Mlbtraderumors: zobrist?

[SAAviour]

Who's in?

 

Versatile Rays infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist suffered a dislocated left thumb in today’s action, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (links to Twitter). A brief trip to the DL seems likely, though the injury does not appear to be a long-term concern. Through 177 plate appearances, Zobrist owned an effective (but low for his standards) .258/.352/.364 line with three home runs and three stolen bases. Discussing the struggling Tampa club in a piece for Grantland earlier today, Jonah Keri wrote that Zobrist, who is earning just $7MM this year, could potentially become a trade piece if the Rays cannot turn things around. His contract, long one of the most team-friendly in the game, includes a club option for next season at $7.5MM (with a $500K buyout).

 

What would it take? I know, it will never happen......

[over500]

AA dealing with Friedman lol

[FireAlexAnthopoulos]

In before Friedman somehow tricks AA into trading Bautista and Encarnacion for Zobrist.

[cusstown]

People still blowing Friedman here? His draft results since 2010 have been poor, and his major league team is now in last place with talk of trading Zobrist and Price.

[KingKat]

People still blowing Friedman here? His draft results since 2010 have been poor, and his major league team is now in last place with talk of trading Zobrist and Price.

 

Friedman could turn things around pretty quickly if he gets a good return on those trades. The system could definitely use the injection of talent those two could bring.

[BlueJaysGirl]

People still blowing Friedman here? His draft results since 2010 have been poor, and his major league team is now in last place with talk of trading Zobrist and Price.

 

The lack of compensation A and B picks will start hurting Tampa sooner than later. I think those picks have kept the Rays afloat for a while.

[KingKat]

The lack of compensation A and B picks will start hurting Tampa sooner than later. I think those picks have kept the Rays afloat for a while.

 

Bingo. It's a lot easier to have a good drafting record when you have the luxury of volume covering up your mistakes. This is exactly how AA built the Jays system, almost all his good picks where compensation picks of some sort or another. It's hard to hit with just the regular picks. It's not impossible but it's considerably harder.

 

On a side note, how frustrating is it that the Cards get a competitive balance pick? They, not the Rays, are the best draft and development team. They really don't need that advantage.

[BlueJaysGirl]

Wuck? Why does that f***ing team get a competitive balance pick?

[shortstop]

People still blowing Friedman here? His draft results since 2010 have been poor, and his major league team is now in last place with talk of trading Zobrist and Price.

 

 

haven't followed the rays much but hasn't their starting rotation been beset by injuries?

[kgm1]

Bingo. It's a lot easier to have a good drafting record when you have the luxury of volume covering up your mistakes. This is exactly how AA built the Jays system, almost all his good picks where compensation picks of some sort or another. It's hard to hit with just the regular picks. It's not impossible but it's considerably harder.

 

On a side note, how frustrating is it that the Cards get a competitive balance pick? They, not the Rays, are the best draft and development team. They really don't need that advantage.

 

The cards draft well for sure but where they kick everyone else,s ASS is in development . The jays have a terrible record for development IMO . AA,s loyalty to people who obviously haven't performed just pisses me off.

[G-Snarls]

Wuck? Why does that f***ing team get a competitive balance pick?

 

That part of the system is severely flawed

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/07/2014-competitive-balance-lottery-results.html

[wilko]

Get Jeff Keppinger from the Sox.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

The cards draft well for sure but where they kick everyone else,s ASS is in development . The jays have a terrible record for development IMO . AA,s loyalty to people who obviously haven't performed just pisses me off.

 

Things change, teams that develop well or not can change, sometimes luck plays a big part as well. The Rays have some major obstacles now that are quite objectively worse then anything the Jays face moving forward. Their roster lacks offensive depth, their attendance is bad, their stadium is ill suited to success, and every recent report I've seen says their farm system is weak now. Baseball is cyclical and the Rays good cycle is more likely then not ending either in 2014 or 2015. It's up to management if they want to ride out Price's contract and "go all in" for 2015, or start moving pieces this season and rebuild. Remember, the Rays have their highest payroll ever this year, and they are in last place in a competitive division. Things could go sour overnight, I doubt they can buy themselves out of any issues and I'm not sure if their fan base will support a 70-75 game winner for three years.

[Angrioter]

Get Jeff Keppinger from the Sox.

 

Why?

.0001 ISO vs LHP

[wilko]

Things change, teams that develop well or not can change, sometimes luck plays a big part as well. The Rays have some major obstacles now that are quite objectively worse then anything the Jays face moving forward. Their roster lacks offensive depth, their attendance is bad, their stadium is ill suited to success, and every recent report I've seen says their farm system is weak now. Baseball is cyclical and the Rays good cycle is more likely then not ending either in 2014 or 2015. It's up to management if they want to ride out Price's contract and "go all in" for 2015, or start moving pieces this season and rebuild. Remember, the Rays have their highest payroll ever this year, and they are in last place in a competitive division. Things could go sour overnight, I doubt they can buy themselves out of any issues and I'm not sure if their fan base will support a 70 game winner for three years.

 

I'm shooting for a Rays collapse and they rage fire Maddon. He then signs with the Jays and Gibbers goes back to his home state where people can understand him.

 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Joe+Maddon+Tampa+Bay+Rays+Photo+Day+RI7rzAsVtD3l.jpg

[Angrioter]

I'm shooting for a Rays collapse and they rage fire Maddon. He then signs with the Jays and Gibbers goes back to his home state where people can understand him.

 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Joe+Maddon+Tampa+Bay+Rays+Photo+Day+RI7rzAsVtD3l.jpg

 

When the Rays raplece Maddon as manager, they'll name him president of the team.

[KingKat]

Because they have a small market. Why they should be penalized for making the most of their situation?

 

Yeah but net population size as a measure of the quality of a market is dumb. So many other factors play in to the quality of a market such as the location, quality and accessiblity of the facilities, franchise history, local culture, etc. The best system would be to get rid those picks altogether and make all picks tradeable.

[KingKat]

Things change, teams that develop well or not can change, sometimes luck plays a big part as well. The Rays have some major obstacles now that are quite objectively worse then anything the Jays face moving forward. Their roster lacks offensive depth, their attendance is bad, their stadium is ill suited to success, and every recent report I've seen says their farm system is weak now. Baseball is cyclical and the Rays good cycle is more likely then not ending either in 2014 or 2015. It's up to management if they want to ride out Price's contract and "go all in" for 2015, or start moving pieces this season and rebuild. Remember, the Rays have their highest payroll ever this year, and they are in last place in a competitive division. Things could go sour overnight, I doubt they can buy themselves out of any issues and I'm not sure if their fan base will support a 70-75 game winner for three years.

 

As long as the Rays are run by smarter people, I will never consider their situation worse than the Jays situation. Fire Beest and bring in someone smart and then the situation could be better.

[kgm1]

The Rays win 90+ games 5 times in 6 years on one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and now people are doubting their ability to compete going forward because they're off to an 18-23 start? Sounds about right for this forum.

 

LOL The Rays lose 3 of their starters and yet they are still only 5 games below 500. Plus because they have been winning they haven't had high draft picks . This may be a down year for them so they will get a boatload for Price and be right back in it next year .

[Anemic0ffense]

Over/Under - 5 sticky photos of Friedman under each board nerds bed...?

 

I say over.

[KingKat]

Over/Under - 5 sticky photos of Friedman under each board nerds bed...?

 

I say over.

 

What are the odds that you have an Obama dart board?

[Anemic0ffense]

What are the odds that you have an Obama dart board?

 

0. I don't hang treasonous presidents on my wall, even if it's to throw darts...

 

Back to the Rays worship

[TheHurl]

The Rays win 90+ games 5 times in 6 years on one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and now people are doubting their ability to compete going forward because they're off to an 18-23 start? Sounds about right for this forum.

 

Especially when they were .500 through 48 games last year (and dropped back to one game over .500 through 75 games). I If any team in the AL East throws up a 12 wins in 13 games like the Rays did last July, they might walk away with this division. Watching the Jays I have trouble seeing them do it...but then again the Rays games I've watched they haven't inspired any confidence either.

[TheHurl]

Over/Under - 5 sticky photos of Friedman under each board nerds bed...?

 

I say over.

 

Under the bed? What good does it do there? It's ceiling and it's still sticky

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

Especially when they were .500 through 48 games last year (and dropped back to one game over .500 through 75 games). I If any team in the AL East throws up a 12 wins in 13 games like the Rays did last July, they might walk away with this division. Watching the Jays I have trouble seeing them do it...but then again the Rays games I've watched they haven't inspired any confidence either.

 

The Rays are in worse shape this year. We'll see how they do now. Myers I suspected would drop back somewhat this year, and the pitching injuries are important ( impacts subsequent years too, in the same way that 2012 crushed our team ). I remain convinced that they will stay in last place this season, and it was a recent report about their farm system that got me thinking they have some really hard decisions going into 2015. We haven't seen how Tampa Bay will respond to a losing club in numerous years, Florida got hit hard by the recession.

 

Anybody's guess how they approach 2015, they haven't had to deal with adversity for a while.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

LOL The Rays lose 3 of their starters and yet they are still only 5 games below 500. Plus because they have been winning they haven't had high draft picks . This may be a down year for them so they will get a boatload for Price and be right back in it next year .

 

Decades ago, there were other franchises like the Twins, Pirates, and Jays that were consistently excellent ball teams that had good farm systems. Years went by and the fate of various teams took as complete 180. And it will happen again to numerous teams. Every sign out there suggests the Rays good cycle is coming to a close, good management might shorten the length of time to revamp the team but I doubt they can remain a contender during this process.

 

You seem to think getting value for Price will be easy. I don't think it will be. Most teams seem pretty skittish about trading top prospects these days.

[leaffie]

The Rays win 90+ games 5 times in 6 years on one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and now people are doubting their ability to compete going forward because they're off to an 18-23 start? Sounds about right for this forum.

 

 

 

 

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/tampa-bay-rays-last-place-al-east/

[Boxcar]

The Rays win 90+ games 5 times in 6 years on one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and now people are doubting their ability to compete going forward because they're off to an 18-23 start? Sounds about right for this forum.

 

How many WS wins? Check and mate.

[Deadpool]

Yeah but net population size as a measure of the quality of a market is dumb. So many other factors play in to the quality of a market such as the location, quality and accessiblity of the facilities, franchise history, local culture, etc. The best system would be to get rid those picks altogether and make all picks tradeable.

 

Please no... It'd work out well sometimes, but can you imagine how many first round draft picks Ricciardi would have pissed away on guys like Kevin Mench?

[KingKat]

Please no... It'd work out well sometimes, but can you imagine how many first round draft picks Ricciardi would have pissed away on guys like Kevin Mench?

 

Why should we protect GMs from their own stupidity?