SoCalChiSox

Re: grades on Cowser.... There's like 4-5 good tools there and a LHH. If he gets to that 55 power even as a avg CF that would be great, or above avg RF it's more than fine. That's why Getz is enamored with him. If he is going to come off Cowser and go to Hjerstad he's going to want Corby++ also.

I think the whole thing turns on his ability as a defender at 2B. You've suggested they think he is capable at 2B. If true, it's almost like they are getting a RH version of Michael Busch but with a better glove...very good bat except can actually play the position too unlike Busch. Do you think Getz will be willing to come off Cowser and accept Hjerstad in his place? Or are they concerned about the latter's swing and possibility he may end up at 1B? I also feel with the Cowser thing they have a Robert trade in the back of their mind maybe in like a year or so and want an in house replacement.

Who do they want from LAD?

Getz is trying to pressure BAL and others to reach an agreement and prolly in exchange, Morosi will get to announce the trade.

That would be a very strong package if Pages returns to preinjury form. If the Dodgers are pushing all their chips in like this, it's time for Elias to put up or shut up.

As other pitchers come off the board, the pressure on BAL will increase.

Interesting. I had a strong feeling Getz wanted Cowser because he also adds athleticism and defense to go along with his LH bat (and if Robert is traded later he could slide into CF) so he checks alot of boxes. Perhaps given Jimmy's report, Chicago has come off Cowser and agreed to accept Hjerstad instead, but maybe Getz will want to make up for that on the backend with higher quality 3rd and 4th pieces. Interesting that they don't want Ortiz even though consensus in the scouting community appears to be Montgomery will have to slide to 3B. Norby would be a good 2B. Thanks for the info.....much appreciated.

Hjerstad, Ortiz and DL Hall is 47m in SV whereas Cease is 40m in SV, so it wouldn't be an unreasonable ask in this market. That's fairly similar.

I'm surprised the lower end of the market is moving. Usually don't they wait until the higher end guys sign so there is a more favorable supply/demand situation. I think Giolito will command more than 15m if that's the case and so will Flaherty. I think the idea that we could get both on 1 yr deals for like 25m combined is unlikely in this market.

Damn.....back to back tweets on BAL! I highly doubt they would send all three of those guys our way but that would perhaps be the "massive haul" Rosenthal, NBB were talking about.

@Chicago White Sox will like this....Hjerstad is the left handed savage he wanted from BAL. I feel Jimmy wouldn't throw that out there unless he heard something was going on. They still need to add Ortiz to the equation and maybe Hall (now that he rebounded later in the season) or Povich, but I have my doubts Elias will go for the third piece and he may not even go for Ortiz as the 2nd piece, but BAL is the best match by far. We need positional talent.

Sure starting to sound like 2 Top 100 prospects is floor not the ceiling.

That would be good

I read his latest post as suggesting the close one was Cease although I could have misinterpreted it. The only other move is Jimenez and there's no reason for anyone to rush to trade for him.

These NBB reports seem at odds with Pal's report that something is close. If they are "waiting for a monster haul" then theoretically nothing should be "close" and if there is a monster haul on the table and something is in fact close, what are they waiting for? I also don't know what people would think a monster haul is. I dont think 2 Top 100 prospects is a monster haul. I think 3 Top 100s is a monster haul or 2 Top 100s plus 2 10-20 org prospects in a deep system would also be a monster haul.

Vargas doesnt excite me. I'd rather have Vivas as the third piece.

I was reading DL Hall bounced back and may now be possibly a rotation option again. If so, Hjerstad, Ortiz and Hall would be great. We just gotta get BAL to move somehow.

The Gonzalez comment is great! Unfortunately his bat seems light years away from the majors. He was pegged as 55 hit/55 power which would be great as a LHH at either SS or 2B but so far it's kind of like Zack Collins where we were sold 55 hit but it turned out to be 20 hit so he couldn't get to any of his big time power. If you are sold on his D, then even 50/50 would be fine, but if it's gonna take forever or if the hit is 40 or less, they are kind of forced to get Ortiz.

Bannister will make or break Kopech, Nastrini and Eder. That dude is critical.

OK. I think Law also said he struggled at SS in AFL too. A real good LHH 3B who can hit for avg, power and very high OBP is still very valuable. But with a likely hole at SS they need to get Elias at BAL to stop acting like a little prospect hugging b**** then. Maybe after a few more pitchers go off the board BAL will get serious.

That would be an awesome lineup. If they could then somehow cobble together some alternative value to send to LAD (since Cease went to BAL) for Busch and plug him in at the 1B hole it would be perfect. There just isn't the value anywhere else imo that's movable but like you said they can definitely afford to buy a 1B.

IMO...depends on if we trade with LAD and if Busch is one of the pieces that come back. If so, Busch/Vaughn will be 1B/DH and switch off and Sheets is out of a job entirely.

Doesn't Ramos have a good arm? If so, could he be a corner outfielder (RF) if/when CM is moved to 3rd?

Yeah....no way, more likely 1 of the top 4 of those guys and 1 of the bottom 4 along with Busch.

Jimmy....what about Gonzalez? I know his bat has been underwhelming but what about his defense at shortstop to date? If they trade with BAL, they can solve this issue real easily with Ortiz.