poppysox

Neither is my vote as well. If you can trade Babe Ruth you can trade anyone...but short of something unexpected happening...neither would bring back enough bounty IMO.

I wonder how an agent can keep a straight face when asking for stuff like this. No thanks!

I still prefer using Vaughn/Sheets/Engel in RF with Vaughn & Sheets getting some time at DH and PH. Use what money we have at 2nd base, backup catcher, and pitching. We want to use the DH for Grandal's, Eloy's, and Abreu's off days from their regular duties. We have an overstock of DH types and need to use Vaughn and Sheets in a creative way.

If Vaughn/Sheets isn't good enough defensively...I sure don't know why Schwarber would be adequate. Schwarber has about as good a chance of making this team as I do.

I agree...2 for 12 seems about right IMO.

Garrette Stubbs is a good defensive catcher picked up today by the Phillies. Good framing and 40+% caught stealing. Get him included with any deal with Philadelphia.

I don't know about obvious...but an interesting name.

I think it's probable that RH hopes to sign Carlos in the range of three years at 12-14 million with incentives. He knows he couldn't convince Boras and CR of that kind of deal until they tested the water and found no takers at that 18 million range. It only takes one team to prove me wrong but last year he was practically free and could find no takers. The health concerns are still real and most teams still regard 20 million as real money.

Well...I hope RH gets us some good players. After all, his is the only opinion that really matters.

Another NL slugger...what could go wrong? As long as we can afford a top-tier 2nd baseman...a good backup catcher...a good RP or two and perhaps a Rodon type SP...go ahead and get cough, cough, Conforto for $100 million or so.

Good pick...another defensive specialist so sought after around here.

Unless money is not going to be a factor this year...we just may need to decide where our available funds are best spent. I think 2nd base wins that argument over RF since Vaughn and Sheets need to be played somewhere.

Yep!

Hayward is available.

You might be right but the offense will help you overlook the occasional fielding blunder. Since you value defense above all else perhaps you should set your sights a little higher than Conforto.

No...it won't be as good as I would like. However, I don't want a Hayward situation either. As I have stated elsewhere...we only have so many dollars to spend and I would prefer to spend in those areas of need at 2nd base, backup catcher, and in the pitching staff. We have two very good young guys in Vaugh and Sheets that I want to utilize until the 1st base/DH situation allows that we use them in their best positions. I believe RH said as much in his recent remarks.

This is the unspoken truth. We all want a defensive GG-type player with a great bat at every position. Neither the WS nor any other team can afford that. Now we need to field a team with FA and trade pieces attempting to fix RF, 2nd base, backup catcher, starting rotation, and RP. Utilizing some players we already have is necessary if we are to afford the pieces for which there are no internal solutions. I would prefer to see Vaughn/Sheets in my everyday lineup rather than Leury types.

Platoon in RF and DH when possible. Occasional 1st base is also a possibility along with PH situations. As we learned last year...opportunities seem to present themselves.

I was a big Avi fan. However, he just doesn't fit our current situation.

The best is ahead for Sheets IMO. We have a huge need for a lefty power bat. We need him more than I perceive his trade value to be.

Why?

I know the argument but Eloy, Grandal, Abreu, Vaugh, Collins, and Sheets can't all be the DH. Trades might be the way to go but selling low isn't the answer.

Play Vaughn/Sheets in RF. Use money on other needs. These young guys need to play somewhere. Abreu is still the 1st baseman and Grandal is still DH when not catching.

Hahn doesn't believe Rodon to be worth the risk at 18.4 million. I think Hahn is interested when/if the market doesn't materialize at these 20 mill numbers people are tossing around. Hahn will be interested if and when Boras wants to talk about incentive-based deals IMO. Carlos won't be the first Boras client to not get the asking price.

We shall see.