Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[ixiXSolidXixi]

Rosenthal's latest notes column says the Braves seriously talked to the Rockies about Arenado, but the money was too much with Freeman's upcoming free agency and other young players coming in to big money soon.

Also flat out says the Indians aren't trading Ramirez.

If they are not trading we still need to work to improve our bullpen and bench!

We need to move some pieces.

[Enscheff]

Hechavarria signed with Chiba Lotte on Christmas day.

Well, he’d still be fine!

[50PoundHead]

So A’s selling?

I wouldn't think so. Andrus was bad in 2020, but it was 2020 so one has to throw out performance to some extent. Unless Texas sent some dollars with Andrus, the A's are committing to $28.5 MM ($14.25 for 21 and $14.25 for 22), which doesn't strike me as a team in sell mode. Andrus' performance has ticked downward after solid seasons in 2016 and 2017, so maybe that's the same trend that hits a lot of guys in their early-30s. But my guess is he'll be able to perform well enough to warrant the deal.

On a side note, it's difficult to believe that it will be 14 years at the coming trade deadline that we traded Andrus in the Teixeira trade and Andrus is the last guy standing (Neftali Feliz is a non-roster invite with the Phillies). That day is a day that will live in infamy on the old Scout board. Gnashing to teeth and rending of garments. I was anti-trade at the time, but looking back, I didn't realize how good Teixeira was. The bonehead move by the front office then helmed by Mr. Suspenders was not signing him to an extension before making the deal.

[clvclv]

Rosenthal's latest notes column says the Braves seriously talked to the Rockies about Arenado, but the money was too much with Freeman's upcoming free agency and other young players coming in to big money soon.

Also flat out says the Indians aren't trading Ramirez.

He's not the first to hear this. We're obviously still in the middle of the silly season, so it's always almost impossible to know who's being fed the right information.

With Ozuna in the mix for most of (if not all) the expected window, if there's not a Ramirez/Chapman/Suarez deal to be made, AA's probably right to hold onto everybody at this point. There are plenty of pen options Rosenthal/Melancon/Greene/Petit/Kintzler) and LH bench bats (Mazara/Reddick/Bruce/Miller/Shaw/Cabrera) available without giving up any prospects or sacrificing pitching depth. That only leaves the backup SS as a potential question mark, and if AA can add one or two of those pen arms and bench bats on 1 year/$2-$4 million deals it will be pretty easy to live with that - Shewmake probably isn't THAT far away. The offense will have stayed intact, the rotation is substantially improved, the pen won't be much (if at all) weaker, and the bench will arguably be better than last year.

If he can pull that off, the Ozuna return probably makes this team one of the top 3 favorites in the NL even if the Mutts add JBJ and another SP. Doing that without giving up any of the depth or prospects makes this offseason a huge success IMO.

[clvclv]

I wouldn't think so. Andrus was bad in 2020, but it was 2020 so one has to throw out performance to some extent. Unless Texas sent some dollars with Andrus, the A's are committing to $28.5 MM ($14.25 for 21 and $14.25 for 22), which doesn't strike me as a team in sell mode. Andrus' performance has ticked downward after solid seasons in 2016 and 2017, so maybe that's the same trend that hits a lot of guys in their early-30s. But my guess is he'll be able to perform well enough to warrant the deal.

On a side note, it's difficult to believe that it will be 14 years at the coming trade deadline that we traded Andrus in the Teixeira trade and Andrus is the last guy standing (Neftali Feliz is a non-roster invite with the Phillies). That day is a day that will live in infamy on the old Scout board. Gnashing to teeth and rending of garments. I was anti-trade at the time, but looking back, I didn't realize how good Teixeira was. The bonehead move by the front office then helmed by Mr. Suspenders was not signing him to an extension before making the deal.

Rangers are sending $13.5 million - roughly a draw.

[mossy]

Question about the bench. Do we have anyone on current roster that can comfortably play SS if Dansby needs a day off?

[clvclv]

Question about the bench. Do we have anyone on current roster that can comfortably play SS if Dansby needs a day off?

Adrianza.

[Jay212033]

If they are not trading we still need to work to improve our bullpen and bench!

We need to move some pieces.

I wish we could just sign Turner then but oh well just roll with what we have I guess.

[jpx7]

I wouldn't think so. Andrus was bad in 2020, but it was 2020 so one has to throw out performance to some extent. Unless Texas sent some dollars with Andrus, the A's are committing to $28.5 MM ($14.25 for 21 and $14.25 for 22), which doesn't strike me as a team in sell mode. Andrus' performance has ticked downward after solid seasons in 2016 and 2017, so maybe that's the same trend that hits a lot of guys in their early-30s. But my guess is he'll be able to perform well enough to warrant the deal.

On a side note, it's difficult to believe that it will be 14 years at the coming trade deadline that we traded Andrus in the Teixeira trade and Andrus is the last guy standing (Neftali Feliz is a non-roster invite with the Phillies). That day is a day that will live in infamy on the old Scout board. Gnashing to teeth and rending of garments. I was anti-trade at the time, but looking back, I didn't realize how good Teixeira was. The bonehead move by the front office then helmed by Mr. Suspenders was not signing him to an extension before making the deal.

The A's are reportedly receiving $13.5m in the deal, so it appears the primary goal is cutting the $30.25m they owed Khris Davis this year across two seasons down to $16.75m, and then spreading out that remaining amount over two seasons. I think the fact that Andrus can play a competent SS (and is defensively flexible, unlike Davis) is an ancillary benefit; but payroll relief is the primary motivation.

Nonetheless, that doesn't necessarily mean they're selling—and it was reported on the heels of this trade that they re-signed Mike Fiers for $3.5m—as much as this is just how Oakland operates year-to-year.

[msstate7]

Who are the realistic LHH OF out there in our price range?

[ixiXSolidXixi]

Who are the realistic LHH OF out there in our price range?

Markakis minor league deal and veteran leadership.

[nsacpi]

Who are the realistic LHH OF out there in our price range?

I don't expect them to make the team out of spring training, but Waters and Shewmake may be ready by the end of the season.

[msstate7]

I don't expect them to make the team out of spring training, but Waters and Shewmake may be ready by the end of the season.

Shewmake making the team would be great. If he can hit, he's exactly what we need... a LHH that can play all over the IF

[tululush]

Shewmake making the team would be great. If he can hit, he's exactly what we need... a LHH that can play all over the IF

And inexpensive, which would allow us to allocate funds elsewhere, such as the bullpen.

I really would like to return our loaded pen from last year. Having 3 or 4 studs back there makes life stress free and easy when we have a lead in the 6th.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Markakis minor league deal and veteran lairdership.

FIFY

[Carp]

Brad Miller or Jay Bruce are my choices for LH bench player.

[Enscheff]

I could get on board with some Brad Miller. He’s basically what dumb people think Camargo is.

[ixiXSolidXixi]

Nationals sign Kyle Schwarber for 10 millions and we sign Ozuna for a multi year and the first year 12 millions thats crazy. 🤣

[UNCBlue012]

I could get on board with some Brad Miller. He’s basically what dumb people think Camargo is.

imagine slandering someone as handsome as Camargo

[UNCBlue012]

Mike Petriello said LA offered Ozuna a two-year deal before he signed with the Braves.