bear_brian

If the new pitching coach is anywhere near as good as reflected in Giolito's improvement, then we would seem to have the interesting fallback option of just keeping what we have and hope to find some more gold. With Cease, Dunning, Lopez, Kopech, Lambert, Stiever and even Crochet, it's not like there is no potential there. I would prefer at least a solid #3, but that will depend on either cost or what we would have to give up.

Brantley and Ozuna are poor defenders who belong in LF, not RF.

If we want a left-handed hitting RF who can play defense, then Pederson, JBJ and Grossman become the FA alternatives, at least as far as I know.

If this offseason winds up being Musgrove, Quintana, Pederson and a closer, would everyone be satisfied?

But the Sale deal was in actuality two top prospects (Moncada, Kopech), one somewhat middling prospect (Basabe) and a filler. What about Madrigal, Cease or Dunning, and Steiver?

Is there any realistic possibility for Blake Snell? Cost controlled TOR and left-handed. Snell, Springer and a closer would set us up nicely.

I like the way you think!

Trading Eloy for Burnes might get graded as one of baseball's worst trades. Burnes is not even rated in the top tier of big league pitchers.

What in the world would make anyone suggest we move Eloy Jiminez at all??? He is already one of the best young hitters in all of baseball, is under team control for an extended period and will only continue to get better. I would not move him for Woodruff, nor for really any starting pitcher one for one.

I do not think JR will put up the money for Bauer. What about Charlie Morton? He has been an excellent starter. The question with him is whether or not he is serious about retiring. If not he would be an outstanding #2 or #3 starter.

What if the plan is to have LaRussa manage the team for two years, while mentoring either Jirschele or Ewing, who would then take over in Year 3? Would that make more sense?

I have always believed that Reinsdorf's reluctance to extend long-term deals to pitchers is a result of the Lamar Hoyt situation. Hoyt was handsomely rewarded after the 1983 season, and immediately fell on his face (I believe he was found to be a drug user). I think Jerry at that point said "never again".

This sure sounds like typical Levine Cub-biased BS. Supposedly right before the Grandal signing was announced Renteria talked to McCann, who supposedly had nothing but good things to say about that deal. I am not at all against trading McCann if the return is good, but I do not buy what Levine is peddling.

It would seem like the number one bullpen need is a "long relief" type, or swingman. Maybe at the time Kopech comes up, Lopez can fill that role. This should be a guy who can do a sporadic spot start, give you three or four shutout innings after a starter departs early, and then can come back the next day for an inning. Do not know offhand what free agent could fill that role. McHugh? Possibly Hudson?

He is a better fit for the overall plan than Encarnacion. Can get multiple years of control, still young, plays OF (not great but passably), and would really hit well in GR. If you can get him at an AAV of $17-18M would be great. He can DH against RH, then play RF against lefties with McCann becoming DH. Am not sure what the down side is, since this guy is a good and productive hitter. It might also allow us to consider trading Vaughn for more pitching, or trading Castellanos if we see that Vaughn will meet his lofty expectations.