Not Snake, but it is hard to evaluate perception. I think most teams are saavy enough to think that if Chas and Meyers played more, they would be more valuable. Maybe playing everyday would cost them some in the rate stats as they have to deal with more nagging injuries, but on the other side of the coin, regular PAs may help them hit better. I will say Dusty's decisions have likely hurt Chas in most of the publicly available projections versus his true talent level. Not much Dusty can do about having a CF play LF sometimes this year, but Chas should not have more PT in the corners for his career than in CF. Being evaluated as mostly a LF is costing Chas at least 0.5 fWAR/600 PAs in projections. There should not be as big a descrepancy in projected fWAR/600 PAs versus career fWAR/600 PAs for a guy that has produced as well as Chas that has mostly been healthy over 2.5 years.
Well let's just see what the CWS get for Giolito (and Graveman if they trade him). I respect your opinion I just think the CWS will be able to get more for Giolito alone than for someone like Meyers.
It makes logical sense but Cohen runs things on emotions. Don't see him wanting to admit a mistake...
Just thinking logically... Given our prospects aren't great but just solid, I think we're looking at older players as salary dumps from non-contenders. I think with everyone healthy we just need a bat. Dubon is best as a bench guy to sub and playing him at DH loses the DH if we have to move him into the field. Diaz should see most of his time at catcher. When Yordan is back we would have Julks and Dubon for DH duty assuming Brantley is done. So I'm thinking best hitter on our budget regardless of position. Limiting to rentals and one year left on deals... Rental Lefty Hitters Joc Pederson Brandon Belt Lefty Hitters with 1 more year: Michael Conforto Cody Bellinger Rental Righty Hitters: Matt Chapman Rhys Hoskins Hunter Renfroe Righty Hitter with 1 more year: Paul Goldschmidt Mark Canha Tim Anderson Obviously Goldschmidt and Anderson would be huge asks... face of the franchise types... I wonder if Luken does well enough the Cardinals could be convinced to move on and save some cash. The problem is they are probably looking for pitching... Anderson may be the better get with a lower price...
Meyers for Giolito is reasonable if only they needed a center fielder. Meyers is certainly better than Straw was and we got a pretty good return for him.
Meyers for Bieber? Cleveland has pitching depth and needs hitting and OF. It would suck for Straw, if Jake took his job again. They may ask for Chas instead since he can play all 3 OF spots, While Meyers is true CF the same as Straw.
We're not talking about a CF, we're talking about a player who many consider the top SP who more than likely will be available at the trade deadline. The O's, TOR, NYY, MINN, TEX, LAD, AZ, and a few other teams who are fighting to make the playoffs need someone like Giolito which is going to drive the price up. Like I said, we can speculate all day long, let's see how it plays out.
Between now and August 1st, this team needs several things: 1) Yordan, Altuve, and Urquidy return healthy. 2) a TOR SP. = I think with Javier and Brown struggling with performance, inconsistency, and potential innings limits, the idea of an inningsxm eater BOR SP is no longer viable. The problem is that there are really only a few expected to be on the market and too many teams trying to get them. 3) Javier and Brown return to previous levels of dominance. 4) at least 1 hopefully 2 RP that can dependably improve the bottom to middle of the bullpen and help take some of the pressure off the leverage guys. Plenty of these guys to choose from and they likely will be reasonably inexpensive, though it's still a sellers market. Additional years of control will be priority over rentals. 5) A run producing bat that can bring .800+ OPS expectancy vs RHP. Most bats are RH and better vs LHP so this limits the options somewhat.
Would Kris Bryant be too expensive? Not having a “stellar” year so could be cheaper. He just covers so many of our holes. But might not be worth anything significant.
This team doesn’t need a bat if Yordan and Altuve are back. Here are you best 9 (roughly in order) play them at least 1/2 the time: Yordan, Altuve, Tucker, Bregman, Chas, Diaz, Abreu, Peña, Dubon. It’s not at all hard to make that into a starting lineup- shuffle around Altuve, Yordan and Diaz to DH and Dubon plays field wherever those guys are on the DH time. 2 times a week Maldy catches. Jake plays once or twice a week as a 4th OF. This is not hard. We make it way harder than it has to be. If you want Julks to play once or twice a week instead of Meyers then trade Meyers for pitching I guess. One of he or Chas is superfluous in the future with Gilbert coming. Trade Meyers if he can get you a decent #4 starter with control. Get one guy that you can trust to itch the 5th or 6th inning. We already have 4 in the circle of trust (Presley, Abreu, Neris and Maton) wouldn’t mind adding a 5th to help get through the regular season and have a guy in reserve in the playoffs if we go extras or only trust our starter in the 4 spot two times through a lineup. Trade no more than Jake and a couple of our fringy OF prospects. Julks might be good enough to get the 7th inning guy from a team selling is sort of the point. If not him then Dierden. Nobody with a ton of upside. We are only talking about a relief arm.
Here's a thought... To Astros: Paul Goldschmidt To Rays: Spencer Arrighetti Korey Lee JP France To Cardinals: Jacob Melton Kyle Manzardo Cole Wilcox Astros absorb all the salary for Goldschmidt. Cardinals get the 2nd best 1B prospect in baseball who is blocked behind Diaz. They get a high upside guy in Wilcox coming off injury and an outfield prospect lined up to replace a failing O'Neil or Carlson... they also save cash... Rays get a quality rotation pitcher to deepend their top heavy rotation. They get a potential catcher of the future at the cost of 2 prospects. Astros get a thumper...
Kris Bryant should be less than free. Like we trade Montero for him. Both getting out of bad contracts. His is much worse. And yes- I’d do that deal in a heartbeat and Colorado should too.
They need a bat if they can't afford a top 3 starter via trade. Need to outhit the other team this year...
If Urquidy and Javier are healthy with Brown and Framber, I think they are ok. We have a good bullpen and can survive with 4 innings from France if the next day is Framber or a day off... I wouldn't mind a veteran for insurance, but don't think our prospects will get us much unless taking on a lot of money...
If Yordan and Altuve return healthy forget about adding a bat, we will be fine offensively. If Urq comes back in fine form we will still be needing innings on the mound. The simplest solution would be to have a manager that would use multi inning relievers to their full advantage. limiting yourself to single inning outings after only 5 or even 6 innings is too hard on the pen. Blaming Dusty may sound like an easy excuse here but it is true.
If we go starting pitching, we're eating salary for anyone decent... some names.. Marcus Stroman Eduardo Rodriguez (has opt out) Sean Manaea Manaea probably cheapest... pitching poorly but maybe our guys can fix him. Giants would love to clear another 12 million our for Ohtani next year... Being a left he may be a decent gamble if the price is Bielak and Joe Perez... Eduardo would love a chance at a playoff run so he can opt out to a bigger deal.... Detroit can't be asking for too much give the guarantee hanging over him. I think going for both is reasonable... maybe find a bat too from Giants or Tigers...
To Astros: Sean Manaea Mike Yastrzemski To Giants: Joe Perez Shay Whitcomb Spencer Arrighetti Saves the Giants about 20-25 million on their 2024 payroll. They get two position players who could win jobs in spring. Astros get a lefty with past success who can maybe be fixed. Yaz hits DH and can play CF some. Then... To Tigers: Korey Lee Colin Barber Brandon Bielak Pedro Leon To Astros: Eduardo Rodriguez Tigers get a cheap rotation pitcher, a possible starting catcher, and a player with some position flexibility. Barber has plate discipline and could be starting RF in 2025. Astros risk Rodriguez opting in to big money or leaving as a rental for nothing.
Thought the proposal was for Meyers who is a center fielder. Chicago doesn't need one since they have Robert. If they did need one it would be a fair trade.
I don’t consider him elite defensively.. can he get to a lot of balls? Sure. But his arm is a noodle. I’ve watched guys steal 3rd on a fly ball as well as home. You can flash the glove at SS all you want but if it takes 10 seconds before the ball gets to the 1B then who cares. And his bat is not just average with potential for more.. it’s bad. Especially when you compare to those other CF you listed. Basically you are calling him a Maldonado of CF and I’d rather find better. He’s marisnick with a worse bat and worse arm… that’s a 4th OF / pinch runner at best.
