Id rather keep Chas as a starter and a spot open that Meyers/Leon/Matijevic can claim with a strong Spring, than add Conforto. Better trade options with Varsho, McCarthy, Happ, Reynolds, etc that will likely still be available at the deadline. Id prefer a reserve IF’er (and there’s plenty of starting caliber available after the heavy spending period), Barnhart and Kluber. 24 mil left should nab atleast two if not all three.
I agree i believe RP and fringe catcher are the most likely targets, although fringe C likely does more harm than good, and a mediocre RP would be a waste of $. Upgrading Meyers would take a lot of creativity and salesmanship. But it could be best way to lengthen our roster. Conforto, for example, could pay off nicely.
Center fielders that can hit are rare and very expensive. The Astros second best prospect is a centerfielder. The Astros are far likelier to wait on their prospects and roll with McCormick and possibly Meyers, than gut their farm system for one.
I was certain that Brantley would be back and still feel Yuli will too. But I can't believe that Tyler Naquin's name hasn't been mentioned before as a possiblity. Lefty bat from Spring who could fill the void in LF. But the Brantley signing I think took care of that as there's no more room. Brantley and Alverez are certain to alternate DH and LF, and Myers/McCormick will command CF like last year. Only thing would be if one of them is traded for a C, which I doubt.
I think I would call the Rockies and the Brewers offer up Meyers, Maton, Whitley and Perez for either Yelich and prospect Wiemer from the Brewers or Bryant's and Veen from the Rockies... if niether bite I'd call the Dbacks offer the same package for Alek Thomas and prospect de Los Santos.
I would. Brantley is likely a 1 year hopeful in LF/DH. Benentindi gives you a legit defender in LF with essentially Brantley's bat. And a solution for 5 years. He's 28. His best 5 years of his career are likely coming. That one is a clear no brainer.
We have internal options. Some very good tools. but no one has put it all together, yet... If we want to sustain success, we cannot fill every position with FAs. We must keep churning out average to above average controllable prospects, not as trade chips, but as PLAYERS. Doing otherwise puts most teams in a never ending boom-bust cycle with no certainty about the boom portion. We don't have the high draft picks that blow the minds of the purveyors of top 100 lists, but we have found the niches to keep the pump primed. Mostly in the international market and then the older and less appreciated older international market. We just need to keep finding these prospect opportunities others ignore and bring them up. Brown is the only player on the current top 100 list, but he's a more traditional draftee.
He was released by Detroit. He had one extraordinary year in 2017 defensively. He is the quintessential replacement level player. Average is about 2 WAR. Barnhart is at 0.1. But even there, he can be of use at a near minimum contract while we see if Lee or Diaz step up to at least average overall players. Dubon is versatile. Replacement level at many positions. We can do better.
The ultimate plan is to produce our own CFer rather than trade for one. MLB McCormick R MLB Meyers R AAA Julkes (corner more likely) R AAA Leon R A+ Barber L AAA Dirden L AA Hamilton L A Cerny R A Gilbert L (position Pitcher for mop up) A Melton L A Clifford L I think they want to develop their own.
Just imagine if Y Diaz turns out to be J. D. Martinez after he tweaked his swing and we DON'T RELEASE HIM. Now imagine if he decides he likes catching.
I suggested doing neither. Slightly better Marisnick isn't "can hit". Gilbert is a couple years away. I'm suggesting a stopgap.
