Shortstop for 2020

[Devinep]

They might be stuck with Arcia due to Didi being too $ and the only worthwhile free agent starter out there.

 

I am thinking they will get stuck with him by default just because they have so many holes to fill and not a crazy amount of money to do it. I figure the only way they make a change at SS is if they rearrange deck chairs and sign someone with better offense, but not as good defensively. If you are going to get stuck with a black hole offensively no matter what Arcia probably isn't the worst because he really good on defense usually.

 

That being said if they say resign Moustakas, but let Grandal go that is some scary offense on the lower half. Pina/Arcia/Pitcher? Yikes...especially when Thames having a down year isn't exactly a shocking possibility...or Braun/Grisham disappointing.

 

Maybe there is a decent offensive utility guy to pick up incase we really are dying for the offense over defense. Which probably isn't a bad plan when they keep getting sick of Arcia and try to get someone else in there...well news flash Saladino and Co. suck offensively and aren't any better defensively. Thus, we always find our way back to Arcia.

 

If not Forsythe, maybe Brock holt-although a righty to platoon with Shaw would be needed

[tmwiese55]

I've seen the high Reds salary mentioned in several spots recently. They clear a ton of salary off this season and go into next year with only Votto on an expensive contract. Yes they'll have to arbitration Bauer but they go into next year with a fairly clean slate and no more bad contracts lingering on their books besides Votto. If they want the SS back they can afford it. The Reds have set themselves up very well imo.

 

One interesting thing to note is they're still paying Ken Griffey Jr. 3.5 mil. he's their second worst contract right now.

[KeithStone53151]

I will be very curious how SS pans out for next year. I'm a bit torn on whether to keep at it with Arcia. He hasn't been good at the plate, but he also just turned 25...so he's still young. Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples. Do you hope on that, or go out an get someone that would at best be solid/unspectacular?

[trwi7]

Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples.

 

Where does this idea that Weeks had a poor approach come from? He never had a poor approach and produced OBPs of .363 at age 23 and .374 at age 24.

[wildcat2237]

Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples.

 

Where does this idea that Weeks had a poor approach come from? He never had a poor approach and produced OBPs of .363 at age 23 and .374 at age 24.

 

Weeks was notorious for repeatedly waiving at outside sliders. It was a hole in his approach the majority of his career, and ultimately his downfall.

[trwi7]

Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples.

 

Where does this idea that Weeks had a poor approach come from? He never had a poor approach and produced OBPs of .363 at age 23 and .374 at age 24.

 

Weeks was notorious for repeatedly waiving at outside sliders. It was a hole in his approach the majority of his career, and ultimately his downfall.

 

His downfall was he was the #2 overall pick and not a superstar so fans thought he was awful. There was nothing wrong with his overall approach at the plate.

[MrTPlush]

Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples.

 

Where does this idea that Weeks had a poor approach come from? He never had a poor approach and produced OBPs of .363 at age 23 and .374 at age 24.

 

Weeks was notorious for repeatedly waiving at outside sliders. It was a hole in his approach the majority of his career, and ultimately his downfall.

 

His downfall was injuries. Wrist injuries aren't good and leg injuries aren't going to help the cause.

 

Pretty much every player in baseball, who isn't a star, struggles badly with some kind of pitch/location. I don't think one pitch is going to be a player's down fall.

[KeithStone53151]

Some guys with great bat speed but poor approach tend to struggle early but then have great seasons in the 26-29 age range. Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Javy Baez...to name a couple examples.

 

Where does this idea that Weeks had a poor approach come from? He never had a poor approach and produced OBPs of .363 at age 23 and .374 at age 24.

 

Weeks was notorious for repeatedly waiving at outside sliders. It was a hole in his approach the majority of his career, and ultimately his downfall.

 

I guess agree to disagree on Weeks, I thought he was patient to a fault due to leading off...and yes the slider away issues plagued a lot of that RH-heavy squad including Weeks. But regardless, the Gomez/Baez examples are still good examples. I could probably come up with more but I think you get the general jist of it. But that's also not to say that every young hitter with great bad speed and poor approach will have 3-4 all-star caliber seasons age 26-29. Mostly just food for thought. We don't have a slam-dunk easy decision at SS for next year...that much is certain.

[trwi7]

I guess agree to disagree on Weeks, I thought he was patient to a fault due to leading off...

 

I think he was early in his career. I also remember after he got sent down in 2007 that Sveum told him he needed to be more aggressive early in the count. His walk rate fell about 5-8% while still maintaining a good 10ish% rate but his batting average went from the mid .230s to right around .270.

[nate82]

I guess agree to disagree on Weeks, I thought he was patient to a fault due to leading off...

 

I think he was early in his career. I also remember after he got sent down in 2007 that Sveum told him he needed to be more aggressive early in the count. His walk rate fell about 5-8% while still maintaining a good 10ish% rate but his batting average went from the mid .230s to right around .270.

 

Sveum was the best hitting coach the Brewers have had in a long time. Would really love for the Brewers to bring him back and work with Arcia.

[Brew crew 92]

I've seen the high Reds salary mentioned in several spots recently. They clear a ton of salary off this season and go into next year with only Votto on an expensive contract. Yes they'll have to arbitration Bauer but they go into next year with a fairly clean slate and no more bad contracts lingering on their books besides Votto. If they want the SS back they can afford it. The Reds have set themselves up very well imo.

 

One interesting thing to note is they're still paying Ken Griffey Jr. 3.5 mil. he's their second worst contract right now.

 

My mistake, your right, they have only ~ 65 million commited, add ~ 18 for Bauer > 83. The rest of their team is pre-Arby with a couple 1st or 2nd year arby’s. Castillo Bauer Mahle Desclafani will be back, a good bullpen, a young dangerous lineup, with 60-80 million to add FA’s, imo, the favorites to win the central, hands down.

[FVBrewerFan]

I've seen the high Reds salary mentioned in several spots recently. They clear a ton of salary off this season and go into next year with only Votto on an expensive contract. Yes they'll have to arbitration Bauer but they go into next year with a fairly clean slate and no more bad contracts lingering on their books besides Votto. If they want the SS back they can afford it. The Reds have set themselves up very well imo.

 

One interesting thing to note is they're still paying Ken Griffey Jr. 3.5 mil. he's their second worst contract right now.

 

My mistake, your right, they have only ~ 65 million commited, add ~ 18 for Bauer > 83. The rest of their team is pre-Arby with a couple 1st or 2nd year arby’s. Castillo Bauer Mahle Desclafani will be back, a good bullpen, a young dangerous lineup, with 60-80 million to add FA’s, imo, the favorites to win the central, hands down.

 

You don't HAVE to automatically go the extreme on every take you have. Not trying to be a jerk or anything, but like the Reds salary you have just been way off on most of your takes/ predictions. The Reds will be the favorite in the central HANDS DOWN? No....they won't. How about "Reds could be much improved next year, and maybe even challenge for the division." Honestly, just trying to reel you back in a bit from all these over the top takes.

[Brew crew 92]

I've seen the high Reds salary mentioned in several spots recently. They clear a ton of salary off this season and go into next year with only Votto on an expensive contract. Yes they'll have to arbitration Bauer but they go into next year with a fairly clean slate and no more bad contracts lingering on their books besides Votto. If they want the SS back they can afford it. The Reds have set themselves up very well imo.

 

One interesting thing to note is they're still paying Ken Griffey Jr. 3.5 mil. he's their second worst contract right now.

 

My mistake, your right, they have only ~ 65 million commited, add ~ 18 for Bauer > 83. The rest of their team is pre-Arby with a couple 1st or 2nd year arby’s. Castillo Bauer Mahle Desclafani will be back, a good bullpen, a young dangerous lineup, with 60-80 million to add FA’s, imo, the favorites to win the central, hands down.

 

You don't HAVE to automatically go the extreme on every take you have. Not trying to be a jerk or anything, but like the Reds salary you have just been way off on most of your takes/ predictions. The Reds will be the favorite in the central HANDS DOWN? No....they won't. How about "Reds could be much improved next year, and maybe even challenge for the division." Honestly, just trying to reel you back in a bit from all these over the top takes.

 

Your right, let me rephrase, imo, they are the way too early favorites to win the central, based upon their strong rotation, underrated bullpen, good lineup, good defense and tons of money to spend on improvement.

[Montezuma]

I agree with Arcia's maturity and the lack of. It is ok to have fun, but Orlando seems to rub some the wrong way.

[wntrtxn21]

They might be stuck with Arcia due to Didi being too $ and the only worthwhile free agent starter out there.

 

I am thinking they will get stuck with him by default just because they have so many holes to fill and not a crazy amount of money to do it. I figure the only way they make a change at SS is if they rearrange deck chairs and sign someone with better offense, but not as good defensively. If you are going to get stuck with a black hole offensively no matter what Arcia probably isn't the worst because he really good on defense usually.

 

That being said if they say resign Moustakas, but let Grandal go that is some scary offense on the lower half. Pina/Arcia/Pitcher? Yikes...especially when Thames having a down year isn't exactly a shocking possibility...or Braun/Grisham disappointing.

 

Maybe there is a decent offensive utility guy to pick up incase we really are dying for the offense over defense. Which probably isn't a bad plan when they keep getting sick of Arcia and try to get someone else in there...well news flash Saladino and Co. suck offensively and aren't any better defensively. Thus, we always find our way back to Arcia.

 

If not Forsythe, maybe Brock holt-although a righty to platoon with Shaw would be needed

 

Neil Walker is a SW and only $2M or so and would be a nice option off the bench at 1B-2B-3B. Jose Iglesais a possibility at SS if he doesn't re-sign with the Reds. .274/.319 career and a good glove.

[MadThinker88]

I have to think the Tigers will be committing to Willi Castro at SS later this season or in 2020.

Jordy Mercer is another option to consider as a bridge SS candidate

[Devinep]

Dare I say...Eric Sogard?

[MrTPlush]

Dare I say...Eric Sogard?

 

I was checking Sogard's defense over his career, in 3,385 innings he only has 25 errors. For reference Braun had 26 errors in 945.1 innings at 3B. That is an average of an error every 15 games playing 9 innings of defense for Sogard. Keston Hiura, error every 5 games.

 

Yes, mostly has played 2B...but still kinda impressive to limit errors that much.

[bill hAll Star]

Sogard is in the interesting category of DJ Lemaheiu, Tommy LaStella, Urshela, and a handful of others.

 

If they keep the same baseballs next year, I'd pay Sogard $10 million. If they change the balls back to whatever they had before, I'd pay $10 million for someone else to take him.

[pacopete4]

I’d rather sign Villar.

[RollieTime]

Not sure I would want to get more left handed in the everyday lineup by adding Sogard to the mix.

[bill hAll Star]

Not sure I would want to get more left handed in the everyday lineup by adding Sogard to the mix.

 

Sogard has a relatively even split over his career in RHP/LHP splits. Average a bit higher against RHP but does slug better most years vs. LHP.

[TURBO]

Are we really talking about Sogard returning to Milwaukee?

 

*sigh*

[bill hAll Star]

Are we really talking about Sogard returning to Milwaukee?

 

*sigh*

 

Juiced baseball Eric Sogard is a good player. The ball has turned several players that were contact hitters that can hit the ball to all fields into superstars or useful players.

[pacopete4]

I’d rather sign Villar.