moonslav59

This was one guy I liked.

Making Buch the closer would be rolling the dice 2 times.

True, but getting on on a pro-rated contract should net us a better one, in theory.

I'm not sure Chavis is or can be better than Devers at 3B, and that's not saying much. I think these are the two most probable outcomes, assuming we don't add any corner IF'ers before now and 2020, and we don't bring Moreland or Pearce back. 1. 1B- Chavis 3B- Devers 2. 3B-Dalbec 1B- Devers If JD Martinez bolts... 3B- Dalbec 1B- Devers DH- Chavis

We have something like $5.5M to spend. Even $1M could keep us from getting the RP'er we need this summer.

Buchholz to sign for $3M with the Jays with $3M in incentives. So much for the idea some had that he'd get a minor league deal and we should have tried to sign him.

1) With better health from Sale, ERod and a full season from Eovaldi, our rotation should pitch more innings than last year. 2) While small sample sizes are not great indicators of future performance, it does not mean they are worthless or can't hint at what is possible. 3) Hembree's ERA and BB/9 spiked last year. Maybe he goes back to who he was before or even gets better. 4) You never mentioned Barnes, who has seen his numbers improve for 3 straight years. 5) Thornburg was pretty damn good before the injury. Players have come back from injuries. I think, if you look at each of our RP'ers in isolation, maybe it looks pretty bad. I get that, but many have significant chances of doing well or decent enough to not drag down the team. We may only need 4-5 pitchers from the long list to do well enough to carry us to the deadline. I remember, last March, myself and others saying our pen was our weakest area, and yet they carried us, at times, and ended up around top 10 or 12 in MLB, when all was said aqnd done. It's not blind homerism to see a full year from Eovaldi, Pearce, Brasier and maybe Pedey could easily make up for losing Kimbrel.

If you average the 3, they have CLE ahead of BOS. I know they play in a much easier division, but still...

Well, the first idea was $300+M/10, so the extra $30M for 3 years from ages 38-40 is not really horrible.

Harper to Phillies for $330M/13. No opt out. Full no trade rights. No deferrals. Front loaded..

I'm unwilling to develop our talent? I was against the Kimbrel & Pom trades. Sorry, if I'm not gushing over a PED user. I've never said Chavis will never amount to anything, although I have suggested trading him often. I'm a big Mata fan. I like Dalebec and Danny Diaz. I like Feltman, Hernandez & others, but I'm not going to kid myself into believing our farm is good (not that you are). I'm okay with keeping Chavis & Dalbec in hopes that one or both can fill our 1B position next year at a very low cost. If JD bolts, maybe both can win a role. It doesn't look like DD is going to trade one for a RP'er right now, and I'm fine with the plan.

I guess his stock is now at an all time high after just 4 spring training games!

That would be sweet.

I happen to value Leon's defense and pitcher handling. I never said it is obvious other believe what I do. I would not be shocked, if we trade or DFA Leon not Swihart. If Chavis can't play 3B well enough to stick, I seriously doubt he can ever win the 2B job, unless this ST'ing homer fest is for real.

They are in such an easy division, I'm thinking maybe Houston. Div lead at season's end 2018: 13 CLE 8 BOS 6 HOU

Me, too.

Good to see a lot of actual starters getting some playing time today.

Think of all the love Jacko bestowed on Kelly last year...

Yes.

Well, if they keep Swihart and trade/cut Leon, one could say the Leon decision is the most interesting choice to make.

They used to put it in their clubhouse drinking fountains.

Of course.

Just goes to show you badly WAR (and hence projected WAR) captures catcher intangibles.

Yes, the 5-7th best RP'ers in a pen are still often called into close games. We have a depth of mediocre to promising RP'ers. That may be the only thing that saves us.

Here's how many PAs our pen guys got last year in "Late & Close" situations: 178 Kimbrel 162 Barnes (almost as much as CK and more than Kelly 149 Kelly 100 Hembree 44 Brasier (did not join team until July 9th) 39 Workman 29 CSmith 23 Cuevas 21 Poyner 12 Thornburg High Leverage PAs (Starters & RP'ers) 136 Kimbrel 130 Porcello 112 Price 102 Kelly 99 Barnes 78 Sale 76 ERod 76 Hembree 52 Johnson 48 Velazquez 47 Wright 47 Pomeranz 42 Eovaldi 26 Brasier 26 Workman 21 Smith 21 Cuevas 13 Poyner 9 Beeks, 7 Thornburg, 4 Beeks, 2 Walden