This team has 6 position players who are MLB average or better. They need more, not fewer. Trading Paredes, no matter what position anyone brought in plays, is very counterproductive. Unless the trade brings back multiple starting position players. He is young, cheap ( for now) and has 3 years of control. - He's exactly who they should be getting, not getting rid of. Framber on the other hand is exactly the type of player they should look to trade. If they can get a similar return to Tucker- 2 young, controllable MLB players who project to be starters or significant contributors in 2025 + a highly regarded prospect.- they should do it. But 1 if the MLB players must heca SP.
If Houston signs Bregman and doesn’t think Paredes can play OF most days, they have a problem. The idea of moving Altuve to LF is ridiculous. Paredes is too valuable to deploy as a backup infielder, especially considering he can’t play SS. Of course like with all things, it’s all about value. If they don’t find a team willing to give them some combination of a good controllable LH OF and top prospects, they should just keep Paredes and shove him into LF hell or high water because it’s clear they have a lot of faith in his bat.
A step down then what it would be with Framber. Already have major concerns about our pen. Trading Framber means we're not making any noise in the postseason.
It’s risky, but with an utterly stacked 1-9 lineup (which would be the case with Bregman resigned and Framber bringing back a good OF), I’d go to the playoffs with a rotation of Brown, Scherzer, a deadline acquisition, and one of Blanco/Arrighetti/Garcia/Javier. Peep this playoff roster: 2B Altuve 3B Bregman DH Alvarez 1B Walker C Diaz LF Paredes RF Yastrzemski (from giants with prospects in Framber trade) CF McCormick SS Pena Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Meyers, Singleton/TBD Rotation: Cease (deadline trade), Brown, Scherzer, Blanco Bullpen: Hader, Abreu, Garcia, Arrighetti, Whitley, King, Ort, Scott, Dubin/TBD
I think they have targeted him as someone they can get more out of with the bat AND they likely think his fit in Daikon field is legit
I agree that it would be a problem but don't think it would be enough of a problem to kill any deal. They are going to want to give Walker, Altuve, Yordan, and Bregman at least 60 games off between them (147 games played each, average) Let's say Yordan can play 40 games in LF - that's 100 games. And there is always the fact that hevorovides injury insurance at 4 positions. It's certainly not the best use of his glove, but maybe play Walker 10 games in LF? He does have nearly 1000 innings there as a pro, even if onlyb9 are in MLB. Same with Bregman. Only 25 innings- but he HAS played out there, lol. Even Altuve has been brought up and is willing. My point is that there should be no need for him to play LF more than 50-60 games at the most because 162 games is a grind and he can back up 4 positions (1b, 2b, 3b, DH). He is 26 and has played all 4 infield positions at the MLB level within the past 2 years. Does anyone really expect him to be worse LF than Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santaner, or Jurickson Profar? They are all bad.
If he can play 50-60 games then he can play 100. You don’t run a guy out in a position for 400+ innings if he can’t play it passably. Like I said, if they don’t think Paredes can play LF most days, they have a problem. Your solution is not a solution.
Do you think the same about Yordan? He has played over 50 games in LF 2 of the past 3 seasons. Just put him in LF for 100 games by your rationale. There are different reasons for giving players different amounts of playing time. And not playing regularly does not mean not playing at all. But let's say that he doesn't. Give Altuve and Yordan 1 day off per week and Walker and Bregman 1 day off every other week to stay fresh. That's 78 games for Paredes. Yordan plays 30 games in LF instead of 50+ = 108 games for Paredes. What is the target number of games for him? He's averaged 141 games started the past 2 seasons. Is that good? That means they need to get creative to find 33 more starts for him. Or maybe they are willing to only give him 115 -125 starts to have him on the roster as injury insurance? Maybe Altuve, Walker, and/or Bregman each play a few games in LF? Maybe they decide Bregman or Paredes can play a few games at SS? In 2021, they started Maldonado in a game at 1b Surely they can figure this out.
Yordan is the DH and they are trying to get him less time in the field, not more. Like I said, if Paredes can play 50 games in LF, then that clearly would mean the team thought he was acceptable enough to play there a lot more. You don’t sacrifice 1/3 of a position’s innings to a player you don’t think can passably play the position. You’re not saying anything that goes against my point. Either Paredes can play LF (in which case adding Bregman is no problem), or he can’t (in which case they have a problem as they have an extra infielder without enough innings to justify him on the roster). You don’t keep a 3-4 win player on your bench for “injury insurance”, especially when you have the worst OF in the league.
I think he'll have to learn RF if Breggy is re-signed because he will be blocked in LF by the Yordan/Altuve logjam. I think Dezenzo has the arm and athleticism to eventually be a passable RF.
I think Paredes can play LF. This was just a hypothetical IF But I don't think you ever don't get, or trade away talent that can cover 4 or more positions ONLY because you feel you already have someone in those positions. 162 games is too much of a grind, and 4 positions gives plenty of leeway and versatility to make that work. Now of its money or having a different needs, that's fine.
Based on how he’s been used in his big league career, Paredes can’t play 4 positions. He can play 1B, 3B, and 2B.
I could sse him getting time in RF during ST. If he performs well defensively I could see Dezenzo getting time in RF. He's certainly athletic enough to pull it off and he's certainly got the arm to play RF.
He's going to play 2B. Iso is just trying to figure out a way to justify Crane bringing back Bregs, I actually like the infield defensively, Walker/Parades/Pena/Bregs is actually a good defensive infield. The OF is an entirely different story. Hopefully a competent RF like Gamel/Verdugo etc... will be brought in and Dezenzo can learn to play RF until Melton/Matthews/Cole etc.. is ready to play RF. Like was said upthread a lot of issues would be solved if Dezenzo learns to play RF.
