caulfield12

It pretty much spells the death of the rebuild. Of course, it could just as easily be Moncada’s season heading south again with the back, right? In that case, trying to think of any players that WOULDN’T be traded or would likely be the core of the team moving forward. Robert and Cease are the most valuable assets on the roster. Perhaps the only two really premium assets remaining. Surely, Lynn, Giolito, Reynaldo (really team friendly extension possible, but premature…limited time to decide), Clevinger, Graveman, Bummer, Kelly would all be gone…Benintendi’s presence really makes zero sense in a rebuilding situation but 50/50 Hahn would have to keep him after he just signed for five long years. Moncada salary dumped upon the highest bidder. Same with Grandal, Alberto, Andrus. What to do with Kopech if you’re not going to extend him? He won’t be around in time for the next rebuild to gel. What value does Jimenez realistically have if he can’t stay healthy even as a full time DH? Two more big decisions with these two. TA7 (depends on the seriousness of his injury and readiness of Colson), Kopech, Crochet, Hendriks (unless trade value returns in 2023), Colas, Vaughn are players you would expect to still be around for various reasons, Zavala/Perez, Romy, Sosa, etc. Colson Montgomery could be a big league starter by late this year but likelier to be May, 2023, already missing April with the oblique). Burger pretty much would have to take over third for Moncada, and Sheets would stick for DH/1B/PH (need offense from SOMEWHERE) despite both players being increasingly out of place in a speed/defense-oriented game. Seems a decision on Dylan Cease (trade/extend) is really going to be the next domino to fall if things start to go south and attendance craters. And it’s not like they can offer him the same deal Byron Buxton accepted…it would be for at least $125-140 million. For a extreme velocity/stuff pitcher with TJ in his past. Bleak bleak bleak…but hopefully Hahn isn’t allowed to make a single one of these critical decisions moving forward.

https://www.mlb.com/news/tim-anderson-injures-knee-on-close-play-at-third

"Waves and waves of talent..." I know, I know...he's the hottest hitter pretty much in the entire minor leagues that we'll proceed to sit for 2-3 games to "soak it all in (again)" while his current hot streak and good feelings go POOF.

I guess pretty much anything's better than the oblique again, all things considered...

So we have a veteran 2B (see Hernandez/Harrison) who will soon need to be replaced...a SS that needs to be replaced (Anderson) for someone (Andrus) who no longer has the range he once did, so we can actually play a 2B (Sosa) who should have gotten a lot of run last year in preparation for this moment but was screwed over by LaRussa's veteran preferences. I guess Popeye Rodriguez is next up? Seems they're not going to trust Erick Hernandez...as they view the Sosa/Andrus combo the best short-term solution. Should have just kept Mendick, lol...or followed through with the Burger to 2B fantasy.

At least his OPS for this season is going to be artificially higher for a "salary dump" trade next year...that said, he was already in the process of cooling down, 1 for his last 14 or whatever it was. (Luckily have Jordan Walker as back-up preemptively anticipating this eventuality.)

His time around the Braves/ingrained Dayton Moore "homespun" honesty thing...

At least nobody claimed Stiever. Not sure that's much of a compliment or not...since he was once perceived to be one of the arms in waiting to get the next starting opportunity in the big league rotation.

Is there really such a thing? Or just in one's self-inflated imagination?

He actually saved the game by going out...as Andrus undoubtedly wouldn't have made the same play that Romy and Burger teamed up on to preserve the lead at 4-3.

Robert vs. Buxton will define both franchise windows...and the Twins' superior farm system depth.

Attention: all fantasy owners now are getting the clear buy sign from Ron on Abreu. Only happens 3-4 times per year...so take advantage of this unprecedented buy low opportunity.

And plus plus outfield arm.

Lol. Fathom can't give up entirely on the Cubs when there's no Sox game to watch. First homer of the season, now at .300 BA. Starting to get interesting with this thread. Also, glad I didn't start an Oneil Cruz one last year. I already have enough of his rookie cards, autographs, etc. Dream deferred on that one. Granted, Fulmer is not the ideal candidate to be closing out games for the Cubs. Wong finally starting to get some hits now. .138 BA.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance Have to feel sorry for the Rays...10-0 and that level of home crowd support, even if it is very vocal. Detroit (unless the current rebuild completely flops), Minnesota, Cleveland (as long as they keep winning), KC...are all in (relatively) decent shape financially. The teams you have to be most worried about are the A's (obviously planning to leave for Vegas), Cincy (with that ownership, although it's really a baseball town through thick and thin, like Colorado), Rays and Miami Marlins.

They're going to end up using another 10+ rookies this season. They have the AA/AAA depth, although I'm sure they don't really relish the idea of losing years of control on all their top pitching prospects. The biggest issues right now are what to do with Rosario (pending FA) and whether or not to extend a somewhat diminished Shane Bieber (compared to his previous Cy Young form of years past.)

That said...other than their bottom out year, with that pitching staff and Correa Buxton they certainly are expected to be competitive this year. They have weathered a long string of prospect injuries like Lewis and Kiriloff but the bulk of their young pitching talent has yet to arrive.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=colas-000osc Basically a bit less than one full season statistically...plus he was also pitching as well at 95ish.

He's definitely not going to get $175-225 milion from JR in his thirties.

Completely forgot about Polanco. Near MVP level half of 2021. Then another reason that lineup looks different is no Sano and Gary Sanchez...Vasquez completely eliminates the opposition running game.

And helped Geoff Blum with his "WS hero" broadcasting career in the process...

All that is a big improvement on Gurriel, who was really great in 2021 and ran into Father Time last year.

Not sure we were signing Trea Turner or Bogaerts lol...reality is there weren't many 2B signings in that middle tier around $10-14 million. Either stars or veterans with limited upsides who signed relatively late.

Maybe he can coach Lucas lol...both have/had more over the top mechanics.

Extension! News that Hendricks is cancer free recently and Crochet progressing...if only had any faith in being able to add to roster in June/July.