Next domino to fall

[baulderdash77]

Taking a look at our roster today we have a fairly complete team with no major weaknesses but we certainly have some spot we can upgrade in the batting order and fill up 1 extra bullpen spot to make us truly fearsome.

I get the sense that we're 1 move away from calling it an offseason, so what do you think it's going to be?

Just some options out there for batters:

-Sign Fielder
-Sign Beltran
-Trade for Votto
-Trade for Hanley Ramirez
-Trade for Shin-Soo Choo

Options for the bullpen spot:
-Sign Ryan Madson (subsequent trade for a RHR to open a spot for a LHR)
-Sign George Sherrill
-Trade for Matt Thornton
-Sign Darrin Oliver
-Trade for Craig Breslow
-Trade for Tim Collins (i'm serious)


So what do you think the next step is and what would you offer if you were going to make a trade?

In the AA spirit I'd be most inclined to go the trade route.

Shin-Soo Choo is about to get very expensive for the Indians. He has 2 years of team control left over I can't see him re-signing with them. I'd offer a package involving Thames or Snider plus Cecil and a guy like Jenkins

I think that signing Sherril plus a trade for Breslow would be great moves to fill up the bullpen. I think that Litsch plus Chad Beck and McDade would be a good package for him.

[5DOM]

Land Darvish, trade for Choo, sign a Taiwanese relief pitcher.
Have an Asian tour every offseason and get some $$$$

[satyr9]

If Darvish happens, I think Thames goes for more pitching, whether that's relief or as part of a package to upgrade another rotation spot I don't know. And I'm 100% confident there will be some more relief brought in, but I don't think for a minute it'll be Madson.

As for why Thames, Francisco's obviously there to help with a platoon and protect from playing a Rivera type if the LFer bombs and I just don't see Snider being moved this offseason. His value is for **** and you can be tired of him or think he's busted (I'm not even sure I disagree with that assessment), but I just don't see AA cutting bait on a potential asset like that. Thames on the other hand is a bit like Molina in that he's way up in stock over last year (although not nearly as much of a surprise; many thought he would make a large rise because he'd been held back by injury). Still, guys like Thames and Alvarez seem more likely moveable pieces than Snider and Drabek, simply because the latter have tanked so bad in the last year.

That being said, you can absolutely get too cute trying to maximize return and move a guy who ends up being a 10 year above average player at his spot, simply because at the time you had another struggling prospect at his position with a potentially higher ceiling. Not sure what's best myself, but if there's another move (and having 3 LFers seems to say yes), then I'm inclined to think it's Thames, not Snider.

One last thing about LF: it's not a spot you need to be careful with for the long-term and why I think it's fine taking the shot (I wouldn't for one second bet on Drabek over Alvarez the way I would on Snider over Thames right now). You need a long-term plan for SS and CF and your rotation for sure, but if you run out of LFers and ready prospects, there's always a viable solution available. If Thames nets me pitching I need, I'm more than comfortable running Snider out one more time (you gotta figure that spot is 7/8/9 in the order) and then there's room for Rasmus and Gose if Gose moves fast or a vet LF if Rasmus doesn't recover either. LF is fairly inexpensive place (in cost and defensive weakness) to add some power in your lineup so if he can get anything close to his asking price for Thames when he still has Snider, then I'm sure he takes it. Which isn't to say Snider is untradeable, just that there won't be a market worth testing for him (maybe maybe as part of a blockbuster).

[DHK]

As a Choo fan, I support trading for him and also signing Darvish...
if we can pull off getting Votto (throw away the farm system to do so),
We'll just be one very scary baseball team even to the likes of the Sox/Yankees

[Indiana Jones]

As a Choo fan, I support trading for him and also signing Darvish...
if we can pull off getting Votto (throw away the farm system to do so),
We'll just be one very scary baseball team even to the likes of the Sox/Yankees

i love votto, but you can't give away all your assets for him. sure some of those guys are not going to pan out, as is always the case with prospects. however, to build a sustainable winning team, you need to preserve your farm system as much as possible. the one area we have a plethora of talent is left field, and i can surely see moving snider or thames if that allows to improve in another area. however, fielder will most likely get a similar contract to what votto ultimately commands, so you might as well just sign field outright and save your system in the process.

[StringerBell]

I don't think AA is even close to being finished. As far as the bullpen goes:

I can see them going after a lefty like Sherill or more realistically Oliver or Dotel.

Then making a trade with the A's for Bailey(Snider/Thames & Jenkins?) which would make for a greta bullpen - Santos, Bailey, Janssen, Carreno, Dotel, Litsch, Perez(not sure of his contract situation)Villanueva and maybe move Cecil back there to add another lefty.

Rotation of Romero, Darvish, Morrow, Alvarez and Cecil/McGowan/Drabek.

Hate to say it but I can't see them adding a another big bat. Fielder is probably out of the question. Think we can forget Votto being available now that Alonso is gone. $10M per year for Beltran may be the best option right now, which isn't saying much. Wilner suggested targeting Kendrys Morales, who if healthy would look great in the line-up.

[mikero]

I know AA doesn't like to sell low, but I really think Snider is gone this offseason.

Otherwise, I think the plan is Darvish, a LH arm in the bullpen, and possibly Fielder.

[satyr9]

I don't think AA is even close to being finished. As far as the bullpen goes:

I can see them going after a lefty like Sherill or more realistically Oliver or Dotel.

Only thing I wanted to point out is that Dotel is a pure ROOGY, not left-handed. That and he already signed with DET.

[StringerBell]

I don't think AA is even close to being finished. As far as the bullpen goes:

I can see them going after a lefty like Sherill or more realistically Oliver or Dotel.

Only thing I wanted to point out is that Dotel is a pure ROOGY, not left-handed. That and he already signed with DET.

Sheeeeit My bad, thought he was a lefty. See that Sherill is close to signing with the Mariners. Relievers dissapearing fast.

[baulderdash77]

I don't think AA is even close to being finished. As far as the bullpen goes:

I can see them going after a lefty like Sherill or more realistically Oliver or Dotel.

Only thing I wanted to point out is that Dotel is a pure ROOGY, not left-handed. That and he already signed with DET.

And that we'd have a pretty thin bench with 9 pitchers in the bullpen. The 25 man roster is full at this point so any moves have to involve demotions or trades as well.

[satyr9]

I don't think AA is even close to being finished. As far as the bullpen goes:

I can see them going after a lefty like Sherill or more realistically Oliver or Dotel.

Only thing I wanted to point out is that Dotel is a pure ROOGY, not left-handed. That and he already signed with DET.

Sheeeeit My bad, thought he was a lefty. See that Sherill is close to signing with the Mariners. Relievers dissapearing fast.

Well until he does, he's still out there and I wouldn't worry about the LHR market drying up too fast, I'm all for playing a bit of musical chairs with these guys so you can be the last chair for two guys and get them at a bit of discount rather than a bit of a premium. It's the difference between how much the Jays paid for Gregg and how much the O's did.

I do wish, even with the pick we got, that we'd kept Downs. I was all for letting him go at the time, but he signed a totally reasonable deal and is such a quality LHP for the 'pen. I don't have enough in me to remember which comp. pick we got for him (that might re-change my mind ), but he's just so consistent and reliable that I'd sure like to have him back now.

[sonn]

I do wish, even with the pick we got, that we'd kept Downs. I was all for letting him go at the time, but he signed a totally reasonable deal and is such a quality LHP for the 'pen. I don't have enough in me to remember which comp. pick we got for him (that might re-change my mind ), but he's just so consistent and reliable that I'd sure like to have him back now.

Jays took Jacob Anderson with the sandwich pick and Daniel Norris with the 3rd round pick from the Angels. I'd rather have the picks.

[satyr9]

I do wish, even with the pick we got, that we'd kept Downs. I was all for letting him go at the time, but he signed a totally reasonable deal and is such a quality LHP for the 'pen. I don't have enough in me to remember which comp. pick we got for him (that might re-change my mind ), but he's just so consistent and reliable that I'd sure like to have him back now.

Jays took Jacob Anderson with the sandwich pick and Daniel Norris with the 3rd round pick from the Angels. I'd rather have the picks.

Um, yeah so would I. Jesus so would I.

[StringerBell]

And that we'd have a pretty thin bench with 9 pitchers in the bullpen. The 25 man roster is full at this point so any moves have to involve demotions or trades as well.

A 12 man pitching staff is ideal. If Darvish is the only additional starter, IMO it's going to be crucial for them to have a deep versatile bullpen and adding a guy like Bailey will only shorten the game for them.

Santos, Janssen, Carreno, Villanueva is a good start. Add Bailey and two lefties(two of Perez??, FA or Cecil) and they're good to go.

Well until he does, he's still out there and I wouldn't worry about the LHR market drying up too fast, I'm all for playing a bit of musical chairs with these guys so you can be the last chair for two guys and get them at a bit of discount rather than a bit of a premium. It's the difference between how much the Jays paid for Gregg and how much the O's did.

I do wish, even with the pick we got, that we'd kept Downs. I was all for letting him go at the time, but he signed a totally reasonable deal and is such a quality LHP for the 'pen. I don't have enough in me to remember which comp. pick we got for him (that might re-change my mind ), but he's just so consistent and reliable that I'd sure like to have him back now.

That's true although wouldn't have minded matching the M's 1 yr/1.1M deal for Sherrill. Not even sure what other LHR are out there.

Down's was awesome, never wanted to see him go but $5M/yr for a 35 y/o reliever..damn!