Around Baseball Offseason Thread

[clvclv]

I think posters are more angry that the front office completely missed on it's evaluation of Olivera's ability to play 3b. Now we're stuck with 5 outfielders making good money, with a prospect waiting (Smith), and no realistic internal option at 3B... so now we have to use real assets to plug the hole at 3b, which was supposed to have been accomplished 4 months ago with Olivera

Considering the fact that Smith isn't ready, we have 5 OFs for 2015, which is what Fredi has always carried. By the time Smith IS ready, the financial hit for simply cutting bait on Maybin/Bourn/Swisher won't be nearly so hard to swallow if you can't get anything for them. Swisher gives you a switch-hitting OF bat off the bench with pop and Bourn gives you speed off the bench with the capability of replacing Maybin in CF if the need arises.

By the time Mallex actually is ready without being rushed (2017), you have $27 million to spend on other needs.

 

[dak]

Bowman pretty much stating the obvious on the OF situation. I thought it was likely that we'd trade an OF even before the Olivera thing. Now it's almost a sure thing.

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[cajunrevenge]

I dont like the idea of trading for Plouffe. .249/.307/.435 isnt bad but once you factor in forgetting how to hit after putting on a Tomahawk on his jersey like so many other recent hitters we have acquired I worry he would go full Melvin on us.

 

[Carp]

I think posters are more angry that the front office completely missed on it's evaluation of Olivera's ability to play 3b. Now we're stuck with 5 outfielders making good money, with a prospect waiting (Smith), and no realistic internal option at 3B... so now we have to use real assets to plug the hole at 3b, which was supposed to have been accomplished 4 months ago with Olivera

Who says they missed on their evaluation? Isn't it possible they could still use one or more of these OF options in a trade(s) to bring in a 3b? Or they could just be planning on using Olivera in a similar role to Prado, a sort of a jack of all trades.

 

[cajunrevenge]

Bowman pretty much stating the obvious on the OF situation. I thought it was likely that we'd trade an OF even before the Olivera thing. Now it's almost a sure thing.

Lets trade Maybin so we can fill other holes. Like CF. And a RH hitter. Preferably one that hits with RISP. Actually, cant we just trade for Maybin back already?

 

[dak]

Swisher is definitely the most redundant of the 3 after the Olivera position switch. Gonna need to be a bad contract swap for another rental or a trade where we send 80% or more of his salary. A swap of Swisher for John Danks would be an example. It's just hard to figure out who would want Swisher.

 

[sturg33]

Who says they missed on their evaluation? Isn't it possible they could still use one or more of these OF options in a trade(s) to bring in a 3b? Or they could just be planning on using Olivera in a similar role to Prado, a sort of a jack of all trades.

They missed bc they acquired him to be our 3B of the future... after witnessing his horrendous defense up close and personal, we're shifting gears

 

[UNCBlue012]

I'm personally on the wagon to keep Maybin unless we get an excellent deal.

 

[clvclv]

They missed bc they acquired him to be our 3B of the future... after witnessing his horrendous defense up close and personal, we're shifting gears

They acquired him because we had no one other than Freeman, Markakis, and Maybin (before he got hurt) who could hit. Who cares where he plays???

It's not like we had/have any hitters in LF either.

 

[Carp]

They missed bc they acquired him to be our 3B of the future... after witnessing his horrendous defense up close and personal, we're shifting gears

His defensemble was hardly "horrendous." Again, no one had said that LF will be his permanent position. He can play 2b as well. Again, it's quite possible that they want him to play many positions, like Prado.

 

[clvclv]

I dont like the idea of trading for Plouffe. .249/.307/.435 isnt bad but once you factor in forgetting how to hit after putting on a Tomahawk on his jersey like so many other recent hitters we have acquired I worry he would go full Melvin on us.

While he's certainly not ideal, he's better defensively there than Olivera. I'd prefer Uribe if you could get him back in the same salary range (Plouffe is projected to make $7.7 million), but doing so might leave you with the same hole in 2017. Uribe's defense is better (of course), but he (or David Freese) won't hit you 20 bombs. Bottom of the heap shopping I agree, but he does represent that extra pop so many around here scream for (assuming a better trade option doesn't surface).

 

[Horsehide Harry]

All this is more tail chasing, round and round and round....

 

[sturg33]

They acquired him because we had no one other than Freeman, Markakis, and Maybin (before he got hurt) who could hit. Who cares where he plays???

It's not like we had/have any hitters in LF either.

I know you feel you have to blindly defend every move the FO makes, but the Olivera deal keeps getting worse and worse. If he can't play 3b, then it was a huge scouting miss by the FO

 

[Horsehide Harry]

While he's certainly not ideal, he's better defensively there than Olivera. I'd prefer Uribe if you could get him back in the same salary range (Plouffe is projected to make $7.7 million), but doing so might leave you with the same hole in 2017. Uribe's defense is better (of course), but he (or David Freese) won't hit you 20 bombs. Bottom of the heap shopping I agree, but he does represent that extra pop so many around here scream for (assuming a better trade option doesn't surface).

Plouffe is a FA after 2017. If he is projected to make $7.7M in 2016 what will 2017 be? $10M? Just to lose him (or re-sign at a premium) when you want to be good?

 

[Horsehide Harry]

I know you feel you have to blindly defend every move the FO makes, but the Olivera deal keeps getting worse and worse. If he can't play 3b, then it was a huge scouting miss by the FO

I agree Sturg. But, it might not be a complete loss. Mistakes happen and this looks to be one. I just hope they don't get invested to the point that they compound mistake with another mistake trying to fix a mistake all without admitting the mistake.

Maybe Olivera will be serviceable in LF so they can get something useful for him AND they will be willing to pull the trigger.

 

[sturg33]

I agree Sturg. But, it might not be a complete loss. Mistakes happen and this looks to be one. I just hope they don't get invested to the point that they compound mistake with another mistake trying to fix a mistake all without admitting the mistake.

Maybe Olivera will be serviceable in LF so they can get something useful for him AND they will be willing to pull the trigger.

My fear is that his defense will be just ad dreadful in LF... and finding an impact player for LF is a whole lot easier than finding one for 3B... so we may get stuck with 2 downgrades at 2 key positions

 

[JohnAdcox]

Who says they missed on their evaluation? Isn't it possible they could still use one or more of these OF options in a trade(s) to bring in a 3b? Or they could just be planning on using Olivera in a similar role to Prado, a sort of a jack of all trades.

::cough cough:: second. ::cough::

 

[Horsehide Harry]

My fear is that his defense will be just ad dreadful in LF... and finding an impact player for LF is a whole lot easier than finding one for 3B... so we may get stuck with 2 downgrades at 2 key positions

I see it as a symptom of trying to preform a rebuild without truly committing to it. Trading for a guy who will be 31, who has no defined position, who has injury concerns and who is cheap but not free, when the goal is really 2017 and beyond is puzzling.

 

[Horsehide Harry]

::cough cough:: second. ::cough::

2B IS the best place on the field for him IF he can play it. His bat probably plays up there if his defense is only average. I can't see how anyone could say Peterson blocks him...

 

[clvclv]

I know you feel you have to blindly defend every move the FO makes, but the Olivera deal keeps getting worse and worse. If he can't play 3b, then it was a huge scouting miss by the FO

No more than you blindly feel they're mistaken with every move they make, but that doesn't matter, right? You love to throw stones without looking at the whole story. By the time the team hopes to be competitive Wood would be much more expensive than Olivera, and multiple replacements will be ready.

Would you like to enlighten us with a better hitter for less money at 3B OR LF?

The problem with you is that you think you know more than the people who are paid to make these decisions (with much more information than you'll ever have access to) know. How about sharing your qualifications so we can start a Facebook and Twitter campaign to have you replace them?

The decisions have been made (and obviously you weren't consulted), so get over yourself. The people in charge aren't spending money on Heyward, so quit crying in your Corn Flakes. Apparently they don't give a *hit what you think, nor should they. Just as you noted that you can break down unsuccessful draft strategies like I did earlier, you can look at this regime's "plan" - when they FINISH - it's useless to try to do it before they get to those target dates.