93 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

He's got a no-trade clause, so that's a hurdle.  Don't think the Cardinals are a hurdle.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I don't look at Basallo and Mayo as the same.
Generally I agree with not giving up the years of control for a rental. 

 

[Mackus]

No two prospects are exactly the same, but these two guys are pretty identically valued. MLB has Mayo #8 and Basallo #13. Hard to distinguish much difference between guys that close in the rankings, unless you think there is a tier divide between them. I know nothing about the guys ranked 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th, but I think Mayo and Basallo are same tier. Basallo higher ceiling, Mayo higher floor.

[BSLChrisStoner]

No two prospects are exactly the same, but these two guys are pretty identically valued. MLB has Mayo #8 and Basallo #13. Hard to distinguish much difference between guys that close in the rankings, unless you think there is a tier divide between them. I know nothing about the guys ranked 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th, but I think Mayo and Basallo are same tier. Basallo higher ceiling, Mayo higher floor.

I think one has arrived and one hasn't. I think one has a better path with the near immediate roster.

That's why I said I look at them differently, but yeah... I think that's a bad take.
 

Both players have the long-term team control you want.

 

Basallo is just 20, produced at AA, and is probably a 1/2 season of production at Norfolk from earning a ML promotion. 

 

I never saw one MiL ab for either.

I've seen Mayo's initial 40 ML ab's, and my general thoughts were, 1) It's 40 ab's, I shouldn't make broad proclamations, nothing you see right now really matters.... 2) He looked physically stiff, and had trouble covering the outside of the plate. 

 

He's supposed to have overwhelming power.
My assumption is he will look better next Spring.
I think the key for him offensively is using that plus plus power, and just going with pitches. 
Use the field and I think he'll be fine. 

 

Earlier in the thread I said: 

 

I've been supporting the idea of letting Santander walk, and trading Mountcastle.
Mayo and O'Hearn splitting 1st and DH. 

Rutschman getting 40 starts at DH. 
Kjerstad in RF. 

 

I think others might prefer trading Cedric (I don't like that), Cowser to CF, Kjerstad to LF (I don't like that either), extending Santander... 
Then Mountcastle, O'Hearn, and Mayo for 1st / DH, and one traded.
Again with Rutschman getting 40 games at DH. 

Others might like trading O'Hearn, and Mountcastle... resigning Santander, Kjerstad and Mayo at 1st, and DH.
Again with Rutschman getting  40 games at DH.

 

 

Maybe another scenario is not signing Santander, trading Mountcastle before the season, trading O'Hearn around midseason...  Mayo at 1st, and Basallo replacing O'Hearn at DH at that point.   

Of course in that scenario, you'd be going into the 2nd half with Kjerstad and Mayo going into the second halves of their first full seasons, Basallo jumping onto a contender at mid-year,  Westburg and Cowser in their second full years....  it's a lot of youth, which can be good and bad. 

 

 

Larger point with utilizing Basallo in trade...  
My preference would be to sign Burnes vs. trade for Gallen...  $ vs. player capital...  but if Burnes signs elsewhere, I'd definitely consider utilizing the resource for the rental.... but I think you made a good point that if you were going to trade Basallo, it probably has to be for Crochet and that extra year of control.  That's fair. 

[dude]

He's got a no-trade clause, so that's a hurdle.  Don't think the Cardinals are a hurdle.

 

I wouldn't paint all teams with the same brush.  I doubt STL goes backwards.  They may not be aggressive in adding, but maybe more like the Mets' offseason last year.  Fringe adds, looking to play better on the non-Talent front/collective.  They are a team that could check in on Ced.  They could move some pieces around, like trading Arenado (push Walker back to 3B) and cash for Tork (Jung plays 1B) or something like that....but any shuffle will be for ML roster.  I doubt they have a resource alignment issue.

 

DBacks certainly could have a resource alignment issue.  They just picked up Gino's option after a torrid 2nd half, but that could just be to extract value, like Rays on Lowe's option. Both players could be traded. (I've got a dollar that says Lowe winds up in SEA). Lawler could be playing 3B for Snakes next year or maybe they hold onto Gino for the season and let Lawler percolate.  They have to choose on Walker (FA), but I could see Goldschmidt heading back there for a couple years to finish his career and them splitting time at 1B with Pavin Smith.

 

Brewers didn't have to move Burnes, but their situation puts more emphasis on doing something like that, not just holding onto a guy and whatever.  Burnes > Gallen and the extra cash opportunity on a roster that isn't looking for current or future players could swing in the cost/service arena.  

[mikezpen]

Montgomery:8-7 6.23 ERA. 149 hits in 117 innings.

 

Before, he was just mediocre. This year he was terrible. I'd almost opt for Rogers over this guy. I mean, he can't be much worse and he's a heckuva lot cheaper.

[BaltBird 24]

I mean, he's had WAR seasons of 3.3, 1.9, and 4.1 prior to 2024. Yeah, he had a terrible 2024. Calling him just mediocre prior to is a bit of a stretch.

[CantonJester]

Burnes is going home to be with his wife and twin babies. They live in AZ right? So probably Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres or Giants. Well, I think SF is further away from Scottsdale than Baltimore, so we'll see on that front. 

[Slidemaster]

Burnes is going home to be with his wife and twin babies. They live in AZ right? So probably Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres or Giants. Well, I think SF is further away from Scottsdale than Baltimore, so we'll see on that front.

I think Arizona has to be a heavy favorite if they make him an offer.

[Mackus]

Burnes is going home to be with his wife and twin babies. They live in AZ right? So probably Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres or Giants. Well, I think SF is further away from Scottsdale than Baltimore, so we'll see on that front.

Guys don't hire Boras to get a big enough offer from a place they wanna be. He'll go where the most money is. Up to a (pretty big) point, I'd make that Baltimore if I were in charge.

[Mackus]

I mean, he's had WAR seasons of 3.3, 1.9, and 4.1 prior to 2024. Yeah, he had a terrible 2024. Calling him just mediocre prior to is a bit of a stretch.

It's a downright wrong statement. Stretch is being kind. Fine with being scared away after the awful season, but saying he wasn't better than average before is untrue by any measure.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Burnes is going home to be with his wife and twin babies. They live in AZ right? So probably Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres or Giants. Well, I think SF is further away from Scottsdale than Baltimore, so we'll see on that front. 

 

Not that it matters, but SF is waaaaayyyy closer to Scottsdale than Baltimore.

[BSLRoseKatz]

It's a downright wrong statement. Stretch is being kind. Fine with being scared away after the awful season, but saying he wasn't better than average before is untrue by any measure.

 

Yeah I'm not gonna hold Montgomery having a weird offseason against him when he was pretty productive in normal circumstances

[dude]

I'm out on Basallo for Gallen. I'd include him for Crochet.

 

I think Crochet is an interesting case.  I would love to add a higher end LHer to the rotation (better than a reasonable Rogers expectation).  My issue with ANY WhiteSox is what seems to be the terrible culture on that team...nobody is that bad so there's other crazy going on there and the question is does one or more ChiSox players bring infection with them. 

 

I hate rebuilding and I don't think anyone should do it, but after setting the record for failure and rumors of Reinsdorf selling share, they probably use rebuilding as an excuse to set the lowest expectations.  I'd expect Crochet and Robert to both get traded.  The other wildcard there is if they want to try and move a bad Benitendi contract (3/47.5M).

 

Crochet only has 2 years of control but has expressed some interest in extending....I go back and worth on doing what it would take.

 

If you wanted to avoid salary, I think Basallo++ has to be part of the deal although we could likely move O'Hearn and get a guy like Gavin Sheets included in a deal. 

[CantonJester]

Not that it matters, but SF is waaaaayyyy closer to Scottsdale than Baltimore.

 

 

Yes, San Francisco is closer to Scottsdale than Baltimore. 

 

:facepalm:

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Verlander or Scherzer for the leadership and I think both have something left. Thats the way Id go after 2 SP. One of the vets above slide in further down the rotation and another FA or trade slides in at #2 or #3. Can never have enough SP. Could even trade Kremer or Povich if you wanted.

[CantonJester]

Guys don't hire Boras to get a big enough offer from a place they wanna be. He'll go where the most money is. Up to a (pretty big) point, I'd make that Baltimore if I were in charge.

 

Usually true, but not always. 

[Mackus]

Usually true, but not always.

Who are the outliers? I'm sure there are one or two; Jered Weaver comes to mind. None that I can think of recently.

I am confident that if we make the biggest offer for Burnes, he signs here. Not sure how big they'll get and if being the max is a good idea, though I like it up to a really big point. Very low expectation the Orioles are even in the ballpark, but think that will be a strategic decision and no longer an economic necessity.

[Mackus]

I wouldn't paint all teams with the same brush. I doubt STL goes backwards. They may not be aggressive in adding, but maybe more like the Mets' offseason last year. Fringe adds, looking to play better on the non-Talent front/collective. They are a team that could check in on Ced. They could move some pieces around, like trading Arenado (push Walker back to 3B) and cash for Tork (Jung plays 1B) or something like that....but any shuffle will be for ML roster. I doubt they have a resource alignment issue.

https://www.sportsbu...s-new-direction

Nightengale also reported they'd be lowering payroll and looking to deal Sonny Gray.

We'll see what they do, but seems to me like a new approach in St. Louis is coming.

[mdrunning]

https://www.sportsbu...s-new-direction

Nightengale also reported they'd be lowering payroll and looking to deal Sonny Gray.

We'll see what they do, but seems to me like a new approach in St. Louis is coming.

Nightengale also reported there are rumors the Cardinals could pursue Pete Alonso to take over for Paul Goldschmidt. That doesn't sound like a team looking to clip coupons.