7Mo

I like Fuentes a LOT. I made the mistake of asking about Jax. No on him.

3rd round pick, doesn't strike out. Plus makeup is worth a lot. He hit .279 with 16 doubles and 4 triples in the Eastern league in '18. Any idea how that projects in MLB next year? Can he hold his own?

I like Bueno and Megill but you've said before Elias is likely to look up the middle and I think Alemais could be a choice. Coming off injury? Just 12 games in '19. Not much power.

Can Alemais play short?

I hope you're a 6'9" lefty with long arms and a 95 mph fastball.

I think that's a valid question that I wish I knew the answer to. I hope we'd consider that route, not just with Villar but with any trade to add prospect value.

Right on both accounts as far as I know. On the first idea, I have no inside info but I'd guess Villar's agent said no to a lesser figure.

We might find out Monday. If he's not claimed by 1:00, we have until 8:00 to work out a deal. Then Villar is gone. The difference in "up until now" and Monday would be his agent seeing the market isn't as robust as they want it to be.

Take a look at Luke's comments in the Rule 5 thread if you haven't already. Sheffield loses the strike zone and Zach Brown has little, if any upside. There are 2 guys in the Nats system I like based on Luke's comments.

What I meant was you said "agree to 7-8 M". That would require Villar to agree. I'd guess Elias made those offers, especially as Villar played better and better. I'd also expect an agent to say "no thanks, we're headed to a $10M arb figure". So how do you convince the agent he's wrong? You outright the guy and let him measure how many teams are running to trade for him.

Yes. How many parties does it take to agree?

Agreed. Likely 2-3, maybe one being a Rule 5.

Without question you bring him back at any figure where he's a tradeable asset, which likely means what.......$4M, $5M? At what point will other teams NOT trade for him? I think maybe the flaw in you argument is the idea that Villar would agree to a figure low enough to make him a tradeable asset. I'm sure Elias has approached his agent. And I think we can see the result of those conversations.

Just trying to make a joke. You don't strike me as someone with tender feelings. No harm intended.

Would you agree you've created your own island and don't show a need for help?

If we got that for Villar, I'd feel good about it.

We pretty much have.

Maybe we get that by Monday. Two 17 year olds who won't be well known for years.

Definitely could. Unfortunately Villar isn't the only available middle infielder. Maybe a team wants a more reliable fielder at a lower salary........like we do.

I understand you'd make that bet. But 29 other teams aren't...yet.

Yes, and that's a good point. A few days ago, I asked if it was dirty pool to tender a guy and then cut him in spring training. And Tony felt like the "cut in ST part" meant that Elias was forcing the hand of interested teams. But either way, if the market has said he has no value at the arb figure, he wouldn't have more value in ST

Absolutely he did. And he's projected at 1.8 WAR. But no matter. I can say all day what my house is worth. But what's the true value? What someone will pay for it.

You say it's a stupid risk but what if Elias knew he had 2 or more teams pretty interested? If he waits, or lets the other teams continue to slow play him, he's gotta tender and then deal with whatever the arb figure winds up being. If he outrights, he forces their hand.

If Elias gets a trade worked out by Monday, which I still believe is possible, will those writers change their tune?

Exactly, yet people are furious that we haven't traded him. I just can't believe Elias has turned down any reasonable offer.