If we got DeJong we would probably still have Reyes. If it’s defense first we want, it has to be DeJong. There’s also Mateo with the Orioles and Nick Allen with the A’s, but those guys would be way more expensive.
Edited down, but to answer - Because Reyes has a full career sample size of 525 PA's, so I wasn't looking to further dilute the sample size down to the 300 PA's he's had the last 3plus seasons. But I'm more than fine saying "they both suck offensively" and Reyes MIGHT suck a little less (or he might suck just as much because he's never played more than 71 games a season in his career).I can see an argument for one or the other given a club's needs, but there is no world where the contemporary DeJong's bat is hands-down better than Pablo Reyes.
Never a problem.Edited down,
I agree with you that DeJong is the better defensive player at SS - no question.but to answer - Because Reyes has a full career sample size of 525 PA's, so I wasn't looking to further dilute the sample size down to the 300 PA's he's had the last 3plus seasons. But I'm more than fine saying "they both suck offensively" and Reyes MIGHT suck a little less (or he might suck just as much because he's never played more than 71 games a season in his career).
The bigger point being DeJong is - by every metric I've been able to find - a far better defensive player. So I'd rather have the very good defensive player and atrocious hitter as opposed to the "bad fielder AND bad hitter." Or, put another way, give me the guy that does at least one thing well, particularly when that one thing is play defense at an incredibly important position on the defensive scale.
Never a problem.
I agree with you that DeJong is the better defensive player at SS - no question.
However, trying to make reasonable guesses to both player's current level of offensive ability is part of the overall equation. It's always going to be guesswork, but some guesswork is more reasonable than others. I think you should consider getting off the career numbers bus, at least as far as predictability goes. Many players age and get injured and eventually have a baseline that's different from what they did when they broke in or had a peak season.
Here. . .absent some kind of explanation as to why it would be different, I'd expect DeJong's age 30 season to be more in line with his age 29 season, which was in line with his age 28 season and his age 27 season. Reyes is harder to predict, but his recent AAA numbers seem consistent with what he did last year. YMMV, of course.
They released Andrus, he is a FA still, pretty sure.Adalberto Mondesi if healthy? Could we get Elvis Andrus from Arizona at reasonable cost?
Isn't this a little like saying "Bigfoot if found"?Adalberto Mondesi if healthy?
I think the current alignment that makes the most sense is Romy 2B Blizzard SS (or vice versa, but I think those are where they've both played most), cause Valdez has looked so lost at the plate (I think his defense has honestly been fine).I’d rather move Rafaella to SS, where he played the majority of his pro games as a + defensive SS, and switch O’Neil or Duran, who have played credible (if not fantastic ) CF in the past. It also gets Abreu more playing time, which I’d think the “you have to play the young guys to see what we’ve got” crowd would be for. This looks like the least downgrade we can make to both offense and defense with the pieces we have.
With Romy up (and Cora pouring some water on the idea of moving Rafaella) he looks like the next best option. I’m not sure why he wasn’t called over Hamilton in the first place. I don’t think Hamilton can really play SS; IIRC (based on Sox Prospects) it’s mostly an arm strength issue, which is why he’s been pegged as a 2Bman. Maybe they also want a defensive replacement for Valdez?
He's with Arizona on a minor league deal or so says spotracThey released Andrus, he is a FA still, pretty sure.
Sure, or to dream, the impossible dream lolIsn't this a little like saying "Bigfoot if found"?
No, they released him after that, as best I can tell.He's with Arizona on a minor league deal or so says spotrac
We need Jerry Adair 2.0 lolSure, or to dream, the impossible dream lol
While it makes sense to see if there's an available player that fits, I find it a little weird people are fixated on external solutions. Grass is always greener I suppose.It’s Romy Gonzalez for now. Unless Story is out for the year AND a veteran is available for one season, then we are looking at internal solutions over just taking wild swings at guys like Mondesi.
Without factoring in issues like how a switch to SS might impact Rafaela (shifting him around when he's still trying to adjust to the majors isn't ideal) this seems like the logical choice. From the respective of run prevention, isn’t SS more valuable than CF? If I’m wrong about that I guess it could change my perspective.I’d rather move Rafaella to SS, where he played the majority of his pro games as a + defensive SS, and switch O’Neil or Duran, who have played credible (if not fantastic ) CF in the past. It also gets Abreu more playing time, which I’d think the “you have to play the young guys to see what we’ve got” crowd would be for. This looks like the least downgrade we can make to both offense and defense with the pieces we have.
From the Story thread:Do we have an update on Story's status? Last I could find he was saying "significant injury" but he was on the 10 day IL. I don't believe it will be only 10 days. But if we are looking at a 6-8 week window in a season that is interestingly giving us nice looks at the in-house options at many positions, taking that route makes sense. The permutations of this have been discussed. If, however, Story turns out to be more in the "out for the season" range, then a longer term solution might make sense. Still, try out in-house (Romy, see what happens with Grissom returns, etc.) but then be watching to see if an outside alternative becomes available. I think that the fact that there are no rumblings (at least as best we can tell) re: looking outside yet may mean that it is either that shorter window or that they don't really know yet (likey the latter). (Or they are looking, but it has been kept quiet!)
Crawford's not playing much for a reason. He hasn't been a decent defender in a couple years (-6 and -14 DRS the last two years). His bat is toast. .216/.294/.331/.625, 76 OPS+ since the start of 2022 (this year included). He really isn't an upgrade over what they have now.The team should already well understand if David Hamilton or Pablo Reyes is a major league average defensive SS or not.
I like these guys, but we can't really be expected to watch another half season or more with a sieve at SS.
Maybe add Brandon Crawford to a list of potential acquisitions. In StL and not playing much.
Facts not in evidence. None of these guys has shown himself to be a guy you want out there every day or a workable solution. All should get opportunities to do so, and playing time should be allotted to those who continue to earn it.Our MI depth is better than OF at this point; Abreu simply hasn't shown himself to be a guy you want out there every day, where between Valdez/Romy/Blizzard/Grissom we should be able to find a workable MI solution without moving Rafa in.
He was ranked 141st out of 142 SSs last year in DRS, which is pretty crazy as that is almost 5 SSs per team.Tim Anderson's contract is up this year and the Marlins aren't going anywhere. I'm sure he can be had. Obviously not someone to get excited about, but we aren't looking for a solution beyond this season.
Yeah, and to JonAbbey too, you'd really just be looking to squeeze out a few months of revived play from a declining veteran. Given that he's a 30-year-old former silver slugger, it would be worth seeing if he might appreciate a change of scenery, knowing that the answer is probably not as far as him suddenly recovering his old power stroke.Any familiar name that "can be had" likely holds that status for a reason. Acquiring one of them would probably make us briefly feel a little better about the situation but ultimately not noticeably improve the roster.
I understand what you're saying. If we're gambling on a change of scenery making a difference, I might first target someone who hasn't had a change in a bit rather than guys who've barely had time to unpack their boxes with their current teams.Yeah, and to JonAbbey too, you'd really just be looking to squeeze out a few months of revived play from a declining veteran. Given that he's a 30-year-old former silver slugger, it would be worth seeing if he might appreciate a change of scenery, knowing that the answer is probably not as far as him suddenly recovering his old power stroke.
Out of curiosity, who would you be willing to give up in a trade for Adames?I think we have to go outside the org and make a trade to solidify SS for this season. I'd like to see them pry Adames away from Brewers, who obviously won't pay for him after this season. As discussed above, they have MI prospects that can step in. BTV (i know, grain of salt and all) shows Adames at 11.1 and Nick Yorke and Angel Bastardo at 15.5. He'd solidify SS on D and provide some RH power that they desperately need. Hell send them some $$ as well, but it seems like they could get him without giving up one of the top 3, ATM...
I've said it upthread, but I'd like to see them see what Paul DeJong would cost from the ChiSox. It can't be much. He isn't getting paid jack. The White Sox are horrid and he's (even at this point) just a "quasi" starter there (started in half their games) and Colson Montgomery is already in AAA and will probably be up at some point this year - though they may keep him down to play the game next year of the extra pick and all that.Who is a realistic target to acquire though? Ahmed and Adames are starting SS for teams that are looking to contend, can’t imagine those teams are really interested in trading their starting SS two weeks into the season. Yu Chang would be a target, but he’s injured. Tim Anderson doesn’t appear to be able to play baseball anymore. I think the Sox are going to have to deal with what they have for now; the only players available are going to be very similar to Romy Gonzalez.
Yeah, Hamilton is very quickly proving the Red Sox wrong. Who knows if Romy can be the guy, but he's the next man up. The Sox are very quickly running out of options.I’d love to be wrong but David Hamilton does not look like that guy. Can Romy Gonzalez be that guy? (Apologies; I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to find minor league fielding stats like OAA or DRS as supporting evidence one way or the other. Are these available anywhere?)
This team is not sending $$$ and on top of paying Adames' $12.5.I think we have to go outside the org and make a trade to solidify SS for this season. I'd like to see them pry Adames away from Brewers, who obviously won't pay for him after this season. As discussed above, they have MI prospects that can step in. BTV (i know, grain of salt and all) shows Adames at 11.1 and Nick Yorke and Angel Bastardo at 15.5. He'd solidify SS on D and provide some RH power that they desperately need. Hell send them some $$ as well, but it seems like they could get him without giving up one of the top 3, ATM...
The first part of your post sounds like a decision that Rafaela made sometime after the season started.... weird phrasing? But otherwise I agree and think it makes the most sense to move him to SS and O'Neill to CF. Abreu in RF (maybe he'll start hitting with some consistent plate appearances) and Duran in LF where other than his error, he actually has looked pretty good there and his arm isn't a liability.If Rafaela isn’t going to hit, he’s a lot more appealing at SS since they can replace him in the OF with a better bat. I also think it’s worth getting a long look at him at SS, if he can successfully play there, doesn’t it open up a bunch of options for the team in the future?
Convinced me. I was in the ‘don’t mess with CR’ camp by turning him into a utility infielder, but I heard great points from Lou(assuming he’s the best player available):Merloni makes a strong case for Rafaela.
View: https://twitter.com/loumerloni/status/1778090387443216407?s=46
My only fear with this is that Cora will align the OF to be Durran in CF, Abreu in RF and O'Neil in LF (which he seems inclined towards). As far as I can tell that puts the best outfielder in the least demanding position and the worst OF in the most demanding position. Not sure why they haven't been using O'Neil in CF and Duran in LF when Rafaela sits.Convinced me. I was in the ‘don’t mess with CR’ camp by turning him into a utility infielder, but I heard great points from Lou(assuming he’s the best player available):
1 He can play SS this year and pick up the OF glove next offseason, it’s not exactly temporary swapping around
2 What about the pitchers development? They can’t really pitch to their strengths (do your job!) with a butcher at SS
Yeah, that assumption is carrying a lot of weight. If both Romy and Hamilton were sub-standard short-stops, I think moving CR to SS becomes an option. CR clearly has the defensive ability to play SS and experience there. But he's also not hitting right now. I think it's a lot to ask a guy to scrap his season expectations, transition to SS, hold down the MI defense, and learn to hit in a way that's new to him. We've seen that go bad before.Convinced me. I was in the ‘don’t mess with CR’ camp by turning him into a utility infielder, but I heard great points from Lou(assuming he’s the best player available):
1 He can play SS this year and pick up the OF glove next offseason, it’s not exactly temporary swapping around
2 What about the pitchers development? They can’t really pitch to their strengths (do your job!) with a butcher at SS