Can we steal Dexter Fowler from the Blue Jays?

[Crazysilver03]

I'd like to add Fowler, but let's not get crazy here. I doubt Houston is interested in Norris, since he's a FA. Chen is too much to give up.

Webb, Wright, Ohlman?

That is three players Houston would need to add to their 40 man roster. They don't have the space for that.

[weams]

That is three players Houston would need to add to their 40 man roster. They don't have the space for that.

Garabez Rosa

[waroriole]

That is three players Houston would need to add to their 40 man roster. They don't have the space for that.

Is Ohlman on the 40 man? It would just be 2 spots, since Fowler is moving. Still, good point. Anyone else we'd want from them to try to make it work?

[weams]

Is Ohlman on the 40 man? It would just be 2 spots, since Fowler is moving. Still, good point. Anyone else we'd want from them to try to make it work?

Yes. The can't make any room. So it would have to be one for one on the 40 man or a 40 man and and off 40.

http://orioles.mlb.com/team/roster_active.jsp?c_id=bal

[waroriole]

Maybe they'd be interested in some Int'l slot money that we usually just trash anyway. Didn't they lose a few draft picks for their shenanigans?

[sportsfan8703]

Yaz and Bridwell.

[Just Regular]

Would anyone do O'Day?

Cameron had this take on the Astros motivation to sign Neshek and Gregerson.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/parity-in-al-creating-league-of-mediocrity-121014

Pushing for mediocrity isn't the only strategic response to unprecedented parity, however. With 85 percent of the league trying to win, the midseason market for talent becomes even more slanted towards the few sellers that actually are willing to trade quality pieces for long-term gain, and perhaps this imbalance helps explain the Houston Astros pursuit of elite relief pitching. The Astros certainly aren't an Andrew Miller or David Robertson away from challenging for the AL West, but nothing in baseball gets a higher markup in July than a dominating reliever, since every contender in the sport is looking to add bullpen depth at the trade deadline.

The Astros are almost certainly going to be sellers at the deadline, and with few other teams willing to move talent anymore, they'll be able to command a ransom for any quality big leaguers they have to trade. By utilizing their financial flexibility to bring in veteran relief arms, and then offering to subsidize parts of those contracts when talent is not so readily available in July, the Astros could effectively buy talent that isn't otherwise available to them in free agency.

Just like Boston hoped to do with Lester, we would have an opportunity to reacquire O'Day from Houston in July. If the interpretation of Houston's strategy here is correct, O'Day fits seamlessly into it.

[Dark Helmet]

I agree. We are returning all but three of a team that went to the ALCS (without Machado, Wieters, and Davis) and people expected a shotgun approach to the roster in December? When we sucked for years I understood the drama, hopelessness, and aggressive desire for change. Coming off the last three years, it is about being selective and smart for me. I am sure that makes me a drinker of the orange kool aid.

You're also expecting guys to repeat years that they never have been able to even accomplish before. It is only December, but there is also no Nelson Cruz type players left to sign. You also assume Manny and Wieters will return to pre-injury form and that Davis improves. But, I am sure that I'm not a real fan for having those concerns.

[weams]

You're also expecting guys to repeat years that they never have been able to even accomplish before. It is only December, but there is also no Nelson Cruz type players left to sign. You also assume Manny and Wieters will return to pre-injury form and that Davis improves. But, I am sure that I'm not a real fan for having those concerns.

Really? It appears that sever hitter ranked ahead of him here are still available. And that was after being the HR leader last season. To me, Cruz last year was a fluke.

[SteveO]

Really? It appears that sever hitter ranked ahead of him here are still available. And that was after being the HR leader last season. To me, Cruz last year was a fluke.

That list is crap, sorry but it is. Headley and Rasmus ranked ahead of Cruz....please.

I tend to agree that Cruz was unlikely to replace his own production should he have stayed. As of now we have lost Cruz and Markakis (Miller was a rental). We have some guys in Pearce, Lough, Norris, Chen and Gonzo whom I am not entirely convinced can replicate their production last year.

We have a few guys whom I feel pretty confident can will improve in terms of production. JJ Hardry, CD, Schoop and yes..Ublado will have better years IMO even if its just marginal improvement.

Now you add in MW and Machado. These two are the wildcards. I tend to feel pretty confident Machado will have a very good year, might take some time to get going but he will be solid. MW not sure, just not entirely sure what we can expect there. If he has a good year, that will help a great deal also.

At this point I think we could be a bit worse than last year or a bit better but still in the same ballpark in terms of talent and ability. The bigger question is how much does that level buy you comparative to last year and I believe the answer is likely to be not as much. Red Sox and Toronto will be better IMO, Yanks might be. I think we are easily a competitive club, I think though the frustration for some lies in the fact that we have a core that if supplemented correctly could make a very serious playoff run. I still think there is time for that to happen, it does not have to big giant sweeping moves like a guy such as Kemp, Upton and Fowler, it can be some smart moves like Morse and perhaps a guy like Rasmus or Aoki. I like guys like Hassan but I would rather have them as plan B than plan A and have to trade minor league talent to rectify the situation should htey not work out. Let them earn their way here, banging the door down.

[weams]

That list is crap, sorry but it is. Headley and Rasmus ranked ahead of Cruz....please.

I tend to agree that Cruz was unlikely to replace his own production should he have stayed. As of now we have lost Cruz and Markakis (Miller was a rental). We have some guys in Pearce, Lough, Norris, Chen and Gonzo whom I am not entirely convinced can replicate their production last year.

We have a few guys whom I feel pretty confident can will improve in terms of production. JJ Hardry, CD, Schoop and yes..Ublado will have better years IMO even if its just marginal improvement.

Now you add in MW and Machado. These two are the wildcards. I tend to feel pretty confident Machado will have a very good year, might take some time to get going but he will be solid. MW not sure, just not entirely sure what we can expect there. If he has a good year, that will help a great deal also.

At this point I think we could be a bit worse than last year or a bit better but still in the same ballpark in terms of talent and ability. The bigger question is how much does that level buy you comparative to last year and I believe the answer is likely to be not as much. Red Sox and Toronto will be better IMO, Yanks might be. I think we are easily a competitive club, I think though the frustration for some lies in the fact that we have a core that if supplemented correctly could make a very serious playoff run. I still think there is time for that to happen, it does not have to big giant sweeping moves like a guy such as Kemp, Upton and Fowler, it can be some smart moves like Morse and perhaps a guy like Rasmus or Aoki. I like guys like Hassan but I would rather have them as plan B than plan A and have to trade minor league talent to rectify the situation should htey not work out. Let them earn their way here, banging the door down.

Cruz was unlikely last year to be a good deal at 12 million. Certainly no one wanted what he brought for 2/24.

[sportsfan8703]

Would anyone do O'Day?

Cameron had this take on the Astros motivation to sign Neshek and Gregerson.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/parity-in-al-creating-league-of-mediocrity-121014

Pushing for mediocrity isn't the only strategic response to unprecedented parity, however. With 85 percent of the league trying to win, the midseason market for talent becomes even more slanted towards the few sellers that actually are willing to trade quality pieces for long-term gain, and perhaps this imbalance helps explain the Houston Astros pursuit of elite relief pitching. The Astros certainly aren't an Andrew Miller or David Robertson away from challenging for the AL West, but nothing in baseball gets a higher markup in July than a dominating reliever, since every contender in the sport is looking to add bullpen depth at the trade deadline.

The Astros are almost certainly going to be sellers at the deadline, and with few other teams willing to move talent anymore, they'll be able to command a ransom for any quality big leaguers they have to trade. By utilizing their financial flexibility to bring in veteran relief arms, and then offering to subsidize parts of those contracts when talent is not so readily available in July, the Astros could effectively buy talent that isn't otherwise available to them in free agency.

Just like Boston hoped to do with Lester, we would have an opportunity to reacquire O'Day from Houston in July. If the interpretation of Houston's strategy here is correct, O'Day fits seamlessly into it.

Depends. Is Gausman in the pen next year or is he at AAA? I want him in the rotation but who knows. Gausman could replace O'day in the setup role. But then you're really risking what has been a staple of this teams success over the last 3 years. Seems like they'd be interested in players that aren't on the 40 man. IF Houston is trading him then we should be all over him. And definitely not let him get to Toronto.

[LoyalBirdFan]

The only major difference for Nelson Cruz in 2014 was he played in 159 games. His stats are almost identical to 2013 when he only played in 109 games. His OPS in 2014 was only .030 above his career OPS and it wasn't his highest.

[Dark Helmet]

Really? It appears that sever hitter ranked ahead of him here are still available. And that was after being the HR leader last season. To me, Cruz last year was a fluke.

Fluke? Nelson Cruz 162 game average is .268/.328/.501/.829 33Hr 100 RBI. That's in the neighborhood of his 2014. Buck kept him healthy. You want fluke, look at Chase Headleys 2012. Not even close to his .760 career OPS. Mentioning Headley and Rasmus as a middle of the order bat is really grasping at straws.

[weams]

Fluke? Nelson Cruz 162 game average is .268/.328/.501/.829 33Hr 100 RBI. That's in the neighborhood of his 2014. Buck kept him healthy. You want fluke, look at Chase Headleys 2012. Not even close to his .760 career OPS. Mentioning Headley and Rasmus as a middle of the order bat is really grasping at straws.

Good points. I in no way expected Cruz to have the year for us that he did. Guess that was just me. Is it because he never played that many games healthy before?