Fav. Team - Preferred Offseason Moves

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

I'd love to see Atlanta make a move like that, they don't need all those arms. Ian Anderson + Joey Wentz for C. Yelich? Why not?

[z - Tim]

i do like that dahl idea, but imo welker would prob make more sense for both teams than mcmahon. mia fills a tougher position longterm at 3B and mcmahon makes a good piece for rocks to keep this year as injury cover. col could prob mix in a 3d piece with another of.

[Brewers GM (Brad)]

Rox offense was propped up by monster years from Blackmon and Arenado. The rest of the lineup is extremely mediocre. Big question marks with most of the OFers mentioned, Mcmahon is an unknown at 1B, and LaMehieu and Story are likely barely above league average but are remembered for remarkable past seasons (emphasis on past).
Fish will want Rodgers for either Realmuto or Yelich. Rox should probably think 2nd tier free agent upgrades on the offensive side and see what they have with Dahl, Tapia, McMahon, and Rodgers.

[z - Tim]

while atl may be patient and wait to make a move, the endgame is clear with all their arm depth. they will eventually make a trade. i like being proactive, if you know it will happen nextvyr anyway, why not now and give yourself a shot at 2018. i dont hate waiting, but its hard to look at their milb depth chart and not see that they will eventually make a deal. better to be picky and choose a good longterm asset to deal for than making a knee jerk deal later. my money is on them waiting, but me personally, i wouldnt.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Jan 3, 2018 20:42:14 GMT -5 z - Tim said:

while atl may be patient and wait to make a move, the endgame is clear with all their arm depth. they will eventually make a trade. i like being proactive, if you know it will happen nextvyr anyway, why not now and give yourself a shot at 2018. i dont hate waiting, but its hard to look at their milb depth chart and not see that they will eventually make a deal. better to be picky and choose a good longterm asset to deal for than making a knee jerk deal later. my money is on them waiting, but me personally, i wouldnt.

100 percent agree. Braves are trading some of those arms, make no mistake and Yelich is the perfect player to target. Position of need, good contract and just entering his prime. If Atlanta hasnt at least asked the price, shame on them.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

As per mlbtraderumors:

Recent chatter of a possible trade that would send right-hander Gerrit Cole from the Pirates to the Astros intensified early today, with multiple reports indicating the sides were gaining momentum. And Jon Morosi of MLB Network (via Twitter) reported that a deal was in place between the organizations that would send Cole to Houston.

Ensuing reports, though, cast doubt and then fully refuted that agreement had been reached. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said that there was “nothing imminent” in any of the team’s trade talks, per Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). And Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported (Twitter links) first that the deal had not yet fully been completed and ultimately that the apparent news of an accord was simply a “false rumor.”

All told, it seems there’s no reason at this time to believe a deal is particularly close to coming to fruition, beyond the fact that the sides have evidently engaged in serious discussion. Passan says a trade “is not happening” right now, while noting “talks could pick back up quickly.” And Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter) suggests a trade “isn’t necessarily close.” Indeed, he also hears of another suitor being involved beyond the Yankees (the organization that once seemed likely to land Cole before those talks fizzled). With the necessary proviso that the situation can always change, then, it appears we’re mostly back to the status quo ante on Cole’s trade status.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

The trade will be done this week. Ha. Just not yet.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

Luhnow Refutes Report That Astros Have Deal For Gerrit Cole. heh heh

[z - El Guapo - retired]

2017 MLB Draft Profile: Heliot Ramos, OF, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Ultra-toolsy outfielder Heliot Ramos intrigues scouts with his all-around potential

Continuing with our series of player profiles for the 2017 MLB Draft, we turn our attention to Puerto Rican outfielder Heliot Ramos, one of the best pure athletes available.

THE BASICS

The top player on the island of Puerto Rico this year is Heliot Ramos, who attends high school in the city of Guaynabo. Listed at either 6-1 or 6-2, 185 or 190 pounds depending on the source, the right-handed Ramos was born September 7th, 1999. At age 17 he’ll be one of the youngest players available on draft day. He’ll also be one of the toolsiest.

He is committed to Florida International University but should be signable if drafted in the early rounds.

STRENGTHS

Name a physical tool and Ramos has it: 60-65 speed, 50 or 60 arm depending on the source, 60 raw power. Reports on his long-term defensive home are mixed, his advocates projecting him as an above-average center fielder in all respects, while doubters who don’t think his arm is better than average project that he’ll fit best in left. His range and outfield instincts will play anywhere.

A chiseled athlete, Ramos is strong enough to hit the ball out of any park when he makes contact. When his swing is right he shows excellent bat speed and looks like he will hit for both power and average.

WEAKNESSES

The swing isn’t always right: like many young hitters, Ramos can be inconsistent and his bat speed has been known to dip when his swing is out of whack. His approach is aggressive and it remains to be seen if he can control the strike zone sufficiently at higher levels.

Pro coaching should be able to correct all of this, in theory, but baseball history is littered with promising raw tools outfielders who never develop the necessary skills to make the tools work on the field.

OVERALL PROJECTION

If Ramos puts everything together, he could be a 20/20 player who also hits for average and has a strong glove in center field. That’s a reasonably big “if”, and any team drafting him should be prepared for a five/six year development project, although at the end of that the payoff could be excellent.

Risks aside, his upside is very enticing. He could be drafted in the second half of the first round or any time after.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

The Rays, Yankees and D-backs have agreed to a significant three-team trade that will send outfielder Steven Souza from Tampa Bay to Arizona, infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to New York and prospects to Tampa Bay. The Rays will receive left-hander Anthony Banda and two players to be named later from the D-backs as well as minor league second baseman Nick Solak from the Yankees. Additionally, the Yankees will send right-hander Taylor Widener to the Diamondbacks.

The most likely scenario for the Yankees and newly acquired Brandon Drury is that Drury opens the season as the team’s starting third baseman, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. That’d allow the Yankees to go with either Ronald Torreyes or veteran Danny Espinosa at second base and avoid rushing prospects Miguel Andujar or Gleyber Torres early in the season. Interestingly, despite the fact that Torres missed half the 2017 season with Tommy John surgery (in his non-throwing arm), the Yankees view Torres as closer to the Majors, per Sherman. Andujar is nearly two years older than Torres and has twice the Triple-A experience, though neither has even appeared in 60 games at the top minor league level yet.

[z - Tim]

its really not hard to imagine gleyber as closer, yanks were gonna promote him when he got hurt before so they already view him as ready, TJ is different for non-pitchers as well, dont need as much time.

[z - El Guapo - retired]

Plus, Torres' TJ sugery was on his non-throwing elbow.

Re-reading the trade, we see it has Nick Solak headed to Tampa Bay, with Arizona flipping him to the Rays:

(Tampa Bay received MLB-ready left-hander Anthony Banda, second base prospect Nick Solak and a pair of players to be named later who, according to ESPN’s Keith Law, are “more than just throw-ins,” though their identities are not yet known.)

[Blue Jays GM (Beau)]

I have huge respect for the evolution of Brian Cashman. Drury is a great fit; cheap, decent production, play both positions of their young IF studs, and didn't give up so much value that you'd want to avoid turning Drury into utility in near future. On Andujar's readiness, I assume that means the glove because that bat looks pretty ready.