All true. This was an Angels team that lost Trout for an extended amount of time, with mediocre talent beyond him, that still managed to win 80 games and a non-negative run differential..... and given their lack of minor league talent, they'd have to pay the majority of Stanton's contract to acquire him.
He's a very bad outfielder, so he would likely spend a lot of time at DH. The real issue with signing him is that it would need to be a 4-5 year deal, meaning we would be paying him when it comes time to start paying Altuve, Springer and starting pitchers. Offense is not our problem, so it would just be a poor allocation of resources.
I'm hoping his free agency goes the way of Edwin Encarnacion and we could get him on a 2 or 3 year deal. You are right though, it would be an unneeded luxury... but what a luxury.
I'd add that there is a good chance he is still pissed about being cut by the Astros. Astros don't really need much. As such, I wouldn't consider adding offense a poor allocation of resources. Astros likely add a high leverage guy and a lefty in the pen. Once they do that, LF or DH becomes the easiest place to upgrade.
Don't care about the defense that much, because unless we play Jake most of the time, our LF is going to be average at best. I do care about the $$$.
You should see where Keith Law ranked him in his top 50. It was in the 30s and behind several other relief pitchers.
I think Lidge was seen as a starter. Wagner had the size concerns, but for Lidge I think it was all about lack of health.
Lidge actually made a MLB start towards the end of 2002.... after he had gone through his health issues. Yes, there were size/health concerns for both. But both ultimately had plenty of concerns about secondary and third pitch ability... which is pretty damn important for any potential starter. Lidge being fastball/slider may have gotten by for a time... but Wagner was fastball/fastball when coming up.
I would be very careful signing Davis. There were genuine issues with his use and ability to physically bounce back in the playoffs. The Cubs did not use him when they wanted to in the playoffs for this very reason. The Cubs need a closer, if they don't sign Davis; that will be very telling.
How long until McCullers true talents will be realized as this team's closer. He has got the edge needed to be that guy. I don't like him as a starter any ways. Can't stay healthy enough to get through a season with that arm action.
I wonder if any team is ever gonna try and do a full season of what we did in the ALCS/WS. 3 true "starters" and then a handful of guys that are available every 4th game to pitch 3-5 innings. The current "closer" setup just seems so damn limiting. I can't believe pitchers are capable 30 six inning outings, or 75 single inning outings and nothing else. 3 starters 4/5 middle distance guys 4/5 single inning relievers People act like a relief role protects arms, but to me having to rebound quickly brings it's own risks.
I think over the course of a season, you are really going to need the Mike Fiers of the world to eat up innings.
Lidge had great size and he had a changeup as a starter, but abandoned it like most relievers do with mediocre 3rd pitches. Wagner never looked like a starter, and like you said basically just threw fastballs. Him starting was probably never more than a dream, which is crazy given he was a high draft pick, but guys just didn't throw that hard, especially from the left side.
Still think that its insane that our best hitters play up the middle. Anyone know of another team where the best hitters are at shortstop, 2nd base, and CF? Think about our batting order. It goes CF, 3rd, 2nd, shortstop, 1st Most teams seem to have a LF slugger in the top 5.
I expect there will be some team in the next 5 years that tandem starters at least one spot in the rotation.
Yes. The size issue was Wagner. The fact that Lidge hit the ground running as a 7th inning setup man was telling of the role they thought he could eventually fit. Which goes back to the original observation of who eventually succeeds in the bullpen. As we talk about how bullpen roles may or may not evolve... so does the matter of how starting pitchers approach games. Max effort for 3-4 innings, turning it over to another (but lesser) 3-4 inning guy... in the end, its a great evening out approach from the days where starters routinely threw complete games, and the still current/recent days of where bullpen guys only come in for an inning/time (or in some cases, a batter at a time).
