation starters but he could jump Bello in the rotation order and be a decent #2. Maybe we can trade for him and someone like Ryan- making Bello/Ragans our 3 & 4s.

If JH is allowing the budget to go near the second line or higher, I'd be interested in signings like this, but I have serious doubts, and I still think we have higher needs. I guess another point is how much are we willing to trade away this winter? I said the same thing last year, and it didn't really work out as I thought: we have so much SP'er depth that I think we can use some of them to fortify the pen with long relief guys. The amount of injuries to SP'ers got so high, we ended up trading for May and using two rookies not thought to be in the mix in April. This year, despite Houcks season-long injury, I think we have even more SP'er depth that can and will be used in the pen. Crochet, Bello and Sandoval will be SP'ers. I doubt we mess with Early and Tolle in the pen, but if we have 5 SP'ers going strong, and we need pen help, we might resort to using one or both in relief roles. The higher odds pen guys might be (in this order) 1. Fitts 2. Criswell (out of option) 3. Perales 4. Crawford 5. Dobbins 6. Harrison (maybe he's 4th or 5th) (Sandlin was used in relief, last year, but struggled there.)

MLBTR listed 3 pitchers "on the trade market" Gore: 2 arbs remaining ($5M est '26) Singer: last arb ($12.1M est '26) S Gray: $35M '26 w club option '27 $30M w $5M buyout ($24.8M AAV) I'm going to add that if STL is looking to retool and dump salary, they have Willson Contreras at 1B, who is owed $18M, $18.5M & $17.5M option w $5M buyout ($17.5M AAV.) These are overpaid players, and notice I did not list Arenado, because he's owed even more than Yoshida. Trading for Gray and Contreras would eat up the whole budget up to the first tax line, unless we sent back some salary, like $12M Hicks, $7.7M Duran, $7.5M Campbell or somehow got them to take part of Yoshida's deal, but why would a team perhaps looking to cut salary not try to max out their savings? I do wonder, if they might take Campbell, Hicks and Casas for Gray & Contreras. Note: I'm not sure I'd do this, since it adds about $22M AAV. Sonny Gray has been a damn good pitcher, but his number have decline up to this 36 year old season. Contreras turns 34 next season, but his OPS+ has remained pretty steady near 123-130ish w 20ish HR power. Trading for 1 year of Singer is okay, if we don't give up much, but Gore might be the best option. However, I see he and Songer as decent 3/4 SP'ers and we have a bunch of guys with hopes of filling that role, including Bello who has kinda proven he is just that. I still like the idea of Ryan or Lodolo. I feel Alcantara, despite the high ceiling, is too much of a risk for what he may cost in return. Brez was hinting at signing a pitcher and trading for a bat, which goes against my opinion, but without knowing who he has in mind, I'll hold off being critical.

Just pointing out the consistent underprojections.

I'm all in on adding 2 mega bats, but if we go three good ones, maybe this works: Trade Mayer & Campbell for K Marte (2B) and Duran for Lodolo. Sign Alonso (1B) Suarez (3B) and M Kelly (SP) & Refsnyder 1. L Anthony LF 2. R Alonso 1B 3. S Marte 2B 4. R Suarez 3B 5. L Abreu RF 6. R Story SS 7. L Yoshida DH 8. R Narvaez C 9. R Rafaela Bench: Wong, Romy, Refsnyder, DHam SP: Crochet, Lodolo, Kelly, Bello, Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison/Perales/Fitts/Early/Tolle/Drohan/Uberstine/Anderson RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Bernardino, Fitts, Hicks, Murphy/Criswell, Wink/ Moran/Kelly/Sandlin/Mullins

,,,and only 39 for Cal.

Doesn't matter. Selling Sale works, either way.

One top 5 power hitter + a pretty good hitter or Two top 25 (or so) power hitters. 1. 3B or 2B 2. 1B (possibly DH)

55 in over 2200 PAs. 14 in his last 650. Over the last 2 seasons, he's averages 25 HRs/162. 115 Ks and 80 BBS per 162. .348 OBP .420 SLG (not great) .768 OPS for the 26 year old.

They might on Sale.

I think they'd both be better served playing FT in AAA, until needed FT in MLB, or until they deserve to unseat a FT'er on the MLB roster. I am for trading Duran plus either JH or Campbell...maybe in seperate deals.

Hicks, Sandlin and Cespedes/Mullins

I think we just need 2 big bats, and we CAN do it under the tax line, while trading for a #2 SP. ON 1B, Casas is a hug Q Mark. Romy and Campbell are both RHBs and doubtful batters.

Add Hicks.

Yes, I meant to put "1B" next to the Suarez-Paredes pairing.

The recency has to be weighed with age, too.

Agreed, but if we get Paredes (3B/1B) and Suarez (3B) or Polanco (3B) that might be enough. Paredes (1B) and Bichette (2B) or Bregman (3B) ???

I'd give all 3.

I guess BTV says Garcia or Clarke. I'd be okay with this, but I'd still want Ryan or Lodolo. Maybe Keller and Sale would be okay.

I could see this being the case, so that would take Romy out of the DH platoon mix. The next question would be: would Brez & Co. okay the use of a prospect like Garcia or Campbell in a near strict, short-sided platoon situation in the OF w Abreu and/or Duran or at DH with Masa? I'm saying probably not, so then yes, bring Ref back for 1 year.

It should be between Bregman and Alonso, if we can't get both. (Schwarber is fine with me) I'm not a fan of Bichette, because he's not the power bat we need. Bichette with Suarez at 1B might be enough.

But why leave 1B to Casas/Romy/Campbell?

If we go over the tax line, we might as well go $19M over, or close to that. Having $55-60M instead of $35-40M would mean a major extra addition. 2 x $25-35M players or $30M (Alonso, Bregman, Bichette, Schwarber) + 15M (Suarez, Polanco)+ 10-15M (M Kelly?)

Except the 2B and 3B gets that squeezes Mayer and neglects 1B.

I do care about defense. I'd like to get Bregman (3B) or Bichette (2B) but I think a big bat is most important. I'm willing to settle on poor defense at 1B to get it. (Alonso, Schwarber or Casas at 1B and Schwarber at DH.) I think Suarez would be better on D at 1B than Alosno, Schwarber or Casas. Polanco is not great at 2B, but his bat looks like a big plus.