ji oh said:
So you don't like what they did most of 1939-2008? :nsmith:
Things were drastically different for most of that era, with no free agency and keeping your players as long as you wanted, and then you could just dump them with little long term guaranteed money owed.
But obviously Manny worked out great, so if we can sign a Hall of Fame level talent in his mid-20's for the position and then get lucky that the contract works out better than 90% of all other big money long term contracts, then sure let's do that. I am going to assume that that isn't likely though. Realistically, we should take advantage of the small LF and use it for good hitters who don't cost much. We can get away with a good bat, poor glove type out there more than most teams, and we shouldn't have to pay much or commit a lot of years to find one. Flexibility is really important, it allows you options to fill your holes and improve.
As for Kemp's defensive numbers, Fielding Bible has him as a horrible CF but an average RF defensively. That's usually where right fielders come from, moved from center because they can't cut it there.
We wouldn't want Kemp in CF, but if he is healthy he should be about average in RF. If his health is too questionable to even make one move down the defensive spectrum then we should stay away from him.