What do the RS need to do to fix this team for 2016?
IMO:
HRam - the LF experiment has failed. Hard to believe it is that hard for a former SS to be competent in LF, but after >half the season, I think the jury is in. He is a middle of the lineup bat, get him a 1B glove and try him there. If it works -- great, if not maybe Panda can play 1B and HRam can play 3B. If that fails he becomes the DH vs. Lefties and plays LF against righties.
Outfielders:
Castillo and Bradley - it is time to play them both every day in the majors and let's see what the RS have.
If both prove competent, then the OF is solved.
If 1 makes the grade, the RS have a need to sign a corner OFer and likely have a competent 5th OFer with Holt as the 4th OFer. In limbo - Craig --> probably stays in the minors to save the LT hit unless he is packaged out with a subsidy.
Panda - like the contract or not (I can't imagine too many are liking the contract), he is not going anywhere and has hit as could be reasonably expected. Hopefully the fielding gets better.
SS, CF, C --- outstanding young, inexpensive talent who have the potential to be all stars.
Catcher --- RS actually have 3 inexpensive to reasonably priced catchers and they can afford to use one as trade bait (I know we all hope they keep Vazquez and Swihart)
Pedey --- should still have outstanding years left and is at a very team friendly deal
DH -- Papi and hope he has a year left in the tank. The vesting option for 2017 is not something that I am thrilled about, but if he manages to be a platoon part of the DH, then it is not the worst option.
Holt - super utility player getting in to 80+% of games , or if Castillo/Bradley both fail perhaps a starting corner OFer.
So for position players, IMO opinion the most realistic option is signing a stud corner OFer. I don't view a Punto reset via the trading of HRam, Panda, Craig (& Porcello) or Castillo as possible.
Starters:
Buccholz, Porcello, Miley, ERod --- make up a very good #2-5. With Kelly, Johnson, Owens as the #6 and to fill a spot in case of injury.
But I do think it is clear that after a very poor yr and a half, the RS need to sign/trade for #1 reliable starter. That is likely 25M /yr.
Again the threads suggesting trading Buccholz (then how is he replaced at his reasonable contract level), Porcello (no one wants that contract now), Miley (good performance for his cost) just opens another hole or would require in Porcello's case subsidizing the contract.
But signing an "ace" or at least inning eaters #1, makes the rotation a strength of the team
BP:
Koji - he is getting long in the tooth. Personally I think counting on him to be a closer in 2016 is asking a lot of a 40 yr old.
Tazawa - continues to be a good 8th inning option, with a ceiling of a closer.
Oganda, Layne - have been adequate and are under team control with reasonable contracts
Workman, Barnes, Wright - all under team control, but frankly between Workman's injury and Barnes/Wright performance I don't think they should be counted on for more than the last spot or 2 in the BP.
So to me the fix would be the addition of a closer or at least a pitcher who potentially is a closer.
So
Sign/trade for a ~3 WAR corner OFer ---- Cost ~20M
Sign/trade for a #1 starter ------ Cost 25 M
Sign/trade for a closer/potential closer ---- Cost 8 M
Goodbye to
Victorino - 13M
Napoli - 16M
Masterson - 9.5M
Breslow - 2M
De Aza (free agent, so chances are he is gone) - RS portion of his 5M salary was ~1M
Maybe Goodbye to:
Nava - 1.85 M
So that is ~43M coming off the books
20 + 25 + 8 --> 53 going on the books, which means I would guess the RS are going to have to settle for a Corner OFer who costs ~12M and a reliever who is ~6M. Or perhaps more likely trade prospects to acquire talent at those positions at <<free agent cost. Failing a trade for a salary savings and deciding not to blow through LT # would mean that it will be the RS are probably faced with an either situation--- either a corner OF middle of the lineup player or a #1 starter, but not both. My strong preference would be for a #1 starter, easier said then done since almost every team would love a true #1 starter.
Bottom line ---- the RS have a way to right the ship by combining at least 1 upper end FA signing and a trade of prospects (hopefully outside BP's top 30 current or former prospects), without breaking the bank.
IMO:
HRam - the LF experiment has failed. Hard to believe it is that hard for a former SS to be competent in LF, but after >half the season, I think the jury is in. He is a middle of the lineup bat, get him a 1B glove and try him there. If it works -- great, if not maybe Panda can play 1B and HRam can play 3B. If that fails he becomes the DH vs. Lefties and plays LF against righties.
Outfielders:
Castillo and Bradley - it is time to play them both every day in the majors and let's see what the RS have.
If both prove competent, then the OF is solved.
If 1 makes the grade, the RS have a need to sign a corner OFer and likely have a competent 5th OFer with Holt as the 4th OFer. In limbo - Craig --> probably stays in the minors to save the LT hit unless he is packaged out with a subsidy.
Panda - like the contract or not (I can't imagine too many are liking the contract), he is not going anywhere and has hit as could be reasonably expected. Hopefully the fielding gets better.
SS, CF, C --- outstanding young, inexpensive talent who have the potential to be all stars.
Catcher --- RS actually have 3 inexpensive to reasonably priced catchers and they can afford to use one as trade bait (I know we all hope they keep Vazquez and Swihart)
Pedey --- should still have outstanding years left and is at a very team friendly deal
DH -- Papi and hope he has a year left in the tank. The vesting option for 2017 is not something that I am thrilled about, but if he manages to be a platoon part of the DH, then it is not the worst option.
Holt - super utility player getting in to 80+% of games , or if Castillo/Bradley both fail perhaps a starting corner OFer.
So for position players, IMO opinion the most realistic option is signing a stud corner OFer. I don't view a Punto reset via the trading of HRam, Panda, Craig (& Porcello) or Castillo as possible.
Starters:
Buccholz, Porcello, Miley, ERod --- make up a very good #2-5. With Kelly, Johnson, Owens as the #6 and to fill a spot in case of injury.
But I do think it is clear that after a very poor yr and a half, the RS need to sign/trade for #1 reliable starter. That is likely 25M /yr.
Again the threads suggesting trading Buccholz (then how is he replaced at his reasonable contract level), Porcello (no one wants that contract now), Miley (good performance for his cost) just opens another hole or would require in Porcello's case subsidizing the contract.
But signing an "ace" or at least inning eaters #1, makes the rotation a strength of the team
BP:
Koji - he is getting long in the tooth. Personally I think counting on him to be a closer in 2016 is asking a lot of a 40 yr old.
Tazawa - continues to be a good 8th inning option, with a ceiling of a closer.
Oganda, Layne - have been adequate and are under team control with reasonable contracts
Workman, Barnes, Wright - all under team control, but frankly between Workman's injury and Barnes/Wright performance I don't think they should be counted on for more than the last spot or 2 in the BP.
So to me the fix would be the addition of a closer or at least a pitcher who potentially is a closer.
So
Sign/trade for a ~3 WAR corner OFer ---- Cost ~20M
Sign/trade for a #1 starter ------ Cost 25 M
Sign/trade for a closer/potential closer ---- Cost 8 M
Goodbye to
Victorino - 13M
Napoli - 16M
Masterson - 9.5M
Breslow - 2M
De Aza (free agent, so chances are he is gone) - RS portion of his 5M salary was ~1M
Maybe Goodbye to:
Nava - 1.85 M
So that is ~43M coming off the books
20 + 25 + 8 --> 53 going on the books, which means I would guess the RS are going to have to settle for a Corner OFer who costs ~12M and a reliever who is ~6M. Or perhaps more likely trade prospects to acquire talent at those positions at <<free agent cost. Failing a trade for a salary savings and deciding not to blow through LT # would mean that it will be the RS are probably faced with an either situation--- either a corner OF middle of the lineup player or a #1 starter, but not both. My strong preference would be for a #1 starter, easier said then done since almost every team would love a true #1 starter.
Bottom line ---- the RS have a way to right the ship by combining at least 1 upper end FA signing and a trade of prospects (hopefully outside BP's top 30 current or former prospects), without breaking the bank.