This is one of those "i don't disagree with your reasoning but i disagree with the over all message" posts. Agree that he's probably at his peak performance and he's due for some regression, which would "lower" his trade value. I agree with Snake though, he's not much more than a fringe/depth piece currently and wouldn't be valued more than that. I would argue that while you could value him like an org 15-30 IFer, that may not actually materialize in the trade market. I also think that he's fulfilling his role as depth in its intended way and that need doesn't go away suddenly. Maybe Brantley has a setback, or isn't his pre-injury form. Maybe Chas also has lingering injury issues or Meyers falls off again. Having Julks in your back pocket is not a bad or unnecessary thing.
We can agree on this. At some point though, the team will need to address its lack of true infield prospects in the upper minors and the over abundance of outfielders. I think this makes me realize just how good and important the Dubon trade was. Based on him, Diaz, the bullpen and current top prospects I think Click's tenure and performance will become more and more appreciated over the next few years. But back to this. It's a classic case of striking while iron is hot or keeping the insurance. Neither is right or wrong.
Wait til Dana Brown is truly unleashed. There's no doubt he knows that prospect IF depth is a problem and that rolling with Rylan Bannon is not the way. Think there's gonna be a hodge podge of bandaids at the MI depth positions until he can get a few drafts and IFA classes in.
I wonder how credible of a 2B Loperfido can play. Seems like they like to move him around between 1B/2B/LF and even CF without much of a preference for any given position.
IF Gilbert is absolutely awesome this year, and Jake Meyers and Chas are both really good all year, and Yordan stays healthy, and you commit to bringing Bregman and Altuve back you could actually look at trading Kyle Tucker in the offseason. I think Tucker is a top 5 MVP guy. But if you aren't extending him it might be reaaaaaally interesting to see how much a team would be willing to give up for King Tuck on a 2 year/30M contract essentially. Anyway, Gilbert popping is really good for the team. His upside is a couple All Star games and top 10 CF for 7 years of club control, right? An OF of Chas, Meyers and Gilbert would be absolutely filthy defensively. IF would be set. Pitching staff is set. You could do the Tucker deal for a top 10 and top 50 prospect plus 2 more 50 grade prospects, right? I doubt that would ever happen. But man, it would be interesting. I'd much rather just sign him for 10/300M but if Gilbert is that good and Jake Meyers is rehabbed... Be something interesting to watch as this year plays out. OF might be extremely logjammed.
What would it take to get Brian Reynolds and his sweet contract? Tucker, Whitley, Julks, Clifford, Loperfido?? No elite prospect to offer unfortunately
Tucker is a huge start. Before the deal it would have been Tucker for Reynolds + more. I don't see Pitt trading him now. It would really turn off other players especially those considering extending because Reynolds gave them a huge hometown discount to stay. But I don't think it's as drastic as your deal. Maybe Tucker, Leon, and the pitching prospect Pitt most covets
You just couldn't do that deal with Pittsburg. I saw that contract and was amazed. Pitt would prefer 8 years of Reynolds to 2 of Tucker even though Tucker is hugely superior. Tucker would have to go to a team in serious contention with lots of prospects that feels like they need a golf glove caliber RF to put them over the top. Yankees would be really interesting (Judge is playing CF there most of last year- right?). Boy that would be a hard deal to trade with them. Orioles might actually view him as the missing piece for playoffs and they obviously have a pretty good farm system. It is super unlikely to ever happen. I think extension has a greater chance and I don't at all believe we will extend him.
I was shocked when I saw that extension for Reynolds. My first thought was someone should slide an article about the extension into Tucker's locker. What an absolute bargain after the insane offseason.
The #1 Grae Kessinger skeptic on ClutchFans (me) sees that he's currently 2-2 with a double for Sugar Land. It's moving me, slightly. Little less Jack Mayfield, a little more Marwin would be a desirable end for him.