Series Thread: Tampa vs Toronto April 22-24

[flatjacket1]

I'm not big on Free Agency because I think in general you end up overpaying far more often than not. I like the direction AA has headed in trying to fill the system with as many high upside guys as possible, thereby hopefully reducing the number of times he would need to turn to FA to obtain that kind of talent.

I agree, buff up the system. Thats the only way to really build an organization.

[Wo1verine]

I'm not big on Free Agency because I think in general you end up overpaying far more often than not. I like the direction AA has headed in trying to fill the system with as many high upside guys as possible, thereby hopefully reducing the number of times he would need to turn to FA to obtain that kind of talent.

I agree, buff up the system. Thats the only way to really build an organization.

Why can't we do both? sign Fielder, and still continue to buff up the system?

[Schad]

Why can't we do both? sign Fielder, and still buff up the system?

You can...however, there is one possible catch. Signing a Fielder or Johnson or whoever will cost us a draft pick; if we're one of the 15 best teams in the league, it would be our first rounder. So if we go on a free agent binge, it could mean a pretty lean year in the draft following, which makes it all the more important to stock the cupboards first. Also wouldn't hurt the risk/reward if we sucked enough to get our first rounder protected next year, really.

[Wo1verine]

Why can't we do both? sign Fielder, and still buff up the system?

You can...however, there is one possible catch. Signing a Fielder or Johnson or whoever will cost us a draft pick; if we're one of the 15 best teams in the league, it would be our first rounder. So if we go on a free agent binge, it could mean a pretty lean year in the draft following, which makes it all the more important to stock the cupboards first. Also wouldn't hurt the risk/reward if we sucked enough to get our first rounder protected next year, really.

I dunno, Fielder seems like a great fit here... I think he's probably worth the draft pick, tbh..

[Schad]

I dunno, Fielder seems like a great fit here... I think he's probably worth the draft pick, tbh..

As do I, if it comes down to it. However, a good base of talent in the minors is a necessary precondition if you're going to sign big time free agents; otherwise, you lack the ability to make follow-up moves to solidify your major league roster. That was the issue in 2006; we made a big splash in free agency and trades that off-season, but when it left us a couple moves away from relevance, we didn't really have the wherewithal to press it any further. Now, we probably do.

[WpgPage]

Ive been hopping we suck this year for just this reason, with some comp picks losing our second wont affect us to bad, especially with the amount of picks we have this year.

[flatjacket1]

Ive been hopping we suck this year for just this reason, with some comp picks losing our second wont affect us to bad, especially with the amount of picks we have this year.

If we finish bottom 15 we can sign Fielder without forfeiting first as well as comp picks.

Its a win win. Easier said then done however. I like all of these comp picks we are racking up. Its only a few years until the league realizes the compensation is screwed and changes it to trade-able picks.