ShotimeDynasty

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If it’s determined Schanuel needs a little space to develop Votto is a guy who wouldn’t block him from coming back up when ready. Could there be a better mentor for Nolan Schanuel than Joey Votto? Both plate discipline extraordinaires Votto has gone from a guy that sacrificed some power in favor of superior OBP then switched to tapping into max power… understands hitting as well as anybody. Dismiss the clubhouse presence at your own peril. This team could absolutely use a spokesman on the 26 man and you’d be hard pressed to find a better clubhouse leader and ally for Anthony Rendon than Joey Votto. Votto may now be universally loved but has gone thru stretches where many didn’t like him for both his approach at the plate and fiery personality that has led to his fair share of spats. Trout hasn’t played with a vet that has charisma like Votto since Torii. I think Votto’s presence would help him on a daily basis too. If Schanuel does make the team as the 1B/ DH vs RHP, Votto was great vs LHP in 2023 and has always his same handed pitching well over his career (131 wRC+). Votto is also potentially a better defensive first baseman than Schanuel. Votto was a bit below average in 2023 while coming back from major shoulder injury, but his .231 ISO was great and he suffered from terrible batted ball luck. He might be a good contributor, he would definitely be beneficial for the clubhouse, and if Schanuel forces his way into a regular role and Votto can’t earn consistent ABs, he’s not the type (like Pujols was) to make it a clubhouse problem. I don’t really see any downside and think there’s a good bit of upside... maybe a ton.

JD and Belli would make this lineup very strong. I personally want to see O’Hoppe DH whenever he doesn’t catch so am not pushing for JD. But I can’t deny how formidable the squad would look with these two bats added.

Both teams probably waiting for the FA market to play out so they can trade from their positions of depth.

Neris is looking to break the bank I don’t think he’s a good target. More so after the Moore signing but wouldn’t think he was ever a real consideration

Re: Victor saying “if you’re in at $500M aren’t you just in?” I wonder how willing the Ohtani camp would have been to entertain deferred payments from Arte, considering they tied the opt-out clauses with changes certain LAD organizational changes. It’s a very different situation with Arte and his heirs who don’t have interest in taking over than it appears to be with the Guggenheims.

If he has an extended run of health and doesn’t produce I’m sure I’ll conclude he’s starting to lose (or if it’s bad enough even lost) some of his natural abilities

Rendon has not had an extended opportunity to get into a groove before encountering his next injury. It’s been a tragic run since 2021. But you’ve got to be fair and understand that a baseball player does not simply immediately return to his former self after hip and wrist surgeries. I’ll point to preseason 2023, when he appeared to be at full health, even though most of you will probably laugh at me. 15 G 41 PA .500/.561/.806 If only he could have an extended period of health to quiet some of you loudmouths.

Is his “lack of urgency” now any different from when he was balling out with Washington?

Sign Blake Snell 7/$196M ($28) Sign Jordan Hicks 4/$40M ($10) Sign Matt Moore 2/$18M ($9) Trade Patrick Sandoval+ ($5M) for Tyler Glasnow ($25M) or Corbin Burnes ($15M) ($10-$20)

It’s a pretty solid core if some health and luck could finally fall our way. Biggest void is top end SP. If Perry could pull off some early offseason signings; say two of Snell, Flaherty, Urias, Gilolito, Lorenzen, then get Moose to come back and finally bring back Moore and Lopez for the pen.. might Shohei feel like staying for a year or two while he recovers from TJ? If Ohtani moves on I’d pivot to Bellinger so Trout & Rendon can share some of the DH duties.

Very nice 3 game stretch for Jared Walsh I think our concerns can be safely put to bed. Double Thursday night in Texas 108.2 EV .930 xBA Pinch Hit HR yesterday 106.2 EV .850 xBA His seeming inability to hit the ball hard was the major concern imo. I’m good now.. give him most of the first base PAs vs RHP

Good point. They might not move on from Burnes until the offseason to avoid another PR nightmare, as long as they’re in the division lead

I would be willing to move Sandoval and Quero for Burnes especially with Burnes being a local guy.. solid chance he’d be willing to extend

Good points made here. The Cards are well stocked with young position player depth, but could use a Catcher like Quero in their system and they badly need starting pitching. Would think Quero plus a guy like Ky Bush or Jack Kochanowicz could get the conversation started. A move like this would be akin to going all in for a Shohei extension assuming Arte is willing to pay up accordingly also gotta add that I cannot find anywhere that Goldy has a NTC…

Went with Suarez but the bullpen is a very close runner up. Loved what we saw from each of those guys but Devenski and Estevez were especially awesome

Sandoval induces ground balls at a very high rate. Good idea to have Fletcher backing him up most of the time. He’s gotta play sometime may as we’ll be then

I pretty much agree with all of this. It’s feasible he could be a role payer that sees less than 20 meaningful PAs all season and still provides value with his baserunning and defense.

Gotta understand there’s a difference between evaluating a player’s performance in Spring vs leaning on Spring stats to make roster decisions. Davidson has added a new pitch which has dynamically increased his effectiveness.

In all fairness, Phillips’ dismal 2022 resulted in the Rays cutting him. Baltimore only saw fit to get him into 8 games after signing him to a minor league deal.

Agree with this. I’d say Sandoval & Detmers have a good shot at posting 4+ WAR seasons, while hoping Anderson can settle in around 3.0. Suarez has to be the favorite for SP5, but I wouldn’t rule out a Davidson leapfrog, simply because Suarez has already shown to be so effective out of the pen. Give him 15 starts and 20 relief appearances? Contingent upon Davidson sustaining his stellar spring of course.

Understood. But there are certain instances where this approach can’t really be applied and those are the positions that are still “up for grabs” (Catcher, shortstop, and first base) to varying degrees

Player stats from previous seasons.. like Walsh’s 1 month in 2020 when he had a 14% K rate? Or his volatile 2021? Or his injured 2022 stats? How to know which sample to rely upon if not closely evaluating his performance this ST. How about Stassi? Relying on his great 2020-21 stats or his abysmal 2022? Thaiss as he acclimates to the most difficult position on the field? His AAA stats from 2022 are to be relied upon? Or his MLB stats when he wasn’t a catcher?

Tell me more about how “years of data” helps make it clear who will be more effective in 2023 between Thaiss, Stassi and O’Hoppe? Or Walsh vs Lamb?

I’m not sure we’re appreciating how much Brett Phillips ABs typically end in outs, oftentimes of the K variety. Even in his terrific 2021 season he batted .206 with a 37.8% K%. Still came away with a 103 wRC+ / 2.3 fWAR over 292 PAs in 119 games. 11 Ks with only 1 hit in 19 PAs is nothing for this guy. Plenty of time for him to get comfortable with his new swing. While the team is healthy there’s no need to have him take any high leverage ABs whatsoever..Walsh & Rengifo can step in for occasional spot starts in LF when one of Trout/Ward/Renfroe needs a day off. Phillips only enters as a late game pinch runner or defensive replacement getting the occasional late game PA in blowouts.