Around Baseball 2023

[BTS]

The Yankees will buy pitching to round out their rotation behind Cole (and maybe Rodon next year). But I have no idea where their lineup is going to come from. How many position players do they have that you actually feel good about in 2024?

 

CF - Judge

SS - Volpe

2B - Torres (FA after the season).

 

Maybe Oswald Peraza, but he's far from blue chip.

 

It looks very Angels to me.

[Jonn]

The Yankees will buy pitching to round out their rotation behind Cole (and maybe Rodon next year). But I have no idea where their lineup is going to come from. How many position players do they have that you actually feel good about in 2024?

 

CF - Judge

SS - Volpe

2B - Torres (FA after the season).

 

Maybe Oswald Peraza, but he's far from blue chip.

 

It looks very Angels to me.

 

Can Volpe even be considered a cornerstone when she’s absolute s*** at the plate. Feel he’s a complete nothing burger.

[Brownie19]

Can Volpe even be considered a cornerstone when she’s absolute s*** at the plate. Feel he’s a complete nothing burger.

 

I think there's enough pedigree and age/level results there to project him to be a cornerstone for the team.

[BTS]

Can Volpe even be considered a cornerstone when she’s absolute s*** at the plate. Feel he’s a complete nothing burger.

 

He's going to put up a ~2.5 win season at 22. He's, at minimum, a very good SS defender with really good speed and an intriguing bat. FG just had him 27th in their trade value series.

[Laika]

Can Volpe even be considered a cornerstone when she’s absolute s*** at the plate. Feel he’s a complete nothing burger.

 

He has some borderline stuff in his profile so he could go either way (improve or get exposed). But he will end up around 2 WAR this year and will project for 3+ going forward based on age and stats.

 

88 wRC+ is not really "absolute s***" for a 22 year old infielder.

 

But his K rate and mediocre maxEV make me think stardom is much less likely than Yankee fans were hoping for. Kind of has some Jon Villar, Ian Desmond-ish vibes...

[L54]

Volpe is fine, Bobby Witt lite sort of player

 

No prospects unless Spencer Jones turns into Aaron Judge again. I think Dominguez is the most overrated prospect in baseball. Things are looking bleeeeak

[metafour]

He's going to put up a ~2.5 win season at 22. He's, at minimum, a very good SS defender with really good speed and an intriguing bat. FG just had him 27th in their trade value series.

 

He's a guy being carried by defense, but it's not like we have long-term data to conclude that his current defensive output is actually going to remain consistent year over year. He really wasn't a good hitter in a short stint at AAA, and in AA he put up a good but not amazing 122 wRC+. His batting average from AA to now: .256, .236, .212.

 

We'll see how he develops, but he looks like a guy that got overrated big time after his performance in A/A+.

[G-Snarls]

Yankees being bad for decade would be great for Baseball. Will alllow other brands to flourish.

 

Like the Orioles!

 

FML

[BigCecil]

There’s no way they’re trading Judge their fans would burn the place down

 

I get that. Those fans are rabid for winning. Same as Red Sox Nation. On its most negative day on the Jays, this Board is supportive by their standards.

 

I guess Judge being moved would be on par maybe with Betts leaving the Bosox?

 

If they make tough moves and win, all is forgiven. If they make tough moves and don't win, there will be met by pitchforks at the gates...for real.

[Olerud363]

Can Volpe even be considered a cornerstone when sheÂ’s absolute s*** at the plate. Feel heÂ’s a complete nothing burger.

 

He is going to get 2.5 WAR with a .210 average... the average is probably fluke. This is likely a very good player.

 

Jason Dominquez also looks weak but is probably fine too, just young for the level. Next year it will could be obvious these guys are super stars and the Yankees don't miss a beat.

[keggy]

I get that. Those fans are rabid for winning. Same as Red Sox Nation. On its most negative day on the Jays, this Board is supportive by their standards.

 

I guess Judge being moved would be on par maybe with Betts leaving the Bosox?

 

If they make tough moves and win, all is forgiven. If they make tough moves and don't win, there will be met by pitchforks at the gates...for real.

 

From a PR standpoint trading Judge would be like trading Jeter. It will never ever happen.

[Brownie19]

What are the Tigers going to do with Javy Baez? Good god.

 

Also - Belt and Noda are having nearly identical seasons, which is a bit ironic.

[jaysblue]

The Yankees will buy pitching to round out their rotation behind Cole (and maybe Rodon next year). But I have no idea where their lineup is going to come from. How many position players do they have that you actually feel good about in 2024?

 

CF - Judge

SS - Volpe

2B - Torres (FA after the season).

 

Maybe Oswald Peraza, but he's far from blue chip.

 

It looks very Angels to me.

 

Stanton has turned into a pumpkin. He's a .230/.280/.430 guy now which is awful.

 

Only way the Yankees turn it around is if they offer huge money to Ohtani which is still a possibility. He would check off a lot of boxes - big middle of the order bat and ace pitcher. Having him and Judge in the same lineup and him with Cole paired up as a 1-2 punch would definitely be fun to watch and would make them relevant again as AL East favourites. As a Jays fan wouldn't want to see it though.

[jaysblue]

What are the Tigers going to do with Javy Baez? Good god.

 

Also - Belt and Noda are having nearly identical seasons, which is a bit ironic.

 

Baez has to be one of the worst contracts in baseball.

 

Even during his glory days with the Cubs, I was never a fan. His .OBP skills have always been awful.

[jaysblue]

From a PR standpoint trading Judge would be like trading Jeter. It will never ever happen.

 

Judge will be a Yankee forever.

 

Even as he gets older, which team is going to want that contract.

[L54]

Stanton has turned into a pumpkin. He's a .230/.280/.430 guy now which is awful.

 

Only way the Yankees turn it around is if they offer huge money to Ohtani which is still a possibility. He would check off a lot of boxes - big middle of the order bat and ace pitcher. Having him and Judge in the same lineup and him with Cole paired up as a 1-2 punch would definitely be fun to watch and would make them relevant again as AL East favourites. As a Jays fan wouldn't want to see it though.

 

Don’t see it. Ohtani doesn’t make them the best team in the East. I mean the only thing not making them the Angels in that situation is they already have an ace in Cole.

[BTS]

Stanton has turned into a pumpkin. He's a .230/.280/.430 guy now which is awful.

 

Only way the Yankees turn it around is if they offer huge money to Ohtani which is still a possibility. He would check off a lot of boxes - big middle of the order bat and ace pitcher. Having him and Judge in the same lineup and him with Cole paired up as a 1-2 punch would definitely be fun to watch and would make them relevant again as AL East favourites. As a Jays fan wouldn't want to see it though.

 

Imagine Ohtani with the short porch in Yankee Stadium...

[Terminator]

The favorites to sign Ohtani:

1. Dodgers - they check all the boxes

 

In the mix:

2. Mets - Cohen money

3. Padres - West Coast team and an owner willing to spend

4. Yankees - could pony up the money and if he wants to be the greatest ever this would help him achieve that

5. Giants - west coast team who could pony up the money

 

It's possible:

6. Boston Red Sox - could pony up the money and it's a good market for him but why go here instead of yankees

7. Texas Rangers - could pony up the money

8. Chicago Cubs - good market for him, could have money

 

Extremely unlikely but conceivable:

Phillies

Mariners

Cardinals

Astros

Braves

Blue Jays

Angels

 

Nope:

everyone else

[Brownie19]

It will be interesting to see how Stanton finishes his career. If he plays until he's 40, he very well could reach 600 home runs with <60 career WAR and not make the HOF. That said, he's been so injury prone that it's difficult to see him playing until he's 40.

[BTS]

It will be interesting to see how Stanton finishes his career. If he plays until he's 40, he very well could reach 600 home runs with <60 career WAR and not make the HOF. That said, he's been so injury prone that it's difficult to see him playing until he's 40.

 

I wanted to see Edwin or Nelson Cruz get to 500 just to see if it's still an automatic HoF ticket

[jaysblue]

Imagine Ohtani with the short porch in Yankee Stadium...

 

As a Jays fan I wouldn't want to haha.

 

But he would be a perfect fit in Pinstripes the more I think about it.

[Terminator]

Would Ohtani want to play the OF for his next team? Could be a carrot to dangle to him.

 

Also, if the Yanks signed him I wonder what they would do with Stanton. They'd almost have to play Ohtani in the OF or eat 3/4 of Stanton's contract to move him.

[jaysblue]

The favorites to sign Ohtani:

1. Dodgers - they check all the boxes

 

In the mix:

2. Mets - Cohen money

3. Padres - West Coast team and an owner willing to spend

4. Yankees - could pony up the money and if he wants to be the greatest ever this would help him achieve that

5. Giants - west coast team who could pony up the money

 

It's possible:

6. Boston Red Sox - could pony up the money and it's a good market for him but why go here instead of yankees

7. Texas Rangers - could pony up the money

8. Chicago Cubs - good market for him, could have money

 

Extremely unlikely but conceivable:

Phillies

Mariners

Cardinals

Astros

Braves

Blue Jays

Angels

 

Nope:

everyone else

 

Yeah I still would rank the Dodgers as the favourites given them being on the west coast and always being competitive every season.

 

Yankees would be second favourites IMO. Like you said, if he puts on the Pinstripes, he has a chance to be seen as one of the greatest all time. Especially with that short porch, playing in a big market like New York, and playing in the same uniform as some of the All-time greats. Playing in a Yankee uniform is always prestigious.

[Laika]

It will be interesting to see how Stanton finishes his career. If he plays until he's 40, he very well could reach 600 home runs with <60 career WAR and not make the HOF. That said, he's been so injury prone that it's difficult to see him playing until he's 40.

 

I don't think he has a chance at 600 HR. He'd have to have a MASSIVE positive turnaround in health and then average like 33 HR for the next six years before retiring.

[jaysblue]

It will be interesting to see how Stanton finishes his career. If he plays until he's 40, he very well could reach 600 home runs with <60 career WAR and not make the HOF. That said, he's been so injury prone that it's difficult to see him playing until he's 40.

 

Yeah wouldn't surprise me if he has 1-2 seasons where he only plays 50 games because of injuries.

 

500 for sure is reachable. 600 is doable but tough. If he plays every season until he's 40 like you said, stays healthy and hits around 30 HR's which he's capable of doing, then its a possibility.

 

Stanton has been such a huge disappointment though. When he came up with the Marlins, thought he was going to be the next Manny. He wasn't even that old as well when he started to decline.

[BigCecil]

I wanted to see Edwin or Nelson Cruz get to 500 just to see if it's still an automatic HoF ticket

 

Me too. Nelson Cruz, even if got to 500, would have to overcome his 2013 50 game PED suspension.

[jaysblue]

I wanted to see Edwin or Nelson Cruz get to 500 just to see if it's still an automatic HoF ticket

 

If Bautista had a couple of elite seasons before he turned 29, do you think he would be HoF worthy?

[L54]

The Mariners should be big players for Ohtani. Let him play RF and bring him on board. They can spend and they are the league’s biggest Asian market

[Terminator]

The Mariners should be big players for Ohtani. Let him play RF and bring him on board. They can spend and they are the league’s biggest Asian market

 

They check a ton of boxes but they aren't necessarily big spenders. And the location is good in that it's on the West Coast but it's also the most remote MLB team so they have to travel a ton for all of their games.

 

It's not impossible though. Maybe I should have moved them up to the next tier on my list.

[Brownie19]

I don't think he has a chance at 600 HR. He'd have to have a MASSIVE positive turnaround in health and then average like 33 HR for the next six years before retiring.

 

He just needs to start drinking whatever Nelson Cruz did...he went from injury prone to a beast from age 33-40. If he matched Cruz (which it's highly doubtful he could) from age 34-40, he'd finish with about 650 HRs.