Around Baseball Offseason Thread

[clvclv]

IF they were willing to move Teheran, I'd personally prefer to continue to add high-end depth that's close-to-ready (to buy time for some of the high-end guys at the lower levels). Tap into the Cubs' great depth and get something more like Almora, Pierce Johnson, and Willson Contreras. All three could easily be ready to contribute by 2017.

I love Baez' power as much as everyone does, but...

1.) don't think they'll move him unless it's in a deal for an absolute slam-dunk "Ace", and...
2.) am still really leery of that much swing and miss.

Would give you an alternative to Mallex in CF, an alternative to Bethancourt behind the plate, and another high-ceiling arm to add to the stable. If you could somehow convince Theo and Jed to take Maybin in the deal instead of committing multiple years to Fowler, you could conceivably free up enough money to make a run at one of the "Aces" or Cespedes/J-Up/Heyward IF the Johns decided to change their minds and play on that level.

[Hudson2]

Soler is signed through 2020 so he'd be here for awhile. And Baez would be here for 5 years. That's the kind of guys we should go hard after.

[Hudson2]

Something else to think about. Baez plays SS or 2b. If you got Baez you could turn around and trade Simmons and load right back up again.

[Heyward]

Seems like an interesting potential match, although I have to wonder if the Cubs won't attempt to go after quality FA pitching given the composition of the market and the fact that they have roughly $50MM to spend (assuming they maintain 2015 spending).

I saw they may go after Heyward, wouldnt be a bad a replacement for Soler if he got dealt.

[Heyward]

Only reason i would be eh on trading Julio even for Baez or Castro and Soler is there's so much uncertainy in the rotation and they arent signing one of Price/Greinke/Zimmerman.

[50PoundHead]

I saw they may go after Heyward, wouldnt be a bad a replacement for Soler if he got dealt.

I haven't been following the rumor threads much, but Heyward would be a perfect fit in Chicago. Either trade Soler or put him in LF and get Schwarber behind the plate and then deal Montero.

I think the Cubs would have to be knocked over completely to trade Baez, although as others have said the swing-and-miss aspect of his game is a bit troublesome.

If we're thinking of trading with the Cubs, don't forget Billy McKinney.

[clvclv]

I haven't been following the rumor threads much, but Heyward would be a perfect fit in Chicago. Either trade Soler or put him in LF and get Schwarber behind the plate and then deal Montero.

I think the Cubs would have to be knocked over completely to trade Baez, although as others have said the swing-and-miss aspect of his game is a bit troublesome.

If we're thinking of trading with the Cubs, don't forget Billy McKinney.

Just me reading between the lines, but I think they've already given up on Schwarber behind the plate on a regular basis. While he does seem to move a bit better than Gattis back there, the Mets really exposed how bad they are against the running game last week.

Heyward to Chicago doesn't really seem to make much sense to me personally - unless you were thinking about using him in CF. While putting him there would eliminate the need to re-sign Fowler or sign or deal for another stopgap CF (presuming they're not traded) until McKinney, Almora, Eddy Martinez, or Eloy Jimenez is ready (different timelines obviously), it doesn't fill a rotation slot.

FWIW, Theo, Jed, and Beane have always been comfortable dealing with each other - just spitballing here, but I could see them working up another absolute blockbuster along the lines of Baez, Almora, Dan Vogelbach, and Duane Underwood or Pierce Johnson for Sonny Gray.

Of course if they did that, they could go that route with Heyward, re-sign Fowler, trade Soler for Teheran straight-up, and tell everybody *uck you!!!


CF- Fowler, LF- Schwarber, 3B- Bryant, 1B- Rizzo, 2B- Castro, RF- Heyward, C- Montero/Ross, SS- Russell

Rotation - Arrieta, Lester, Gray, Teheran, who cares???

[50PoundHead]

Just me reading between the lines, but I think they've already given up on Schwarber behind the plate on a regular basis. While he does seem to move a bit better than Gattis back there, the Mets really exposed how bad they are against the running game last week.

Heyward to Chicago doesn't really seem to make much sense to me personally - unless you were thinking about using him in CF. While putting him there would eliminate the need to re-sign Fowler or sign or deal for another stopgap CF (presuming they're not traded) until McKinney, Almora, Eddy Martinez, or Eloy Jimenez is ready (different timelines obviously), it doesn't fill a rotation slot.

FWIW, Theo, Jed, and Beane have always been comfortable dealing with each other - just spitballing here, but I could see them working up another absolute blockbuster along the lines of Baez, Almora, Dan Vogelbach, and Duane Underwood or Pierce Johnson for Sonny Gray.

Of course if they did that, they could go that route with Heyward, re-sign Fowler, trade Soler for Teheran straight-up, and tell everybody *uck you!!!


CF- Fowler, LF- Schwarber, 3B- Bryant, 1B- Rizzo, 2B- Castro, RF- Heyward, C- Montero/Ross, SS- Russell

Rotation - Arrieta, Lester, Gray, Teheran, who cares???

All I can say in response is Schwarber must be absolutely horrid behind the plate, because he's terrible in LF.

[clvclv]

All I can say in response is Schwarber must be absolutely horrid behind the plate, because he's terrible in LF.

Apparently he's not much better than Gattis at either position.

[Dalyn]

I would trade Teheran for Soler in a heartbeat and consider it a fair trade.

[nsacpi]

Soler's 30% strikeout is a red flag.

[TURBO]

Soler's 30% strikeout is a red flag.

Our offense is a red flag.

[nsacpi]

Our offense is a red flag.

We still have to be judicious about how we go about improving it. Teheran is a good pitcher and I would not trade him for a guy with a 30% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate.

[bravesfanMatt]

Soler's 30% strikeout is a red flag.

he only hit .262 with a BABip of .362. although he did have a .300+ OBP, I think unless he makes some adjustments MLB pitchers will expose that high K rate. He is only like 23 or something, so there is a lot of room to grow and develop however.

I said the same thing at another site.. The 30% K rate would make me concerned and thus not do a Julio for Soler trade straight up.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Marlins in serious talks with Mattingly for the manager position. Also the Nats hire bud black as manager

[bravesfanforlife88]

Mattingly to manage the Marlins on a 4 year deal. Won't be announced until after the world series

[rico43]

MLBTR has stated that Mattingly goes to the Marlins, Bud Black to the National and Andy Green to the Padres. Other reports have Scott Servais getting the Mariners' job. Most of the announcements will not be made until after the World Series, according to the wishes of the Commissioner's office.

[smootness]

Apparently he's not much better than Gattis at either position.

Their problem is that he really needs to be a 1B, but Rizzo is there. And honestly, Bryant would probably work best at 1B as well, though I think he'll be ok enough in the OF.

But I would take him in a heartbeat and put him at C. I'll deal with the defensive issues to get that offense out of my catcher.

[bravesfanMatt]

Their problem is that he really needs to be a 1B, but Rizzo is there. And honestly, Bryant would probably work best at 1B as well, though I think he'll be ok enough in the OF.

But I would take him in a heartbeat and put him at C. I'll deal with the defensive issues to get that offense out of my catcher.

Bryant is a 3rd baseman

[smootness]

Bryant is a 3rd baseman

I know that's where he's played; I was saying I don't think he'll stick there long-term.

After looking further, though, he had better defensive numbers than I thought and may be able to stick at 3B.