Rhys Hoskins for Chas McCormick and Alex Santos, who says no? Hoskins has 1 more year of control and will probably make ~$11M next year. He’s an excellent hitter but poor defender so is really just a good everyday player (posting in the 2-2.5 fwar range over a full season). There’s not a ton of on-paper surplus value there. Swapping Hoskins for McCormick would project to be a push in terms of wins this season and next, ignoring the salary. And McCormick adds wins with his 4 additional years of control, so on paper he’s worth more than Hoskins by himself. But there’s a premium for premium hitters, so throwing in a very high upside pitching prospect like Santos should be a very compelling offer. The Astros can use Hoskins to upgrade from Gurriel, but he can also play LF so could serve as a platoon for Brantley.
2B/SS/3B/LF/RF/DH are set. Can we have real talk and acknowledge the only position players who are potentially replaceable: Castro (Maldonado would still be on the team in a possibly reduced role) CF/4-5OF (any of Meyers/Chas/Siri) UIF (Dubon or Diaz, and Diaz ain't happening) 1B (Yuli, but he'll still be on the team in a reduced role, and can only play the IF bases, so see above) So, let's all be realistic now. Carry on.
Maybe for offseason, but what about a Bregman for Rendon swap? Angels get a younger player with 2 fewer years left that frees up cash for Ohtani extension. I think we could get them to cover 10 million a year difference. That would be like keeping Bregman around for 4 years instead of 2 more. I think maybe a prospect from them too given Rendon's health... Kind of a trash for trash deal...
You want to trade away the younger player with less cash left on the books...... who's currently outperforming the other player ( 109wRC+ and 1.3 fWAR to Rendon's 106 wRC+ and 1.0 fWAR)... for the older, more expensive, slightly worse performing player.... Huh?!?
Pretty reasonable deal. Mccormick's not an all-world defender but he's probably miles over the crap that Philly's been running out in the outfield. That'd stabilize their OF a lot. I don't know crap about their bullpen but maybe there's some underperforming bullpen arm that the Astros could also take a flier on.
Hoskins cannot play OF, he can barely play 1B. The only platoon in LF is Brantley/Yordan/4th OF. Don't fix what ain't broke. He would be a 1B only change. Again, let's be reasonable here, people.
Meh, even if he can't play LF (which I find it hard to believe he couldn't play LF at least at MMP), he can still serve as a platoon matchup with Brantley (as DH) given Alvarez can play LF.
I'd tell you to look up some current stats on Hoskins in LF but there aren't any, because he's a stumbling uncoordinated goof who hasn't played the OF in 4+ years, and (I say again) is terrible at 1B. I also don't understand the need to replace/platoon Brantley vs LHP when there's other fish to fry. He's been quite good against LHP this year (and outside of last season, historically)
Platooning Brantley wouldn’t be the primary reason for acquiring Hoskins. Obviously the main goal would be upgrading from Gurriel who looks like he might have fallen off an age-related cliff. I only mention potentially platooning Brantley because it’s an added feature that might add value to going after a guy like Hoskins over someone like Mancini.
It's a gamble of health v ceiling. If Bregman finishes the year with little pop and a sub .250 BA and soso ob% he's a worse contract in some ways. His one big year is looking like a fluke. Not sure why you ignored my comment about the angels kicking in offset money or the additional prospect. A healthy Rendon is better than Bregman. He's not 10 million better but we wouldn't do such a deal.
I mean It’s really not that hard what they should do. Send Siri down when Meyers comes back healthy. He’s our Designated OF defense and pinch running guy in the playoffs but he is no better than 5th OF when Meyers is back and we don’t need him before September. strictly platoon Chaz and Brantley at LF. Trade for 1B in his walk year. They aren’t expensive. Hit Bregman 7th unless and until he can get his head out of his ass. Hit all guys in the proper place in the order. Altuve, Tucker, 1B, Yordan, Peña, Brantley, Bregman, Meyers, Catcher. When you face a lefty Bregman hits 6th, Meyers 7th and Chaz 8th. A little health, an easy platoon decision and 1 trade that doesn’t cost us anything particularly painful and this good offense goes once again to great with really only 1 hole in it and they have no interest in fixing that hole. Yuli and Brantley as late inning PH weapons in important spots when lefties start, Yulinand Chaz when RHP start. That’s pretty good.
You're talking about picking up years 33-36 of Rendon vs playing out years Bregman's 29-30 seasons. Even if the difference in guaranteed money wasn't a huge deal (which it is), I'm not sure Rendon is better over the next 2 seasons much less the next 4. Rendon hasn't been good since 2020. Bregman hasn't been good since 2019. That one year of more recent performance (and even large chunk of money and/or prospect) doesn't make that trade wash in my book. I'd much rather save the money and toss it at a Tucker extension than pay for the butt-end of the mid-30's mega contract.
I was mistaken, he has had 2 good years. The rest mediocrity... Rendon's career ops of .848 has been surpassed by Bregman in only 2 of his seasons. Bregman is a good glove but Rendon is thought of as better. I understand your point, bregman is younger, cheaper, and not as good but you’re ok with it... I'm not saying it's a slam dunk easy decision. Depends on rendon's health and Bregman's head... Every day Bregman is looking more and more like Ensberg II....
The difference is Rendon was good 4 consecutive years and then has had injuries. Bregman has been out there healthy and not performed. Easier to fix a body than the mind... Bregman is turning into Ensberg is my fear...
Bregman has been good every season since his rookie year except this one, even those "mediocre" seasons were really good. Bregman has been better in 3 of the last 4 years with Rendon only being better in the covid season.
So healthy Bregman compared to injured Rendon is fair? Btw, their OPS is virtually identical in 2019 and 2022. The past 2 seasons they are roughly the same so you're saying a healthy Bregman is about the same as an injured Rendon. I know Bregman had an injury too, but his was less severe. As i said before, i don't think it an obvious move to make. It would depend on the health of the players, money offset, and prospect incentive... 3 or 4 years from now Bregman is probably the better player but i think most smart money is on Rendon the next 2 years if he's healthy... It's a gamble for sure to upgrade 3B... i don't think you want to pay Bregman 28 million for what he's doing now. You definitely don't want to pay Rendon that, but if it's due to coming back from missing time there's maybe more reason for optimism.
