Future First Baseman

[wildcard]

2 hours ago, Frobby said:

Oh good, we can downgrade two important defensive positions at once.

So you know what Mayo is going to develop into in 2 year?

I am not sure how much of a down grade Gunnar is at SS.

[Jammer7]

It is too early for Stowers, Mayo, Kjerstad or Westburg to move there. All of the talk of Westburg, and not one good reason to do it has been listed. So, we want to take a guy, who is thought to be at least an average major league SS and move him to 1B? What a waste of his value. Kjerstad is the only one listed who makes even a lick of sense to me, but not yet. Way too soon.

Mountcastle is just fine there for a few years. His defense is greatly improved. I don’t expect him to have some kind of epiphany and suddenly have a .380 OBP. The Wall has really affected him, IMO. Give him some time to adjust. 

Edited September 24, 2022 by Jammer7

[Frobby]

7 hours ago, RZNJ said:

You're the one who said it's not just about defense but the combination of defense plus offense.

And I meant it.  But I think Henderson to Mayo is a pretty big defensive downgrade, based on the two times I’ve seen Mayo.  I’d like Ortiz at SS if Mateo isn’t there, Henderson at 3B, and Mayo somewhere else.   Now maybe Mayo will prove me wrong.  

[waroriole]

Westburg and Stowers splitting time is a good start. 

[RZNJ]

6 hours ago, Jammer7 said:

It is too early for Stowers, Mayo, Kjerstad or Westburg to move there. All of the talk of Westburg, and not one good reason to do it has been listed. So, we want to take a guy, who is thought to be at least an average major league SS and move him to 1B? What a waste of his value. Kjerstad is the only one listed who makes even a lick of sense to me, but not yet. Way too soon.

Mountcastle is just fine there for a few years. His defense is greatly improved. I don’t expect him to have some kind of epiphany and suddenly have a .380 OBP. The Wall has really affected him, IMO. Give him some time to adjust. 

I think I've given good reasons why Westburg to 1B makes sense.  If Mateo stays on the team, you have Hendeson at 3B and Mateo at SS.  Most think that is an optimal defensive alignment.   That leaves 2B to be decided among Urias, Ortiz, Westburg, and Norby.  Out of those 4, Ortiz is thought to be the best defender and his  offense certainly hasn't looked bad.  So, the optimal defensive alignment puts Westburg as either a backup or trade bait.  

In that case I think 1B is definitely something to be looked at.  According to Tony, the weakest part of Westburg's defensive game is his arm which is almost a non factor at 1B.  He has the size for the position and his middle infield agility and good hands should make him an asset over there.

I'm not locked into that's what should happen but I think those are good reasons to consider it.

If you had two plus CF's on the team and moved one to LF, would you consider that an asset or a waste of the player's ability?  Same thing here.  

Edited September 24, 2022 by RZNJ

[Frobby]

5 hours ago, RZNJ said:

If you had two plus CF's on the team and moved one to LF, would you consider that an asset or a waste of the player's ability?  Same thing here.  

It’s a bit different IMO.  There are ways of aligning outfielders if you’ve got two really rangy guys that take advantage of both their skills.  That’s tougher at 1B and some of the middle infield skills that are hard to find in a good hitter just aren’t used much at all at 1B.   Therefore, I think trading him to a team that can use him at a more valuable spot may realize more value for the team.  However, that’s not to say I think your idea is a bad one.  It sort of depends what we could get in a trade.  

[deward]

On 9/23/2022 at 2:35 PM, wildcard said:

1. Westburg in the near term

2.  Kjerstad because I don't think he will be a great defensive RF.

3.  Mayo is a maybe for me because by the time he is ready for the majors Mateo is probably traded and Henderson moves to SS.  That opens 3B for Mayo.

4.  Stowers  -  Santander is probably traded at the 2023 deadline and Stowers takes over RF.

 

If Santander starts the year with the team, they play as well as we hope, and he's hitting as well as he is this year, then I'd be very surprised if he he's traded away at the deadline. Contending teams shouldn't subtracting from the team at the deadline unless they are VERY confident that they have an equivalent replacement. An off-season trade wouldn't shock me, but not in season 

 

As far as 1b, I'd say Westburg is the best of the in house options, if they move on from Mountcastle