caulfield12

So much for Starlin Castro's or Schoop's market...or Yolmer's, for that matter. Joins the Gennett/Dickerson potentially undervalued list...at least by fWAR considerations.

Playing time?

If that's the case, going by JR's newfound generosity with Abreu, Moncada will get $250 million and Robert $125 million.

The ghosts of Pearce and Markakis?

And/or nobody nationally cares that much about Burr to do anything but report it afterwards...especially since he's currently on the shelf.

Bleacher Report has Wheeler (eventually) signing with White Sox and Dodgers in on Cole, Strasburg and Rendon, but at “their” comfortable prices. Who knows, maybe not having one huge mega thread like last year w/ Machado will work out... Of course, there were also two separate occasions ESPN stories headlined Machado to the White Sox was believed to be imminent and everyone got excited (at least temporarily.) https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2863412-zack-wheeler-could-be-the-perfect-gerrit-cole-replacement-for-the-astros Argues for the Astros going after Wheeler despite being $30+ million into luxury tax land. BB Abbott, Andrew Lowenthal and others from Jet Sports are his agents, in case it wasn’t posted in this new thread.

Naylor belongs at 1B/DH. And that’s not even counting Franmil Reyes, Travis Jankowski, Akex Dickerson, etc. Margot is toast. Cordero is likely a victim of numbers game as well. Their version of Adolfo. Naylor is likely trade bait in the same value range as Collins. Trammell and Grisham are the two guys they now have to hope break out, along with a huge Myers rebound. Renfroe had a great first half and cooled down considerably the last two months. Plus they’re now waiting on Edwards and Abrams at 2B...so that’s a stopgap signing. Kinsler is also toast.

They had no choice. He was abysmal offensively. Couldn’t go into a must compete season relying on him again. Prospects bust at an alarming rate. Even Top 15-25 ones.

So they now have Strahm and Pomeranz from the LH side...Yates closing. Pomeranz can be an excellent swingman in that division. Grisham for starting CF, so they need a 2B still with Urias gone. Margot should be gone. Renfroe and Myers the other two outfielders, with 2B and some uncertainty remaining about Mejia/Hedges at catcher.

I think they hold onto him for at least 2020...he’s more expendable when Gore arrives, but they desperately need to up the ante for 2020 in terms of fighting for a WC spot at least. Lucchesi gives you innings and usually keeps his team in the game. Strong competitor. Very calm and poised demeanor.

What role does Sheets have going forward? With Abreu moving to DH in 2021 with Vaughn at first, he gone. This is a trade KW would typically make 98/100 times.

Lauer is basically Jim Parque with slighty better stuff...or a really poor man’s Q. Fox the Sox, he would be the perfect swingman and he’s LH. Obviously Milwaukee just needs affordable bodies for the rotation, and Davies was going to become increasingly expensive. Miley and Gio are similar possibilities.

Strasburg still seems likely to return to Washington. If someone gives Rendon 7 years, no way they match that.

Urias is a very strong defender but he struggled all season just to get to .200. Lauer is just mehhh. Padres trying to ump the ante in the rotation with Richards back from TJ with expiring deal next year...Lucchesi and especially Lauer expendable. Rotation looks like Paddack, Davies, Lucchesi, G.Richards, Lamet/Quantrill...with Gore pushing to be the second ace, and quickly. Grisham has as good an opportunity as anyone to break through as an impact player...Braun/Cain/Yelich and Huira ensconced there for MIL in 2020 and Urias needed a scenery change. Moustakas would be another possibility at 2B. Schoop or Gennett?

Successfully? Well, it’s unlikely to improve with Vizquel gone.

It wasn’t even half...but I guess ten’s of random Twitter screen shots of supposed “insiders” is also cause of unabated excitement. Of course, almost everyone now claims to be an insider of some sort. It’s just that only 5-10% are actually accurate, which in all likelihood is worse than even weather forecasters.

As 26th man, he better improve his “steal on demand” in late innings capability.

Reddick sucks...but at $8-9 million, who knows between him and Calhoun who’s the better value. Of course, in that case of a subsidy from Houston, we’re going to have to surrenders some second/third tier prospects like Burdi, Fulmer and Hansen.

As noted previously, Pederson at least gives you positional flexibility to stick him in CF preventing (hopefully) more Engel appearances.

Reddick is still under contract with Astros, $13 million...so money would be coming over with him from Houston, at least $3-4, touching $5 million. Dickerson, Nimmo and Scooter Gennett shout-outs.

Polanco/Reddick the other lower cost options to acquire due to contract...Benintendi, probably not AS cheap as previously imagined. Calhoun still the likeliest individual FA name.

Sweaty Freddy Garcia 2005 AL Central Division champs version? Still have mine, although the heat transfer press on is quickly losing its luster. Josh Donaldson is next predicted big-name signing, fwiw. Wheeler is the next listed. Zack Wheeler, RHP, age 29 There is a sentiment in the industry that he could sign as early as the Winter Meetings. He’s drawing broad interest, from the Phillies, White Sox, Twins, Padres and Angels, among others. MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal recently reported that the Reds are also pursuing Wheeler. Wheeler didn’t pitch in the Majors during the 2015 and ’16 seasons, while undergoing (and recovering from) Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He also missed time this year due to shoulder fatigue. Because of those factors, it’s unclear whether clubs will be comfortable offering a contract of five guaranteed years. That said, over the past two years he is 12th in MLB with a total of 377 2/3 innings pitched, which should put some of the concerns about his durability to rest. And his combined 8.9 WAR during that stretch (per FanGraphs) ranks ninth, ahead of former Mets teammate Noah Syndergaard (8.5) and even Strasburg (8.1). Wheeler will be less expensive to sign than Strasburg or Cole, so he appeals to teams -- like the White Sox, Angels and Padres -- that want to preserve resources to pursue offensive upgrades as well. https://www.mlb.com/news/next-mlb-free-agent-to-sign?partnerId=zh-20191127-156907-47943&query_id=1026&bt_ee=anG01a33VbOatev%2FEUXlgwRRFvds0mG%2BwzvgATKPsCGnqjeZp1AUTYdcQzWH%2B4oI&bt_ts=1574857937186 So it’s Phillies, Padres, Mets (low probability), Reds on NL side, Twins, Yankees, Astros, Angels, White Sox in AL. Up to nine total teams mentioned so far.

I do think a player with 2-3 years of arbitration control...either a pitcher or RF, or both...are realistic. Maybe just not some of the high-profile names we’re currently imagining, at least on the pitching side. Of course, if we miss out on Wheeler, all bets are off.

And trade half our system away in the process without having long-term control of either...?

Not in China. Working day like normal in a British/Cambridge/CIE international school. In fact, students are just getting their notifications about Oxford and Cambridge interviews and booking flights to Heathrow between next week and X-Mas.