Dean Kremer lead the minors in strikeouts once.
Not saying it's a bad thing that Povich is up there, just that it doesn't mean he's going to be a great MLB starter.
I have no idea what Elias thinks of Hicks. He could have viewed him as a decent stopgap for Mullins, or as someone fixable or who needed a change of scenery. Or he could think Hicks is having a dead cat bounce. I doubt you'd get a prospect of note for him pretty much regardless of what he does until the trade deadline. If someone did offer one, my guess is he'd trade Hicks in a heartbeat and call up Cowser, but who knows?
If we trade Fabian, we don't have a good CF prospect above A-ball (don't think Cowser is a CF in MLB, at least not for long). We've got Mullins for, what, 1-2 more years? The Orioles also love him to death. I can't imagine they'll trade Fabian.
I could see Westburg being a similar player to Hardy offensively, though he'll probably walk more. Defensively I don't think he's close to as good as Hardy.
I trust Elias in everything. He's done well enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. Doesn't mean I agree with all his decisions or that he's never wrong, but I'm never going to start from, "Elias is screwing up"
Fortunately this years free agent class is very pitching heavy. No one truly incredible without question marks except for Ohtani, but if Elias is smart and willing to spend there's a good chance we could come away with one or two good starting pitchers
Santander maybe not. Definitely not McCann and that's because he's not a great hitter. I'm not comfortable making that call on Hicks based on seven at bats.
And he very well could return to being that player. I think he's earned at least a few weeks to show that's not the case. Besides, what are we going to do at first base, Ramon Urias? Anthony Santander?
Ryan Mountcastle?
He went 2 for 4 not even two weeks ago on June 18th. He has been in a slump for like ten days.
Look, I'm not saying he should be given forever to figure things out, but this thread is reactionary.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/rangers-acquire-aroldis-chapman.htmlGave up their 2016 first round pick pitcher who has struggled in limited MLB action and some 17-year-old.We could have easily beaten this offer. This looks like the equivalent of Drew Rom and a DSL lottery ticket. Yeah, I know, character issues, but this would have been a huge help to our bullpen.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/rangers-acquire-aroldis-chapman.html
Gave up their 2016 first round pick pitcher who has struggled in limited MLB action and some 17-year-old.
We could have easily beaten this offer. This looks like the equivalent of Drew Rom and a DSL lottery ticket. Yeah, I know, character issues, but this would have been a huge help to our bullpen.
I'm sure once pitchers realize he will jump on juicy early strikes, they'll throw him fewer of those and he'll walk more again. We'll eventually find an equilibrium.
I would offer him something like 10/500. Yes that's a huge risk, but he's the best player in baseball and covers our biggest need in a TOR starter.
That said, I can't imagine he chooses to sign with us unless we're the biggest offer by a decent amount