Ha, I almost started this thread.
Madrigal is so unsurprising it barely registers as news.
The Blue Jays just non-tendered Jordan Romano. He had an awful and injury-plagued season but he was lights out the couple years before that. Would be a good buy-low get, unless he goes back to his hometown Jays on a cheaper deal.
I know Caissie didn't put up the HR numbers this year some may have expected but that seems a bit reactionary given he still held his own fairly well as a 21 YO in AAA for the first time.
As has been said, Bellinger is still quite valuable to us next season and isn't THAT overpaid for what he brings to the table. My fear is they trade him for financial flexibility but then don't really add to the roster in a meaningful way. An injury means Tauchman is starting in the outfield or Mervis is starting at 1B. I am pretty against trading Belli but if you can pull off something like:
Bellinger for Kris Bubic and Brady Singer, then sign Max Fried and add someone like Joc Pederson and a decent backup catcher, then we're cooking. But I don't think that's likely.
Lmao I called it the other day: https://northsidebaseball.com/forums/topic/53819-general-offseason-priorities/?do=findComment&comment=3921595
Kneel before me, Mediocre Talent Nostradamus.
That said, this is probably just a flyer in case the catcher/bench bat market doesn't shake out for awhile. If he makes the opening day roster then a few things went poorly.
Also the domino effect here is we've seen the last of Daily Wisdom. He's a good dude with real power. Hoping he lands somewhere where he can still rake a little.
I've low-key loved Morgan the past few years. His peripherals were great and then last year was a weird year with him also battling an injury but at his best he's a solid back end of the pen option who won't strike out a ton of guys but like it's been said, has gotten better at limited hard contact.
I don't LOVE giving up Rosario but we're well stocked with OF prospects and he's still several years away.
Yeah several times when we weren't playing well I was hoping for a token call up so he could make his debut with us but then like a bad joke, he got hurt again.
Caissie and Cowles added. Adbert and Brennen Davis DFA'd.
Hoping both come back. I love Adbert and hoping Davis can finally stay healthy but I can't fault him if he goes to someone like the Angels or A's or White Sox with open competitions at several positions.
Ah forgot about Adbert. I know he's out for all of 2025 and probably some of 2026 but I really hope they bring him back on a minors deal to keep him around during and after his rehab.
So today is a big 40 man roster shuffle around the league. Our 40 man is full but one or several of these guys are probably gone: Madrigal, Wisdom, Davis, Wingenter, Hollowell, Zastryszny (I missed us getting him back apparently).
I wouldn't be shocked if Ricketts doesn't care that much. The team makes him money. They won a World Series already. He doesn't strike me as an owner that lives and dies by his team as a fan.
I was waiting to see a list like that. Caissie is an obvious choice. I had though he'd get added before the season ended. I have a feeling they'd protect Cowles considering they just traded for him. What's Aliendo's projection at this point? I'd hate to lose him but I don't know if a team would take a gamble on a catcher who hasn't hit AAA yet. And I like Christian Franklin but I could see him used in a prospect swap.
As a guy who also roots for the Phillies, no way all those guys are getting added to their 40 man. I have to think they'll trade one or just risk losing a few guys. McGowen and McGarry throw hard but have run into trouble in the upper minors. De La Cruz has a lot of potential but looked awful in his first go at AAA.
I like Wiggins a lot and am excited to see if he can continue to build with a strong 2025. I like all the info and thought 1908 put into this report and the follow-up comments. There's real bullpen risk, but he has a lot of the pieces in place to take the next step. And like TT said, I don't know if there's anyone behind him that's easily worthy of taking this spot in the rankings. Once you get past the top 5, it's kind of a crapshoot based on personal preference. I too like Birdsell a lot but he has warts. I like Derniche but he's so young and far away it's hard to predict what he'll be.
I like Buehler a lot but there is soooooo much risk involved. A one year prove it deal coupled with another SP add would be pretty good but I can't get behind giving him big money.