I agree with what you are saying but the Cubs probably would have still done the deal they just would have paid him more and would be on the line for more guaranteed money IMO. Giving him player options shaves a few million of you would have to assume. If he would have had two good years and then opted out and then he sucked it would have worked out fantastic for them.
Player options make sense in certain circumstances. Yes, Jason Heyward's looks terrible right now but if the Cubs could have gotten him without the player option they would have just done it anyway.
Yeah I am 100% for stretching Biagini out. Him and Bolsinger as the #6 and #7 to go along with the great 5 is a good start to having depth. We were so lucky this year to not have any pitching injuries. That will be hard to replicate next season.
I hear ya. But Sanchez's stuff looks pretty legit. He doesn't have a track record because he's really young. I think he's a good bet to be pretty good the next 4 years. Injuries with pitchers are always a concern though so I agree with you on that.
Calhoun has a track record but we'll see how he ages. His bat is good but it's not special, his value is largely tied up in his defense. Turning 30 next year.
I also think the market has plenty of starting caliber corner OF players. The pitching market is junk. Further makes Sanchez more valuable IMO. And of course Sanchez is a lot younger which could allow us the ability to lock him up for a lot longer than we would have Calhoun. Not sure how much that is worth though.
Man just looking at the FA list again and it's actually got a lot of options where we have needs (corner OF, DH, RP) but it's dog s*** where we have strengths (3B, SS, 2B, SP).
Thanks. He makes some pretty good points. Trading Martin (old and bad contract) and Estrada (old and one year left) wouldn't be a bad idea. Happ and Tulo could be shopped as well. This team is old and there isn't a ton in the pipeline. We definitely need to try and get younger. Just throwing this out there but dealing old guys like Martin and Estrada and then signing younger replacements who may not be as good but are cheaper or will have similar AAV (a good pitch framer like Jason Castro and perhaps Ivan Nova) might make some sense.
I'm not really sure locking up Donaldson to a big fat contract while they punt and rebuild on his final two prime years is very smart though. I'd prefer they just retool.
I agree with you. Just leave Osuna as the CL and then use one of those two as the fireman. Come playoff time just pitch them almost every single game.
RP get hurt a lot less often too, don't they? Could be a better investment from an injury risk standpoint.
If the Jays wanted to build an elite bullpen this is the year to do it with several of the top relief pitchers on the market.
Would anyone here consider signing a Chapman or Jansen? How much would it even cost to do that?
Whoever mentioned Ian Desmond earlier I agree with. Would love to fill a need with a multi-positional guy.
Say Travis gets hurt you could move Desmond from the OF to 2B and then call up Pompey to platoon with Upton in the OF.
If we are looking at cheap options for a corner OF spot, Jon Jay's average bat and average glove would be an option. Bats left-handed as well.
EDIT: Yeah Pagan is another cheap option BTS.
Well the thinking is you could likely get a very good hitter with positional flexibility on a 2 year deal with a low AAV. If he breaks the bank no of course we don't want him.