In looking at Kepler's numbers.....he's an above average player this year.....so I guess I don't understand the angst. Especially for the cost. He'll probably end up with 2.3-2.5 fWAR, hit about 10-15% better than league average, and run fairly well. If they played him in CF (instead of Celestino) he'd be about average in CF ....bumping his WAR up even more. I think worrying about Kepler is much ado about nothing.
there is a 0% chance the FO signed Donaldson to prove they weren't cheap. They signed him because they believed in this core and their ability to find pitching.
Add me to the list of Winder is way too low (or, he's not actually a legit SP prospect that people think is a number 3 or better)....and an older player who can't hit A ball is way too high (another bat first corner player in round 1, ugh).
We who? Do we think any players really care what is said on this message board? I don't. I find his antics entertaining, so it 100% isn't about that for me.....
I'd trade him to free up money to hopefully keep Buxton and/ or sign a pitcher or SS. They don't have a SS next year at all, and I think they can cobble together 3B easier than SS.
Risk....while the others have higher upside, Ober is in the majors and doing back-end stuff already. The others aren't close the majors (and injured)........rankings are about risk and reward, not just reward.
It is amazing that BOTH Kepler and Sano are not hitting well.......
What to do this year? Keep sending them out and hope they find their groove again. There isn't much other option, imo.
Dobnak and Thorpe don't have stuff.....it isn't their struggles, it is their stuff. They are likely great AAAA pitchers. It is possible they are more, but neither has the stuff of a good MLB pitcher. I'm hoping Winder and whomever else is healthy gets 8-10 starts in the majors this year, so they are more likely to be ready next year.
Just to be clear......if Winder and/or others come up and show something....that's great. I've said all along this is the year that I will start judging their development practices. But if they haven't done anything by the end of year 5....ugh.
So, ya, still early to say one way or the other, but so far, not good.
How many good starting pitchers can they actually sign next year? Maybe 1.
To be clear, you think they can trade one year veterans for starting pitchers that will be ready day 1 next year? I have my doubts, but I'd love that!
Right.....
I get it. The farm was BARREN of pitching prospects....but that doesn't mean this FO should have Ober and ??? to show for their time here. That's it, right? Of the MLB pitchers, they have maybe 1 guy anyone trusts? Alcala? Jax? Dobnak?
Who have they brought up from the minors anyone really believes with any certainty is a MLB pitcher, let alone starting pitcher?
What is the path to 2022 being competitive, even with Berrios? That's 1 starting pitcher you can count on. They might be able to sign one good SP in free agency.....so that's 2. Pineda is gone. Maeda? I don't trust him.
Yes.....if they can't find a taker for him, they failed that part of their job. I get it takes two to dance, but come on....also, Pineda (if he's healthy).
I don't think anyone takes him for free right now. You'd 100% have to eat almost all of the deal to get someone to take him, and at that point, why? I literally believe you could pay, say, 80% of his deal, and get nothing in return for him.
Thanks. I'd really prefer the SS to play SS more full time (unless they are on the same roster, I guess).....because that's a HARD position to learn/excel at.