cmoss84

https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-rule-5-draft-results/c-301780782?tid=282421090 We signed a AAA pitcher from the Giants. Doesn't appear that we lost anyone. But I only looked briefly and could be wrong.

Mets and Marlins in trade talks for Realmuto. Marlins want some kind of combination of Rosario/Nimmo/Conforto. For us, maybe it would take something like Gordon/Kepler/Graterol? Doesn't matter, I don't see our FO making any trades. There is a gold mine out there to be signed/traded for this off-season, but I'm losing more and more confidence every day. Need some kind of news. Like any.

I am usually in agreement with this thought process. Just not this year. The AL central is just so, so bad. Those players you mentioned might be declining, but they are still much better than what we have. I really don't think we have to improve a dramatic amount from last year to contend for the division title. I would rather trade for younger guys that will have a larger, longer impact...but at this point I'm fine either way (and would ultimately rather do BOTH).

Between Hamilton, Mondesi and Merrifield, KC has a ton of speed...and also a really good defensive outfield. They might not hit very well, but they are shaping up to be a good defensive/small ball team that will annoy the crap out of you.

What is everyone's expectations for Schoop? If he hits .250 with 25 HRs and plays average to slightly above average defense are you going to be upset?

Says the Marlins like lefties. Lets get JT for Kepler, Gordon, Gonsalves and Castro. (oh yeah...and Kiriloff)

Sorry-should have been more specific...I love all the individual discussions about the individual transactions. What gets me is when people say we have failed this off-season...when there is still much more to come!

I was getting really nervous that these would be our only moves of the off-season... ...but then I heard that the off-season had barely began and will extend through it's normal time period! What a relief! Maybe relief pitchers will be coming soon! More relief! Breathe people. Long off-season. Be critical and judgmental AFTER we sign (or don't sign) free agents. *To me, Cron and Schoop are nice pieces to the puzzle. Are there more to follow? I'd bet on it! Just how big they will be, we will find out!

Many of you are disappointed it wasn't a longer contract-but Schoop maybe only wanted a one year "prove it" contract to set himself up. Any more years might have have been too costly and too much of a risk.

Very solid player. I like it.

If Kepler and Cave received the same # of ABs this year, (A) who hits more HRs, and ( who plays better defense? Just food for thought...

https://www.mlb.com/news/nathan-eovaldi-agrees-to-deal-with-red-sox/c-301520954?tid=282421090 Eovaldi 4/67 Not exactly a bargain...but pretty good I suppose value-wise.

Yup...and I could see them going after Keuchel as well.

Philly misses out on Harper and Machado and panics. They overspend on Corbin, thinking a rotation of Nola, Arrieta, Corbin, etc. will make up for it. 6 years/150 million Close on $. Very wrong on the team. Max Strasburg Corbin Roark Who cares Nice little rotation...I guess they are trying to soften the blow of losing Harper.

This looks like a pretty accurate description of what it will take to get him. I don't have a problem with making a win now move. And "win now" means a 3 year window...all while our division is weak and rebuilding. If you're not willing to make this kind of move now, especially when we have $ for FA, when do you???

Question A: Has anyone gone to this before? I am intrigued. Be fun to hang out at the same hotel/city for a few days and talk baseball and catch the vibe. Question B: What actually happens at winter meetings, as far as the front offices go? Do they have dinner/drink with one another? Do they like each other? What is difference with winter meetings than calling someone on the old telly?

Daniel Murphy has a career .344 OBP (and .299 BA). He might sign a reasonable 2-3 year deal... I like the Bour idea...except platoon him with Cron, not Austin.

*Not sure if you missed the part in bold-I'm sure it will take Lewis/Kiriloff to headline a deal. *I wouldn't exactly call Polanco or Kepler "scraps." I think they do have some value. *I agree with you that we overvalue our prospects. I have been all about trading for multiple players-no matter who it takes. *To answer your last question, I don't think that offer for Berrios would be laughed at. But Syndergaard is better/has higher ceiling. Berrios has one more year of control, so they have about the same value. *The Mets situation seems rather odd to me. Are they buyers or sellers? Why trade Syndergaard with 3 cheap years left? Are they trying to get max value? Do they know something that nobody else does? Are they just putting their feelers out to see if they can get a Sale-like return? The next few weeks are going to be fun!

Something like Kepler, Graterol, Gordon and Garver might be enticing enough to the Mets, and we would be able to keep Lewis and Kiriloff. ...but i'm guessing it's going to take one of the two to headline a package.

Fair enough and good take-thanks for the response. To me, going all in doesn't have to include making hamstringing decisions. It simply means when opportunities rise, take advantage of them to your fullest ability. This might mean taking on an ugly 3 year contract or trading away a top 3 prospect to get three years of an ace. It might mean going over budget for a few years. I think you can go all in without killing your future...but like you said, the GM has to be reasoned in approach. (and for the record, I would not trade Royce for Bumgarner either. But for Noah, yes)

If you don't go ALL IN now, when do you? Or do you never go all in? This seems like the perfect storm. Just sayin.

The more I think about it, the more I am loving the idea of bringing in Greinke-as long as it is with Goldschmidt. Initially I was in the "no way do I want to spend 95 million on a 35-year old SP" camp. But after looking at some numbers, and projecting what both of these guys can do for us...I am in. Greinke is due 95.5 million over the next 3 years...basically 32/year. Let's say we non-tender Odorizzi, saving 9 million, and replace his spot in our rotation with any combo of Gonsalves/Mejia/Romero. Essentially, we'd be paying Greinke 23 this year and 32 the last two years. He has surpassed 200 innings 5 of the last 7 years. Some of you might say this is a bad thing-more miles, etc. etc, but he is a great athlete who has a history of being very durable. Let's say his drop looks something like this: 2019: 190 inn. 3.50 ERA. 175 SO. 15 wins. 2020: 175 inn. 3.75 ERA. 160 SO. 15 wins. 2021: 160 inn. 4.00 ERA. 150 SO. 13 wins. (you are more than welcome to project different numbers and share) I am not going to argue that he would be our best pitcher, but he would be our #2 this year and our #3 the last two years. I also have a feeling that if we ate his entire salary, we would receive Goldschmidt for very little. Berrios Greinke Gibson Pineda Romero (then Mejia/Gonsalves) We cut bait with Cron, putting that $ towards Goldy. He splits time at 1B and DH and hits .290 30/100 runs/100 RBI. We would still have money for one high quality RP and one high quality IF. We have to win the division NOW! *do this, then go get Noah for Royce or Kiriloff (yes, three years of cheap Noah is worth it).

I hope you are psychic and it was a Goldschmidt-ian Slip! Grossman-let go. I'd be willing to bet Wade can match what he can do or better. Odorizzi: let go. I like him, I really do. But 9-10 million can go a long way to an upgrade in the rotation. Please sign Rosario/Kepler/Buxton/Sano to as many long term deals as possible!

I'm not saying Bumgarner should be the only move-I'd like it to be a complimentary move to getting Noah (or as you say, signing a good FA SP). This way we would have a 3-headed monster at the top of the rotation. Yes, he is still very good. Is he top-5 pitcher in baseball like he used to be? No, but he is top 20 and is awesome in the playoffs. I think it would be an easier transition to the AL for him than many of you think. The Dodgers have a very american league-ish lineup. Pitching in Arizona and Colorado...not that easy.

You are right, we have a ton of question marks. However, this off-season seems to be a once-in-a-decade kind of off-season. Aces (who are cheap no less) are available via trade, and we have the farm to take advantage. A lot of depth at each position in FA. We have money. We have a weak division. This just seems like the perfect storm that we NEED to take advantage of.