My only concern is that we have been doing "well" in spite of our young players not because of them. Which one of our prospects has made a large contribution to that 82-80 record? It's been all Freeman and the old guys.
That is the point of the way Coppy rebuilt.
1) Staff a team of quality (albeit stop gap) players that are not going to block the young guys. That way we stay competitive as we rebuild.
2) Then as young guys come up, replace veterans with young guys that do not see a significant drop off. That way we only get better (without big drop off).
Built / tear down team (as of 1.5 years ago).
- replaced vet pitcher with Folty (check)
- replace vet CF with Inciarte (check)
- replaced SS with Swanson (no check yet)
- replaced vet pitcher (Colon) with Newcomb (no check yet)
Coming Sept or next year (2018)
- replace vet pitcher with Fried (failed so far - fall back is keep Dickey)
- replace vet pitcher with Weigel (failed thus Coppy trying to get a young SP in trade)
- replace 2B with Albies
- replace 3B with Rio (failed switched with Camargo for now)
Next Sept or 2019
- replace Markakis with Acuna
- replace vet pitcher with Allard / Soroka / Gohara
Sept 2019 or 2020
- replace Kemp with Dustin Peterson (or someone else because it is hard to see this far into the future)
The true test of a GM is can you build a plan (which it looks like Coppy did) and then can you respond when the plan doesn't work out as planned.
- Replace SRod with Phillips (check)
- Replace HO with Kemp (check)
- Backfill hurt FF with Adams (check)
- cover up Swanson with Camargo (check)
- fill in SP rotation when Fried falls back and Weigel gets hurt (working on it)
The end is on its way, but a lot of things still have to work out.