Funky

Might be smart to keep Berrios if Bieber is having some issues. The Ponce acquisition and having Lauer around, at least gives us options. Should be need to be shut down for a while. The Santander news is what it is. He was one of our worst players last year and it might give a guy like Loperfido a few few more at bat to show what he’s really made of. It would be nice if he emerged it as a dark horse this year. It’s exciting to have baseball in the air again just need all this white s*** to melt so we can get back on the diamonds.

What do Clement and Gimenez splits look like? Clement loves lefties if I remember correctly and doesn’t Giminez really struggle against lefty’s. If you platoon them would they at least be an average at bat offensively?

Man sorry to hear about your dad. totally agree. Not a dire situation at all. I am almost excited to see what the new guys look like. If some of those diamonds in the rough pan out it could be exciting.

You gotta relax. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinions. Not everybody has to bow down to God Spanky’s thoughts. This team just like any other team has perceived holes and some legitimate concerns if we are now saying we’re going for the World Series. I actually like when people have different takes on things. It may not be my take, but almost there they take gives me something to think about, even if some of them are just chuckles As a fan base were so far ahead positively, then we were a years ago that is my biggest take. A year ago, it was all *****ing, people mad at management, etc. This year I’m seeing people that are excited, getting lost in the moment, and just wanting this positivity to keep going. It’s contagious. Sit back, take a breath, enjoy where we’re at, I don’t think you know more than anyone else. It’s quite possible you do, just don’t be dick about it. if you have managed an MLB team to a Workd Series I take this back, otherwise your take is as valuable or not valuable as the rest of us. Go Jays. Now, if you wanna come at me personally,, you can, I don’t give two shits. I have a lot going on in my personal life. I don’t have the time I usually do to check on advanced stats , etc.. my main concern is Vladdy maybe on an island offensively at first glance. That could change as the season plays out if Barger takes the next step, Santander rebounds, Okamoto is what he is expected to be, Springer keeps going, Varsho stays healthy, This all could happen and we will be an offensive force, it’s just as easy to say things could go the other way. I also think our lack to address a proper closer has bit us for years however still a month away to ST I love our starting pitching, I love our defense. I love our lovable cast of characters.

My concern is if Berg doesn’t take the next step or Santander does not rebound, Vladdy is not gonna see any pitches to hit this year you still don’t have a proper two hole hitter. Saying that, on any given year players can take the next step or regress. It’s now on the players to bring their “A” game and fight for those spots. we have solid pitching and solid defense, which will keep us in any game. There’s no use bringing in a hitter unless it’s a clear upgrade and that hitter fills a proper defensive position. The only one I see in free agency that does that is Bellinger, and I’m 90% sure he goes to the Yankees Last year the kids did well and called upon, we have a few diamonds in the roof, given them a few months to start this season to see what we have may not be a bad idea. Two months into the season if there’s a need for a trade, we can address it then. Still a month left in the off-season. it’s only been days since the front office got turned down by the top two players. Let’s see what they have in their back pocket as I’ve learned there’s always surprises with them.

I don’t disagree with this, but when it comes to postseason, you can basically only pitch three starting pitchers unless you wanna go with a four man rotation, which in the end would probably be smart not every starter can come out of a bullpen like Bassett. I wasn’t on the Bellinger train, but if we could get them on a short term high AAV deal like the last two contracts I would feel much better.. As a lefty , hitting in the two hole with Vladidy protecting him, we could trot out quite a lineup. My dad‘s in the hospital right now pepping for open heart surgery so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to look at advanced stats and stuff, but off the top of my head, we would throw a difficult lineup Springer -R Belly - L Vladdy - R Barger - L Santander - S Varsho -L Okamoto - R Kirk - R Gimenez - L /Clement- R Plus a decent bench. Trade Straw for an infielder and we still have Schneider, Lucas, Heineman and a very versatile line up.

I guess if we pivot to Bellinger and we don’t have to worry about Tucker coming, straw and his money can be shipped out also protect us against Varsho walking in the off-season Definitely not my first choice but decent option with all the positions he plays.

Could we swing Varsho to them lock up center field until 2029? I know Varsho has massive power and the defense is sweet, but him not able to hit high velocity bit us in the World Series. his cap hit is just over 14 million a year, and in a good year, he could be a 30/20. cons, 32, glass and turf don’t mesh, just saw the Bo news Between Tucker and Bo anything good the Blue Jays had go in the soft season has now been crushed Hey Vladdy we just lost your best friend and we have no one to hit behind you so you’re gonna suffer statistically as well. Although the money each one of those guys got is ridiculous. And before I get crapped on, what have wereally done other than upgrade or pitching, and that’s if Ponce actually is the real thing and we have to remember that Bassett actually had a decent season, especially at home. We are hoping that Cease will at least hit those numbers and Bieber is healthy Okamoto as a bench piece I was OK with as I won’t believe it until I see it. We really need him to work out, Barger to take the next step, and Santander to rebound. I guess I just have to hold out hope. Hopefully there’s another move in us. It’s just s***** that the team we were chasing that’s the best free agent on the market as well as the best closer on the market and we lose probably our best hitter to the scumbag mats. I just can’t see Bo liking it there but we have just learned that money definitely does talk

We need one more bat. Looking at the lineup as is Vlad won’t see any type of pitch to hit as there is no one scary to hit behind him unless Santander rebounds or Barger has a big breakout. We will effectively be holstering our biggest gun without another big bat.

It’s not my money but I hope the Jays fork it over.

Does this up Bo’s demands both for the money Kyle got and for the Jays left standing at the alter once again and watching a team they are chasing get even better?

Merry Christmas and safe travels for those venturing away from home.

Since we are throwing money around would you base a trade around Yesavage for Miller if we could sign Imai? who adds ? San Diego gets a cheap starter we get an elite closer and backfill Yesavage loss and tap into Japanese market with Imai. i hate losing a guy like Yesavage but Miller is undeniably one of the better young relief arms in the league and Imai has interesting stuff.

Easy Peezy, make a four player for one player trade and pick up Mason Miller, then sign Bo and Tucker. then we have a perfect 40 guys putting X-Box controller down now. Sounds like Miller may be headed to the Mets in the near future. Would love to steal that arm for the back of our pen.

On the bullpen side of things, I’d be happy if they sign somebody like Fairbanks right now just to give us another great arm in the pen and then see what happens in the regular season. Some both guys are gonna disappoint, some more surprise and excite and who knows what other teams will make available after free agency One more quality guy in the bullpen that can pitch the eighth or ninth gives us a lot more options. In case one of our upper end guys start slumping. I haven’t seen any talk about Sir Anthony coming back. Is there just no interest between the two sides? I know he may be a tier under but over a full year. I still think he provide some value.

sorey, I didn’t mean it that way. I am happy. Just thought it was a funny statement weeks into free agency. Would love a top end closer as much as the next, but relievers are so volatile would rather lengthen the lineup with a big bat.

Quickly, it’s December 11. How much time do they need to figure things out?

I love this gamble. They take it. We’re out on any other pitcher from the Pacific Rim. Also have another guy under contract after next year. Trim as a starter and if you can’t make it, he would probably look nice out of the pen. I’ve been really hard on Ross over the years, but I gotta give the guy some credit when credit is due, and it’s due

The way I look at it is we took two of those top starting pictures in free agency off the board early and free agency. Nobody expected Bieber back. Not only did he come back, it was at a sweetheart deal. Then we ended up getting maybe the biggest starting pitching free agent in Cease at a rumored 26 million a year with the deferrals. Basically, we landed too very good pictures that could possibly be at the top of our lineup for a combined luxury tax total of 36 million a year. That’s 18 million each. I don’t think you could have a much better start to free agency than what we just did.

Nice. Rotation looks strong. Hopefully less bullpen innings this year although they may try and limit Yesavage reg seasons innings a bit. I don’t mind the years, a bit long but at least we have a couple guys locked up long term. what’s a difference a year makes.

Just get Bo done as a starting point. He will bat in front or behind Vlad and extend the line-up. He will bring our payroll to approx $250 million. That is 50 ish away from the top tax bracket. Santander hitting behind Bo protects Bo and Santander should bounce back. if Barger takes that next step, still young enough, and can bat 2nd or split with Lucas batting second we have a solid top 5 in the bottom 4 we still have Varzho, Clement, Kirk and Gimenez. That is a solid top nine until at least the trade deadline or injuries. Save some money for now and find a good player at the trade deadline out of fraction of their taxable contract pitching lines are absolutely the same way with Gausman, Bieber and Yesavage a solid top three. Berrios as of four still puts us in great shape. However, you pick up one of the better top end pitchers in the free agent work for around 25 a year and move half of the rotation down one notch, and it will be one of the better rotations in the league.. it also allows Lauer to be a long man and if injuries hit he or one of the young pups, including Tiedemann, Francis or Bloss can get a couple of stars to see what they have. For now, one higher and reliever really set her pen up nice for the trade deadline. My hope is for Williams. He still has his stuff just had a rough year. Re-signing Bo, grabbing now top end, free agent starter and a top 10 for agent reliever still leaves us 10 million under the top tax bracket which at the trade deadline allows us to bring at least one or two really good players if needed. it also doesn’t upset the core of our championship team from last year. Michael King and Brendan Woodruff also intrigued me. Any chance they could be had cheaper because of the injuries?

You might almost be able to sign both Fairbanks and Williams for close to the price Díaz will command. I don’t care who it is, just add one of these guys and with a year of Varland and some of injured guys coming back and a possibility of late season Ricky T out of the pen we are miles ahead of last year.

I think Bo at second base hitting forth would be awesome. Now to make the team special , Tatis Jr hitting in the two hole would be absolutely insane . I believe his tax hit is 25 million a year and the high end of his contract is 36 million a year He would take a massive return to get, not sure we have it, but if San Diego wants to lower payroll, we have a lot of players that can fill-in and produce right now for them. If Bo does re-up it crowds the infield with Gimenez and him taking up most innings at short and second, hopefully with Bo at second. Vlad is going nowhere and will be the first baseman for the next half dozen years and if he keeps, his body in shape maybe longer. That leaves Clement fighting with Barger for third base as well as occasionally spelling off at second and short. Barger with his left-handed, bat and power would be hard to move on from and is improved play in the outfield still makes him a valuable piece. With injuries, and a DH spot, have no problem, keeping both on the team, and both busy. Springer, Bo, Gimenez will not be able to play every day and most likely will spend some time on the DL. This also really crowds the outfield and without a guy I’d be comfortable covering for Varsho in centerfield plus the amount of money on his contract, making him hard to move. I think that leaves straw as one of the bench players we need to keep. Santander hit, which which is nice, hits for power, which is nice, and is coming off of dismal season. If there is anyway, we could move him to a team just to get rid of the contract and put that money towards Tatis Jr that would be an ultimate coup. With San Diego, trying to remain competitive but dropping salary could he maybe be part of the package back? I would think his value has to be about even meaning I don’t think we have to give up extra prospects just to offload his contract as his past history has shown he is a good power hitter when healthy. Now for the main pieces of the trade value wise, I would think Nimmala and Tiedemann are the bare minimum that would have to leave our prospect pool. However Nimmala will not be helping San Diego in the very near future. Santander covers a bit of Tatis power but they will need something else. Schneider is a multi tool but does he have any value what could we throw at San Diego to get young, gold glove, right fielder, with insane energy, speed, and a great bat? Between his age, skill, and Friendly contract, you would think he will cost an absolute ton. Sorry, I was listening to podcasts today on how we could fit both Bo and Tucker into the lineup and I got excited. Tatis jr would be like Tucker on steroids with a better cap hit and defense.

for the offense, If we can get Bo I am happy trying out the kids and can re-address in season if injuries flare up or at the trade deadline if we make a push. I loved what Straw brought but I think Joey L can do more with the bat and is a lot cheaper. I would move out Straw. I believe. I can either we need at least one more starter. If there is money to spend I would try and go after Diaz to lock down the 9th and have a guy like Hoffman do setup. I know he is not a starter but will require starter money. I would then scour the trade market for a starter. what would the Twins want for Ryan? Cheaper contract with great stuff. We would have 4 guys at the top of the lineup that could contend for top 10 pitchers next year if they pitch like they can. if Bo signs we have a top 50 prospect that we can dangle Ricky T is pitching again and was highly regarded in the past . It would remind me of the Berrios trade part 2. I know for Ryan we would need to add more do we gamble on what we have. Is Lauer arb eligible? Ricky T may be this years Yesavage, are they stretching out Varland? Any faith in Francis to regain his form from a few years ago? Do we gamble on I house talent to start? So many possibilities. With a possible strike I like the idea of an expensive pitcher on a short contract but it’s Roger’s money so I will gladly dream of ways to help spend it

Considering he would’ve had a $4 million buyout, he would’ve only needed to make $12 million a year to match. Dirt cheap