Sports Guy

Why do you have to extend him? Verlander was signed for a few years when they got him. The extension isn’t part of the deal. It was a separate outcome and that’s a big difference. Im against making poor moves that are likely to fail.

I think he will be absolutely for that…but I also don’t think he has to for reasons I have stated in the past.

Well first of all, I think you are making the mistake that you have to trade high end assets to get good players. That isn’t true (see Verlander) Secondly, as you continue to build good farm systems and develop good players, you can’t play them all. Trades have to be made. It’s a perfect use of resources. We aren’t talking about extensions. We are talking about big FA deals and yes, there is something wrong with it because those contracts largely blow up in your face. It’s an awful use of resources and that has been proven time and time again. Just because the guy has had a good career the first 7-10 years doesn’t mean that it will continue to be as good. Don’t get lured in by the name. The name doesn’t matter, the production does.

Just can’t see a scenario where he signs a FA to a big 9 figure deal.

You didn’t answer my question

Why can’t we just keep trading for 1-2 year rentals?

We have plenty of impact level MiLers that we can still trade for impact, longer term pitching. We can also trade vets for pitching. And I do expect the farm system to keep being strong and while we may not have high picks anymore (not that you need them to have a strong system), we are also going to have a real Intl program, which we didn’t have before and that can make up for the lack of higher picks.

He’s going to do what Houston and Atlanta do. Those are your models. The payroll will still be high, especially when these guys get into their arb years but they aren’t going to go crazy in free agency. Build through your system, whether it’s promotions or trades and sign the occasional players to fill in the holes. That’s the way they will do it and it’s the best way to do it.

Well first of all, how are you defining an impact starter? I would guess you didn’t think Bradish would make an impact. I think out of Povich or McDermott that one of them can give us good enough starter innings. How much of an impact? Who knows. Ceiling is definitely higher with them than Kremer though. Is Kremer an impact guy. Did you think he would be 2-3 years ago? Now, a guy like Luis DeLeon? High impact potential there. And we will see with guys like Baumeister, who we have seen so little of so far. You don’t have to spend 9 figures to invest in pitching. You can trade for it. That’s an investment. You can make more sensible FA signings.

The rotation will be homegrown too…with a sprinkling in of a 2-4 year type FA deal, ala Bassitt, Gray, Eovaldi, etc… I think the thing people have to remember is the Intl FA side of things. They will bare some fruit from that eventually…and maybe very soon. But this is also why you move guys like Santander a year early..or Mullins or Mountcastle..guys that you shouldn’t pay arb 2 and especially arb 3 money for. Let someone else buy into those years and obtain arms that way.

I think the whole key to this is Elias, not Rubenstein and I think that’s the part everyone is missing. And I don’t think Elias would sign off on a deal like that.

I don’t see the point. By and large, I think these extensions are very overrated by fans. I think it gives you a nice, warm and fuzzy feeling that your favorite players are locked in but for the team, unless you are getting a big discount, they don’t make a ton of sense. For a pitcher, who you have for another 4 years after this one, I don’t see it making sense unless he’s signing for real cheap. (Ie, I’m getting 2 FA years for 25M a year or less) If I’m getting that, I do it. But I think GRod has TJ surgery sometime in the next 3 years, so I’m really wary about it.

The problem with Adley is that you are going to have to extend him until he’s 33-35 years old. His bat is good but not great…or to say it a different way, I think we will want a better bat at first or DH than what 32-35 y/o Adley gives you. I will still extend him because I think he’s the most important player on the team and will stay that way for a long time but he’s a distant third for me because of his age and position.

I will keep saying it but either say no to an extension if the right deal is on the table. Im also not sure I agree he’s the best..he is today but not sure that will be the case long term.

I think the assumption people have is that since this ownership group has more money that they would be “ok” with a contract that goes bad. I tend to doubt that but maybe they are more willing to take that risk and if it blows up in their face, not allow it to hurt how they do business.