ScottyB

The only thing that comes to mind is Kevin Costner in Draft Day. “Give me 5 minutes while I work things out.” There’s got to be a lot more to come. I like the idea of Story, but why not Correa instead? Arraez and Kepler or Sanchez and minor league prospect (maybe Lewis) to Reds for Castillo?

He’ll be cut by June. Worse pickup than Happ was last year.

You have to remember that beyond the 26 man roster, teams will have a five man taxi squad for road games this season. These players will be able to work out with the team and go on the road as well. One must be a catcher and that’s where the turtle will start the season, probably along with a 14th pitcher. This squad will likely have veterans who don’t need to play regularly. Saw the Twins are interested in Danny Santana, he could be another choice for the squad. He’s got versatility.

Does anyone remember when the Chicago White Sox under Tony LaRussa went long stretches in the eighties with an 8-man pitching staff? Not an 8-man rotation, but a pitching staff of 8 and 17 position players. 4-5 starters and 3-4 relievers (maybe one swing-guy). My how things have changed. Not that long ago that a 10-man pitching staff was the norm. That's the way Bert liked it.

I proposed this a couple of years ago: Regular schedule to 154 games; expand to 32 teams, total 8 playoff teams from each league; 4 4-team divisions each league, 2 conferences each league - 2 divisions each; 2 wild cards each conference; wild card teams may come from same division, based on record (so possible for 3 teams from one division); Conference semi-finals, best of 3; division winners 2 home games; best record division winner plays worst record wild card; Conference Finals, best of 5; Division winners always take first priority for home field advantage, best records second priority (if division winners both eliminated); Championship series, best of 7, conference winner vs conference winner; World series as normal, best record has home field advantage.

The big question is will Rosy give his uniform number to Josh? Can't have two guys with the number 20.

My guess is that our next starter will come via trade. The positive news about the reacquisitions of Odo, Pineda and Romo is that when we do acquire players, they love the clubhouse atmosphere, the coaching staff and front office and the metropolitan area (so much so that many move here when their career is over). These should be great tools for recruitment of free agents.

One of my favorite trees was Chuck Knoblauch's. Knoblauch begat Eric Milton, Cristian Guzman, Brian Buchanan, and Danny Mota Milton begat Carlos Silva, Nick Punto and Bobby Korecky Buchanan begat Jason Bartlett Bartlett (w/Matt Garza) begat Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie Young begat Lester Oliveros Harris (w/JJ Hardy) begat Jim Hoey So the total haul for Knoblauch included 2 starting pitchers - Milton (6 seasons), Silva (4 seasons); 2 starting shortstops - Guzman (6 seasons), Bartlett (4 seasons); Super Utility and starting 3rd Base - Punto (7 seasons); Utility IF - Harris (3 seasons); Starting Left Fielder - Young (4 seasons); 3 relief pitchers - Oliveros (2 seasons), Hoey and Korecky (1 season each) and 2 backup outfielders - Buchanan (2 seasons) and Pridie (1 season). Not a bad deal - it lasted almost 20 years.

Don’t know about service time, but it’s 80 games WITHOUT pay.

My gut says Aybar makes the team for April and Gordon is brought up in May after he gets by the period so that he still has 6 more seasons after this one before free agency.

I think if I'm Kepler I opt for the 7 year, $61 million contract rather than the 7 year, $48 million contract.

If it was me, I'd keep each league as intact as possible. I would have each league with 2 conferences - 2 divisions each, a total of 8 4-team divisions. My Conferences and divisions would look as follows: AL - Babe Ruth Conference: East Division: NYY, Bos, Bal, Tor Lakes Division: MN, Chisox, Cle, Det AL - Walter Johnson Conference Coastal Division: Anaheim, Oak, Sea, Portland Plains Division: Hou, Tex, KC, Colorado NL - Jackie Robinson Conference: Metro Division: NYM, Phil, Wash, Montreal Dixie Division: Miami, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Tampa NL - Cy Young Conference: Central Division: Cubs, Mil, St. L, Pitt West Division: LA, SF, SD, AZ 48 games played within your division (16 games x 3 teams) 48 games vs other division in conference (12 games x 4 teams) 48 games vs opposite conference (6 games x 8 teams) 12 games vs 1 division opposite league (3 games x 4 teams - alternate over 4 seasons) 156 games total Playoffs: Playoff teams, 4 division winners in each league, 2 non-division winners with next best record (not necessarily second place teams) in each conference, a total of 16 playoff teams, 8 in each league Round 1: Conference Semi-Finals - 2 division winners host (#1 record div winner vs #4 conf Wild Card) (#2 div winner vs #3 conf Wild Card); 3 game series Round 2: Conference Finals - Winners of semi final series, best record (division winner priority gets home field advantage), 5 game series Round 3: LCS, as currently laid out, 7 game series Round 4: WS, as currently laid out, 7 game series

I just like thinking about Sept 2018 when potential starters could be Berrios (24 - RHP), Gonsalves (24 - LHP), Jorge (24 - RHP), Romero (23 - RHP), Mejia (25 - LHP) and let's not forget Trevor May (29 - RHP) should be back from Tommy John. Santana has on option for 2019, but will probably at his peak value trade-wise, this winter. I'm encouraged by Mejia's progress. Sugarplums are dancing in my head with this potential young controllable rotation. 'Course, the best laid plans, so let's not go crazy.

I still think he and Buxton should be Thunder and Lightning

I am not a fan of Grossman. I'd rather have a year of Torii at 41-42 for his leadership and his defense would still be better than Grossman's. If we could get Coco Crisp on a cheap 1-year deal, I'd prefer him over Grossman (for leadership and defense), plus we could deal him at the trade deadline to a contender.

I had the same question. I suspect that Mesoraco's health will have some bearing - but more likely the trade scenario.

I know that Molitor has talked about getting a clubhouse veteran presence (similar to what Hunter was in '15). Personally I am not a Robbie Grossman fan. He really is useless in the outfield. I wouldn't mind adding Coco Crisp in his place. He's played on several contenders and could be flipped at the deadline. Probably too expensive though.

The article specifically says the Pads will NOT trade him for Diaz.

See the 1999 Rule 5 Draft when the Twins had the #1 pick and took Jered Camp from the Indians and the Marlins had #2 and took Johan Santana from the Astros. The Twins then traded Camp for Santana AND Cash - essentially getting Santana for zero outlay. And as Spycake said, Rule 5 Draft rules still applied and Santana had to remain on the roster the full year. This is probably what is happening here and as pointed out elsewhere, Haley is closer to Major League ready than Diaz. It would be intriguing to get international money, but with SD adding so many, my guess is we get cash which we will use to pay for Haley. Again a zero outlay situation.

Second cousins - see here

7. No matter what it takes go after FA Wilson Ramos. He belongs here. THAT would take care of catching problem long-term. He's only about 4 years older than Murphy.

What intrigues me about Kranson is that he also played 3B and 2B. A possible backup C and utility guy? I think about a Brandon Inge type.

Has Nolasco done enough for someone to have an interest in trading for him? You know he will fall apart in the AL at some point this season.

I see Kubel and Bartlett in our future.

I'm all on board with moving failed starters to the pen. See Hawkins, Aguilera, Guardado, Perkins, not to mention someone like Wade Davis. Maybe it doesn't always work, but it can't hurt to try.