moonslav59

Maybe. Maybe it's Brez who values him "too highly" or just right.

Yes. I am aware or this, as well as almost identical fWARs over Duran's best chosen sample size. (Tucker 13.6>13.2)

Gms would not be fooled. Duran would not likely play that well on defense in CF, if given a chance. Tucker is a better defender. Tucker has a way better OBP, SLG and OPS+. It's not even close. And, that's cherry-picking the sample size to match with Duran's best sample.

They both are pretty close in age, but Tucker has produced for twice as many years as Duran, so he seems like more of a sure bet. The three year sample size matches up perfectly with Duran's best sample size to chose, but even using that, here are some other numbers: Lowest OPS in a season: .841 Tucker and Duran .774 3 yr OBP: .380 Tucker/.339 Duran 3 yr SLG: .511 Tucker/.471 Duran 3 yr OPS+: 150 Tucker/123 Duran These numbers show a more stark differential.

Tuckers is better on D and plays a tougher OF position. I do agree, the numbers look pretty close.

The arb numbers may not look at WAR. Club option years would be fine.

Even Uberstine looked good, to me.

Duran would have hit the 370 mark in '24 330 TBs+ 6 HBP+ 34 SBs. Some notable Sox highs... 412 Ellsbury '11 387 Betts '16 375 Devers '19 371 Betts '18 368 JD Martinez '18 365 Ortiz '05 356 Manny '04 352 AGon '11 349 Pedroia '08 347 Bogey '19 321 Youkilis '08 Others... 393 Story w COL in '18 247 Contreras w STL in '25

Duran would easily be our #1 DH. With KC's glove, maybe KC DH's as Duran plays the OF. Maybe they platoon, but I can't see them stunting KC's development by having him on the bench for 70% of the games.

He's not so "young." He's not old, either. He turns 30 in September and will be 32 when his years of control run out. 32 seems like the age to move on, but I'd be okay with extending him one year beyond the current control years and buying out his 2 remaining arb years. Maybe he gets $11-13M in '27 and $14-17M in '28, assuming he keeps doing well, so what would an extension look like? $28M for the 2 arb years and $20M for the extra year? So... $48M/3?

I'm not disagreeing with your point, but I think most batters who had a decent season or better can be seen to have the same one hot streak. He id have a 39 game stretch of .966. He was .717 in his first 79 games and ended the season with a .721 OPS over 39 games. While .717 and .721 are not horrible, that was about 75% of his season. In 2024, he was at .714 after 34 games, then went .935 over a nice 100 game stretch up to the end of AUG. He hit .593 in SEP in 26 games.

IKF, if Mayer is struggling. They did give the job to KC, last winter, though.

There is a lot to like about him: I agree. His defense has been all over the map, and I'm not sure it's about a lack of focus. He did have the issue with the non PC comment towards that fan, and the whole issue with the Covid vaccine and not joining the team in Toronto, but that's not enough to get me to dislike him or think he's a drag on the team. The kid can hit and run.

I agree. If he doesn't win a strong side platoon role, they won't stash him on the MLB bench. He'll play everyday in AAA. I do think he'll win that slot.

It wasn't that long ago when Duran was constantly changing his batting stance and or approach. His defense was a work in progress. Then, it seemed like almost overnight, he turned things around in 2023, before getting hurt, and then had that great 2024 season, where he even fielded very well in CF. 2025 saw a drop off, and I can't help but wonder, if we are back to the inconsistent mode. I think he'll have fine 2026 season, but I do have serious concerns. I have no confidence in his defense.

Duran will be the near FT DH. He may end up being platooned, but I think Cora lets him play FT, at least until Romy returns. By then, we may have a better idea who needs the platoon: Mayer or Duran. (Possibly Abreu.) With Duran DH'ing, there is no need for Masa on the 26, but he has to agree to go to AAA.

I thought he'd be gone by now.

I think Monasterio has the lead for that final slot.

I think all 4 can and should be in the top 4-6, once those in front graduate or take a step back. I'd add Godbout & Gonzales to the list with Soto and Bennett as possibilities, too.

Imagine if we traded Abreu for Paredes & King. Traded Mayer & Tolle for KMarte. L Anthony RF S KMarte 2B L Duran LF R Contreras 1B R Paredes 3B L Masa DH/ R Romy DH R Story SS R Narvaez C R Rafaela CF

They should have traded Abreu and not pushed so hard on unloading Duran! 😉

Who gets more PAs in 2025? Casas or Masa? Abreu or Duran? Romy or Monasterio? _____________________ Who gets more IP? Gray or Suarez? Bello or Gray/Suarez? Oviedo or Crawford? Crawford or Sandoval? Slaten or Weissert? Watson or Moran?

I've talked about the critical view one could take at the Yankee roster, based mostly on age and injury situations, and now a look at some Blue Jays issues: TOR won 94 games, last year, after winning 74 in 2024. Their Pythagorean W-L was 88-74, so to start with, maybe 2025 was a bit lucky and hard to repeat. Springer had an amazing year at age 35. I'm doubtful he can repeat that at 36. They have a few other bats in the 30-31 age group, but nothing too serious. TOR had 6 batters with 500+ PAs, 2 more over 350 and 5 between 175 and 300. They did not need much extended depth. Their top 7 batters by PAs all hit over .710, and they had 5 batters over .750. Gimenez .598, Straw .680 and Santander .565 were their worst 3 batters out of their top 12 PA players. They lost their #2 PA guy, Bichette (.840) and basically replaced him with Okamoto, who looks promising, but is hardly a known producer in MLB. The pitching side has some serious age-related concerns. Yes, they lost 80 year old Bassitt, but his numbers will not be easy to replace. Their ace, Gausman & Tyler Rogers are 35. Hoffman is 33. Berrios & Ponce turn 32 in April/May. Bieber, Cease & Lauer are 30. These are their best pitchers. Bieber starts the season on the IL, and Sox fans should know how that usually works out. Cease is heir big hope, but he is a far cry from the great pitcher he was back in 2022. People claim 2025 was a down or bad luck season, but he has a higher ERA in 2023. His 2023-2024 combined numbers: 21-20 4.00 (106 ERA+) and 3.40 FIP. That's pretty good, but not ace material. People said Gray was not a number 2, and his numbers from 2023-2025 are better. 2023-2025: Cease: 29-32 4.18 (102 ERA+) 3.45 FIP S Gray: 35-25 3.63 (116) 3.11 Suarez: 28-22 3.58 (120) 3.46 I'm not trying to argue Gausman and Cease are not any good, but both are bigger question marks than Crochet & Suarez, and I'll take Gray & Bello over Berrios and Ponce, too. The Jays have a good chance at having a good or very good season, but I think they look worse than 2025.

Saw a podcast where a couple guys were talking about how Duran went from an all around great season in 2024- offense, defense, power & speed to being a possible platoon DH in 2026. The only thing slowing that down is the Romy injury.

Oviedo starts today. Let's see what the big guy can do...