We Got The Whole 9

I'm probably too high on the org as a whole, but then again I was in 2014 and that turned out quite well, but I think we're easily going to end up at the beginning of the season as the favorites to win the division. I look to Counsell and staff to shore up several key weaknesses. His staffs kept low walk rates, his catchers excelled at framing (which helps to not prolong ABs and keep walk rates down) and he didn't wait for relievers to finish shitting the bed. I think we're going to win a lot of games that maybe the last couple years we would have felt like we would have lost. Those little differences will add up IMO. The offense is really good if Seiya continues to emerge as he did after the reset and they add a couple 120 bats. They need to get more balanced and bring in legit LH, along with Hoskins, who feels inevitable at this point. But I Hoyer understands that and has intimated as such. The farm is well positioned to supplement the MLB roster. PCA's defense will give them a boost when his time comes and Counsell likes to press the action on the base paths. I think we can chalk up PCAs struggles to over-anxiousness and expect that he will be a significant part of the team after he acquits himself well in AAA. Horton, Brown, and Murray are knocking on the door. Shaw is a small step behind them. The upper-levels of the farm are deep. I'm disappointed it seems like we aren't going to get the whale but I still think we will have the best team in the division and will be playing in October, where anything can happen.

Screw Bieber. He's fine but he's a MORP now. I still like Clase. He keeps the ball on the ground and in the yard (11 HR in 238 IP!) and he still averages 99. He'd be expensive AF though. He is absolutely dirt cheap re the contract. His contract is ridiculous - 3/12 against the LT and 2/20 in options for 27-28.

Start him in relief for a couple years and then work him into the rotation ala Corbin Burnes

India has been on the block the last month

They also lost 2 pitchers in the rule 5

I only see a 68 grade on his page. Am I missing something?

Not even in on Imanaga?

I put 3:1 on him signing with the Yankees. He's gonna hit about 30 HR in that ****** little park alone.

I feel like we could get a 3rd or 4th for Jones, no? He has been penalized a lot but has kept the QB clean. He's been better lately overall.

Lowe has been mentioned and his contract is super suitable. We can all point to the fact that we threw Madrigal to the wolves at 3B and he came out better than ok. It's a risky bet but one that they should be willing to make.

Yes, I agree. They will have what it takes to win the division. the team has a lot of guys that haven't proven it in the playoffs but so did the D-backs. Granted they don't have a Carroll but they have a good collection of solid players and could "get hot at the right time". Nobody can say otherwise with absolute certainty.

thawv, you draw your own conclusions too often. This is so you.

We will likely be all over Bregman but I'm legitimately concerned that Jed will get scared out of that conversation as well.

I would be terrified to give him a 300m contract. I don't blame Jed at all if he walks away from those negotiations.

Abrams has 80 grade speed and stole 47/51 bases this year with 18 HR. Was the #6 overall pick in his draft and zoomed through the minors. Probably a 3 win player as a floor in the next few years, although he didn't grade too well on defense FWIW. James Wood is a monster of a man who carries a big stick but probably has the same questions as Alcantara with the long levers and BBK that leaves some to be desired. Mackenzie Gore has TORP potential. Everyone loves a LHSP who can average 95 with a good breaking ball. But he gave up a lot of hard contact and a ton of HR this year. Each of those prospects has All-Star potential. The Nationals did really well in that trade IMO. Raided the right system. Kudos to Preller because it seems like he's going to get really good value back, but that was a haul.

That's because overall is not 2 freaking words. Weirdos. 1:1 or 1-1 are the preferred nomenclature.

Padres must have asked for Horton as the lead piece. If the Yankees make this trade, it feels like Thorpe will be that piece. He had phenomonal numbers this year, most comparable to Horton, regardless of draft status or pedigree,

Ohtani is a peculiar fellow with some very strong demands. It sounds like we were willing to meet them. We've even kept the meeting under wraps. I don't see why this should embarrass the Cubs or their fans.

Brown. You meant Brown. Took me a couple minutes to figure it out lol

I still don't doubt the Rays threw his name out there so the "surfacing" likely is accurate IMO.

If you state that he set a professional career-high, then, yes.

I don't think I've seen anyone outside of NSBB mention Mervis in like 6 months

1:1 QBs have definitely been a bag of jags lately

You're not counting minor league innings, pretty simple.

Hoskins makes great sense for the team. Yeah he could flop as a hitter coming off a debilitating injury, you have to acknowledge the possibility. But he could very well be a 120 bat that is not attached to a pick. His defense... could be worse? I've been on board with the pickup from the jump. I just wish he was LH. I would still like Belt.