jay87shot

1) Trade Freddy and Megill to NYM, we get Byron Buxton (24 million cash from NYM) and Ronny Mauricio, Twins get Brandon Sproat, Mark Vientos/Brett Baty, and Ryan Clifford We get the much needed bat and cash to make him affordable. The Mets get big time pitching with out giving up any big time prospects (sign Cody Bellinger). The Twins get 3 upside now guys with 2 power bats to offset Buxton. I would also have Mauricio learn 1B and some OF to be a super utility and platoon with Bauers (see trade 2). Yeli plays a couple days ago week in left to help keep Buxton healty. 2) Edward Cabrera for Andrew Vaughn, Luke Adams, Tate Kuehner, and Robert Gasser. This is a bit wonky but the Marlins get a 1B for this year and the future and 2 Marlins style upside arm. We get a top of the rotation arm and still have lots of 1B options for next year. This one really only works if you believe in Bauers at 1B. I think I do, he was really impressive the last month and playoffs get Mauricio and having Burke, Black, Fischer, and Wilken all close helps. 3) German Marquez, 1/2 with incentives and 2nd year team option. I am a big believer that he will have a Brad Keller style turnaround year in the bullpen. Overall we save some money, get much better offensively. We get more top of the rotation pitching control and have enough relief depth and quality to close games out. C: William Contreras ($11.10M) 1B: Bauers ($2M) 2B: Brice Turang ($4.40M) 3B: Caleb Durbin ($0.80M) SS: Joey Ortiz ($0.80M) LF: Buxton ($7.1M) CF: Chourio ($7.25M) RF: Sal Frelick ($0.80M) DH: Christian Yelich ($26.00M) OF: Blake Perkins ($0.80M) Utility: Andruw Monasterio ($0.80M) 1B/OF: Mauricio ($.8M) Backup C: Seigler/Quero ($0.8M) SP1: Cabrera ($3.7M) SP2: Brandon Woodruff ($22.00M) SP3: Jacob Misiorowski ($0.80M) SP4: Logan Henderson ($0.80M) SP5: Quinn Priester ($0.80M) RP: Marquez ($2M) RP: Abner Uribe ($0.80M) RP: Grant Anderson ($0.80M) RP: Jared Koenig ($0.80M) RP: Zerpa ($2M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($5.70M) RP: Myers ($0.80M) RP: Hall ($0.8M) Payroll is 8.48% under budget

If we do need to cut salary this year Ashby could make sense. He could bring back a decent return, his production from last year could be replaced, and we have depth. I personally would like to give him another chance to be a starter and further improve his value. If he can put it together his stuff is close to a young Clayton Kershaw. Obviously his control needs to take another step or two.

Especially when some of those guys who provided little to nothing are still paid multiple years. The Rendon and Bryant deals alone have completely derailed those to organizations for a decade. I get other mismanagement have contributed as well.

I think would likely take Freddy and Letson (or more) to get Duran. Then to get a young controllable starters like Bello would be like Megill, Pratt/Pena, and probably someone like Burke/JoshA/Meccage/JD Thompson/Knoth That is way to much for my blood.

I think Spencer Jones will be a lot like Adolis Garcia which is a passible mlb player but his strikouts will prohibit him from stardom. As a centerpiece for Freddy I would be OK with that but we should get Jones and more not us giving up more. Jones would be the Ortiz piece in a Burnes equivalent trade. Jo Adell wouldnt be the worst but I think last year was about as good as it gets and that was 1.3 WAR. After the 37 bombs there isn't a lot there. He is a least average in right but I wouldnt move Sal or Jackson off right for him so I would say he would need to play left which would be a bit of a mystery.

All it takes is an injury and he could get a lot of play. Look at Collins last year Perkins gets hurt in preseason, Mitchell goes down early and Collins takes over left for most of the year.

I love those guys but that should say could be the best OF. Mitchell has yet to put it together even when healthy. Chourio while great has to find a little patience to get to the superstar level. A true superstar like Judge or Soto who can put up 7-10 WAR are probably as valuable as our entire outfield from last year.

It would seem that the team is extraordinarily high on his upside if we dont add an OF. It is clear that when a player fits into our analytics system they get a chance. He has had very good minors numbers over the past 3 years. I dont think it would be crazy for him to hit like .275/.350/.375 if he steals 30ish bases and plays high end defense, I would guess that is 3-5 WAR. It is probably more upside than Perkins especially if the club can unlock 10-15 HR power. I would still prefer to add a proven OF, however the Mitchell/Perk/Lockridge trio should be passible.

I like Littell but spending money on a starter doesn't make sense to me. Maybe I am misjudging his market but I would guess he will get around 10 a year, I would rather use that elsewhere. I know that money wouldn't buy a great bat but it could help places or just be used in reserve for the deadline or something.

The A's have said they aren't trading from there young core, that would include Soderstrom I would love to get him but if they aren't interested in trading him my guess if that Pratt and Henderson isn't enough. That by itself might be more than I would be comfortable offering anyway.

I agree someone with power would be a better traditional fit into a need. I just think that it would be the most likely all-star caliber add. I would much prefer Duran or Buxton. I think getting him to a contender would possibly fix some of that, there is no denying that Robert would be a huge gamble. Hoewever he still possesses that 30/30 potential or better with gold glove defense, the upside is huge, especially since he has a 2027 option. If he puts up a 5 WAR season we could even trade him next year and get back like double what we give. Usually we don't make those risky moves but with Vaughn on deck he could give the front office some insight into if the risk is worth the reward (is he a head case/or just lost the fighting spirit and needs a change of scenery)

Thanks Spencer, at 13 throwing 90 and running sub 7 60's is amazing. I coach JV baseball and struggle with most freshman catching the ball.

Yeah, I didn't really look at the stats. You are right the the bat is worse than I was thinking, maybe he would be the 2nd piece in a trade.

After trading Collins there is a clear need for a potential OF upgrade. Perkins, Mitchell, Lockridge, and Baddoo (Black, Bauers, Berroa, etc.) provide exceptional depth but pretty limited upside. What would be some upside options that could be of interest. Maybe make a top 3 list of most likely/most desirable. As discussed Duran and Buxton are probably the top 2 players that could be had but I would guess the bidding/interest in those players would be very high. Here are some other names that could be of interest that I haven't heard discussed. Steven Kwan, there was interest at the deadline and he fits our player architype to a T. Kwan, Frelick, Chourio would be an amazing OF even if there isn't a true CF. Luis Robert, we saw what Vaughn did when he got out of Chicago, with Robert's skillset the potential is very enticing. The problem would be getting CWS to eat a bunch of that contract and finding a prospect package that is reasonable. Wilyer Abreu, If the Red Sox don't find an offer for Duran, Abreu could be moved. The problem here is that he is a RF and Frelick and Chourio are already best in RF. Also the bat has more question marks than we would probably like. You could put Rafeala in the same spot here, however he has an affordable long term deal. Lars Nootbaar, He has been a pretty consistent OF and with the Cardinals probably selling off I don't think the in division trade would be impossible. The difficult part is that he is coming of a down season so the upgrade concern is there especially since he doesn't play CF. A's young OF, I posted to the Freddy trade thread that the A's could be an interesting avenue to get an upside CF in either Denzel Clarke, Colby Thomas, or Henry Bolte. We wouldn't need to trade Freddy to get one of those guys necessarily. Daulton Varsho, He likely would only be available if they sign Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger which are probably long shots but not crazy. MLB ready prospects= Spencer Jones, Dylan Beavers, Carson Benge, others who could be the centerpiece of a Freddy/Megill trade Harrison Bader/Bellinger/FA= I doubt we have the money but I will bring them up. For me it is 1)Kwan 2)Robert 3) Buxton I think that Red Sox OF would get to expensive. I think Kwan makes the most sense since we already checked in last year and fits our Murph style player. I like the Robert upside the most especially since the prospect price would be low and Buxton might be tough to work out but would be the best overall bat to get. Kwan for Henderson and 2 mid-level prospects would be at least close, the Guardians could use some pitching help and Henderson would give them that. It would be tough to give up Henderson but we have the depth to make it work. It could be Pratt, Ashby, or Quero instead of Henderson as the centerpiece. Robert (CWS pay $12 million, 1/2 of this years money and 2 million for next years buyout) for Myers, Wilken, Tyler Black The 10 million left on his contract would still be tough to fit in. The 3 we give up all have the upside that the CWS would want but not very high trade value overall.

Could the A's be a surprise option for Freddy? They have clearly made an effort to add and need some pitching and have young OF talent that would be interesting. I would think they would go after someone like Cabrera, Alcantara, or Ryan who have multiple years but a cheap Freddy could make sense. They have Colby Thomas, Denzel Clarke, and Henry Bolte (AAA) as OF options. They have said no to there younger core (Soderstrom, Wilson, Kurtz, Butler, Rooker). Clarke would have my vote even if the bat isn't there the Lorenzo Cain vibes are nice. Clarke, and 2 top 15ish A's prospects (I personally love Shotaro Morii but I doubt the A's would include him) would be ok with me.

That would be nice but I doubt Boston trades Duran without getting something of high end value. There are probably 3-4 other teams with a bunch of top end starters who would trade them for Duran. I would think the Royals and Bubic, Marlins with Alcantara/Cabrera, Pirates with Keller or higher end prospects, Mariners (a bunch of options), and other would trade mlb top of the rotation arms for Duran making Freddy the really only likely path to him. I doubt Henderson, Pratt, and maybe a bit more would work for either side.

I think Freddy and Megill for Duran is to much but agree that we would likely have to add some value to Freddy. I would put Freddy's value at a top 100 prospect and 2 mid level piceces, Duran's value is likely 2 top 100 prospects and 2 mid prospects (it is hard to find a comp. trade, more than Kyle Tucker). That would likely mean we would need to give up one bigger piece. Maybe Freddy and Megill for Duran and Hunter Dobbins, Dobbins was solid and has a good arm but value wise isn't top tier and could make sense as not a big loss to Boston but yet a controllable cheap arm for us that would provide value.

With the trade of Collins I think sending Freddy out for an OF makes more and more sense. Most of the teams that would be interested have a young controllable OF that would make sense as a target for the OF (maybe not CF).

I think there has to be a plan to get a CF, I doubt we go into the year with a combo of Perk/Mitchell/Lockridge in CF. It wouldn't be the worst situation but if the club is serious about Zarpa and Ashby stretching out to at least have a chance to be starters I would think trading Freddy for an OF makes to much sense.

This feels like selling low on Mears and Collins. If it was just Collins for Zerpa I would think we got had. Add in Mears and I am scratching my head. Collins was worth like 2.5 WAR last year and has 5 years control. Zerpa has 3 year control and has never put it together. I would almost guarantee that we add a cutter and he ends up very similar to Koenig but that is speculative. Even if we think he regresses we are selling Collins at what seems like his value before last season started. Zerpa clearly is someone the front office thinks our pitching staff can get to the next level. However like I said he doesn't seem much different than Koenig. I dont dislike Zerpa at all, it just seems like a big overpay for an average reliever. I would guarantee that this means that we have a trade with either Freddy or Megill with an OF lined up.

I was saying hypothetically, I get that wont happen in division but from a value/stand point of getting a player like Hoener back would that be a solid enough return.

I agree on the 3rd team idea, we likely want a cheap controllable productive mlb contributor and I doubt a contender will give that up only wanting to send out prospects. 1) Freddy and Megill to Balt., Rays get Adley Rutchman (baltimore pitching prospect(s) depending on value?), we get Drew Rasmussen and Edwin Uceta Balt. gets big time pitching and have Basallo at C, rays get a desperately needed catcher and we get better control on guys who can be as good as the guys going out. I admitted don't know Rutschman's value so maybe take Uceta off and put the Baltimore prospects to us if it is lower than I think. 2) Freddy to Boston, Miami gets Triston Casas, Connelly Early and we get Edward Cabrera Miami gets a 1st baseman and a pitcher to relace Cabrera we get 2 extra years high end pitching 3)Freddy to Detriot, Josue Briceno and Jaden Hamm (maybe 3rd det prospect) to Minny, we get Buxton This doesn't help financially but Buxton for Freddy would be solid in my opinion. 4)Freddy to Houston, Ulolla, Melton, 3rd prospect to Cleveland, we get Steven Kwan 1 year of Freddy for 2 of Kwan would be a solid return. 5)Freddy to NYM, Sproat, Acuna, 3rd mets prospect, and Kuehner to Washington, we get CJ Abrams Again good return on 1 year of Freddt, Nats get 4 prospects for Abrams and Mets don't give up top prospects. 6)Freddy to Atl., Royals get Michael Harris, Joey Ortiz, and Blake Perkins, we get Maikel Franco The Royals get 3 contributors to fill in much needed wholes and we get a big time MI who can move around when prospects come up and hold his own at SS.

I would be happy with this as a depth move, probably only a couple million max.

I would guess Berroa is DFA'd if/when we need more 40 man roster spots. My guess is Baddoo is this years Daz Cameron. Baddoo is a solid athlete with some upside, solid depth.

This is more of a hypothetical because it wont happen but would you trade 1 year of Freddy for 1 year of Nico Hoerner? I think Hoerner would be a perfect Brewers style player and if you are in the move Turang to SS camp a perfect add. I would say that because pitching is more valuable we would get a small 2nd piece. I do think that with the pitching depth there could be upside to this move but probably would decline.