Cruz or Butler

Which option do you prefer? Obviously the exact contracts are speculation, but I think that's not too far off. I imagine Butler gets less, maybe 1/8. On Cruz I just did a rough averaging of the 2/30 that most fans are hoping for and the 3/45 that some analysts have been suggesting.

Which option do you prefer?

Cruz can play the outfield corners if needed. He has a plus arm. He is also a strong leader for kids like Machado and Schoop, possibly DeAza who I think will benefit from a guy like Nelson. I'd like to have kids in their early 20's learn from Nelson.

I doubt he'd take 3/42, since he could probably get significantly more on the open market... but if we could get him for that it feels like a steal. If you combine this season with the rate he was hitting in 2013 before the suspension, it feels like he could go another couple of years.

Butler is interesting since there doesn't figure to be much of a market for a DH-only type. Can he get a QO? Seems like a good bet for the first accepted QO, actually.

Reimold

I doubt he'd take 3/42, since he could probably get significantly more on the open market... but if we could get him for that it feels like a steal. If you combine this season with the rate he was hitting in 2013 before the suspension, it feels like he could go another couple of years.

Butler is interesting since there doesn't figure to be much of a market for a DH-only type. Can he get a QO? Seems like a good bet for the first accepted QO, actually.

Royals are not going to offer Butler a QO. He's coming off a down year and knows his market is suppressed. He would definitely accept and the Royals, being tight on cash, can't afford to pay him fifteen million.

I agree that Cruz is going to get more than 3/42.

Somebody on MLB radio noted that Butler hit better when he played at first while Hosmer was out. He was worse as DH both before and after. So I wouldn't want to consider him for DH.

Why is Cruz getting more than 3/42? He's a year older and will still have the loss of a pick attached. The teams that needed him last year will be the teams that need him this year. He makes little sense to a NL team. People overestimate his market IMO.

You extend a QO to Cruz at his age and hope somebody else gives you the draft choice. Or you have Cruz for one more year at 15+ for one. You sign Billy Butler for a 4 year deal.

I'd rather sign Morse to DH than Butler.

I'd be thrilled if we could get Cruz for 3/42, so I'll go with that. Butler's a pretty good idea too though, if we don't sign Cruz.

How about pick for Cruz and someone for 2 million?

How about pick for Cruz and someone for 2 million?

Reimold shouldn't cost that much.

Reimold shouldn't cost that much.

Reimold isn't any good.

Reimold isn't any good.

He might be if he could stay on the field for longer than ten days at a time. But he can't, so it doesn't really matter.

Neither. Too bad that option isn't available.