Offseason Roster Thread 2016-17

[Pendleton]

Hip surgery doesn't scare you at all? Anyone think there's a chance rowdy gets a look in June?

 

The hip thing didn't come up, was just responding to the issue of K rate. I don't know enough about his medical history or current health to have an opinion on that.

 

I don't see Rowdy starting the year with the big club even if he rakes in ST. May see him over the course of the season though.

[bzapple]

Coghlan and Moss are probably the best value signings available (especially Coghlan, who could quite possibly put up 2 war in a platoon role at ultra low cost).

 

I'd be on board with a Coghlan signing, provided he's available late in the offseason for a couple mil with maybe incentives.

[Terminator]

This team looks like s*** right now and we are now discussing Chris Coughlan as a way to improve the team. Disappointing offseason so far.

[intentional wok]

Valbuena please. He has a bat and some versatility. And probably more upside than most of the options available.

 

He plays 1B vs. RHP. Pearce plays LF.

 

Pearce plays 1B vs. LHP. Upton plays LF.

 

Sign Moss and whoever to platoon in RF.

 

Barney backs up 2B/SS. Valbuena can play 3B.

 

Dump Smoak.

 

Love the idea of nabbing Valbuena. NJH made a good case in one of his idea threads too.

 

One more lineup involves getting Donaldson off hos feet too:

 

Donaldson - DH

Morales - 1B

Valbuena - 3B

Pearce - LF

 

I think that's a really nice little loop, and minimizes how many below average hitters get a full game's worth of ABs when the team inevitably needs to give the best player a breather.

 

I do still wonder if Bautista has the chops to play 3B? He might want to consider a short term deal and show the league he can be a corner-utility type (+ the great bat obvs).

[Terminator]

 

I do still wonder if Bautista has the chops to play 3B? He might want to consider a short term deal and show the league he can be a corner-utility type (+ the great bat obvs).

 

What? lol you cannot be serious

[intentional wok]

What? lol

 

Well he used to cover 3B until he went to the OF. Stranger things have happened, and his suitors seem pretty much non-existent with his OF play seemingly being a factor. Could be a right-handed Valbuena situation, but obviously the better bat (and more age). He doesn't have a lot of time to re-direct his career though, admittedly.

[BTS]

Well he used to cover 3B until he went to the OF. Stranger things have happened, and his suitors seem pretty much non-existent with his OF play seemingly being a factor. Could be a right-handed Valbuena situation, but obviously the better bat (and more age). He doesn't have a lot of time to re-direct his career though, admittedly.

 

Can he even throw?

[intentional wok]

I don't know. That's why I said I wonder if he has the chops.

[burlingtonbandit]

Can he even throw?

 

I think the range is the more concerning aspect. The infield throwing motion is a little different than the outfield so he could likely get by.

 

But with Donaldson here I don't know why you would even ask him to play 3rd when he would only get a few games there anyway.

[Terminator]

Well he used to cover 3B until he went to the OF. Stranger things have happened, and his suitors seem pretty much non-existent with his OF play seemingly being a factor. Could be a right-handed Valbuena situation, but obviously the better bat (and more age). He doesn't have a lot of time to re-direct his career though, admittedly.

 

He was pretty bad at 3B back when he was in his 20's and it was his main position.

 

What on earth makes you think that at age 36 with a bum shoulder he could go back to playing 3B after not playing the position for years?

[King]

This team looks like s*** right now and we are now discussing Chris Coughlan as a way to improve the team. Disappointing offseason so far.

 

Not sure what you expected them to do other than re-sign Bautista (who could still re-sign) and EE, who turned down the Jays offer. We had a full SP rotation at the start of the offseason. Pearce, Morales, Gurriel were all good signings. Sparkman looks like a good rule 5 pick. And there is still more to come, certainly.

[brianf]

Not sure what you expected them to do other than re-sign Bautista (who could still re-sign) and EE, who turned down the Jays offer. We had a full SP rotation at the start of the offseason. Pearce, Morales, Gurriel were all good signings. Sparkman looks like a good rule 5 pick. And there is still more to come, certainly.

 

Agree that there is more to come...hopefully at least. But saying that the offseason hasn't been a disappointment is wrong in my opinion. As it stands, we are worse off now then at the end of last season. We've decreased our 1b/dh and haven't solved or improved the other holes. So yes, so far the offseason has been a disappointment.

[King]

Agree that there is more to come...hopefully at least. But saying that the offseason hasn't been a disappointment is wrong in my opinion. As it stands, we are worse off now then at the end of last season. We've decreased our 1b/dh and haven't solved or improved the other holes. So yes, so far the offseason has been a disappointment.

 

I asked what he reasonable expected them to do that they haven't to date. Reddick would have been nice, People here were pounding the table for Pearce. Not everyone was committed to bringing back EE and Bautista. There will probably be a reliever signing or two and a veteran backup catcher signing, and possibly one more OF.

[Terminator]

Not sure what you expected them to do other than re-sign Bautista (who could still re-sign) and EE, who turned down the Jays offer. We had a full SP rotation at the start of the offseason. Pearce, Morales, Gurriel were all good signings. Sparkman looks like a good rule 5 pick. And there is still more to come, certainly.

 

It's not so much a criticism of Atkins. It's just general disapointment in how this offseason is turning out. For example, Fowler got a good deal from the Cards. I don't blame Atkins for not beating that offer but it is a bummer we lost out on him. Seems like we might have been close if it weren't for the Cardinals. I get the EE situation, both sides can share some blame although I think Atkins giving him a quick take it or leave it offer and then moving on seems to be more egregious then EE trying to at least field a few offers first. We've just had some missed opportunities and it's turning this offseason to a mediocre one IMO.

 

As for what we've done, I'm not sold on Morales being a good signing, the 3rd year kind of bugs me and EE signed for 65 million with a team option for 15 which would have been better. It also could stop us from signing Bautista. If we do bring him back he won't be DH'ing much as we have a full time one now. I don't think the Morales signing is horrible and I get them pouncing on him but Atkins misread the market IMO.

 

Pearce and Gurriel I both liked a lot. I have no idea about Sparkman, if you think he's good I'll take your word for it but he's hardly impactful. More is to come I agree- this team has Upton and Zeke penciled in as OF starters right now. But other than Bautista there aren't really any good players in FA. There are some average ones like Moss. The only thing that could really turn this from a meh offseason in to a good one will be through trade. Those are hard to gauge in advance as a fan so we'll just have to wait and see.

[RealAccountant]

Not sure what you expected them to do other than re-sign Bautista (who could still re-sign) and EE, who turned down the Jays offer. We had a full SP rotation at the start of the offseason. Pearce, Morales, Gurriel were all good signings. Sparkman looks like a good rule 5 pick. And there is still more to come, certainly.

 

What's with this there is more to come. There isn't anything left unless you are talking about trades. Trading for players we could have had for money alone but instead giving up assets

[Terminator]

There will probably be a reliever signing or two and a veteran backup catcher signing, and possibly one more OF.

 

If that's all we do from here on out then this offseason will be a dud. And an OF signing should be a must IMO, not possible.

 

The way this is shaping up Justin Smoak is going to be a full time player.

[King]

What's with this there is more to come. There isn't anything left unless you are talking about trades. Trading for players we could have had for money alone but instead giving up assets

 

I expect the team will upgrade the bullpen and backup catcher, and possibly add one more OF.

[Terminator]

I expect the team will upgrade the bullpen and backup catcher, and possibly add one more OF.

 

You'd be satisfied with that?

[King]

If that's all we do from here on out then this offseason will be a dud. And an OF signing should be a must IMO, not possible.

 

The way this is shaping up Justin Smoak is going to be a full time player.

 

Well that's just semantics. None of us know if the team will add an outfielder or not, but it is a possibility

[RealAccountant]

I expect the team will upgrade the bullpen and backup catcher, and possibly add one more OF.

 

Lol

[Terminator]

Well that's just semantics. None of us know if the team will add an outfielder or not, but it is a possibility

 

If we don't add at least one OFer this offseason will be an F. Really, we need 2 OFers and you're talking about possibly adding one.

 

Depending on where they put Pearce, if we don't add an OFer, 2 of Upton, Zeke, Smoak, and Pompey will be full-time players. If Pearce and Smoak really do platoon then you're looking at 3 of those guys being full-time players or near full-time players. I think we will definitely pick up an OF.

[King]

You'd be satisfied with that?

 

If we added all of those to what we have done so far then sure. Fowler would have been nice but it didn't happen. Eaton we didn't have the pieces. I'm not losing sleep over this. Who are realistic OF options still available?

[burlingtonbandit]

I think you need 2 OFers. You can't talk about saying the goal is to be as good as possible and have 2 if Upton/Zeke/Smoak playing everyday.

[brianf]

Who are realistic OF options still available?

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/freeagents/_/position/of

 

Not a ton of decent FA OF'er options left.

[Terminator]

If we added all of those to what we have done so far then sure. Fowler would have been nice but it didn't happen. Eaton we didn't have the pieces. I'm not losing sleep over this. Who are realistic OF options still available?

 

We'd be losing projected 3 and 4 WAR players and replacing them with 1 and 2 WAR players despite having money and despite those 3 and 4 WAR players signing for reasonable amounts. You are pretty easy to please.

 

Moss or Pagan are probably the best options in FA but I'm not sure they are a whole lot better than in-house options. Pompey is projected to be a better player than both. Probably need to make a trade.

[Terminator]

I think you need 2 OFers. You can't talk about saying the goal is to be as good as possible and have 2 if Upton/Zeke/Smoak playing everyday.

 

I agree with you but I'm not sold that the FO thinks that we need two OFers. Surely they will get one though.

[jays_fever]

Upton is probably good enough to play everyday if someone else goes down but going into the season with him starting is pretty gross

[King]

We'd be losing projected 3 and 4 WAR players and replacing them with 1 and 2 WAR players despite having money and despite those 3 and 4 WAR players signing for reasonable amounts. You are pretty easy to please.

 

Moss or Pagan are probably the best options in FA but I'm not sure they are a whole lot better than in-house options. Pompey is projected to be a better player than both. Probably need to make a trade.

 

I just don't see an easy way for this roster to be retained, going back to the start of the offseason. The team projects to win 82 games so in a sense that is a disappointment compared to last season.

[Pendleton]

Upton is probably good enough to play everyday if someone else goes down but going into the season with him starting is pretty gross

 

Not saying either is ideal by any means, but a Carerra/Upton platoon is > Upton playing every day.

[burlingtonbandit]

I agree with you but I'm not sold that the FO thinks that we need two OFers. Surely they will get one though.

 

Unless you play Pearce in the OF vs RHP but thats a pretty big risk there too given his injury history + that would mean Smoak everyday. Reminds me of going into 2014 with Goins at 2nd base.