Jim French Stepstool

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but the main thing this trade says to me is that if a catcher goes down, we aren't happy with the idea of adding Quero (who hasn't been behind the plate in quite some time) or Darrien Miller. This is a poor mans' version of the Danny Jansen acquisition. I'll miss Yoho. It looked like he was getting used in a little more important situations. But they'll be adding to the BP in the next few days, and if they don't it appears they're becoming kinda stoked about Cam Wagoner. EDIT: @Playing Catch, you beat me at the tape lol.

Brandon Lockridge had a couple of better days swinging the bat in Nashville & I believe sat yesterday. I wonder if his replacing Perkins is imminent, or maybe they're just waiting to see what the roster looks like after the deadline?

.........it definitely is. Replace Ragsdale with one of the Wilson OFs and my ears really start to perk up.

I agree. Ashby has a pretty bouncy arm. Maybe he's been used more than one would like, but that's a byproduct of their other LH bullpen options becoming a M.A.S.H. unit since the start of the season. Electric stuff, but IMO he's apt to have stretches where falls behind & walks hitters regardless of his usage. I think Morejon would be a nice fit, depending on cost of course.

Ragsdale is doing the same impressive work at the plate he's been doing in both levels of A-ball, except now he's doing it in AA AND is starting to show power while maintaining a very impressive OBP. But he's still under the radar enough that I don't believe we'd get full value for him. I'd be as scared as hell to deal him right now.

This would be for Skubal AND Miller, right? It's hard to pigeonhole Pena because it looks like there's some versatility there. But as an INF he has Made ahead of him on the developmental ladder and Ebel, Ebel & Moneys behind, so I'd be open to the idea of including him in a deal. But really, if you're talking rental then only one of the top two on the above list--and I'd probably rather it be Fischer.

Can you honestly say that there weren't any games this year where you felt that way & they won? The offense may or not be added to in the next 120 hours (compared to adding to the pitching depth, I don't think it is a priority). But I can't help but feel that many of the same laments from fans re the offense would be voiced if they were a fan of some other team that they believe is better offensively, if they watched THAT team day in & day out, through the good, bad, hot, cold, etc.

The Pads didn't blink an eye in unloading the majority of their top prospects over the last 5 yr or so. I would imagine they'd expect others to follow suit, especially for Miller.

It would be an unexpected boost, for sure. people like Jones, Janicki & Jackson Ball are all looked at as depth pieces assuming Autry starts at the 2G, which seems to be the smart money. And Zack Kinziger is right now viewed as the backup PG but also can play off the ball. The roster was definitely put together with the assumption of Carrington not being here. Sounds like around 25 players have filed in court for the extra year. Nothing agin' Carrington, he was a tremendous boost off the bench, but IMO this stuff is getting ridiculous.

Random GM: "Hi, Matt. How's it going? BTW, how do you spell Adamczewski?" Arnold: "Capitol U-n-a-v-a-i-l-a-b-l-e." I hope that's how that goes. So much talent in the system, obviously you can't keep 'em all. But IMO he's one of those guys where when putting together a deal, you do what you have to do to NOT include him.

Thinking back to what Sabathia did in '08, I doubt if we'll ever again see a rent-a-pitcher turn in work like he did w/o regard to future endeavors. It was remarkable at the time & even more so years later.

Didn't the Angels do something like that in a recent draft, or threaten to do it?

Agreed. That's why I mentioned Koenig/Zerpa; they're lefties who have worked late innings & been effective. When he returns, I could see Hall being called on to face a hitter or two to finish up a middle inning & maybe continue depending on matchups.

There are still times when you want to prioritize having a lefty to go to, and I think it's taken a big bite out of the pen with Koenig losing velo & being ineffective, as well as Zerpa getting hurt. Even Fitzpatrick still being available would help. Zerpa certainly is capable of bumping Ashby back if he was healthy.

It's not like we looked into a crystal ball & saw "Pannone vs Webb, therefore 16-3." I suspect this would've been the decision regardless of who was next up in the shuttle, or who was scheduled to pitch for SF today. Like Misiorowski being shut down before the ASB; I think Skenes going for them made it look like some kind of sacrifice. But if Joe Blow were throwing that day for the Pirates I'm sure they would've made the same decision. IMO todays' result was much more about the poor game we played on the field & free bases (most of which had nothing to do with Pannone) than a mismatch on the mound. They wanted Drohan to get more than 4 days off. The off-day tomorrow was sort of immaterial (actually, it made for a little better scenario with a built-in day off if you needed to use the 'pen quite a bit today).