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Ranma wrote:_
[tweet]https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/720263473561735168[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/abc7jeffg/status/720256428867325952[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/720287651920617472[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/720288935004340224[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/720290882478481409[/tweet]

Ranma wrote:_
[tweet]https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/719978846456520704[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/masnSteve/status/719279584903106560[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/masnSteve/status/719927180051001344[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/719242576734216192[/tweet]

Neddy wrote:love the guy, but isn't he not a free agent until 2019?

well, I suppose that is why you are making a comparison to Bryce Harper who is also a FA in 2019 and so is our Adrian. but our **** contracts of Crawford and Ethier are up in 2018, which will put us in a need of an OF before we can shift around the corner infielders to perhaps move Turner to first or bring up Cody, with Manny going to third while Adrian contemplates retirement.

also, if all works out I supppose we will have no need to sign a free agent PF as we have Joc and Puig still while potentially Alex Verdugo and/or Trayce Thompson to take over the LF.

anywho, whenever there are a comparible free agents with great offensive tools, I would always take the 3rd base over an OF even if that 3rd baseman was only an average defensive player at his position.

Ranma wrote:

Neddy wrote:love the guy, but isn't he not a free agent until 2019?

well, I suppose that is why you are making a comparison to Bryce Harper who is also a FA in 2019 and so is our Adrian. but our **** contracts of Crawford and Ethier are up in 2018, which will put us in a need of an OF before we can shift around the corner infielders to perhaps move Turner to first or bring up Cody, with Manny going to third while Adrian contemplates retirement.

also, if all works out I supppose we will have no need to sign a free agent PF as we have Joc and Puig still while potentially Alex Verdugo and/or Trayce Thompson to take over the LF.

anywho, whenever there are a comparible free agents with great offensive tools, I would always take the 3rd base over an OF even if that 3rd baseman was only an average defensive player at his position.

Machado would be a great infield addition regardless of where we put him, but my plan is for him to take over SS from Corey Seager at the age of 26. Seager should move to 3B by then and Machado should easily be the superior defender at the most important position in the infield for us.

Neddy wrote:you think so? I have been watching a few Orioles games but I don't have enough info to formulate an opinion one way or the other, so I will take your word for it. I do know Manny rates high as a defensive 3B, but isn't Beltre rated higher? not sure I would place Adrian on SS tho, but again, Manny must have come up through the minors as a SS so I will pay attention the next time I watch the O's play.

Ranma wrote:

Neddy wrote:you think so? I have been watching a few Orioles games but I don't have enough info to formulate an opinion one way or the other, so I will take your word for it. I do know Manny rates high as a defensive 3B, but isn't Beltre rated higher? not sure I would place Adrian on SS tho, but again, Manny must have come up through the minors as a SS so I will pay attention the next time I watch the O's play.

I haven't actually seen him play myself, but he was actually drafted as a shortstop and I've heard he's quite capable at the position. He may not be Andrelton Simmons there, but he should definitely be better than Seager, plus, he has a cannon for an arm from what I've gathered. I've heard some Orioles fans clamoring for him to be moved to SS instead of 3B.

Quake Griffin wrote:Yea, I think he'll be a free agent in 2019.

You have to think that by that time, Kershaw will have opted out and signed something like a 7 year $240 million deal.
Then if last winter's rumors were true. That's another 7 year deal for $200 million+ for Fernandez, more than likely with an opt out after 3 or 4 because he will be signing that deal at age 26.
Then Harper is available at this same time.
Puig will be getting arbitration raises by this time.
Seager will be getting arbitration raised by this time
Joc
We'll have extended Grandal by then.

Not that I don't think Machado is awesome. But I have a question over how feasible it will be by the time that winter comes around.
And wont he be 27 that year????

Quake Griffin wrote:Why Machado over Harper?

Ranma wrote:

Quake Griffin wrote:Why Machado over Harper?

As you're aware from our previous discussion regarding players such as Jordan Farmar, I'm just not inclined to root for loud alpha males...at least initially. Obviously, the difference is that Bryce Harper backs up his words with production. The fact that his agent is Scott Boras is another negative. His asking price seems exorbitant to me when we can apply those funds towards two really good players instead of just him. He supposedly wants half a billion dollars on his next contract. I'm not dead set opposed to him being on the team because I was actually really intrigued by him as a high school phenom.

With relation to Machado, I just think he provides more value for the buck. He's also fiery, like Harper, but I don't get the impression that he's as brash but I don't really follow either player that closely. Just basing my perception on reputation and news. Machado at SS with Seager at 3B helps us more than Harper in RF where hopefully a seasoned Puig will still be there. Sure, we could fit him in LF or wherever else, but like I said, I'd rather spend that sort of money on other pursuits like Shohei Ohtani, Jose Fernandez, acquiring Mike Trout in a dream scenario...or maybe even Giancarlo Stanton. Harper's next contract sets off alarms that it could be the next A-Rod disaster if we're not careful.

The Dodgers are lacking in premium shortstop prospects outside of Seager and it's evident he can't stay there for the entirety of his career. Conversely, we have plenty of OF prospects and could possibly bolster that further through the draft. There doesn't seem to be many high-end SS prospects available in the draft or free agency.

Of course, he could mature more by then and/or he could be the modern day Kirk Gibson. I'm just concerned he could be a Jack Parkman from the movie Major League II. We'll see how things turn out then, but those are my current impressions and thoughts.