What moves will be made this offseason??

[Ziggyy108]

So after hearing AA announce that Gibbons will be back next year, it looks like AA will be as well.

 

If we assume that everything stays close to the same on the management side ... What do you think AA will try and add to the roster. How much flexability is he going to have? Will Rogers allow him to continue to add to the payroll.

 

IMO the 3 biggest needs are obviously SP, C, 2B.

 

Thoughts?

[Laika]

What moves will be made, or should be made? Because those are probably drastically different things.

[ace3113]

I think we need to move some salary to give us more flexibility.

 

Candidates:

 

Santos (3.75mm)

Cabrera (8mm) unlikely

Morrow (8mm) + Happ (5.2mm) only if we use the savings to pursue an upgrade (Matt Garza?)

Lind (7mm or 2mm buyout)

Izturis (3mm)

Romero (7.5mm) unlikely

 

I think between Santos, Izturis, Happ we could scrape together at least another 12mm.

[Howard Roark]

What moves will be made, or should be made? Because those are probably drastically different things.

 

Mmm hmm. This is exactly where my pessimist, miserable **** of a brain went as well the moment I read the thread title.

[Laika]

pessimist, miserable **** of a brain

 

This is actually the first line on my resume, coincidentally

[Howard Roark]

This is actually the first line on my resume, coincidentally

 

 

I spent about 30 seconds trying to cook up a witty retort to this but came up empty.

[DuckDuckGose]

So after hearing AA announce that Gibbons will be back next year, it looks like AA will be as well.

 

If we assume that everything stays close to the same on the management side ... What do you think AA will try and add to the roster. How much flexability is he going to have? Will Rogers allow him to continue to add to the payroll.

 

IMO the 3 biggest needs are obviously SP, C, 2B.

 

Thoughts?

 

Brian McCann will be signed to a 6 year deal. A Carlos Ruiz/Josh Thole platoon should be Plan B.

JJ will walk.

Lind's option will be declined.

Rajai will walk and be replaced by one of Pillar or Gose. The other will be used as injury depth in AAA.

AA will continue to sell prospects and trade for Aramis Ramirez, Kyle Lohse and Yovanni Gallardo. Marlins trade 2.0.

 

Payroll will be in the $140M-$150M range.

Edited August 28, 2013 by DuckDuckGose
fixed the MIL trade

[Boxcar]

- JPA is given a 5/60 contract.

- Sign Roy Halladay for 2/25

- Sign Yuniesky Betancourt because he's probably a nice guy and looks like a Cabbage Patch Kid. Starting 2B.

- Let Josh Johnson sign a low cost incentive laden contract with the Rays or Cardinals.

- Trade for Jeff Locke. Maybe Gose + Osuna.

[Laika]

RE: Jeff Locke,

 

I wonder if AA would ever demote someone with 148.1 IP and a 3.22 ERA.

 

I mean, dat ERA man.

[Caper]

McCann isn't leaving Atlanta. The focus should be on Choo. And simply looking for a good defensive catcher with excellent framing stats. A Jose Molina would be fine. Overall we need to boost on base percentage for sure. Pitching I'm expecting internal improvement but not sure yet how they will address that. Nobody jumps out on the free agent market.

 

 

Like the Jose Molina? Or Jose Molina.

 

Jose Molina would be a pretty bad option at starting catcher.

[Convo]

I get the impression that JPA is AA's bitch (whether this relationship is sexual or not I can't say).

[Frenchsoup]

McCann isn't leaving Atlanta. The focus should be on Choo. And simply looking for a good defensive catcher with excellent framing stats. A Jose Molina would be fine. Overall we need to boost on base percentage for sure. Pitching I'm expecting internal improvement but not sure yet how they will address that. Nobody jumps out on the free agent market.

 

Well hes obviously going to test the market and see what he can get so i wouldn't be to sure he's leaving.

[KSaw]

1. McCann is unlikely staying with Atlanta. They aren't planning on giving him anything near that 6-year/ $90 million he's looking for, not with his injury history. He'll get $85 million and the 6 years I bet but not with Atlanta.

 

2. It's 100% that Lind's option is being picked up but that doesn't mean that he won't be traded after he's locked up.

 

Now I hope that the Jays land McCann and love that he hits left but I'm not holding my breath. Ruiz and Thole makes sense but where and how to dump JPA?

 

Trading Lind to Pittsburgh, maybe with some cash for Nick Kingham makes a ton of sense. This specific trade was suggested in Pittsburgh and I like it! Kingham, who is currently in AA is thought to be nearly MLB ready and 6-5 RHSPs are AA's type of pitcher. A cheap option to go with other cheap options like Hutchison and Drabek really would add enough depth at a low cost that catcher could become the focus.

 

Finally sign Beltran (this time around) and LF/DH can be handled between he and a healthier Melky.

[KSaw]

To clarify, I think that AA does trade Lind and does sign a FA outfielder/DH and I do think that he acquires a catcher. I also think that he keeps Josh Johnson, though he'll stab at Garza, likely coming up empty.

 

The specifics are just some logic based guesses. It's always more interesting to attach names.

 

- Sign Ruiz

- Non tender Arencibia or throw him into a Lind trade

- Sign Beltre

- Trade Lind for Kingham

- Qualify JJ

[KSaw]

I don't understand why Lind isn't being traded now. Are they really considering picking up his big option. I know his buyout is 2.5M and that's a significant buy out number because buyout numbers are usually around 500K. But he can't hit left-handed pitching why are they going to continue to run out a 7.5M platoon player. It's just a waste of resources. His numbers overall look good but hes either been really good or really bad this season. And hes been streaky like that for 3 straight years now. 2009 is far behind him. But you can't be telling me that teams like Texas and Pittsburgh aren't calling about him.

 

They are absolutely picking up his option. As for trading him now, take a look and you'll see that fewer players have been placed on waivers this year and very few have cleared. New age of communication and GMs have a pretty good idea of what others will do. Lind wouldn't clear.

[KSaw]

He's better than you're giving credit for. They are learning how to use him as well. Just an FYI, again this year Lind is only struggling v LH relief pitchers. He's hitting .318 with an .846 OPS against left handed starters this year. He is not a platoon player. He's a player who struggles against good loogys.

[TheHurl]

I think there will be several moves done for more PR purposes than baseball sense...that is all

[KSaw]

He's also well over .300 v leftys on the road but under .100 at home. It's not a home/ road thing. It's a starter/ reliever thing.

[TheHurl]

He's better than you're giving credit for. They are learning how to use him as well. Just an FYI, again this year Lind is only struggling v LH relief pitchers. He's hitting .318 with an .846 OPS against left handed starters this year. He is not a platoon player. He's a player who struggles against good loogys.

 

completely incorrect

[TheHurl]

You really shouldn't be looking at single-season splits.

 

No one should be looking at B/R's vs. starter splits at all as they aren't splits.

 

vs Starter batting splits are for the entire game when the starter was LH or RH. These splits include any subsequent plate appearances against a reliever regardless of their throwing hand. These splits are a proxy for platoon splits for seasons we lack play-by-play data. from GL team pitching splits indicate how batters did against the team and use the batter's overall batting handedness for this split.

[KSaw]

This year the numbers are more dramatic and the sample size likely has much to do with that. Over his career he has always had more success with left handed starters v relievers. And it's not just the numbers, which show it, but the the swings and quality of at bats too. You'd have to ask Adam as to why but he's always been lost v LHRP. He's also had a bit if success, at least good swings vs the starters.

[KSaw]

Take a step further- Lind career in his first at bat in a game v a lefty bats under .200. In a 2nd or 3rd or 4th or 5th AB v a lefty in a game he bats near .300.

[KSaw]

So basically what your saying is have a decent lefty in the pen for Lind in important late game situation and he becomes useless. Middle of the order bats aren't suppose to be pinch hit for. The sad part is I actually liked when Gibbons would let DeRosa hit for Lind. Hes not a 7.5M dollar player. Buy him out sign him cheaper I'm fine with. Otherwise kick rocks. I'd rather move him now anywhere save that 2.5 million. Bring in an everyday 1B. Or if they were smart move Bautista to 1B and bring in Choo for RF. if we added Choo. Gose could hit 9th and play CF for me anyday. Would allow Colby to slide right into LF. Davis can be brought back to face lefties. Have him play LF and Colby slides back over to CF with Gose out.

 

I don't care if we have Melky on the roster. If he can't move anymore hes pretty much useless.

 

Pretty much. He's a decent and yet flawed hitter. He is horrible in his first AB v a lefty in a game. Do you throw the baby out with the bath water or do you use him in situations set up for success? I say trade him after picking up the option.

[KSaw]

Starting 1b? Encarnacion. Beltran is an amazing fit. St. Louis are letting him walk and he's a perfect fit in the AL at his age. He keeps hitting and 3 of his best friends play for Toronto. He might even have 3-4 years left if he DHs some. Age doesn't matter if you can get 2-4 good years from a player. And while I think that this is an old team, Lind moved for a young and blocked pitcher and Beltran/ Melky at LF/ DH is pretty darn good.

 

Lets be honest, we all know that the Jays are loaded with mistake hitters. Beltran is a professional hitter. He gets on base v good pitching. I'd be thrilled to see a lineup next year that started with Reyes and had (switch hitters) Melky or Beltran 2 and 5, with Bautista and EE 3-4. Toss in the coming of age Tattooed Canadian in the 5-hole, followed by Rasmus and 2014 looks much better.

[KSaw]

At Jonn- word out of Cinci is that Choo will sign and Hamilton will be auctioned off and sold high.

[Frenchsoup]

Starting 1b? Encarnacion. Beltran is an amazing fit. St. Louis are letting him walk and he's a perfect fit in the AL at his age. He keeps hitting and 3 of his best friends play for Toronto. He might even have 3-4 years left if he DHs some. Age doesn't matter if you can get 2-4 good years from a player. And while I think that this is an old team, Lind moved for a young and blocked pitcher and Beltran/ Melky at LF/ DH is pretty darn good.

 

Lets be honest, we all know that the Jays are loaded with mistake hitters. Beltran is a professional hitter. He gets on base v good pitching. I'd be thrilled to see a lineup next year that started with Reyes and had (switch hitters) Melky or Beltran 2 and 5, with Bautista and EE 3-4. Toss in the coming of age Tattooed Canadian in the 5-hole, followed by Rasmus and 2014 looks much better.

 

Only problem with that is you cant expect ee to play 162 games at first base and hold up same with melky.

[KSaw]

Only problem with that is you cant expect ee to play 162 games at first base and hold up same with melky.

 

Yes but Bautista can and has played 1b. And really, if a 1b is really needed short term, they aren't hard to find. Even DeRosa plays 1b and while I wouldn't have him back, it seems to be the club's path. Anyway, let's look at my potential depth chart...

 

C- Ruiz, Thole

1B- Encarnacion, Bautista, DeRosa

2B- Izturis, DeRosa, Goins

3B- Lawrie, Izturis, DeRosa

SS- Reyes, Izturis, Goins

LF- Beltran, Cabrera, Gose

CF- Rasmus, Gose, Beltran

RF- Bautista, Gose, Beltran

DH- Cabrera, Beltran, Bautista, Encarnacion, DeRosa

 

* substitute Kawasaki for Goins depending on who wins out in ST.

 

** add 13 pitcher or extra bat

 

- And honesty, Drabek has exceeded expectations thus far off two Tommy John Surgeries and I'd bet that he'd be enough to land Chris Owings from Arizona. Owings could be the 24th-25th man, if not beat out Izturis at 2b. He'd certainly be the 2b of the future, if not the shortstop down the road.

Edited August 29, 2013 by KSaw

[DuckDuckGose]

Choo is a Boras client, he's not coming to Toronto. He would be a good fit though.

 

I agree that they don't need a star at C, just an actual starting quality player. I think McCann is open to leaving Atlanta. He'll probably be in pinstripes of he leaves though.

[KSaw]

Choo is a Boras client, he's not coming to Toronto. He would be a good fit though.

 

I agree that they don't need a star at C, just an actual starting quality player. I think McCann is open to leaving Atlanta. He'll probably be in pinstripes of he leaves though.

 

I think that it's pretty clear that McCann is leaving. Philly are rumoured to be interested but hate that he bats left with their lineup. The Yanks, Red Sox, Pirates and Mariners will on be in.

[Boxcar]

Take a step further- Lind career in his first at bat in a game v a lefty bats under .200. In a 2nd or 3rd or 4th or 5th AB v a lefty in a game he bats near .300.

 

And this doesn't seem like statistical noise to you?