This is a great thread/topic that I've been stewing on for a while and actually want to respond to as more of a casual reader on here.
To me, the guys who eventually become trade bait in Norfolk are both Norby and Stowers. I'm apprehensive on Norby because going back to ECU he has always raked, but to the point above, he's blocked - right? What is his ceiling and or comp? Is Chris Taylor a stretch? That's the kind of guy you want around for both the clubhouse and a stretch run. He's a winner who can play multiple positions and will ultimately always hit (we think). How much do we lose with him in LF compared to the likes of a Hays?
Have we seen enough from Stowers at the Major League level? I would venture to say no. Will he ever have a higher trade value? I'd also venture to say no.
In my opinion, the untouchables beyond the obvious of Holliday are Kjerstad, Mayo, Basallo, and all three of the arms (McDermott, Povich, Johnson). But that leads us to the problem of - where do they actually play when the time comes?
Mountcastle's defense has always been solid and beyond underappreciated. His plate discipline this year (small sample) is better than ever. His value in the clubhouse goes beyond words. He looks like a guy playing on fire and playing for an extension. How can we replace him with Mayo at 1B or Basallo next year when he's hopefully ready.
If we don't extend Tony, then Kjerstad is the plug and play in RF. His natural power I think is equal to or possibly even greater than Tony's, although you lose the opportunity to slot a right handed hitting outfield in the lineup with him - something we don't have much of beyond Hays and possible Norby. I don't think we can overlook the importance of that.
It's to the point for me where it's almost comical at times that we want to promote, promote, promote - but in exchange for who? Where do they play? Trust me, I want to see all these guys ASAP - but what does it do to our defense? An outfield of Norby-Cowser-Kjerstad is possible, but do we then realize just how solid Hays and Mullins really are? Then you enter Bradfield into the equation in two years and now what?
Where I pause it that this is a great problem to have, but don't think for a second that other GM's don't also realize where things stand for us. Mateo, Urias, Hays, Mullins - sure we can move on, but for what? I truly don't know what direction we go, but I trust Mike Elias and his track record. Sorry for the long ramble but we are certainly blessed for the first time in a long time, and I, like everyone else want to see the same thing - the moves required to bring a World Series back home!
