2013 Mock Offseason Thread

[rawaction]

Anyone have an idea of how Hosmer looked in the OF during his stint out there this season? He'd be a buy-low candidate.

 

Does it really matter? If he can be had for cheap, I'd take it regardless of how he is defensively.

[Backtobanks]

Anyone have an idea of how Hosmer looked in the OF during his stint out there this season? He'd be a buy-low candidate.

 

Does it really matter? If he can be had for cheap, I'd take it regardless of how he is defensively.

 

I totally agree. If we can pick up any young players cheaply that have the potential to be productive, then go for it. If it doesn't work, so be it.

[nilodnayr]

Heres my video game version of the Winter Meetings:

 

Dolis to Det

Porcello to CHI

 

Vogelbach + Vitters + Jackson to CLE

Chisenhall + Asdrubal + Masterson to CHI

 

Chisenhall + Asdrubal + Wood + McNutt to AZ

Bauer + Parra to CHI

 

Soriano + entire salary + LaHair to Balt

Matusz + Reynolds to CHI

 

Garza + entire salary + Marmol + entire salary + Matusz + Villanueva + Underwood to KC

Myers + Moustakas to CHI

 

Sign Stauffer as a rehab

Sign Ryan Roberts to platoon at 3b and backup 2b

 

Rotation:

Bauer

Shark

Baker

Porcello

Masterson

---------

Vizciano

Stauffer

 

Field:

Castillo

Rizzo

Barney

Castro

Stewart/Roberts

Myers

Parra

DeJesus

-------

Reynolds

Navarro

Valbuena

Sappelt

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Heres my video game version of the Winter Meetings:

 

AI trade decline clearly turned off.

[rawaction]

Traded for Moustakas and don't even have him on the roster. Must have gotten lost in the 35 other 3B acquired. Cubs make out well in every trade.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Cleveland trade borders upon cartoon super-villainy, which in turn negates the Arizona trade.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Hardball Talk ‏@HardballTalk

Royals willing to include top prospect Wil Myers in trade for a frontline starting pitcher http://dlvr.it/2X8H7c #mlb #hbt

[Clem Fandango]

I really wish we had one that was expendable :(

 

I think this quote is more important from that article...

 

From veterans like designated hitter Billy Butler to left fielder Alex Gordon to youngsters like first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas, the Royals aren’t limiting themselves in their search for a pitcher. Butler and Gordon come with track records of production – and contracts to match. Butler is owed $16 million over the next two years, with a $12.5 million club option in 2015. Gordon will make $31.5 million through ’15 and has a player option at $12.5 million for 2016.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hardball Talk ‏@HardballTalk

Royals willing to include top prospect Wil Myers in trade for a frontline starting pitcher http://dlvr.it/2X8H7c #mlb #hbt

 

[expletive], if this was last year, Garza could have been a potential match. Even sans questions about the elbow, I'll assume they're looking for more than one year out of a guy. Any chance they view Samardzjia as a front end starter? Arizona, Atlanta, Oakland, and TB are perfect matches. Especially Oakland and Arizona who could then turn around and flip Reddick or Upton to re-stock. If nothing else, hopefully Epstein puts us in position for that type of thing in the next few years.

[rawaction]

Hardball Talk ‏@HardballTalk

Royals willing to include top prospect Wil Myers in trade for a frontline starting pitcher http://dlvr.it/2X8H7c #mlb #hbt

 

[expletive], if this was last year, Garza could have been a potential match. Even sans questions about the elbow, I'll assume they're looking for more than one year out of a guy. Any chance they view Samardzjia as a front end starter? Arizona, Atlanta, Oakland, and TB are perfect matches. Especially Oakland and Arizona who could then turn around and flip Reddick or Upton to re-stock. If nothing else, hopefully Epstein puts us in position for that type of thing in the next few years.

 

That article mentions Tampa, Arizona, Seattle, and Oakland as teams KC has spoken with. If they like Shields (as speculated), I would think they would like Samardzija. I don't think they'd give up Wil Myers for either though. The As and DBacks have mostly young arms available. Potential front line guys, but do they want potential or do they want someone that slots at the top of their rotation now? Samardzija may be more interesting, for that fact, than even those teams' best arms.

 

I'd imagine though, they're very interested in Felix Hernandez, and are probably holding out to see if the Ms will budge on him.

 

I wonder what the Cubs would have to add to Samardzija to get Hosmer, Gordon, and Odorizzi? Soriano? Barney? prospects? Trading Gordon would open a spot for Myers in LF. They could still find a 1B/DH (or can have Soriano) to pair with Butler. Odorizzi would be expendable with the pitching depth at the ML level and they still have a few guys in the minors. I honestly think they'd love to get a SP like Shark and be able to keep Moustakas, Myers and Butler.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hardball Talk ‏@HardballTalk

Royals willing to include top prospect Wil Myers in trade for a frontline starting pitcher http://dlvr.it/2X8H7c #mlb #hbt

 

[expletive], if this was last year, Garza could have been a potential match. Even sans questions about the elbow, I'll assume they're looking for more than one year out of a guy. Any chance they view Samardzjia as a front end starter? Arizona, Atlanta, Oakland, and TB are perfect matches. Especially Oakland and Arizona who could then turn around and flip Reddick or Upton to re-stock. If nothing else, hopefully Epstein puts us in position for that type of thing in the next few years.

 

That article mentions Tampa, Arizona, Seattle, and Oakland as teams KC has spoken with. If they like Shields (as speculated), I would think they would like Samardzija. I don't think they'd give up Wil Myers for either though. The As and DBacks have mostly young arms available. Potential front line guys, but do they want potential or do they want someone that slots at the top of their rotation now? Samardzija may be more interesting, for that fact, than even those teams' best arms.

 

I'd imagine though, they're very interested in Felix Hernandez, and are probably holding out to see if the Ms will budge on him.

 

I wonder what the Cubs would have to add to Samardzija to get Hosmer, Gordon, and Odorizzi? Soriano? Barney? prospects? Trading Gordon would open a spot for Myers in LF. They could still find a 1B/DH (or can have Soriano) to pair with Butler. Odorizzi would be expendable with the pitching depth at the ML level and they still have a few guys in the minors. I honestly think they'd love to get a SP like Shark and be able to keep Moustakas, Myers and Butler.

 

I could definitely see a blockbuster based on Myers+Butler for Price deal. There's also Bauer from Arizona. I can't imagine us being able to put together anything more desireable than that even if it meant they'd keep Myers.

[Backtobanks]

I see on MLBTR that the Yankees are interested in Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger would be an interesting platoon player with Stewart or Valbuena and he shouldn't cost too much. Have Vitters gain some confidence in AAA. Also, Keppinger could get us something at the trade deadline.

[Tryptamine]

I'm not sure why people are entirely down on Vitters to begin with. Everytime he jumps a level he always sucks for the first month or two then he adjusts and plays fairly well.

[Clem Fandango]

No to Jeff Keppinger, please.

[Cubswin11]

Getting Gordon would be awesome. I'd be willing to give up Shark+ for him. Did they move him off of 3B because they had a spot in the OF for him and 3B was taken or was he bad defensively they had to move him?

 

If he was bad, how bad was he? Like Bruan bad where he never could cut it or like early career Ramirez bad where he could grow into an average to above average defender there? If he could move to 3B and solve that problem for us he becomes very valuable.

[Clem Fandango]

IIRC he was a little below average, and not that great, and they had better defensive options in the system so they converted him. That being said, I wouldn't move him back. He's actually a very good defensive left fielder, if I'm not mistaken.

 

I wouldn't trade Samardzija for him though. He's not exactly cheap... owed $31.5 million over the next three years with a $12.5 player option for 2016. I like Gordon a lot, though, but if I'm trading Samardzija for a 3B option, I'm targeting an actual 3B like Moustakas.

[Guest]

Getting Gordon would be awesome. I'd be willing to give up Shark+ for him. Did they move him off of 3B because they had a spot in the OF for him and 3B was taken or was he bad defensively they had to move him?

 

If he was bad, how bad was he? Like Bruan bad where he never could cut it or like early career Ramirez bad where he could grow into an average to above average defender there? If he could move to 3B and solve that problem for us he becomes very valuable.

 

He moved partly because of how poor he was defensively and partly because he had a hip injury that limited his value.

 

I know some metrics consider him the best defensive LF in the American League so I don't think you'd want to move him if you acquire him.

[toonsterwu]

I know I've been pushing the idea that Samardzija should be shopped, but I don't think he should be dealt for an Alex Gordon-type bat. If anything, if you shop Samardzija, I think the focus should be getting a high ceiling upper level arm (and obviously, more), someone that fits more in line with the Cubs timeline. It's a risk, but with the direction of the club, I think that's the risk you have to take, rather than going after an established bat.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm not sure why people are entirely down on Vitters to begin with. Everytime he jumps a level he always sucks for the first month or two then he adjusts and plays fairly well.

 

I often wonder how the people who are ready to cast Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson into the fiery depths of hell after having struggling through their first big league stints felt when we acquired Rizzo.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure why people are entirely down on Vitters to begin with. Everytime he jumps a level he always sucks for the first month or two then he adjusts and plays fairly well.

 

I often wonder how the people who are ready to cast Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson into the fiery depths of hell after having struggling through their first big league stints felt when we acquired Rizzo.

 

Brett Jackson's struggles and Rizzo's 2011 struggles show some key differences.

[mul21]

I'm not sure why people are entirely down on Vitters to begin with. Everytime he jumps a level he always sucks for the first month or two then he adjusts and plays fairly well.

 

I often wonder how the people who are ready to cast Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson into the fiery depths of hell after having struggling through their first big league stints felt when we acquired Rizzo.

 

Brett Jackson's struggles and Rizzo's 2011 struggles show some key differences.

 

True, I also feel a lot differently about Vitters than I do Jackson. I really think Vitters will eventually figure it out and be a decent hitter at a minimum. Jackson on the other hand, at this point, I just hope he can make enough contact to not be awful.

[Gilby]

I think I still like Jackson more because of his wider skill set. I'm more confident Brett can get his K's close to 30% than Vitters playing a passable third base; Josh also wasn't exactly Placido Polanco with the contact either. Though, at the moment, I don't consider either to be big parts of the future.

[Clem Fandango]

Interesting tidbit from Cafardo

 

The Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Cubs, and many more are inquiring on rightfielder Giancarlo Stanton, a major league source tells Cafardo. However, commissioner Bud Selig is watching the situation closely after the club's colossal salary dump in the Blue Jays deal. He didn't move to block that trade, but he may not be fond of a deal for the Marlins’ biggest draw.

 

Doubt anything happens, but it's fun to speculate. I'd have to imagine a deal for Stanton has to include Baez. I'd be okay with that.

[Backtobanks]

Interesting tidbit from Cafardo

 

The Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Cubs, and many more are inquiring on rightfielder Giancarlo Stanton, a major league source tells Cafardo. However, commissioner Bud Selig is watching the situation closely after the club's colossal salary dump in the Blue Jays deal. He didn't move to block that trade, but he may not be fond of a deal for the Marlins’ biggest draw.

 

Doubt anything happens, but it's fun to speculate. I'd have to imagine a deal for Stanton has to include Baez. I'd be okay with that.

 

Selig doesn't mind that Loria traded half of his ML roster, but he may be upset with trading Stanton?

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm not sure why people are entirely down on Vitters to begin with. Everytime he jumps a level he always sucks for the first month or two then he adjusts and plays fairly well.

 

I often wonder how the people who are ready to cast Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson into the fiery depths of hell after having struggling through their first big league stints felt when we acquired Rizzo.

 

Brett Jackson's struggles and Rizzo's 2011 struggles show some key differences.

 

True, I also feel a lot differently about Vitters than I do Jackson. I really think Vitters will eventually figure it out and be a decent hitter at a minimum. Jackson on the other hand, at this point, I just hope he can make enough contact to not be awful.

 

I see the opposite. Vitters is pretty much an all or nothing. If he's not going to hit, he's not going to do anything. Whithere certainly has a chance to improve on his defense, and plate dicipline, I can't imagine it ever reaching a point where it could make up for a lack of offense. With Jackson, even if he never breaks a .250 BA, he still has the tools to be a useful player ala Chris Young, Cameron Maybin,and Drew Stubbs.