Cowser vs Westburg

[Sports Guy]

4 minutes ago, waroriole said:

So you’re just hanging on to the technicality that 1B is in the IF? 
 

As far as the diminished value of Westburg/Ortiz, it’s reasonable to assume that one of our 4 guys won’t be a ML caliber player. If you trade another one, the you have a hole in the IF. It shouldn’t be difficult to find playing time for all 4 guys, we just have to stop holding on to people like Mateo. Then if all 4 are ML players, trade one or move one to OF. 

No, it’s not a technicality…it’s an actual fact that first base is in the IF.

And again, he is a third baseman too. 

[baltfan]

Westburg.  His plate discipline isn't as good.  We have a glut of infielders.  Doesn't walk as much.  Power was disappointing, though of course that could change.  Also he is a bit more than a year older.  

[big_sparxx]

Much of this is presumptuous that Anthony Santander doesn't get traded... which is very unlikely.

With Holliday earmarked for 2b, and if AS is traded, the logical answer is to keep Cowser and move Westburg.

Edited November 22, 2023 by big_sparxx

[E-D-D-I-E]

I would trade Cowser. However, if you prefer Cowser over Kjerstad, you should trade Kjerstad. Its really Westie vs Cowser/Kjerstad

-Personally, I am very high Kjerstad. He needs to get 400 at bats this year.

-Westburg, while I know this is a stretch, could probably play the outfield in a pinch. He played some RF/LF at AAA. He may even be able to make the switch, he runs well.

-At this moment, on our roster there SHOULD be room for 2 inf's. Ortiz/Westburg, But, there is 1 for certain.

-At this moment, on our roster, there are technically no OF spots "available". Kjerstad has to play.

[btdart20]

It's an interesting pairing because they represent two issues the team currently faces:  IF vs. corner OF.  RHH vs. LHH.  

The RHH vs. LHH thing isn't as important IMO but does play a part.  I think they want to be LHH-heavy for a few reasons.  But a good hitter is a good hitter.

The IF logjam has a lower barrier to entry with Urias and Mateo as lap traffic that the new blood has to work around.  Gunnar, Jackson, Mayo, Westburg, Ortiz, Norby... 

The corner OF is logjammed as well, but the MLB talent level is much higher.  Hays, Santander, Cowser, HK, Stowers?...  But the next wave of OFer talent has a high floor/ceiling IMO than the IF prospects.  Beavers, EBJ, Horvath*, Fabian > Horvath*, Wagner, and then we're in the FCL/DSL. 

That's the decision maker for me (assuming the logjams aren't handled further up the food chain).  I'm more willing to trade Cowser.  Not a slight on Cowser at all because I think he's the better prospect between the two.

 

[oriole]

I think Cowser has more value and would get more back, but I think that’s a better reason to keep him as I believe he will contribute more overall during a potential Orioles tenure than Westburg. 
 

Honestly, it ends up as a wash because it could go either way. There’s guys that could take either ones spot if they were traded. 
 

Maybe the best move would be to package both. Santander/Westburg/Cowser is a pretty enticing offer for someone like Logan Gilbert.

Ortiz could replace Westburg at 3B, Kjerstad in RF, Mayo at DH. 

[Frobby]

12 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

If you had to trade one of these guys, which would one would you rather trade?

This is a true toss up for me. I can make a good case for keeping or trading either one. 

For me, I choose Westburg because of our IF depth. 

I also believe that since he has already had ML success, that he will hold more value on the trade market even though Cowser is much more highly regarded than he ever was.

I think your logic is pretty sound.  We have all three starting outfielders reaching few agency within two years, so we need outfield depth.  We’ve got more than enough depth in the infield.  

[Sports Guy]

Just now, Frobby said:

I think your logic is pretty sound.  We have all three starting outfielders reaching few agency within two years, so we need outfield depth.  We’ve got more than enough depth in the infield.  

And to be clear, you could turn that around and apply similar logic to the OF.

For me, the real key difference is the talent on the IF is just better and more likely to develop and I think that’s ultimately the true deciding factor for me.

 

[Sports Guy]

Btw, I’m somewhat surprised by this results. As a board, it seems like we would be conflicted on who to trade.  Based off of the comments seen on here, I would have guessed Cowser would be the overwhelming choice here.