Play DM the GM

[Roscoe Chill]

I think that's where judging a player solely on OPS gets you in to trouble. You start saying Raul Ibanez, who's been putting up his numbers averaging 580 ABs for the last five years is just a slight bump over Gabe Gross who has 612 at bats in his career.

[JJHardy7]

I think hands down the LF spot will be the biggest talk of this off-season. I really like Gross, but I understand he's not by any means a sure thing. I love stats, but Gross has never been given the full-time spot. To compare him to full-time OFers isn't fair to either side. IMHO I don't want to spend a ton of money at LF. If we get Lofton, great. I'd rather roll the dice for a year (LaPorta will hopefully be knocking very soon in 2009) if we can't get a Lofton type.

 

If we don't get a Lofton, I really don't want Ibanez. Keep the spot warm that's it. If you think about the youth and the improvement across the board (especially with Weeks) a guy that can get on base at a good clip is what we would need -- not a ton of power numbers. Ibanez has played full years, but why give up prospects to improve this spot when we're only a year away from LaPorta?

 

I also don't think Nix is projected to start in Milwaukee anytime soon...but from talking to the Nashville brass he is still a prospect (within Milwaukee and outside of). Nix has a lot more trade value than one would think -- a lot more than I would think from the talks I've had.

[TooLiveBrew]

I wonder if Los Anaheim would be interested in a deal of Cappy/Bush + Hall (+TGJ?) for Reggie Willits + Justin Speier

[dadofandrew]

The time to get Willits was before his breakout season. That said, that's an awful lot for Reggie and a very old relief guy.

[TooLiveBrew]

It's just one of Cappy & Bush, not sure if that was clear or unclear. Sorry if it wasn't clear. I just wanted to make sure to propose a deal that'd be closer to 'done' as opposed to 'turned down.' I felt like Shields would be too much to ask, but if he'd be fair return, then obviously I'd prefer him.

[brosto1]

I did not suggest giving up a prospect for Ibanez, just Bush or Vargas( who I think would be a very good fit in Safeco). Ibanez is only on the hook for one more year at $5.5 M and does have a decent OBP plus some power. He has little speed, but as long as he gets on base with some pop in front of Braun and Prince that is all he needs to do.

 

About Willits and Speier, I am not convinced Willits will maintain that production and think that Hall has more value than Willits. I also think that Bush or Capuano would fetch more than Justin Speier, who I like but not as much as a starting pitcher. If out of the pen, I still might prefer Bush to Speier.

[TooLiveBrew]

I am not convinced Willits will maintain that production and think that Hall has more value than Willits.

 

It's not like his BB rate came out of nowhere, it was very much in line with what you could expect. He may decline some, but he's carried great OBP throughout his minor league career. If I offered too much in my proposal, it was to not sell the Angels short.

[brosto1]

Hall had a down year in 2007( his 05 and 06 OPS were .837 and .898) and has positional versatility. Willits can get on base with speed, but has zero power. I am not saying that he won't maintain his ability to draw a walk or that he doesn't have value, just that I think Hall has more value because of his all around game and versatility.

[danzig6767]

I'd love to get Ibanez if he only cost a guy like Vargas and i'd consider Bush, but i really doubt Seattle does it for Vargas.. I think Ibanez very much fits the kind of hitter Melvin is said to be looking for. Hits for high average, walks an acceptable amount, has solid power, and doesn't strikeout a ton. Plus, he's a lefty and would be a great fit batting six after Hart or second after Weeks.

[dadofandrew]

Brosto actually said what I hinted at. Hall at his best is much better than Willits, and ditto for the pitchers.

[strawbossisevil]

Ok, I'll try this:

 

FA Signings: Kenny Rogers 1 year @ 9 million.

David Riske 3 years @ 16 million (5.5, 5.5, 6)

Barrett 2 years @ 9 million (4.5, 4.5)

 

Trades: Capuano and Turnbow to Rockies for Fuentes (who we give a three year contract extension @ 6 million per year)

Vargas, Jackson and Prospect for Luke Scott

 

Extensions: Ben Sheets 4 years 50 million.

 

Batting Order:

1. Weeks 500 k

2. Scott 390 k

3. Braun 390 k

4. Fielder 415 k

5. Hart 395 k

6. Hall 4.8 m

7. Hardy 2.0 m

8. Barrett 4.5 m

 

Total Cost for Lineup: $13.39 m

 

Bench:

IF - Counsel 2.8 m

IF - Dillon 390 k

OF- Gross 398 k

OF - Mench 3.5 m

C - Estrada 4.0 m

 

Total Cost for Bench: $11.088 m

 

Pitching Rotation:

1. Sheets 11.0 m

2. Gallardo 390 k

3. Rogers 9.0 m

4. Villenueva 390 k

5. Suppan 8.0 m

 

Cost of Rotation: $28.78 m

 

Bullpen:

CL - Fuentes 5.5 m

SU - Riske 5.5 m

SU - Bush 1.25 m

MR - Wise 1.25 m

Middle/Long Relief - Parra 390 k

Loogy 1 - Shouse 1.5 m

Loogy 2- Mitch Stetter 390 k

 

Cost of Bullpen: $15.78 m

 

Total Cost: $69,038,000

 

We would have an amount of flexibility for the next season, as Rogers 9 million, Estrada's 4 million, and Mench's 3.5 million would come off the books. If we decided to go into the mid 70 million range, we could go after another reliever, such as Dotel, perhaps on a two year deal.

[dadofandrew]

Sheets has to be a $15M man if ever there was one. Santana might get $25M if he's a FA.

[TooLiveBrew]

I am not saying that he won't maintain his ability to draw a walk or that he doesn't have value, just that I think Hall has more value because of his all around game and versatility.

The funny/sad part about said versatility, though, is that it's being totally ignored. He's set in CF for the reasonable future. I agree with you that to trade now, you're selling low on Hall. I just wonder if the consistent OBP upgrade would be worth it. I know Willits has little power, but our lineup isn't even close to lacking in that department.

 

Hall will likely bounce back in 2008, but it remains to be seen whether or not he'll be able to consistently offer much value in terms of OBP.