I would agree it seems unlikely he plays 1B, but I also think it is even more unlikely he was acquired to be a bench/platoon guy so if no one else is going then perhaps he is that LHH 1B
He got hot hitting on the Nats and then got hurt but he is a butcher in the outfieldOverall, I am a touch puzzled.
-Schwarber seems a good LHH/bench bat acquisition, and they don't seem to have a reliable bat they can/will promote.
-He can be mixed and matched with the existing OF-types to create some good PH opportunities. Say PH for the 2B player, and move E.Hernandez to 2B, and reshuffle the OF. (But Cora usually does not PH early in games).
OTOH:
-He brings no defensive value and no great upgrade at his natural position.
-He is injured, which reduces his on the field time.
-He may opt out after the end of the season.
In isolation, it's not a terrible trade. But in the context of the team, we have a much larger potential upgrade at 1B. I can't see how Schwarber addresses that.
We'll have to see if another trade is happening before evaluating this one.
Seems like a SSS to me.Well they literally just tried that with Arroyo and it backfired mightily. Guessing that’s why it seems unlikely.
I just think it was an opportunity to add talent to the roster and they’d figure out the rest later. I, too, hope they add a 1B. It’s puzzling to me why they wouldn’t just have extended for Rizzo.I meant in a game. Listen maybe that’s the plan, but I think this allows them to trade Duran, have more OF/DH flexibility and bolsters the lineup against RHP.
We will know a lot more at 4 today but I just can’t see them going all in on this. It lacks prudence and Chaim seems to be like the most prudent front ops guy we’ve ever seen.
It's thinking outside the box. Were they going to get a bat at 1b as good as Kyle's at the same acquisition price? Why not take the risk. Aldo Ramirez is far from a sure thing and is currently injured himself.I would agree it seems unlikely he plays 1B, but I also think it is even more unlikely he was acquired to be a bench/platoon guy so if no one else is going then perhaps he is that LHH 1B
Because run-scoring is a continuous string of events involving a whole lineup, not the accumulation of numbers. More than 50% of Schwarber's career total bases have come from HR's. He's an above-average HR hitter (at least in Wrigley Field), but still only hits HR's in about 6% of PA's. He's a streaky hitter, hits righties much better than lefties, has power primarily to right and right center, and he'll most likely contribute to team run-scoring during 14-6 blowouts of bottom-dwellers with AAAA starters. He has no speed or defensive credentials.Explain to me, in detail, what “streaky, bullshit, all or nothing” OPS is. And then explain why I should be concerned that he’s hit 146 homers over his career.
Seems like the Cubs wanted to buy better prospects thus paying Rizzo’s salary. Whereas we absorbed salary to avoid more talent going out. Just not a match.I just think it was an opportunity to add talent to the roster and they’d figure out the rest later. I, too, hope they add a 1B. It’s puzzling to me why they wouldn’t just have extended for Rizzo.
No, maybe eventually. Hopefully, someday.You think Bobby Dalbec is a quality 1b?
Reading this thread and working on how I feel about this trade I think these points probably summarize it best for me. As was mentioned upthread, we've been using Plawecki as a pinch hitter which isn't exactly ideal, regardless of which side of the plate he hits. Core will definitely get creative with his usage and I think ultimately it will benefit the team. There's no doubt he's been a beast this year.Overall, I am a touch puzzled.
-Schwarber seems a good LHH/bench bat acquisition, and they don't seem to have a reliable bat they can/will promote.
-He can be mixed and matched with the existing OF-types to create some good PH opportunities. Say PH for the 2B player, and move E.Hernandez to 2B, and reshuffle the OF. (But Cora usually does not PH early in games).
OTOH:
-He brings no defensive value and no great upgrade at his natural position.
-He is injured, which reduces his on the field time.
-He may opt out after the end of the season.
In isolation, it's not a terrible trade. But in the context of the team, we have a much larger potential upgrade at 1B. I can't see how Schwarber addresses that.
We'll have to see if another trade is happening before evaluating this one.
There's a need at 1B, both offensively and defensively. This move possibly leaves Dalbec/Chavis/Santana at first for a couple more weeks which means your rental with no experience at the position gives you six weeks to try to lock down the division. I know most folks are thinking playoffs with this team, but I say no thanks to the idea of a play in game when this team has led the division for a good part of the season. For me the Franchy experiment was about seeing if it would work before the deadline and then reassess the need going into today, but that's not how it went down.I doubt they moved Aldo for an insurance policy. Why do people have such a hard time believing he will play 1b? This happens anytime a player is rumored to switch positions. "No way that happens." Then it happens. The board was having this debate with Franchy not that long ago.
It's not like this is a rare thing. Maybe he will fail at it, but I think it's the plan.
I don't hate it, but I am largely disappointed if they don't bring in a legit first baseman.This is the only thing that makes sense to me. I woke up to this news and I hate it, unless it is part of some miraculous plan in Bloom's head that I am unable to guess at.
I think it's as simple as they had a limit in what they would spend and the Yankees outspent them.I just think it was an opportunity to add talent to the roster and they’d figure out the rest later. I, too, hope they add a 1B. It’s puzzling to me why they wouldn’t just have extended for Rizzo.
Yes, I love the deal. I would have preferred Gallo overall (light years better on D), but Schwarber was the other big bat out there that was my second choice.It's thinking outside the box. Were they going to get a bat at 1b as good as Kyle's at the same acquisition price? Why not take the risk. Aldo Ramirez is far from a sure thing and is currently injured himself.
I don't hate it either, but the injury concerns me more than anything. He's a rental and not due back until mid-August according to some reports and what I've read here. If there's a set back in his recovery for some reason, we traded for nothing.I don't hate it, but I am largely disappointed if they don't bring in a legit first baseman.
Just added to the cape league hall of fame too.Schwarber played 2 FULL games at 1st base in 2013 with Wareham of the CCBL .... 10 putouts, 1 assist, involved in one DP. So....there's that?
Nothing from Heyman. Must not be a Boras client.Has anyone heard anything about teams being in on Aguilar?
So they punted with 18 hours left before the deadline? Sorry, not buying it - I'm going to give Chaim and the FO more credit than that.I may be missing something here, but this smacks of a move made as an excuse for the lack of a better move.
And that's why I'm hopeful that this is not the only move to be made. Chaim obviously understands this risk and feels comfortable with the deal he made.I don't hate it either, but the injury concerns me more than anything. He's a rental and not due back until mid-August according to some reports and what I've read here. If there's a set back in his recovery for some reason, we traded for nothing.
If only folks had an opportunity and place to post their thoughts on this.Are there any Mitch Moreland types of 1B out there you'd like to see Bloom aquire relatively cheap that could provide league average production at first?
The guy literally was just homering to lead off every game for roughly a month. At one point I think he had 12 in 10 games. Leading off. I do not see how anyone could not want his bat in the lineup.Because run-scoring is a continuous string of events involving a whole lineup, not the accumulation of numbers. More than 50% of Schwarber's career total bases have come from HR's. He's an above-average HR hitter (at least in Wrigley Field), but still only hits HR's in about 6% of PA's. He's a streaky hitter, hits righties much better than lefties, has power primarily to right and right center, and he'll most likely contribute to team run-scoring during 14-6 blowouts of bottom-dwellers with AAAA starters. He has no speed or defensive credentials.
I may be missing something here, but this smacks of a move made as an excuse for the lack of a better move.
I am guessing his concern is that if a player is streaky and he’s already burned through his streak, then the Sox are quite likely trading for his bad streak instead of his good one.The guy literally was just homering to lead off every game for roughly a month. At one point I think he had 12 in 10 games. Leading off. I do not see how anyone could not want his bat in the lineup.
Duran is probably worse at 2b than CF. It might have been his position, but he was moved off it with no one blocking him.Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but why not try Duran at 2B with Schwarber in the OF? Sure, Duran's not ready but he's here, he was drafted as a 2B, and he's always a better option at the plate than Chavis or Marwin.
Edit: didn't get enough sleep - then what to do with Hernandez, 1B? I don't know, it's a half baked idea.
Is it Duran's OPS+ of 35 that's got everyone clamoring for playing time? Or is the middling defense? I get it, he's a prospect, he's fast, he's exciting, but, so far he's overmatched at the MLB level. Sending him back down until rosters expand seems like a decent plan to me. Schwarber basically replaces Duran on the roster and shifts Verdugo over to CF.Duran is probably worse at 2b than CF. It might have been his position, but he was moved off it with no one blocking him.
I'm all for sending him down. I'm not for trading him.Is it Duran's OPS+ of 35 that's got everyone clamoring for playing time? Or is the middling defense? I get it, he's a prospect, he's fast, he's exciting, but, so far he's overmatched at the MLB level. Sending him back down until rosters expand seems like a decent plan to me. Schwarber basically replaces Duran on the roster and shifts Verdugo over to CF.
Spot on.Is it Duran's OPS+ of 35 that's got everyone clamoring for playing time? Or is the middling defense? I get it, he's a prospect, he's fast, he's exciting, but, so far he's overmatched at the MLB level. Sending him back down until rosters expand seems like a decent plan to me. Schwarber basically replaces Duran on the roster and shifts Verdugo over to CF.
I'm not agog over the guy, but he has 37 plate appearances. If he gets a walk in his next one, his OBP jumps up by .021.Is it Duran's OPS+ of 35 that's got everyone clamoring for playing time? Or is the middling defense? I get it, he's a prospect, he's fast, he's exciting, but, so far he's overmatched at the MLB level. Sending him back down until rosters expand seems like a decent plan to me. Schwarber basically replaces Duran on the roster and shifts Verdugo over to CF.
More than anything, this deal strikes me as a bet against Ramirez.Oh man we lost Aldo Ramirez???
Who is Aldo Ramirez again?
I don't think anyone's clamoring for it but I'm not going to dismiss his ability to contribute for the remainder of this year on his first 34 ABs. If he's going to be up with the major league club I'd rather see him get regular ABs than Marwin/Santana/Chavis/Dalbec.Is it Duran's OPS+ of 35 that's got everyone clamoring for playing time? Or is the middling defense? I get it, he's a prospect, he's fast, he's exciting, but, so far he's overmatched at the MLB level. Sending him back down until rosters expand seems like a decent plan to me. Schwarber basically replaces Duran on the roster and shifts Verdugo over to CF.
Agree it's a small sample size, but being a legit WS contender, in a very tight divisional race, changes the calculus for me in terms of how many PA's you're willing to give a prospect/rookie to figure it out. They're already doing it to some degree with Dalbec, not sure on the job training for two guys fits the mission fight now. And as noted by others, he could always return 9/1, and get some lower leverage PA's, and also have his speed made use of then.I don't think anyone's clamoring for it but I'm not going to dismiss his ability to contribute for the remainder of this year on his first 34 ABs. If he's going to be up with the major league club I'd rather see him get regular ABs than Marwin/Santana/Chavis/Dalbec.
Sure. My post was in response to someone suggesting that Duran be moved to 2nd base. That's forcing him into the lineup and he's not shown anything to justify that kind of talk. Literally every one of the players you listed above is outperforming Duran at the plate, some of them significantly. It's SSS, but it's the only SS we have. If KS is going to replace anyone on the roster, for various reasons, it should be Duran. Once he reaches 350 ABs, then we can dismiss his ability to contribute.I don't think anyone's clamoring for it but I'm not going to dismiss his ability to contribute for the remainder of this year on his first 34 ABs. If he's going to be up with the major league club I'd rather see him get regular ABs than Marwin/Santana/Chavis/Dalbec.
Even in the small sample size, I think every at bat he has had this season he’s battled better than Dalbec and others.Agree it's a small sample size, but being a legit WS contender, in a very tight divisional race, changes the calculus for me in terms of how many PA's you're willing to give a prospect/rookie to figure it out. They're already doing it to some degree with Dalbec, not sure on the job training for two guys fits the mission fight now. And as noted by others, he could always return 9/1, and get some lower leverage PA's, and also have his speed made use of then.
I don't disagree, and I like him, and don't want them to trade him. But in terms of the roster, he makes the most sense to open up room for Schwarber, who's a huge offensive upgrade at this point. A few more weeks of work in AAA would be good for Duran, IMO. And a return, and even a post season role, are certainly still possibilities.Even in the small sample size, I think every at bat he has had this season he’s battled better than Dalbec and others.
And he’s had some insanely exciting hits as well that has fired up the whole team. I think that stuff lifts teams up, too.
Do we need to send him down now that Workman has been DFA’d?I don't disagree, and I like him, and don't want them to trade him. But in terms of the roster, he makes the most sense to open up room for Schwarber, who's a huge offensive upgrade at this point. A few more weeks of work in AAA would be good for Duran, IMO. And a return, and even a post season role, are certainly still possibilities.
Someone on the current 26 will have to be sent down when Schwarber is done with IL/rehab.Do we need to send him down now that Workman has been DFA’d?
Sorry I haven’t followed - but with Workman gone, did they bring up someone to the 26 to replace him?Someone on the current 26 will have to be sent down when Schwarber is done with IL/rehab.
It wouldn't be an issue until Schwarber comes off the IL, but at some point, hopefully, they're going to need room for Arroyo as well.Do we need to send him down now that Workman has been DFA’d?