One thing to note about the Vazquez deal is that both Valdez and Abreu will be Rule 5 eligible this year. Roster crunch aversion plays a factor.
Would you rather Cedric Mullins or Bryan Reynolds? Both have 3 years of team control and would probably require at least Hunter Brown and Pedro Leon + some mid level prospects.
Mancini can play 1B and/or LF. Vazquez can play C and/or 1B. Great roster flexibility going forward. C: Maldonado/Vazquez 1B: Gurriel/Mancini/Vazquez 2B: Altuve/Diaz/Dubon SS: Pena/Diaz/Dubon 3B: Bregman/Diaz LF: Mancini/Alvarez/McCormick/Diaz/Brantley* CF: McCormick/Meyers/Dubon/Tucker RF: Tucker/McCormick/Mancini Most importantly, guys know they have to produce to play. I don't think it's any coincidence that Maldonado has had his best month at the plate since Lee was called up, and Yuli has started hitting while knowing his job is in jeopardy. This is good. This is healthy. If we take any injuries, or if guys just aren't getting it done...we have options. It'll be up to Dusty to push the right buttons, and that's a whole other thread. I don't really see us as out on Bell yet, either. Getting Mancini *and* Vazquez probably diminishes the likelihood, but not if Maldonado and Yuli are team-players, sold out for winning it all. And I believe they are.
2B - Altuve 1B - Yuli LF - Yordan 3B - Bregman RF - Tucker SS - Pena DH - Mancini C - Vasquez CF- Chas I like it. Would love to get Brantley back and Diaz as utility.
Yep, I thought Abreu was a lock to be traded after the draft we had and his rule 5 status. He is a CFer in AA that probably won't be able to stay in CF and we have Meyers, McCormick, Leon, Gilbert, and Melton. Losing Valdez hurts but he is blocked by Bregman and Altuve for at least 2 more years. Also, just because you can hit well in AAA doesn't mean you are a MLB hitter. See Bryan De La Cruz and Jose Siri for some recent examples.... For those of you dreaming about Reynolds. Take a look at the Castillo trade and then ADD some more. Start with Luis Garcia, Hunter Brown, Colin Barber..... then add a few more guys you don't want to trade.
Good solid moves without giving up Urquidy and there’s still all day tomorrow for the Nationals to pull their heads out of their asses and lower their asking prices.
A’s are one of 3-4 teams in the league that REALLY evaluate players different than the other 90% of the league. They likely REALLY like one of the players they got from the Yankees. Makes trades they make unpredictable because they don’t like the same players everyone else does.
My prediction at this point..... Odorizzi and Urquidy to Cardinals To Astros: Zack Thompson Alec Burleson Luken Baker Hunter Brown takes the 5th spot until McCullers is back...
