AnythingO's

Maybe replacement for Hicks, McKenna going forward

Just offer DET Irvin, Stowers, Prieto for ERod. Who offers more than that? He will opt out and they get no compensation. We might be a good fit for him with a good young team ready for playoff run. None of them have a future in BAL We should feel comfortable with ERod, GRod, Bradish backed by Kremer, Gibson with Wells and possibly Means in the BP. Solves all our current needs W/O any real prospect loss. His salary if he stays is covered by losing Gibson-Frazier.

Heston laughs at the speculation that these MLB pitchers can handle him and that he will need ANY adjustment period, the man is on a mission lol. HAHAHA, JK, one drink too many, huge HK fan. Seriously, I hope to see him in Sept, I truly believe his bat is special

Well I said "some" so perhaps I should have said "some info", my bad. Wasn't trying to portray a complete picture of his RF defense. I think he is faster than he is credited to be. Maybe not in sprint speed but the Fangraphs Spd ranking likes him on the base paths so instinct and decision making play a part. He has 5 triples bet Bow and NOR this year in about 325 ABs and each video isn't a close play. I hope he could be a step up from AS but his reads and routes need to improve per Tony. It seems like the transition to upper deck MLB parks really hurts some players.

Some data on Heston's defense in RF yesterday. https://www.milb.com/video/heston-kjerstad-s-amazing-throw?t=playerid-677008https://www.milb.com/video/heston-kjerstad-s-amazing-throw?t=playerid-677008

ME wanted Westburg "fully baked" before he came up. That's why he got the special treatment. Ortiz was already on the 40-man because of draft year when he came up as an injury hedge, NOT because he was "fully baked". Ortiz performance in AAA since demotion is rivalling HK, who is on a mission. Joey doesn't have anything more to prove at AAA. Hyde and his "vet favorites" be damned. ME can send the message just as he did with Westburg. Gunnar plays FT @ 3B/SS. Joey plays SS when Gunnar is at 3B. MAteo to IL. Westburg-Frazier at 2B in a 2/1 ratio, Frazier on bench. DH ABs available as Adley rests more. This isn't rocket science, SigBot can handle it.

Ortiz is only a "bench player" in Hyde's mind, ME can override that as he did with Westburg. Urias/ Gunnar at 3B, Ortiz/Gunnar at SS, Westburg/Frazier is your best defensive and offensive combo. Ortiz is your starting SS next year and Gunnar's future is as a GG 3B. Better to get settled now and let them acclimate. We will NOT get the "difference-making" pitching and hitting we would need to be favored to make the WS. ME and SigBot won't do it, they believe in draft, trade, and develop IMO.

Gunnar/Urias 3B, Ortiz SS (Mateo to IL), Westburg-Frazier 2B.

Well Nolan McClain (sp?) was drafted in 3rd round by us at #81, didn't sign, and now was taken in 3rd round at #91 by the Mets so his gamble on himself didn't pay off. We will see Mr. Baumeister

I don't think we see HK until after the Gunnar date (Aug 31) to preserve his rookie status next year. Agree McKenna is next man up as he is on the 40-man already.

So the deadline is 5 PM tomorrow (7/25) correct? Is it unusual for a Baumeister-like signing to go down to the wire with no news or speculation? Another 4 yr SO pitcher at pick 61 went for +$200K over slot ($1.5/1.3M). The only guys getting big plus ups as the HS pitchers at 71-72 (WAS-OAK) getting $2.6M and 3.0M versus slot of $1M. Does he really have that much leverage being picked at 63 vs ranked at 167?

the OF becomes Hays, Mullins, Cowser, Kjerstad and they rotate with the odd man at DH when Adley/Santander isn't there. That would help keep Hays and Mullins fresh and not over expose Cowser. Hicks has come back to earth and hits the pine. Santander and O'Hearn at 1B-DH, not sure if Mounty will be here or not. Basically, unless HK craps the bed over the next 5 weeks, they could use that bat, it just looks ready.

After the Gunnar date August 31 or so), by then the AAA pitchers will pay for his first class ticket to wherever we are. His offensive performance in AAA may be better than AA, and that's saying something. The man is on a Mission.

That's easy, Cito still sucks, jeez, then there was Bautista, Donaldson, man in white shite in CF, "special" bats that must be made in Canada.

Not typically going to see that in MLB but you knew that. Only circumstantial evidence but HK has 5 triples this year in about 300 ABs between BOW and NOR. You can see videos of him running on NOR website. In each case he makes it easily to 3B. Supports the Fangraphs data I posted above. Tony says HK is sneaky fast.

He had a lower back injury (don't know how) that prevented him from doing his normal off-season weight lifting program to build strength. He was just getting over that when ST started so he was not at full strength.

Nah, the Rays are not great on the road, lol.

HK is NOT slow. Per Fangraphs Spd metric developed by Bill James to rate a players speed and base running, HK is a 6.7 where 7.0 is excellent, 6.0 is great, and 5.5 is above average. Cowser is 5.8, Mayo is 4.5, Prieto is 3.6. Ortiz on the other hand is 8.4 , that is about where Gunnar was.

I agree with the first part but Hyde'r would NEVER admit that, lol. Hyde has done a great job with keeping everyone involved and relatively happy so that = good clubhouse. There is NO WAY the SigBot would play Frazier over Westburg at 2B or Westburg over Urias at 3B defensively. This kid of lineup construction is entirely on Hyde in my opinion. Cowser in CF is an evaluation that could be SigBot but I am not 100% sure Hayes is healthy given they didn't IL him pre-AS game as a favor. Don't stress him in CF. I gladly admit I am on a island re: Hyde.

Less than 40% of the population I believe so close enough, but not nearly half the "size" (land mass) more like less than 5%

If they liked Cameron then I think they would have tried him over picking up Hicks and FTR I think Hicks has struck Midnight and returned to pumpkin status. Also, Cameron would require another 40-man move, McKenna would not. Relative to your comment, I have advocated for Mateo in CF before, SD played him there as he was blocked at SS. Mateo could fill the McKenna role next year but also be an option at backup SS and 2B, he has played both for BAL. Then next year the outfield is Cowser, Mullins, Hays, Kjerstad with each playing 3/4 time and rotating at DH some. Everybody stays fresh (hopefully healthy).

Probably true unless he likes it in BAL with the young stars and great defense behind him. Then you try to renegotiate with him to avoid the opt out. He seems like a low profile guy, maybe he would like the stability vs FA. Maybe he would like an opportunity to stick it to BOS. This is from a DET fan forum where they advocate renegotiating, The biggest question would be if he’d take a straight salary increase or would want more years added. I have no doubt he’d get at least $20M per year in free agency, but I’d be surprised if he was only offered a 3-year deal. Taijuan Walker (4/$72M), and Jameson Tallion (4/$68M) each managed to secure 4-year deals this winter and E-rod has been better than both in recent history. I would thing he would have to seriously consider not opting out if his 3/$49M went to 3/$55M plus a 4th year at $20M for 4/$75M. An AAV just over what Gibson-Frazier cost so Payroll neutral.

I understood doing that with Hays before the ASG because that would have cancelled his appearance but this injury to Ced with Cowser and Hicks available should earn a 10-day IL. Get another RP up here to eat innings like Zimm.

John Frickin Angelos is the owner. They aren’t going to take on a salary. They aren’t going to pay $400 million to extend him and that is the only way you trade for him and sacrifice 4-5 players that include multiple blue chip guys. This is why I keep coming back to ERod. He has an opt out but doesn't exercise it until after the WS. DET can hold onto him and get NO COMPENSATION, try to renegotiate now but unless they seriously overpay why would ERod choose to stay. Third option is trade him now to get something. We could offer Stowers and Norby and Irvin, all positions of need for DET, without hurting the team or the future. We them have another solid arm at the front of the rotation. He gets the chance to play half his games in a park favorable to him in front of great defense. I think there is a fair chance we could renegotiate his 3/$49M to 3/$55M and add a $20M option. Does he get more that $3/55M or $4/75M for his 31-33/34 years? AAV of $18M is what Frazier + Gibson make so it is Payroll neutral. It's a risk but so is every trade. Putting ERod in front of Bradish, Kremer, Gibson allows Wells, GRod, maybe Means to bolster the BP while managing their innings. Just seems like a good risk to take.

Wells threw 102 inn last year, he is at 103 now. He has had shoulder issues before. His max in Mil was 119 inn in 2018. It is prudent to protect a young, proven SP commodity and maybe limit him to 40-50 inn Y-O-Y so about 150 this year. You want him for the playoffs so you manage his inn in the summer. Probably not a "cap" because they are watching every pitch. If he still looks good at 150 he will get more.