moonslav59

I would too, but $22M says HRam will play 1B or DH for us next year. There is talk we contacted Duda, so maybe my suggestion will come true. (More or less platoon HRam to keep him from getting 497 PAs and vesting his option.)

Is there any value in keeping Holt just to see if he can build up trade value? If he has a strong spring training, and some team has a serious injury, he may become more wanted than now.

To me, these guys probably aren't "good enough" to make the 25 man roster, but they are out of options. Marrero Swihart Brentz Hembree The questions are: 1) Are they good enough to make some other team's 25 man roster? (If yes, then a trade is possible to those teams.) 2) Do we makes sure they are placed on the 25 man roster to keep system depth by keeping similar or better players in AAA until needed? Assuming all players out of options make the 25 man roster, this is what it would look like (before any acquisitions): I'll leave Pedey & ERod off the roster and concentrate on the opening day 25 man roster... C- Vaz 1B- HRam 2B- Hernandez (Pedey after DL?) 3B- Devers SS- Bogaerts LF- Beni CF- JBJ RF- Betts Bench- Leon, Holt, Marrero, Brentz SP- Sale, Price, Pom. Porcello, Wright (Erod after DL) RP- Kimbrel, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Maddox, Scott, Hembree Players in AAA because of Marrero, Swihart, Brentz and Hembree: Lin is probably better than Holt and Marrero. When Pedey returns, Holt or Hernandez may be forced down, so we can keep Marrero. Travis might be a better option than Swihart or Marrero/Holt. Workman is better than Hembree, IMO. Taylor or Johnson might be better chocies as well. When Thorburg returns, Scott or Maddox might be forced to AAA to keep Hembree on the roster. None of these choice are earth-shattering. If we have to trade or DFA Holt, Marrero, Swihart, Brentz or Hembree, nobody will lose any sleep, but what else is there to talk about at this point in the off season?

True, but as they sign free agents, the need for Holt should only lessen.

Well, when a player's 850 innings at a position are spread out over 6 years (2012), then they are "older" than someone who has 850 innings over the last 2 years. One could argue that Holt's defense has not gotten worse at age 29. One could even argue he should be better now. I will say, I have never viewed Holt as a plus fielder at any position. He should never play 3B or SS, unless it's an emergency. I'd avoid CF and 1B as well. He's okay at 2B, LF and RF. Just my opinion.

I realize $25M+ for a DH and 4th OF'er seems absurd, but we have a clear spot for him at DH. HRam is supposed to be able to play 1B next year. I doubt it would hurt to get JD to play some 1B- maybe just in NL parks.

JD Martinez can DH, and HRam can play 1B. JD can play the OF when OF'ers need a rest or are injured. He would play the OF in NL parks. You don't really get into the pluses and minuses to Hosmer and Santana, which is what I expected with the title. Also, I remember all the numbers posted about AGon before we acquired him. I remember projecting 50+ HRs, since he did so well "going to LF". I'd love to see us get JD, and the age comp with EE is an important point. I think Santana makes the most sense as we need a 1Bman and could use as much spending space as possible going forwards. I'm dead set on Hosmer.

I do think 2B is Holt's best IF position. I've never liked Holt's OF defense despite those short and scattered numbers that shows he's okay. To me, Holt has been a "Jack of no trades". The only thing keeping him on the roster is that his OPS is close to .700 vs LHPs and RHPs, which is decent for a sub, and the fact that he can play so many positions at a level that is not really embarrassing. The numbers Pos inn UZR/150 (DRS) 3B 875 -11.6 (-12) 2B 869 +1.8 (+3) LF 680 -9.5 (+6) RF 464 +15.2 (+12) SS 212 +12.0 (-3) 1B 129 -8.0 (-2) CF 75.2 -33.2 (0)

I like the idea of having Swihart on the bench as our 3rd catcher and corner IF'er. I'm not sure about 2B, but we'll find out quick enough, if that's doable. Having a 3rd catcher allows us to PH for Vaz or Leon or both more easily. Vaz vs RHPs: .657 vs LHPs: .702 Leon vs RHPs: .638 vs LHPs: .744 Swihart vs RHPs: .725 vs LHPs: .673 (Note: Swihart doesn't have to be the player who PH's for Vaz or Leon. A better hitter could PH, and then Swihart catches.

I think if we were going to trade Holt, he'd already be gone, so we could protect one more Rule 5 player. I guess he could be traded after our first FA signing.

I prefer Marrero over Holt, too, but Holt can act as the 5th OF'er. (I guess Lin could, too.) I doubt we could get Marisnik for Leon, but I'd do it. I'd also trade Leon & Holt (or Brentz) for him.

Gordon is not a salary dump. I'm wondering what the offer would be without him. Also, is any money going to SF in this scenario?

Uehara was amazing with us. He should have cured any ails all by himself.

I know Swihart is pretty athletic, but I do not see him as being capable enough to play 2B. It's not really a doctor's call on 2B. I'm glad his ankle is feeling better. I hope there are no relapses. I'd like to see him get a real chance to show what he's got. It's not like trading Holt is going to upset me. It's not like keeping Lin at AAA is either. Marrero is out of options, but I'm not going worry about his future with the Sox. Marco should make the 25 man roster. It sounds like Brentz gets the 4th OF slot. The rest of the bench is wide open.

Stanton will be traded to the team who offers the most. I seriously doubt that if Jeter thinks the best offer is not good enough, he will keep Stanton. He'll take the best he can get. I don't think it will be as much as some think it will be, but I've been wrong before.

They want Stanton: they just can't afford him. They want to dump $30M a year in salary, and if they have to pay some of Stanton's deal to get a better return, they'll have to trade Gordon and/or Prado (dump). Finding a trading partner willing to take the whole contract is one choice they are looking at. They will weigh that choice vs the offers made where the Marlins pay part of Stanton's deal. I realize other teams can make better prospect offers than us, but they will want money. We don't have to ask for money. I hope we don't have to trade JBJ or Bogey for prospects to flip to Miami. I'm not sure I'd want to open new holes. I think we can offer a nice prospect package that might be good enough, assuming we take Stanton's full salary. If we agreed to take Prado, too, I feel we could get Stanton for much cheaper than many think he will cost.

It's not like a .713 OPS is horrible for a player's first 390 MLB PAs. Baseball Reference projects a .746 OPS in 2018. His last two full seasons in the minors, before his injury in 2016 and ML stint in 2015 saw some very promising offensive numbers: 2013: .794 OPS in A+ (422 PAs) 2014: .810 OPS in AA & AAA (451 PAs) Yes, his 2016-2017 numbers on the farm are far from encouraging, but he was coming off an injury and played sparingly (122 PAs in 2016 and 250 in 2017).

Not every player follows the path of recent numbers and steamer projections. I gave up on Travis Shaw based on similar numbers on the farm and some bad stretches in short stints in the bigs. I'm not very confident in Swihart's chances at making it big, but I do still see some promise. He's not going to be given a key role next year, so if he fails, it won't be a big deal, and he can be replaced. I'm hoping he does well, and I won't be surprised if he does.

I'm kind of surprised Buttrey was added. Beeks and Shepherd were predictable.

I think we could offer Chavis, Houck, Beeks and Scherff with no JBJ and no money changing hands. Maybe we have to give Groome instead of Beeks or Scherff.

My guess is they'd make the trade without Wright and no money exchanging hands. They'd flip JBJ for 2-3 more prospects and save $30M a year.

No Farrell is addition by subtraction. I'm hopeful Cora is the right guy.

Stanton already realizes going to LA, NY or Boston will quadruple his "exposure" over going to STL. He'll also have a better chance at a ring.

Yes. His elbow is magical.

Maybe they trade him to one of the 5 teams you mentioned vying for the services of the best 1Bmen. The amount of teams looking might stay the same.