Offseason Moves for 2008 Season
Posted: Tue Nov 6, 2007 8:02 am
What do you guys think this team needs to do after our World Series run? I think obvious priorities of keeping Holliday and Tulo around for a long, long time needs to be done for sure (not necessarily this offseason for Tulo, but basically those 2 need to stay until they retire).
I think we are set in most fielding positions, except for 2B and C. At C, I'd like to see us go after Paul LoDuca and let Ianetta back him up (and eventually start maybe). At 2B, Kaz was a nice player, but I also read they might try Ian Stewart at that position. If he works out there, that's my top choice. If he doesn't, I guess (given the free agent pool), my second choice would be to sign Kaz for a year or two. My third choice would be to see how guys who have already played in the majors work at out second base (like Barmes or Quintanilla). My fourth choice would be to see how a guy like Jayson Nix (in our AAA team) would work out in spring training. Our starters (with 5 bench players) could look like:
C- LoDuca (Ianetta)
1B- Helton
2B- Kaz (Carroll)
SS- Tulo
3B- Atkins (Baker)
LF- Holliday
CF- Taveras (Spilly)
RF- Hawpe (Smith)
For our SP, I think we should go after Jason Jennings. He worked out well here as a #1/#2, so just imagine how much better he'd be as a #3/#4. Our rotation would look like:
Francis
Cook
Jimenez
Jennings
Hirsh
I think we need to let Fogg go (given the money he wants), and I think Morales would be best served with more AAA time. And then at about mid-season, he should be ready to come back up, and maybe even Reynolds too. If that's the case, then we can use Jennings and possibly Hirsh as well to trade for other needs (probably bullpen). Our SP would then look like:
Francis
Cook
Jimenez
Morales
Reynolds
And that would most likely be our rotation for years to come, and I think that's a pretty good one. And again, all of this is without spending much money at all.
Our bullpen is where we will (and need to) see the most change. Given the 8 position players, 5 bench guys, 5 SPs, that leaves 7 spots for the bullpen. I think I kinda like the idea of going after Chacon and maybe seeing how he works out. And I also think we need to address getting a strong 8th inning guy via trade.
1) Long Relief - Buchholz
2) RP - Chacon
3) RP - Herges
4) RP - Speier
5) RP - Morillo?, maybe someone else
6) 8th - ?? (trade, maybe Casey Weathers by midseason?)
7) CL - Corpas
Trade wise, I think we need to go after bullpen pitchers. I think the trade bait we can use is Feuntes, Sullivan, Barmes, and if Stewart doesn't work out at 2B, either him or Atkins. I'll assume Stewart doesn't work out at 2B, I'd like to keep Atkins and trade Stewart while his hype is still really high and we might be able to get more in return for him (because I just have this feeling he won't be as good at Atkins).
Anyways, I was bored and that's just kinda the things I'd like to see us do. What are your guys' comments and thoughts?
I think we are set in most fielding positions, except for 2B and C. At C, I'd like to see us go after Paul LoDuca and let Ianetta back him up (and eventually start maybe). At 2B, Kaz was a nice player, but I also read they might try Ian Stewart at that position. If he works out there, that's my top choice. If he doesn't, I guess (given the free agent pool), my second choice would be to sign Kaz for a year or two. My third choice would be to see how guys who have already played in the majors work at out second base (like Barmes or Quintanilla). My fourth choice would be to see how a guy like Jayson Nix (in our AAA team) would work out in spring training. Our starters (with 5 bench players) could look like:
C- LoDuca (Ianetta)
1B- Helton
2B- Kaz (Carroll)
SS- Tulo
3B- Atkins (Baker)
LF- Holliday
CF- Taveras (Spilly)
RF- Hawpe (Smith)
For our SP, I think we should go after Jason Jennings. He worked out well here as a #1/#2, so just imagine how much better he'd be as a #3/#4. Our rotation would look like:
Francis
Cook
Jimenez
Jennings
Hirsh
I think we need to let Fogg go (given the money he wants), and I think Morales would be best served with more AAA time. And then at about mid-season, he should be ready to come back up, and maybe even Reynolds too. If that's the case, then we can use Jennings and possibly Hirsh as well to trade for other needs (probably bullpen). Our SP would then look like:
Francis
Cook
Jimenez
Morales
Reynolds
And that would most likely be our rotation for years to come, and I think that's a pretty good one. And again, all of this is without spending much money at all.
Our bullpen is where we will (and need to) see the most change. Given the 8 position players, 5 bench guys, 5 SPs, that leaves 7 spots for the bullpen. I think I kinda like the idea of going after Chacon and maybe seeing how he works out. And I also think we need to address getting a strong 8th inning guy via trade.
1) Long Relief - Buchholz
2) RP - Chacon
3) RP - Herges
4) RP - Speier
5) RP - Morillo?, maybe someone else
6) 8th - ?? (trade, maybe Casey Weathers by midseason?)
7) CL - Corpas
Trade wise, I think we need to go after bullpen pitchers. I think the trade bait we can use is Feuntes, Sullivan, Barmes, and if Stewart doesn't work out at 2B, either him or Atkins. I'll assume Stewart doesn't work out at 2B, I'd like to keep Atkins and trade Stewart while his hype is still really high and we might be able to get more in return for him (because I just have this feeling he won't be as good at Atkins).
Anyways, I was bored and that's just kinda the things I'd like to see us do. What are your guys' comments and thoughts?