poppysox

I'm afraid you might be right. The money has gotten stupid for pitching.

I like your Moncada + Madrigal + Grandal > Manny + Moncada + Castro...I agree.

Probably got the money he was after with a team he wanted to play for....no reason to drag it out. Not every player needs to squeeze the last possible dime.

The money has gotten out of hand for pitching. Sale, Price, and Bum are all OK if money is in line with current level of ability. We might be left praying Kopech, Dunning, Rodon and Cease develop and return in better shape than we have any right to expect. Two Nova caliber guys on one or year contracts might be the prudent move. Turn attention to the best right fielder and best bullpen guys. Bottom line 100 million for Bum is just plain scary. Ryu at 45-50 would probably merit heavy consideration at this point as well.

The DH will primarily be McCann or Grandal...whichever isn't catching that day with Collins getting well situated opportunities, Eloy, Robert and a platoon of Paderson/Engle is an above average defensive outfield. There is absolutely no reason to think Anderson and McCann regress defensively...actually every hope for improvement from Timmy. Jose will continue to be his steady self IMO and Kopech and Cease could both be on their way to be TOR pitchers. Giolito is expected to improve with a better lineup behind him and that goes for every pitcher we have. Lopez might be the biggest and best find of the year...he surely showed flashes. I think my 91+ is pretty safe and for sure would be disappointed with 83-85.

There are different ways to improve the team. Signing the big names is great...who didn't like the Grandal signing. But with 26 players on the ML roster there are lots of places to improve with "good" players. RF is an example where we could really make up some ground. The signing of Grandal indirectly fills the DH role with the catchers rotating through. We are for sure upgrading 4 of 9 players in the batting order and have a TOR arm in Kopech coming back for probably 2/3 of the year. You mention Rodon and Dunning as well will show up one of these days. Robert, Madrigal, Kopech, Grandal, new RF, better DH, 2 "good" starters and 2 "good" releivers. How can we not win 90+ games?

There are always guys who think they know more than other guys...I get it. Some guys can quote batting averages for the last 25 years, etc. I don't find that interesting or informative but it's their thing. I've been a hard core fan of the WS for 64 years and think I know a fair bit about them. I also played some college ball so have a general idea of which base to throw to etc.. I think WAR has a place in the front office analyzing trades and dollars, etc. but only baseball nerds care much. Batting ave,, homers, RBI's, ERA, W&L's still the yardsticks used by most fans including myself. I can look up some guys WAR just like you... but not interested. I think of the forum as a bunch of guys sitting around talking about their favorite team. Some like to b**** about the team and others think the new rookie will be the next Trout. It's all good by me. Lastly...why would you care how many post I make. You like statistics so do the math...works out to about 12 post per day. Is that insane...I don't know? You have posted slightly more than double my # of post and have slightly more than double my likes. Seems just as many people like my post as like yours.? Believe it or not there are some posters and subjects I don't enjoy or agree with. I just skip right by their post. You should try it.

Yeah...need to work on that in depth analysis you are so famous for.

Many times these disappointments become blessings in disguise. Lets see what happens over the next week or two.

Thank you.......yes I know that you didn't mean it as a compliment. You know that you come off as a Gloomy Gus. It doesn't hurt a forum to have some of both.

Everyone is disappointed but the guy is entitled to take less money to play elsewhere. Surely there are a couple more players around who could improve the club. The Winter Meetings start next week. Lets get the bullpen improved and a RF situation fixed. Rick and Kenny are at least as frustrated as we are. They'll get er done.

The 80 win as constructed is conservative IMO. The five people you mention add a lot of firepower to this team.

I think there is a lot of good from an experienced left hander that still pitched 207 innings. Other sites are referring to 4 years at 80 mil. Sounds like a lot but maybe that's the cost of playing this FA game.

Yep...MadBum is OK but the money is nuts. 15 million per yr would be tolerable but apparently not doable.

Yeah...a 10 year pitchers contract is going to happen.?

I hope none of us would entertain that as a good move.

I would be doing Engel with some Leury sprinkled in. Defense is better and he keeps his head in the game. Actually starting to hit a little as well.

A huge contributor many years ago.

Doesn't sound unreasonable when you consider the whole 5 year home/work experience.

Your place of preferred residence does matter if money between two places of employment are equal. I would choose Chicago or Midwest over East Coast if all else was equal.

I'm leaning toward Ryu as well. More potential upside at a lower $ commitment.

True but irrational.

Bum has a 3.90 ERA with 207+ innings and 1.9 BB/9. Not Sandy Koufax but not doo-doo. Ryu is OK as well for the right price. Both are good additions if the $ and years are reasonable. Doesn't seem like our FO is trying to be cheap...just prudent.

14-12 games are fun to watch but very hard on the nerves.

Don't forget the bullpen. With our offence we will be scoring a lot. Pitching whether from starters or bullpen needs to keep us in the game. We won't be out of very many games.