Twins (Lopez) vs Cubs (Imanaga): 8/6/24, 7:05pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Awesome pitching matchup tonight. Shota is Shota and Lopez has looked a lot more like 2023 Pablo over the past several starts.

[Tryptamine]

I figure this thread is as good as anywhere else, but given PCA's improvements and Luis Robert's continued decline, I'm firmly on the I wouldn't even consider dealing PCA for Robert straight up. It's funny when you realize 5 months ago, you would have needed PCA++ to land Roberts.

[WhyCantWeWin]

#ImWithJumbo

[LBiittner]

37 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I figure this thread is as good as anywhere else, but given PCA's improvements and Luis Robert's continued decline, I'm firmly on the I wouldn't even consider dealing PCA for Robert straight up. It's funny when you realize 5 months ago, you would have needed PCA++ to land Roberts.

I was in the "get robert" club just a short short time ago. But me thinks I need to embrace PCA a little tighter as he shows signs of life and hope. 

[Bertz]

I think, behind catcher, a lefty killer that can fit into the OF/DH mix is my biggest offseason want.  So while PCA for Robert certainly doesn't look like a fit anymore, an OF with PCA and Robert might make a lot of sense pending what happens with Bellinger.

[squally1313]

I have a couple friends that are Sox fans and apparently very masochistic and their position on Roberts is that he's been just 100% checked out for months now and it's not that he's actually getting worse. Don't know how I feel about trying to quantify effort/motivation, but there's maybe an angle there.

Totally out of left field here (pun maybe intended) but....do you think Trout would ever waive his NTC?

[Cuzi]

The cost to acquire a guy that can only be counted on to play half a season never made sense to me. Let's just sign Soto and not worry about finding a lefty masher, and instead get a guy who mashes everyone.

[JBears79]

2 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I figure this thread is as good as anywhere else, but given PCA's improvements and Luis Robert's continued decline, I'm firmly on the I wouldn't even consider dealing PCA for Robert straight up. It's funny when you realize 5 months ago, you would have needed PCA++ to land Roberts.

I dont even think Robert is declining. I think he is mentally checked out and just doesnt care right now. I think hes still the same player. The Sox should have traded him at the deadline because he tanks his value for them everyday hes out there during this season for the Sox.

[Tryptamine]

9 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Yeah, I’d swap out Crow-Armstrong for Robert Jr. rn if possible. Crow-Armstrong’s still running like a .260 xwOBA. It’s very possible that, if he hits at all, it may be later rather than sooner ala Swanson. Like <100 PAs hitting like the worst Robert Jr. but with a 106.5 max EV isn’t really enough to budge, especially the way the farm’s going 

He's also vastly superior defensively and on the bases.

[PackLandVA]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

I have a couple friends that are Sox fans and apparently very masochistic and their position on Roberts is that he's been just 100% checked out for months now and it's not that he's actually getting worse. Don't know how I feel about trying to quantify effort/motivation, but there's maybe an angle there.

Totally out of left field here (pun maybe intended) but....do you think Trout would ever waive his NTC?

This was referenced on the post game show last night by Chuck Garfein and the Big Hurt.

[Cuzi]

The only OFer potentially on the market I would trade PCA for right now is Kyle Tucker. I'm not trading PCA for 80 games worth of a 5 WAR skilled player. Even with an average bat, PCA will be a 3-4 WAR player.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

do you think Trout would ever waive his NTC?

Cubs Mike Trout would be Angels Albert Pujols

[Rcal10]

14 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

The only OFer potentially on the market I would trade PCA for right now is Kyle Tucker. I'm not trading PCA for 80 games worth of a 5 WAR skilled player. Even with an average bat, PCA will be a 3-4 WAR player.

I am in the same page as you Cuzi. The only outfielders I want are either Soto or Tucker. And even if Bellinger stays I am in on either of them. I also agree with PCA being a 3-4 WAR player even if he hits .240 with not a high slugging. 

[squally1313]

9 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

Cubs Mike Trout would be Angels Albert Pujols

Eh, 6 years vs 10 years, wouldn't expect him to immediately become a DH/huge drag defensively. Injuries are definitely a problem, but he could probably be had for less than free and he hasn't put up an xwOBA below .389 in his life. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Mike Trout turns 33 tomorrow, is owed 6/222 on his contract, and will enter next season having averaged 66 games played a year since the pandemic-shortened season.

[squally1313]

22 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Mike Trout turns 33 tomorrow, is owed 6/222 on his contract, and will enter next season having averaged 66 games played a year since the pandemic-shortened season.

Well when you put that way....

I get it, and certainly don't want to die on a crippled 33 year old Mike Trout shaped hill. Just found myself wondering how much of that contract we could get out of, and then about the concept of trying to find opportunities that give you a wide range of potential outcomes in terms of value added. Like, to get Soto you're going to be paying a number that implies peak Soto production. But if you could make a financial commitment that's based on 'Always Injured and Maybe Washed Up Mike Trout' and then he suddenly stops being injured all the time while continuing to xwOBA above .390....that raises the ceiling quite a bit. 

[Andy]

49 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Well when you put that way....

I get it, and certainly don't want to die on a crippled 33 year old Mike Trout shaped hill. Just found myself wondering how much of that contract we could get out of, and then about the concept of trying to find opportunities that give you a wide range of potential outcomes in terms of value added. Like, to get Soto you're going to be paying a number that implies peak Soto production. But if you could make a financial commitment that's based on 'Always Injured and Maybe Washed Up Mike Trout' and then he suddenly stops being injured all the time while continuing to xwOBA above .390....that raises the ceiling quite a bit. 

Trouble is, once guys start getting injured all the time, they pretty much never stop.

[Tim]

Robert is on a cheap contract, which has value. But he's not anyone that I'd give up prime assets for given his health and declining performance. I don't care if it is because he isn't interested - that's not great either!

Tucker I'd move mountains to acquire and extend, but I don't know if he'll be available.

-------

Make it easy. Open the checkbook and sign Soto.

[Eeyore]

Not getting no-hit today. Need ten runs though.

[UMFan83]

That looked scary for Bellinger

[JHBulls]

That looked like it could have been so much worse. Belli staying in.

[CubinNY]

Paredes is going to come through here

[Eeyore]

Looks like a hyperextend knee. It's going to be sore.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, CubinNY said:

Paredes is going to come through here

Lotto numbers plz

[JHBulls]

Stupid wind worried me lol.