Why I would rather sign Alex Gordon than Chris Davis

[weams]

I'm wired to scoff at any/all lines of reasoning that mention blocking an O's prospect. Mancini isn't part of the plan until he absolutely, unequivocally forces the issue, IMO.

If you resign Davis, you trade Mancini at the peak of his powers.

[Redskins Rick]

If you resign Davis, you trade Mancini at the peak of his powers.

If we trade Mancini, then every time he gets a base hit, we will have 30 page threads moaning his trade.

[mdbdotcom]

If you resign Davis, you trade Mancini at the peak of his powers.

If we keep Mancini, he will be terrible. If we trade him, he will become Paul Goldschmidt. Fact.

[Dipper9]

If we keep Mancini, he will be terrible. If we trade him, he will become Paul Goldschmidt. Fact.

Very true. Its been this way since the Glenn Davis trade.

That said, sign Davis. Trade Mancini for a pitcher.

[clapdiddy]

Very true. Its been this way since the Glenn Davis trade.

That said, sign Davis. Trade Mancini for a pitcher.

Or...keep Mancini in AAA for a season. Chances are that Trumbo will only be here for one year anyway.

[Number5]

Very true. Its been this way since the Glenn Davis trade.

That said, sign Davis. Trade Mancini for a pitcher.

Eric Bedard is the exception that proves the rule?

[El Gordo]

Upton cost the pick and is Right-handed.

Upton's splits v RHP are .800 OPS no problem there.

[DrungoHazewood]

Or...keep Mancini in AAA for a season. Chances are that Trumbo will only be here for one year anyway.

If you put Mancini in Norfolk he'll hit .262/.311/.422 with 16 homers in 533 PAs. Nobody hits in Norfolk. I say work out a loan deal with the Nexen Heroes and have him OPS .982 and get everyone really excited.

[Aristotelian]

If you resign Davis, you trade Mancini at the peak of his powers.

Or move Davis to DH.

[weams]

Or move Davis to DH.

You've heard great things about Trey's D?

[mdbdotcom]

If you put Mancini in Norfolk he'll hit .262/.311/.422 with 16 homers in 533 PAs. Nobody hits in Norfolk. I say work out a loan deal with the Nexen Heroes and have him OPS .982 and get everyone really excited.

Great idea. Then, trade him for Chris Sale.

[Babypowder]

Mancini isn't the kind of prospect I make plans around.

[Creamsicle]

If you resign Davis, you flip Trumbo the next day.

fify...

[mdbdotcom]

fify...

I don't think so. All the Mariners could get for Trumbo was Steve Clevenger. What do you think he would return for the O's? I'd rather give him a shot at hitting 30 HR for us.

[TouchemAll]

With apologies to Steve Jankowski, who will be heart-broken if the O's sign Gordon, and to Weams, who doesn't want to give up the pick.

1. Trumbo is considered at least as good a defender at 1B than Davis, and Davis is not a good outfielder (even though he can do the job as a last resort). Adding Davis now would be a plus offensively, but redundant defensively unless we then traded Trumbo.

2. Trumbo is the bridge to Mancini. Davis blocks Mancini.

3. Gordon will cost considerably less, which will be important beyond this year. Depending on his contract, over five years the savings could allow the O's to spend $50M to $70M elsewhere.

4. As we saw last year, and as FIP has been indicating, O's pitching relies on the defense. Adding a plus defender in the outfield would make all the pitchers better.

5. Davis was a high OBP guy last season. Gordon has been one his whole career. In fact, if it hadn't taken Gordon until age 27 to become a regular, he would have been held in the same regard as Heyward is today. He is the player Heyward most resembles; the only difference is age.

6. As Gordon ages, his defense will decline as he loses foot speed, but he likely will still be better than any other COF currently on the market.

Thoughts?

Rather have Upton, but I won't cry over Gordon, and much prefer either to Davis.