marcosantinia12

Yeah, I would like him at 3rd as well. I'd go with Zobrist at 2nd as our biggest signing or go cheap with Utley. Kendrick would be perfect if he didn't have a pick attached.

Nikka, I generally love your ideas but I have to agree with Scotty here. I think that lineup looks sickening good, but paper doesn't always translate to real production and it looks like a roster built on star power and name recognition as opposed to the fundamental make-up of a team of getting on-base, putting pressure on the defense, driving guys in, etc. I like your effort in thinking outside the box, I just feel like there's too many things that could go wrong in that scenario.

I agree, this very well could be regression. But I think it is unfair to judge his regression in an injury season in which he also changed teams. I'm not saying that this means he ISN'T regressing, just the perfect time to buy low on him because there is also a good chance the factors that I mentioned him affected him. I expect him to regress from 2014, but not drastically like 2015.

Man, this really sucks... RIP Tommy.

Last year is an outlier and he had different factors that may have affected it. He came back from injury, and split time between clubs. His playing style does not scream "regression time". You can't sing judge based off of an outlier or I could have point out in September that the league had adjusted to Trout. As far as age, all of our options are on the age of over 30 (Murphy, Howie, Zobrist) and we seem to be very fond of the idea of giving them big bucks. No way you pay big for Utley, because he IS a couple years older than the other guys and his career may very well be regressing, but its worth a 1 year deal for cheap. Again, why not? What is to lose? A 1 year commitment is worst case scenario, best case is he rebounds to the 4 win player he was one year ago.

Please elaborate with statistical evidence.

I agree, nice post Scotty. Sums up the most popular ideas.As for wophill, I like it! We would really have to break the bank to get Gordon, Kendrick, and a frontline starter though but it looks good. I'd probably scramble the lineup a bit but that's the least of worries for now. I've become very attached to the Aoki idea as well. Good ideas everyone.

Forget the name, let's look at the statistics. His stats, aside from last year, are a great fit to this team at 2nd base. What about him doesn't make sense? I'd agree if he wanted longer than 1 year and/or big money. Why not if he comes cheap though?

I hear you, just isn't efficient to carry 8 starters. Let's carry a decent SP staff that gets you through 6 innings, maybe even just 5 and create a lock down bullpen.

I don't understand the love for freese. He's a decent bat, he fits good with the team, but is he really worth 10 million? I'd understand if we were stuck Ina left field type situation where we had nobody competent to fill the hole but I wouldn't mind seeing our younger guys at 3rd or a trade for a vet if possible. 10 million can be allocated elsewhere.Edit: With 13 million we can have a completely shut down bullpen in O'Day and Bastardo/Soria. And then replace Freese via trade or slightly drop off w/ in-house options.

Would anybody here be open to picking up Utley for cheap? Just a 1 year deal makes sense for him to be able to rebound to his real value. He had a shitty 2015 to say the least; I know, I know. But lets look past an injured season split between different teams and look at his previous 2 years. His stat line for those 2 years were .276/.343/.438. That OBP would be extremely welcomed here. He's old and he isn't a 30 hr, 100 RBI guy anymore, but how about .250/.330/.420 and solid defense? He was a 4.4 win player just a year ago today. He's not ideal, i'd rather go with Zobrist or maybe Howie. But if we can go cheap on Utley, trade for 3B (or roll with our young guys) we have the money for a big signing. I wouldn't be completely opposed to it at that point. Just a though..

Couldn't have put it any better. I don't think we should sign Freese either though. I think that 10 mil per can be used a lot more efficiently. Lets trade Santiago for 3B help, just not Plouffe. If it doesn't happen, our worst case scenario is Kubitza/Cowart at third and I'm ok with that. I don't think they are a huge drop off from Freese and definitely not Plouffe.

As of right now, we have 8 starters. Depth is good, but you cant just let the value of the 3 excess pichers die in the minors. Shoemaker is the perfect depth piece because his value will never really be too high in the market. He can pitch in AAA or in the pen and take over for a starter in the case of injury/struggles. Weaver is staying in the rotation, whether we like it or not. So will CJ, Richards, Heaney, and Santiago assuming we keep him. This means that that Shoe, Trop, and Skaggs are left out. Like I said, I'm ok with Shoemaker not in the rotation, but not Tropeano and definitely not Skags who have upsides to be very good contributions to our SP. I see what you're saying, but the pitching depth we acquired wasn't because we needed more pitchers neccessarily. It was because we need cost-controlled replacements for Weaver and CJ. We are at a great position where we have options. We can't keep all of these guys, because even next year when CJ and Weaver walk, Chris Ellis and Nate Smith will be ready. Oh and that Newcomb kid. This gives us the flexibility to trade for our other needs. You don't trade a Newcomb though, or a Richards, and unless you get a substantial return, you don't trade Heaney. Ellis and Smith are more valuable to our teams because of their upside and low market value. This leaves us with Santiago, Shoe, and Tropeano as our trade options. Scratch Shoe because of the reasons I mentioned (perfect depth guy). This leaves a guy with potential to be a solid 4-5 in Tropeano who has 5 years of control, or Santiago who has "all-star" on his resume and has only 2 years left of control. Santiago nets you a greater return, and he is more expendable than a guy in long-term team control.

I don't think I give up Santiago for Plouffe. He has only hit above league average twice in 5 seasons ( I wont count his 22 games in 2010). Other than his homeruns his numbers are pretty mehhh, and even those should drop in Aneheim. I'd rather go with Kubiza/Cowart than to give up Santiago for him. Believe it or not, Santiago has value. ERA consistently in the 3's and he is controlled at a fairly cheap salary. He is not the type to net you all-star talent, but certainly above replacement level. I would much rather going for a Prado, Yunel Escobar, or maybe even Solarte from SD if there was a match somehow. If the Piates would entertain the idea of moving Walker in a deal centered around Santiago that could work as well. With that being said, I think Plouffe is decent. I think he is a guy that fills a void, but nothing else. I don't think he plays much of an impact in the lineup. He would essentially be a lesser version of Freese and if you can get him for cheap (not Santiago) then sure, its an idea worth exploring.

Hahaha so many great pun's man...

That's what the argument is. Nobody here can say 100% that Scioscia ignores any type of sabr numbers, but from his decisions, I'd find it hard to believe he really follows it. Maybe Arte wants to put a team together that embraces both sides but is doing it wrong by hiring a SABR front office and old school management. As we all know, this is why Dipoto-Sciocia didn't work. He was constructing a team that needed to be managed a certain way, and it wasn't. If indeed Arte wants a bit of both then OK. IMO this is ideal, although I strongly favor an analytical-based FO and management. He had to hire both a Front office and management/coaching with similar views that are open to both sides. Not a strongly sided FO and opposite management. I think Scoscia is a good manager, whether I want him here is another story. Dipoto was also a bright GM. Problem is they couldn't work together because of their contrasting view points.

You're right, we can't judge based off of result. Analytically inclined, I think this it was a good decision bringing in Dejesus and Victorino and I'll defend it, it just didnt work... like you said, players lol

I like Span as well, would love to have either one of him or Aoki for cheap. As far as Cueto, I am very scared giving him a 5+ year contract having seen him struggle in the AL. Seeing that his stock has DRASTICALLY dropped, if he does go back to his NL form than he is a bargain. Just don't know if we can afford to take that risk. I would love getting Walker though! Even if we don't go after Cueto. That said, I don't know if we have enough to materialize both Prado and Walker trades without sending off too much young talent.

Man, signing Aoki makes more and more sense the more I think about it. Sign Aoki 2/9 (4.5 mil per) ​Sign Kendrick 4/40 (10 mil per - I think he agrees due to his attached pick + stays in Southern Cali) Sign O'day 3/22.5 (7.5 mil per) Sign Bastardo 3/15 (5 mil per) Trade Salas and Ramos for 2-3 minor league bats (SAVE 3 mil per) Trade Santiago for Prado (+2 mil per) Lineup with 3 Year averages (* represents exclusions): 1. Aoki (.353 OBP) 2. Kendrick (.340 OBP + .295 BA) 3. Trout (.973 OPS) 4. Pujols (33 HR - 2012 to 2015, excluded injured 2013 season) * 5. Calhoun (22 HR + 27 Doubles - 2014 and 2015, excluded 58 games in 2013) * 6. Prado (.284 BA + .333 OBP + 28 Doubles) 7. Cron (.444 SLG) 8. Perez (limited sample) 9. Aybar (.273 BA) Rotation: 1. Richards 2. Wilson 3. Heaney 4. Weaver 5. Tropeano Shoemaker and Skaggs (when ready) for depth to replace Weaver or other pitcher. Bullpen Back-end options : Gott Smith Bastardo O'Day Street Overall, this adds 26 million in salary for 2016 which keeps us really close to the luxury tax;all while drastically improving the team. The SP stays pretty mediocre, but with high upside. The pen becomes shut down, the defense improves substantially with Prado and Howie, and the offense improves greatly imo. Sure it doesn't add a "MOTTO bat" but you all of a sudden add a lot more runners on the bases. Calhoun becomes the extra run producer we need (or want) in the 5th spot. Prado is versatile in the ability to both get on and drive in runners. Cron batting all the way down on the 7 spot is pretty dangerous. Only thing that sucks is loosing a draft pick to pick up Howie. Ideally, Arte goes over the tax for the right player being Zobrsit and signs him for 3/51 instead of Kendrick. In this scenario, we retain our pick and add 33 million total to our 2016 salary going slightly over the threshold. Zobrist replaces Kendrick in the Lineup (.356 OBP 3 year average).

7.5 a year for a short 3 years is great! He has pitched below 2.28 in the last 4 years with a consistently improving trend. He has had phenomenal WHIP the last couple of years as well and I think he will be even better in a bigger park. Regarding his age, I don't see it as a problem as delivers tend to age well. Why not go after both him and Bastardo? They are short commitments and for both only add 12.5 mil a year. Let's round that up to 15 if we have to outbid anybody. I don't think its wise to over spend on the pen but this would cost lower than freese had we offered him a QO. This creates a very strong, lockdown pen and as we've seen with KC , shortening a game is valuable. Imagine Bastardo, O'Day, Street in the back end.

Yeah, Weaver does worry me as well. I mentioned him pitching only in home games w/ but that is probably nothing more than a pipe dream. Either way, we have 8 possible arms in Richards, Heaney, Santiago, Wilson, Weaver, Tropeano, Skaggs, Shoemaker and probably even Newcomb sometime late in the season.Depth is definitely important, especially with the question marks on the young guys being able to produce (or reproduce) but we can't afford to waste 3 of those pitchers' value in the minors. 2-3 will have to go. I say Santiago is a definite go because of his solid value. Him for Prado sounds fair. Tropeano is also possible to leave. Shoemaker is probably better value to the team by keeping him in AAA in case of depth because of his low trade value. Assuming that Skaggs is ready/ when he is ready, this gives us: 1. Richards 2. Heaney 3. Wilson 4. Skaggs 5. Weaver Shoemaker - Depth Newcomb - Eventually enters rotation Also, how far off from being ML ready are Ellis and Smith? How far off are Ellis

Interesting, I had no idea a that they were paying a portion of his contract. That makes the trade even more appealing. You're right about having an extra year of control being important, but to be quiet frankly a year from now we'll have a pretty heavy log jam in the pitching department. Plus hopefully by then, we will have more on what to expect from Cowart/Kubitza.

Sucks to loose the pick, but I feel like Freeze would have taken the offer. That would have been worse IMO, spending 15 million on Freeze. I'd rather put that to better use... I like it so far, Eppler being aggressive.

Yes, I think number 1 priority is the offense and pen. I think we will be fine in the SP department, I anticipate better than last year fosure. It would be nice to have 1 veteran arm in the 2 or 3 spot though, just to give us a more solid proven rotation as well as flexibility to package young pitchers for the right deals. Some people here want an ace too. I'm not opposed to it if we can go the cheap route and get contribution pieces like Aoki or Span and make a trade for 2nd/3rd.

Good ideas. What do you think it would take to trade for Lind? I'd imagine some of the pieces needed for him would be shipped for Prado/Escobar