Reducing the roster probably wouldn't do much, you'd just see more emphasis on flexible position players and the pens would stay the say. Making teams play every day in the playoffs (like they basically do in the regular season) would help a lot. Also, finding some way to reduce the insane number of pitching changes would be nice. Maybe you have to face 3 batters or the end of an inning (or injury) before you can be replaced. Seeing 3 or 4 pitching changes an inning really sucks.
Yeah, I was looking more at offensive profile admittedly for his first two full seasons. That seems like a fairly realistic lower end offensive comp to me though. You're right, he likely won't provide above average defense.
I would say Espinosa at the lower end and Kelly Johnson at the mid range are realistic comps. Not sure for realistic upper range, but Rickie Weeks seems like as good a suggestion as anyone else. Hopefully he'll take another big step forward and blow those out of the water, but even if he doesn't he still likely helps our big league team.
Well the ceiling could certainly be someone like Zobrist, but it's highly unlikely he actually reaches it. Someone like a Danny Espinosa is probably a realistic outcome, but of course we can hope for better.
I have the following available cheap if anyone has any interest:
John Hicks, Moreland, Pedroia, Munoz, Longoria, Villanueva, Matt Duffy, Kiermaier, Daniel Norris, Brian Johnson, Cotton.
I don't know why the hell they didn't bring Kimbrel in in the 9th. He was already warm, and it's f***ing Fenway. What are you gonna do, keep him for a magical home team extra innings save? There's an off day Monday, absolutely no reason not to bring him in there unless he's hurting or something.
The best thing they could do is eliminate the off days during a series. So you have to travel across country? Big whoop, it's the same for both teams. No off days and the bullpen strategy becomes a lot less viable (not to mention you might actually have to use more than 3 starters even if you don't). The added benefit is you probably aren't playing games in November either, since things aren't so drawn out.