Comes down to percentages really. Do you want a better shot at a WS or hold onto Gilbert for the next couple of years? Chas looks like a mainstay and Tucker could be re-signed. Trading away Gilbert only puts the pressure on re-signing Tucker. Stroman could re-sign with Houston if he performs up to his standard.
Agree on all points, but I also would challenge that Dubon has been every bit as good as Pena this year, if not better in nearly every category (in the field and at the plate). Their wars are nearly identical this year. We have a reliable SS in the post season, with or without JP. It doesn't look good, but trading JP seems like a wash to me.
Garcia/France/Blanco/Arrighetti/Whittaker/Meyers/Gilbert For Cease/Graveman/Robert Jr. Get 'er donnnnnnnnnnnnne.
Stroman could sign with Houston even if we don't trade him. One has nothing to do with the other. We are NOT resigning Tucker. As much as you, I or anyone else might want to see that happen we will not give him 10/300 and that's going to be minimum bid to even start a conversation with him as a FA. Brining in those 2 rentals is probably worth 2 wins between here and the playoffs and might move your odds of winning the world series from 8% to 10% Gilbert is absolutely a cornerstone for the next 7 years (provided you mess with his clock which you should- calling him up on May 15 after making him start the season in AAA is imminently reasonable and nobody is going to say he got the Kris Bryant treatment. That would be a horrific deal. Fair value for that package would be something like Jake Meyers or Cory Julks and Urquidy. Or Garcia if they'd prefer that. Not a top 50 prospect + others. If they Cubs get something like that bully for them I guess, but it shouldn't be us making that mistake.
That seems light on any actual difference makers for the White Sox in the year 2024. I can't imagine they'd be super interested in that package.
My understanding is that they desperately need around 4 fresh bodies in their rotation. Here are 5 (3 guys proven to belong in a big league rotation, one guy who looks like a sure thing, and a high upside guy).
Gilbert, Meyers, Blanco, Bielak, Gordon, Arrighetti, Leon, Perez and Urquidy For Robert, Kopech, Graveman and Cease
The fact that Stroman is a rental is what makes him attractive to me. I want to get help for this post season. without over spending. I am delighted to go to the play-offs with the outfield as is. If you insist, trading Meyers for a LH 4th outfielder could probably be worked out. I also think that with Urquidy and Stroman added to the rotation we have plenty of relief candidates in house.
Okay, at this point why don't we just swap rosters with the White Sox. Let's go, Dana, you were brought in to make some moves.
The Robert / Cease deal is a total bear to put together. The Astros should just look into Giolito instead. Pena, Urquidy, France, Gilbert, Leon for Robert and Giolito. Sox get a #4 and #5 starter, starting SS, top 100 CF prospect, and a 4th OF/2B with 30/30 speed/power and a 70 grade arm, but K prone. Astros keep Garcia for 2024 rotation.
Tucker and prospects to Angels for Ohtani. Pay ohtani whatever he wants in the offseason. The revenue we’ll get with him will be exponentially greater than anything we have now. We know the Astros aren’t gonna give what Tucker wants. For Ohtani you have to. Ohtani will go down as the greatest baseball player of all time. Let that sink in.
A lot of eggs in one basket. Isn't that what Jim Crane has always tried to avoid? More A- players are better than 1 A+ player and a bunch of C's?
