160 replies to this topic

[RichardZ]

Santander is better than O'Neill. Now O'Neill could turn out healthy which is what we all hope. But he still won't be a switch hitter.
 
Could have upgraded at CF over Mullins. Or moved Cowser and upgraded in LF.
 
And they for sure could have done better at C if the plan is to DH Adley more.
 
But that's all close. THE issue was not getting some quality SP. So tired of this quantity approach. Yes lots of arms are not a bad thing. 
 
But all thats for discussion. You just totally ignored my main complaint. The O's had the resources to do much better and actually take a solid shot at really improving the team. They flat didn't do that. If you want to argue we are just as good going in as last year. Ok, that's a viewpoint. But so freaking what. They should have set themselves up to be better than last year. They didn't. 

Fair enough. Would you have traded Basallo, Bradfield + for Crochet? Would you have outbid the Yanks for Fried, the Dodgers for Snell, or the D-Backs for Burnes?

[weird-O]

Fair enough. Would you have traded Basallo, Bradfield + for Crochet? Would you have outbid the Yanks for Fried, the Dodgers for Snell, or the D-Backs for Burnes?

Good questions.

 

I wouldn't make that Crochet trade. I value the report card on Basallo, more than I value 2 seasons of the impressive but questionable Crochet. 

If I remember correctly, Snell had a preference to play for LA, and I assume Burnes preferred to live and play in PHX, so those deals couldn't have been made. 

Fried signed for 8/$218, so the O's would have had to go either more years, or higher AAV. I wouldn't want to do either.  

[BSLChrisStoner]

Fair enough. Would you have traded Basallo, Bradfield + for Crochet? Would you have outbid the Yanks for Fried, the Dodgers for Snell, or the D-Backs for Burnes?

Basallo, Bradfield, + for Crochet.   Not sure I love Crochet, but yes. 

 

Fried?  No

 

Snell? No

 

Burnes? The reports I saw suggested that Burnes directly reached out to the Diamondbacks.

If he wanted to be in Arizona, it’s hard to beat home, taxes, etc. I would have made him turn down 5 years $212M.
That would have been my offer. If he turned it down, I would have lived with that.
While I said I would have offered 5 years, I didn’t feel great about it.

 

My thoughts on the off-season
https://baltimorespo...les-off-season/

[Mackus]

Fair enough. Would you have traded Basallo, Bradfield + for Crochet? Would you have outbid the Yanks for Fried, the Dodgers for Snell, or the D-Backs for Burnes?

I wouldn't have paid the Crochet price on the day the trade was made, but with retrospect of having done nothing else, I'd do it now and I'd double down by extending him. Tons of risk, but big potential reward.

Also very yes on outbidding the Diamondbacks for Burnes. I'd have made him turn down 7/$245M straight. Maybe he still takes 6/$195M (what his deal would be worth straight up), but that's a big delta to say no to.

No on Fried.

Maybe on Snell, though I assume the Dodgers would always just spend more and get it done, unlike the D-Backs and Burnes.

Didn't ask, but yes on outbidding Texas for Eovaldi.

[RichardZ]

I wouldn't have paid the Crochet price on the day the trade was made, but with retrospect of having done nothing else, I'd do it now and I'd double down by extending him. Tons of risk, but big potential reward.
Also very yes on outbidding the Diamondbacks for Burnes. I'd have made him turn down 7/$245M straight. Maybe he still takes 6/$195M (what his deal would be worth straight up), but that's a big delta to say no to.
No on Fried.
Maybe on Snell, though I assume the Dodgers would always just spend more and get it done, unlike the D-Backs and Burnes.
Didn't ask, but yes on outbidding Texas for Eovaldi.

I admit that Crochet move is a bold, go for it now move, but I wouldn’t do it. Basallo and Bradfield can be cornerstone players and I’m not giving that up for a guy who seemed to wear down (5.12 ERA post all star). It is a move that, if it works out, could help the O’s get deep in the post season. Too much backfire potential for me. But it’s tempting for me to agree with you.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Fair enough. Would you have traded Basallo, Bradfield + for Crochet? Would you have outbid the Yanks for Fried, the Dodgers for Snell, or the D-Backs for Burnes?

1. In a heartbeat. Over the next 2 years Crochet might get us to the WS much more so than either of those guys.

 

2. Probably not BUT part of the equation would be that he'd be pitching for the O's and not the Yankees. That has some value.

 

3. Yes

 

4. Yes

 

And no I wouldn't have loved any of those deal except for Crochet. But I see the next 2 years as our peak shot. And none of those deals would have stopped us from doing things down the road.

[weird-O]

In a heartbeat. Over the next 2 years Crochet might get us to the WS much more so than either of those guys.

I wouldn't bet on that. Burnes gave the offense 8 innings with only 1 run allowed, and they still lost that game. The lack of offense is why this team is still seeking its first post season win.

[BaltBird 24]

Pitching played a big part in sinking the 2023 team. Grayson and Kremer were both terrible in that series.

Yeah, offense was absolutely the main culprit in 2024.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Exactly. the young guys will continue to improve, and while it's not "offseason moves", it's just as, if not more important to continue to see development with certain guys.

Agreed.

Still wish the rotation were better.

[BobPhelan]

I wouldn’t trade Basallo for pretty much anyone. Mayo maybe for a guy under 3+ years of control (Sandy, Pablo, Mariners young SP).

[dude]

....are we changing the Title every day?

 

You can delete your grade and change it so if the Dylan Carlson signing or the Mateo avoidance of ARB changes your answer, you can update the answer "as of 28 Jan".

[RichardZ]

....are we changing the Title every day?
 
You can delete your grade and change it so if the Dylan Carlson signing or the Mateo avoidance of ARB changes your answer, you can update the answer "as of 28 Jan".

This is Dude humor, right?

[dude]

This is Dude humor, right?

 

Well...you could change your answer for any reason.  I assume those things wouldn't change your grade but those are things that happened since 26 Jan.

 

Your offseason grade is just your offseason grade, you can change your grade if you like - if something happens to make you want to change it.  You don't need the date (I didn't do that).

[bmore_ken]

D. Because there was no real improvement to a team that can't seem to get past round 1 of the playoffs. Losing Burnes (which probably couldn't be avoided) didn't help that situation. On the bright side, at least we can talk about a team that actually makes the playoffs considering what most of the last two decades have looked like. 

[dude]

"...As Of Feb 1st."

[dude]

Crazy to me the amount of D's I see. I understand a C, personally I think it's a B or B- offseason, but D's are crazy.

 

I'd suggest if you think this offseason is a B you have a really low expectation of what Elias can/should be doing with this roster heading into 2025.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

"...As Of Feb 1st."

Laughable how butthurt you are over someone editing the title of your thread. Whoever did this its a glorious unintentional troll. 

[dude]

Laughable how butthurt you are over someone editing the title of your thread. Whoever did this its a glorious unintentional troll. 

 

Given how unhinged you were that evening, feels highly likely that you were crying your ass off to Bob or Chris like a pathetic baby....."...because the offseason isn't over yet" .

 

I am pointing out how silly that change was.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

ROFL. If I had known it would get this reaction I def would've. Pure gold.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I changed it. 

 

I had hoped it would allow for the intended discussion (rate the offseason as of now) to happen, without the additional stuff. 

 

It's February.   Spring Training nears.   Let's enjoy that O's fans.  

 

dude / 2035...  it's a new season.  Start anew, and drop the back and forth bs. 

At-least wipe the slate clean.  If you pick up new grievances, fine...  have at it, but leave the prior stuff buried.