Vlad27Trout27

its going to be tough replacing petit, but i think the reason Billy let him walk was do to the emergence of Paredes, looking at him pitch last year was like petit pitch, they both are similar whit the except of padres having better stuff. With an improving Paredes and an Middleton, included to Parker and a healthy Bedrock we may have the best 7-9th inning guys in the AL with Bostons, that's if they pitch to there potential ( Which we've seen) plus wouldn't be surprised to see Chavez back with us as long reliever.

and the former first round pick, Kaleb Cowart had his first all-start year, silver slugger and won his 2nd gold glove at 2nd. 2017- .298/.359/.531 with 30 Hrs and 103 RBI.

interesting that we didn't sign him especially for that price. It could also mean that billy and co could be going after Minor, Davis or Morrow. But really surprised that we didn't sign him.

Drew smyly would also be a depth move as well.

I'd say bring back EYJ, loved his attitudes in the clubhouse, sign JJ as a backup ss/2nd base, Let coward and valbumea fight for 3rd, depending on what billy's plan is at catcher, id stick with juan or sign a lefty offensive minded catcher as a backup to Maldonado.

WOW!! just checks his walks from the last year few years and they are not good, while the strikeouts was OK. I think the biggest issue with pujols is that he's trying to pull every dam pitch, its so frustrating watching him hit into these the shifts when everyone knows that he can can go off with the best. I Even tho age is getting up to him, i still think he's still a good hitter and it starts with lowering the pull rate. The walks will increase and doubles will increase as he'll start to see the ball better going middle and right field, if he brings the pull rate down to 38-40% keep the center at 38% and increase his usage to fight field to 20% we could get a .270/.335/.475/ slash line.

Felts as if most of those runs came when he was overused, Similarly to Alvarez last year.

Most likely scenario that's going to happen is that valubena and cron are going to stay, Billy's going trade for solid second baseman. Than around the trade deadline or after, Billy's going to swing a trade for either 1st or 3rd like he did with Upton .

Lets just consider how our Roster is stacked up for now.. Of- set solidly with Upton-Trout- Calhoun. SP- if healthy and our starters get back to there pre-injured forms, we are stack up nicely with most of the contenders in the AL. Bp- add a few peace and if the guys don't get overworked, its good as anyone else. If- set with Simmons, and Valbuena, left is 2nd and 1st, This is were it gets interesting, depending on who billy gets for 2nd base will determine if Cron stays or Not. if its lefty, Cron stays , if rightly second baseman is signed or traded for a lefty is brought in for 1st. likeliest solution for seconds- we trade for Dee Gordon or sign Neil Walker, leaving cron at first. Yes i know that billy's may goal this year is to improve Obp and that Cron may not be the solution at 1st. Personally, Crons value on defense and offense will be more value than any of the 1st base free agents that we are targeting. Secondly, 1st base wasn't the only place that needed work done, Lf, 3rd DH and second i'll include Rf as well. We solved LF, given that Calhoun had core surgery last year he should bounce make, Dh is still a question mark similar to 3rd. With a rebounded Calhoun, addition of Upton, an improving Simmons, a non-tired Maldonado included with Trout, we are looking at a much deadlier offense now, include an improving Cron ( every year he has shown improvements. did hit a little snag last year but mostly likely do to valbuena) in to it and we could have have a top 5 Line-up in, with a top 5 BP and a top 6 rotation in the Al .

a few things that could have been it are: 1. Dodgers felt like that they didn't have room for him or w/ Tuner,Seager, Forsthye... 2. arguments going on between team mates or player- coaches. He could just have been angry for not being called up last year. 3. coming into last year he only had 37 career hrs, than hits 16 could be PED or a power spike.

Oh i definitely think that Arte going to make a pitch to Trout after he retires. Also another think to consider is, the type of money a player wants depends on their own personalities or ways. We have guys that just care about money ( Greinke), we also have guys that take less money and care about winning ( Weaver/Upton). To me Trout fits the second group of guys and at the end of the career he'll get the money and also hopefully win something with us. 8- 10 yrs for 175-235.

You beat me to punch, Scotty. Yeah I agree that he could be a solid buylow guys for us, I don't see the powers but he has an really great eye of the strike zone. Only 33 strikeouts compared to 24 walks last year In Double A.

I'm going to change mine a it. Sticking with moose at 3rd Cron at 1st Chatwood Petit and Minor Finally the change...... 2nd Jose Miguel Fernandez.

I think we may have found our 2md baseman/ 3rd baseman in Jose Miguel Fernandez, who was just release by the Dodgers. He was considered one of the better players in Cuba before leaving last year. With double aa he hit 306/366/498 with 33 strikeouts and 24 walks including 16 hrs.

We can't always get the right players. The under slot money with Thaiss not only helped us get Marsh what also Rodriguez( who i think may have a similar ceiling to Whitley),Troy and also lund.

I think what's going to happen is that Billy Keeps valbuena and Marte paired at third, than once our prospects gain more respect following the year, we'll make a trade to get a 3rd baseman. For example, a guy like Hermosillo + Gatto for Jake lamb.

I don't know if this is true or not, but you can use next year's Intl money to sign a guy like Maitain. But you have to pick, either this periods or next periods

This is how it's going to go down. Marlins get- Castillo, Lund and Smith Angels- Gordon + 1.2 mil intl money. Than eppler going to trade a rule 5 pick for more intl money (200k) with that we'll have about 1.5 intl money and we are going to sign Ohtani.... killed two bugs with one stone. Heck if the Marlins are asking for more and we have a clear chance at getting ohtani I'd put Wilkel Herendez in that trade but Marlins have to give more money.

Nate Smith + Jose Rodriguez to the Marlins for intl money about 1-1.2 mil? Or any team. Than trade the players we drafted in the rule 5 for anything we can get.

Nate Smith + Jose Rodriguez to the Marlins for intl money about 1-1.2 mil? Or an9ther team with intl money to give.

this a bit off topic, But it looks like the yankee's may have had an under the table agreement with Ohtani and with the stuff that happened with the braves, could this be a risk for the yankees. and this is also JJ cooper's tweet- " Before today, I wouldn't have been shocked if there was an under the table deal in place for whichever team signed Ohtani (if he comes over). Now I'm not so sure. To do so, front office execs would be taking a huge risk"

I think it could have been both, i'm kind of leaning towards roster. They had a good lineup but had no Bullpen at all, Rotation only had 2 solid starters, while rest were declining.

I can see them switching him from 1st to 3rd this season. should have the arm strength.

looks like othani being posted is close, i think Eppler may try to make a trade for someone along with intl bonus. also for the rule 5 draft wouldn't be surprised if he tried to trade to get more bonus.

I think we'll see 2 kept with us and one traded away. one to replace Calhoun and the other for LF after moving Uptoon to DH.