I don't think "selling" equals "trade Alvarez." I define selling as making moves that will make the team weaker this year, and potentially next even, but sets us up for a stronger next 3-5 years holistically. Best case scenario is that we get a haul similar to what the Nationals got when they traded Soto. But even then, what have the Nationals actually done since that trade? Nothing. And it made sense to trade Soto then because he wasn't going to be there long term. We have Yordan long term, and we should build around him.
What team in the AL is better than the Stros if they add a SP1-2 and a slightly above avg OF? They just proved they're as good as the Rays even though they are undermanned.
This team is 4 games under .500, and if the AL wasn't so bad this season we'd be dead ducks already. Dana has done a poor job, his pitching acquisitions have all sucked except for Lambert, and we have been hearing him talk about a LH OF bat for three effing years. Are any of his draft picks exciting or promising? No....Cam was the crown jewel of the Tucker trade, he plays good defense and will hit a nuke every 2.5 weeks, but he's just a regular second half of the lineup guy. Kikuchi was a nice little rental, but Espada (another problem), was too stupid to use him in the playoffs. The answer is "soft sell," but I don't trust Dana to execute anything correctly. And for the love of God can we cut Espada loose and give Lopez an audition?
what kill’s me about Dana Brown is how he’s TOO transparent when speaking about team needs. Yes…some might be obvious, but he almost sounds desperate when talking about acquiring LF bats. I feel like teams are going to try and exploit that everytime. And don’t get me started on Espada. He manages like a fan. I knew we were cooked when he had Cam Smiths family come into the locker room when breaking the news he had made the team. (Side note: I hope Cam can have a Jordan Walker type trajectory. But I’ll settle for Michael Harris II). This team will continue to tread water with Espada at the helm. They just don’t have that killer instinct to rip off a hot streak like other years.
That being said, the 2006 Cardinals squeaked into the playoffs by a game then got hot to win the World Series. We saw last year how big of a difference 1 game can make.
IMO, Espada still being here quietly says that they know they're not really going to contend this season. Brown will say the deals just weren't there to add a SP1 or 2...or lefthanded OF.
Crane doesn't want to go through another rebuild. We are buying. That being said, nothing will happen for us until we get 2 young guys to break through and become stars. That is the way it is for every team, including the Dodgers.
It depends on the next 2 weeks, and the prices for improvements and what we are being offered for the players we have. Hard to see us acquiring a top end starter and OF is a thin market. Sell what's hot and buy what's not. Bullpen is our biggest strength, so probably trade one regardless. If we are 5 games below .500 or worse, I'm for selling hard.
Alvarez prime, you swing for the fences. We’ve only had one Alvarez in our entire history. You run it.
