I agree. From the sounds of it, there’s not going to be a lot of premier pitching becoming available from trade, and even if there was, we would be emptying our system to make a trade like that.
With Upton looking a lot better at the end of the year, he doesn’t have the outlook of a complete albatross as a lot began to think. Maybe a team looking for a veteran bat in their lineup would be willing to take on Upton and the rest of his contract if we throw in a guy like Jeremiah Jackson or Pares. Or both even. That would free up 20 mil in addition to the 40 mil or so I’ve seen floated as what we have to spend. Overpay Bauer to get him here- hopefully that 60 mil is enough for both Bauer and Stroman. backload as needed after Pujols contract is off the books.
My thinking is, giving those guys up to free Uptons 20 Mil is still less than what we’d be trading to get a pitcher with similar upside as stroman. Yes, perhaps the trade route would bring in a younger and cheaper option, but we’d be likely giving up more than we did for dumping Upton. I even like Upton and thought people were too quick to hate him but I’d rather pay Stroman in this scenario. Maybe bring in a guy like Pederson on a 1 year deal until Marsh/Adell are both ready and perhaps we could have Bauer/Stroman/Pederson for the same or similar price tags as Bauer/Upton/traded pitcher.
Probably a long shot because of Uptons no trade clause, and both stroman and Bauer have to want to be here. I’d even move Adams to dump Upton if it meant we can sign both those guys. it’s not the craziest thing I’ve heard and we wouldn’t have gutted the farm to make it happen :)