2022-2023 Offseason Thread

[fish16]

have the marlins ever signed any kind of player from korea or japan?

[lou]

Like I said last week, I think the gurriel thing comes back to our ability to hit lefties. As we went over, Sanchez obviously can’t hit lefties and dlc is somehow better against righties, so I’d like to see that last bench bat go to gurriel. Moves Cooper to dh, soler to lf against lefties, and berti at ss. Leaves dlc, Sanchez, wendle, and stallings off the bench. I like the idea, and gurriel can’t cost too much.

As we went over, that is dumb because you are recreating the same "triple DH" scenario as last year, and more so it's worse because Gurriel is 39 and off a truly terrible year. He's probably done and does nothing to help the Marlins. You'd try out Groshans/Amaya/Edwards/Burdick/Jerar/even LeBlanc over him IMO and shift over Arraez as needed.

And then, what happens when Wendle gets hurt? They'd be fine at catcher with the other one carrying the load and there is some offensive upside with Allen. Fine at 1B with an Arraez shift and Berti taking over 2B (Allen may also be getting some 1B time now that I think about it). Fine at 3B with again Berti and Groshans carrying that load. Fine in the OF as you'd just cycle - again - Arraez out there (or Berti), play Berti more, and see if the other of DLC/Sanchez is worthy, with Burdick and Jerar in AAA and they aren't useless. Or just shift in Groshans somewhere. Or even LeBlanc in any scenario above here as I think I'd trust him more than Gurriel at 39. But SS? Berti has been solid for his career (321 innings) at SS, but this doesn't seem like a good idea for him (at 33) and a SSS. He seems like a fine 3rd option and Amaya as a 4th this year. Segura hasn't played short for 3+ years so are we counting on him more than a pinch??? Groshans is a projected 3B and Edwards 2B/3B so they aren't likely solutions.. Amaya can't possibly be considered a starter so quickly hence, he's a 4th option on a good team for 2023 and take the defense at that point. Hinojosa? Nasim? Frankly, it's placing an enormous bet on Wendle and Amaya being a good starter. Remember, no margin of error with this time at all and they need luck on top of that.

It's a SS who can hit lefties, which allows them to do exactly what you want them to do with Arraez - play him more at 1B as the guy who helps Cooper. Ironically Rojas is perfect, but I get why they moved him. They need to find someone similar. Rosario hits lefties hard (.833 OPS since 2019) and overall has huge upside with a swing path change if possible, and Andrus hit lefties hard last year (.827 OPS) with solid career rates (.725 OPS). He's a solid platoon starter with his great defense. Meanwhile Wendle has a .630 carrer OPS vs lefties and was worse last year (.604). So yea, let's not sign a 39 year old DH type that may only hit lefties a little and forces Soler to LF.

[lou]

Korean standout Lee Jung-Hoo is apparently going to be posted after the KBO season.

Hit .342/.407/.495 in 6 seasons/3146 ABs. 53 more BB than K in his career.

There is course going to be some bit of drop-off going from the KBO to MLB, but his approach makes most think he will make the jump well.

Will be just 25.

He will break records of Korean players most likely but its the type of move the Marlins need to make.

Fangraphs actually has an international prospect ranking and they think he's a FV50 right now (at RF). So he'd be a top 50-100 prospect somewhere - https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/...rt=-1,1&type=0

Like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Lee has important baseball lineage and seemed pre-ordained for stardom in Korea. His father, Jong-beom Lee, was a five-tool superstar pro ballplayer who stole as many as 84 bases in a single 124-game KBO season, and had several 20-plus homer years as well (go look at his 1997 line on Baseball Reference). Jung-hoo is more precocious than the elder Lee and is the first player in KBO history to go straight from high school to the top level of play. Since arriving in the league at age 19, Lee has hit for elite rates of contact and more recently has hit for power. His early-career pop may have been masked by injury/recovery from shoulder surgery, but he clubbed 23 homers and about 60 extra-base hits in his 2022 MVP campaign. Lee has had more walks than strikeouts the last three years, culminating in a 2022 season in which he K'd at just a 5% clip, easily a career best and comfortably the best in all of the KBO (no other hitter with at least 100 PAs struck out less than 8% of the time). Lee wields one of the sweetest looking swings on the planet and is especially good at flattening his bat path to crush fastballs at the top of the zone. There are still a couple yellow flags here to go along with all the good stuff. Lee's groundball rate (nearly 60%) and performance against big velocity (per Synergy, he faced 109 pitches of 93 mph or greater and slashed .226/.273/.419 against them) indicate risk with MLB transition, even if it's just risk that he doesn't actualize power in games. It's why there's no FV change here even after his massive 2022, a hedge against this risk even though Lee is a very exciting player. Because he started his KBO career so young, Lee will be able to become an MLB free agent after his age 24 season in 2023 and he might be one of next offseason's most sought-after players.

[fish16]

As we went over, that is dumb because you are recreating the same "triple DH" scenario as last year, and more so it's worse because Gurriel is 39 and off a truly terrible year. He's probably done and does nothing to help the Marlins. You'd try out Groshans/Amaya/Edwards/Burdick/Jerar/even LeBlanc over him IMO and shift over Arraez as needed.

And then, what happens when Wendle gets hurt? They'd be fine at catcher with the other one carrying the load and there is some offensive upside with Allen. Fine at 1B with an Arraez shift and Berti taking over 2B (Allen may also be getting some 1B time now that I think about it). Fine at 3B with again Berti and Groshans carrying that load. Fine in the OF as you'd just cycle - again - Arraez out there (or Berti), play Berti more, and see if the other of DLC/Sanchez is worthy, with Burdick and Jerar in AAA and they aren't useless. Or just shift in Groshans somewhere. Or even LeBlanc in any scenario above here as I think I'd trust him more than Gurriel at 39. But SS? Berti has been solid for his career (321 innings) at SS, but this doesn't seem like a good idea for him (at 33) and a SSS. He seems like a fine 3rd option and Amaya as a 4th this year. Segura hasn't played short for 3+ years so are we counting on him more than a pinch??? Groshans is a projected 3B and Edwards 2B/3B so they aren't likely solutions.. Amaya can't possibly be considered a starter so quickly hence, he's a 4th option on a good team for 2023 and take the defense at that point. Hinojosa? Nasim? Frankly, it's placing an enormous bet on Wendle and Amaya being a good starter. Remember, no margin of error with this time at all and they need luck on top of that.

It's a SS who can hit lefties, which allows them to do exactly what you want them to do with Arraez - play him more at 1B as the guy who helps Cooper. Ironically Rojas is perfect, but I get why they moved him. They need to find someone similar. Rosario hits lefties hard (.833 OPS since 2019) and overall has huge upside with a swing path change if possible, and Andrus hit lefties hard last year (.827 OPS) with solid career rates (.725 OPS). He's a solid platoon starter with his great defense. Meanwhile Wendle has a .630 carrer OPS vs lefties and was worse last year (.604). So yea, let's not sign a 39 year old DH type that may only hit lefties a little and forces Soler to LF.

the issue wasnt 3 guys who could dh, the issue was that 2 of the 3 didnt hit last year and the 3rd is garrett cooper who is never healthy. If all 3 hit, it wouldnt have been an issue. The issue you're worrying about is a backup SS, or really 3rd string SS, while im concerned with how the team performs against lefties. Your concern is valid, i just think the issue of fielding a team that can hit lefties is the more important issue. They were historically bad against lefties last year, and while Arraez and Segura should help, plus expected bouncebacks from Garcia and Soler, but if you can add a guy like Guerriel for cheap and hope for a bounce back, i think thats the best move. Even in his terrible year last year, he had a .740 OPS against lefties. For his career it's .807.

Guerriel was absolutely terrible last year, you're right, but he was also tremendous in the playoffs and won the batting title the year after his last terrible year. For the price he would cost, all im saying is that id rather carry him on the roster than Groshans or Amaya, who i like but isnt ready this year. It's a professional contact hitter off the bench and spot starter against lefties. The risk is he is done, which is entirely possible. the possible reward is another bounceback year for cheap. If he sucks, cut bait and bring up one of those kids in may or june.

If wendle gets hurt, you put berti in there for the rest of the game and then call groshans or amaya up the next day. It's not the end of the world to have to find a SS on the roster for a game in case of injury. Segura can play SS, so can Berti, they have options in game if an injury pops up and you can then call up Groshans or Amaya the next day. They should be getting every day AB's, not be the last guy on the bench barely playing.

Guerriel at DH and Soler in LF against lefties some days instead of DLC or Sanchez is all it's about. I think you're overthinking it. They have depth at every position really except for CF behind Jazz. 1b you have Arraez, 2b you have Jazz and Segura, SS you have Berti and Segura, 3b you have Arraez and Segura, Corner outfield we have multiple options. Build your team with the most talent possible, and then adjust when inevitably there is bad performance or injuries. They are a flight away, it's not like you choose guerriel and are completely fucked the remainder of the year if Wendle gets hurt.

Against lefties it's

C- Fortes
1b- Cooper
2b- Arraez
SS- Berti
3b- Wendle
LF- Soler
CF- Jazz
Rf- Garcia
DH- Guerriel

That's all it is. It's not a ton of AB's, and you have the possible huge reward of Guerriel bouncing back. He was terrible last year in the regular season, but he was also phenomenal in the playoffs. IT's a super small sample, but in 50 ab's he hit .347, .850 OPS, and just 1 strikeout. Take the chance on a huge reward. Realistically, what is the best case scenario for Amaya and Groshans stat line this year? Groshans wasnt super impressive in his brief debut last year and amaya had a .750 OPS in his first taste of AAA in a hitters paradise. He wasn't exactly beating the doors down to get called up. Let him develop as an everyday player in AAA, dont have him sit on the bench in the bigs.

[rmc523]

the issue wasnt 3 guys who could dh, the issue was that 2 of the 3 didnt hit last year and the 3rd is garrett cooper who is never healthy. If all 3 hit, it wouldnt have been an issue. The issue you're worrying about is a backup SS, or really 3rd string SS, while im concerned with how the team performs against lefties. Your concern is valid, i just think the issue of fielding a team that can hit lefties is the more important issue. They were historically bad against lefties last year, and while Arraez and Segura should help, plus expected bouncebacks from Garcia and Soler, but if you can add a guy like Guerriel for cheap and hope for a bounce back, i think thats the best move. Even in his terrible year last year, he had a .740 OPS against lefties. For his career it's .807.

Guerriel was absolutely terrible last year, you're right, but he was also tremendous in the playoffs and won the batting title the year after his last terrible year. For the price he would cost, all im saying is that id rather carry him on the roster than Groshans or Amaya, who i like but isnt ready this year. It's a professional contact hitter off the bench and spot starter against lefties. The risk is he is done, which is entirely possible. the possible reward is another bounceback year for cheap. If he sucks, cut bait and bring up one of those kids in may or june.

If wendle gets hurt, you put berti in there for the rest of the game and then call groshans or amaya up the next day. It's not the end of the world to have to find a SS on the roster for a game in case of injury. Segura can play SS, so can Berti, they have options in game if an injury pops up and you can then call up Groshans or Amaya the next day. They should be getting every day AB's, not be the last guy on the bench barely playing.

Guerriel at DH and Soler in LF against lefties some days instead of DLC or Sanchez is all it's about. I think you're overthinking it. They have depth at every position really except for CF behind Jazz. 1b you have Arraez, 2b you have Jazz and Segura, SS you have Berti and Segura, 3b you have Arraez and Segura, Corner outfield we have multiple options. Build your team with the most talent possible, and then adjust when inevitably there is bad performance or injuries. They are a flight away, it's not like you choose guerriel and are completely fucked the remainder of the year if Wendle gets hurt.

Against lefties it's

C- Fortes
1b- Cooper
2b- Arraez
SS- Berti
3b- Wendle
LF- Soler
CF- Jazz
Rf- Garcia
DH- Guerriel

That's all it is. It's not a ton of AB's, and you have the possible huge reward of Guerriel bouncing back. He was terrible last year in the regular season, but he was also phenomenal in the playoffs. IT's a super small sample, but in 50 ab's he hit .347, .850 OPS, and just 1 strikeout. Take the chance on a huge reward. Realistically, what is the best case scenario for Amaya and Groshans stat line this year? Groshans wasnt super impressive in his brief debut last year and amaya had a .750 OPS in his first taste of AAA in a hitters paradise. He wasn't exactly beating the doors down to get called up. Let him develop as an everyday player in AAA, dont have him sit on the bench in the bigs.

If you can get him for a low enough price, take a flier on him. And like you said, if he's a dumpster fire, cut him.

[fish16]

Berti and Wendle is fine as a platoon. Wendle is a career .740 OPS against righties, Berti is .690 against lefties and steals bases. If you can get an aggregate of .720-.730 OPS out of them from the SS position, plus good defense and speed, that's more than enough to justify taking a chance on Guerriel as opposed to letting a prospect sit on the end of the bench and not continue to develop. Wendle has graded out really well at SS for his career. Put both Amaya and Groshans in AAA at SS and 3b, let them get every day playing time, and if they go off you can bring them up in June if someone gets hurt or gurriel is truly done. Both of them were not all that spectacular in AAA last year.

[fish16]

If you can get him for a low enough price, take a flier on him. And like you said, if he's a dumpster fire, cut him.

exactly, it's not like you're signing him for more than a year and likely more than a couple million. It's a buy low option that could pay off. His ceiling this year is a lot higher than Amaya or Groshans in their first real taste of MLB pitching. They will absolutely struggle. Even Gurriel's terrible year last year at .647 OPS is probably higher than what either of them would put up this year in limited action in their first mlb stint.

[lou]

the issue wasnt 3 guys who could dh, the issue was that 2 of the 3 didnt hit last year and the 3rd is garrett cooper who is never healthy. If all 3 hit, it wouldnt have been an issue. The issue you're worrying about is a backup SS, or really 3rd string SS, while im concerned with how the team performs against lefties. Your concern is valid, i just think the issue of fielding a team that can hit lefties is the more important issue. They were historically bad against lefties last year, and while Arraez and Segura should help, plus expected bouncebacks from Garcia and Soler, but if you can add a guy like Guerriel for cheap and hope for a bounce back, i think thats the best move. Even in his terrible year last year, he had a .740 OPS against lefties. For his career it's .807.

Guerriel was absolutely terrible last year, you're right, but he was also tremendous in the playoffs and won the batting title the year after his last terrible year. For the price he would cost, all im saying is that id rather carry him on the roster than Groshans or Amaya, who i like but isnt ready this year. It's a professional contact hitter off the bench and spot starter against lefties. The risk is he is done, which is entirely possible. the possible reward is another bounceback year for cheap. If he sucks, cut bait and bring up one of those kids in may or june.

If wendle gets hurt, you put berti in there for the rest of the game and then call groshans or amaya up the next day. It's not the end of the world to have to find a SS on the roster for a game in case of injury. Segura can play SS, so can Berti, they have options in game if an injury pops up and you can then call up Groshans or Amaya the next day. They should be getting every day AB's, not be the last guy on the bench barely playing.

Guerriel at DH and Soler in LF against lefties some days instead of DLC or Sanchez is all it's about. I think you're overthinking it. They have depth at every position really except for CF behind Jazz. 1b you have Arraez, 2b you have Jazz and Segura, SS you have Berti and Segura, 3b you have Arraez and Segura, Corner outfield we have multiple options. Build your team with the most talent possible, and then adjust when inevitably there is bad performance or injuries. They are a flight away, it's not like you choose guerriel and are completely fucked the remainder of the year if Wendle gets hurt.

Against lefties it's

C- Fortes
1b- Cooper
2b- Arraez
SS- Berti
3b- Wendle
LF- Soler
CF- Jazz
Rf- Garcia
DH- Guerriel

That's all it is. It's not a ton of AB's, and you have the possible huge reward of Guerriel bouncing back. He was terrible last year in the regular season, but he was also phenomenal in the playoffs. IT's a super small sample, but in 50 ab's he hit .347, .850 OPS, and just 1 strikeout. Take the chance on a huge reward. Realistically, what is the best case scenario for Amaya and Groshans stat line this year? Groshans wasnt super impressive in his brief debut last year and amaya had a .750 OPS in his first taste of AAA in a hitters paradise. He wasn't exactly beating the doors down to get called up. Let him develop as an everyday player in AAA, dont have him sit on the bench in the bigs.

Engaging in mental gymnastics to fit a 39 year old DH only player who was terrible the year before is what Merriam Webster would define as overthinking it. Sheesh. I'm on the NO boat Segura and Berti could operate as an everyday SS, and this is ignoring Wendle is no sure thing even if there is a defensive floor. These guys need a SS. It's just that easy. The depth chart looks very good with one, with Elvis being the floor and Rosario/Peraza being the ceiling. That's how you build the team with the most talent possible. And it's puzzling to not include Segura against lefties.

[fish16]

Engaging in mental gymnastics to fit a 39 year old DH only player who was terrible the year before is what Merriam Webster would define as overthinking it. Sheesh. I'm on the NO boat Segura and Berti could operate as an everyday SS, and this is ignoring Wendle is no sure thing even if there is a defensive floor. These guys need a SS. It's just that easy. The depth chart looks very good with one, with Elvis being the floor and Rosario/Peraza being the ceiling. That's how you build the team with the most talent possible. And it's puzzling to not include Segura against lefties.

Meant to put Segura there against lefties, not wendle.

Again, no one is saying Segura or Berti are ever going to be every day SS's. Not sure what you're not getting. IF wendle gets hurt, you call up Amaya or Groshans. You're not stuck with a roster from opening day on. They are literally a flight away if there is an injury. Im saying they have the depth to get by for the remainder of a game if there is an injury, and then you call them up. Neither of them will hit big league pitching effectively this year, and you're not allowing them to get consistent ab's as the last bat on the major league bench. That doesnt help anything, either this year or for their future.

Berti and Wendle is fine as the platoon. It's good defensively, and it's enough to be passable offensively. I'm not sure what you expect out of Groshans or amaya this year, but it's not going to be very productive at the major league level.

[fish16]

Superbowl is over. first spring game starts 2 weeks from today. Opening day is in a month and 17 days. WBC players reported to spring training today and a lot of other marlins did as well. It's baseball szn

[lou]

Meant to put Segura there against lefties, not wendle.

Again, no one is saying Segura or Berti are ever going to be every day SS's. Not sure what you're not getting. IF wendle gets hurt, you call up Amaya or Groshans. You're not stuck with a roster from opening day on. They are literally a flight away if there is an injury. Im saying they have the depth to get by for the remainder of a game if there is an injury, and then you call them up. Neither of them will hit big league pitching effectively this year, and you're not allowing them to get consistent ab's as the last bat on the major league bench. That doesnt help anything, either this year or for their future.

Berti and Wendle is fine as the platoon. It's good defensively, and it's enough to be passable offensively. I'm not sure what you expect out of Groshans or amaya this year, but it's not going to be very productive at the major league level.

The bold is exactly the point why they need another SS (or CF and shift Jazz back to SS, but that seems like a recipe of messing with his head. I'd pick a spot and leave him permanently unless it's nominal time at 2B). It's exactly the point. If Wendle goes down (or is playing a lefty), they have major problems absent Berti and Segura being a competent SS. Where as stated, Segura hasn't played there in 3 years and Berti has had limited time but maybe he can actually do it and Rojas just blocked him because he's a defensive wizard. I find these things difficult as Plan B on day 1 when there is a clear open roster spot and they can just get a SS who at minimum hits lefties and they can shift their personnel around all over. To note, you bashed Berti all offseason suggesting his defensive value and baserunning is whatever and the guy can't hit. I'm glad we are at least moving the needle to these guys with high 600 OPS being competent starters (or platoon roles vs pitcher arms) with their defensive value.

They need Andrus, Rosario, Peraza, Gleyber (if one thinks he can handle SS), etc. They need more than that, but this is a real upgrade opportunity for this spot on the roster at least to push Wendle as the second option.

Internally, the best player is probably Garret Hampson for the last bench spot - career .754 OPS vs LHP, career .399 PA (.841 OPS in 71 PA in 2022) and he grades below average defensively at SS, but he was pretty OK in 2022 in a 200 inning SS out there. Maybe they see something there and that's the quiet move we all aren't thinking about that pays off a little as the Wendle platoon partner as they let Amaya get past the super 2 deadline (which they will do whether we all disagree or not). Frankly, Hampson is making the team absent a disastrous spring right now IMO and will play against lefties with the other catcher, Wendle, Sanchez, and one of DLC/Jazz/Random off day on the bench. The fact I don't have to do mental gymnastics to get Hampson on the roster is a sign they need to do something here.

[fish16]

The bold is exactly the point why they need another SS (or CF and shift Jazz back to SS, but that seems like a recipe of messing with his head. I'd pick a spot and leave him permanently unless it's nominal time at 2B). It's exactly the point. If Wendle goes down (or is playing a lefty), they have major problems absent Berti and Segura being a competent SS. Where as stated, Segura hasn't played there in 3 years and Berti has had limited time but maybe he can actually do it and Rojas just blocked him because he's a defensive wizard. I find these things difficult as Plan B on day 1 when there is a clear open roster spot and they can just get a SS who at minimum hits lefties and they can shift their personnel around all over. To note, you bashed Berti all offseason suggesting his defensive value and baserunning is whatever and the guy can't hit. I'm glad we are at least moving the needle to these guys with high 600 OPS being competent starters (or platoon roles vs pitcher arms) with their defensive value.

They need Andrus, Rosario, Peraza, Gleyber (if one thinks he can handle SS), etc. They need more than that, but this is a real upgrade opportunity for this spot on the roster at least to push Wendle as the second option.

Internally, the best player is probably Garret Hampson for the last bench spot - career .754 OPS vs LHP, career .399 PA (.841 OPS in 71 PA in 2022) and he grades below average defensively at SS, but he was pretty OK in 2022 in a 200 inning SS out there. Maybe they see something there and that's the quiet move we all aren't thinking about that pays off a little as the Wendle platoon partner as they let Amaya get past the super 2 deadline (which they will do whether we all disagree or not). Frankly, Hampson is making the team absent a disastrous spring right now IMO and will play against lefties with the other catcher, Wendle, Sanchez, and one of DLC/Jazz/Random off day on the bench. The fact I don't have to do mental gymnastics to get Hampson on the roster is a sign they need to do something here.

again, Pezara, Rosario, and Gleyber are not available. You've been bringing up rosario all offseason and theres been 0 indication he's available. Of course he would be an upgrade, he's not available though.

As far as andrus, you're clamoring for him when the 2 years before last years decent year were significantly worse than Gurriel last year. And he's not a particularly good hitter. he had a good month for the white sox. He was a mediocre hitter for the A's last year before being released and he was terrible for 2 consecutive years prior. nor is he some sort of lefty masher. There is a reason the a's flat out released him in august. he's never been a particularly good hitter, he's 34 and his career OPS+ is 87. He was really solid against lefties last year, but he is a .725 career OPS against lefties. Berti is .680 plus elite speed and solid defense, and his BABIP against lefties for his career has been an absurdly low .266. It's a small sample size that you are buying into and ignoring the 2 previous horrendous years for andrus. He is absolutely tremendous defensively and that's always been his strength, but to act like he is this huge plus against lefties is just ridiculous. He's slightly better against lefties for his career than Berti. Andrus last year was very solid offensively. The 4 years prior, however, his WRC+ by year were 76, 76, 57!!, and 74. Every single projection system that fangraphs has that you love to use has him as a well below average hitter next year.

Amaya and Groshans as the 3rd SS option is fine. If they are needed for a few weeks, it's fine. they shouldnt be up all year if they arent getting everyday ab's. Berti as the platoon partner for Wendle is fine. The difference between Gurriel and Groshans/Amaya is greater than the difference between Andrus and Berti. And if gurriel is truly done, you cut bait and move on. If he rebounds though, that's a significant upgrade against lefties with elite contact skills.

As far as hampson is concerned, he's obviously nothing great, but if he's the guy they choose as the last roster spot guy over Amaya and Groshans, i'm fine with it. He was terrible last year, but i'd expect his numbers to be better than Amaya or Groshans getting part time ab's, and i'd prefer to prioritize their development rather than using them as the 4th guy on the bench given what they would produce at the major league level.

[fish16]

stottlemeyer said the plan is to keep sixto as a starter to build innings. From the comments in the herald's article though he wont be ready for opening day. He said he's farther along than he was last year. He ended his quote saying "We all think he's going to pitch this year." Which to me indicates he's not close to being game ready.

He also said that Eury and Fulton will get spring looks with the other guys being at the WBC. Probably each start 2 games or at least get some time in a few games before they are sent to minor league camp.

Also said they are exploring a 6 man rotation to make room for garrett.

[fish16]

jesus, Nic Enright just announced he has lymphoma and has already undergone his first round of treatments. Hope he gets better.

[lou]

again, Pezara, Rosario, and Gleyber are not available. You've been bringing up rosario all offseason and theres been 0 indication he's available. Of course he would be an upgrade, he's not available though.

As far as andrus, you're clamoring for him when the 2 years before last years decent year were significantly worse than Gurriel last year. And he's not a particularly good hitter. he had a good month for the white sox. He was a mediocre hitter for the A's last year before being released and he was terrible for 2 consecutive years prior. nor is he some sort of lefty masher. There is a reason the a's flat out released him in august. he's never been a particularly good hitter, he's 34 and his career OPS+ is 87. He was really solid against lefties last year, but he is a .725 career OPS against lefties. Berti is .680 plus elite speed and solid defense, and his BABIP against lefties for his career has been an absurdly low .266. It's a small sample size that you are buying into and ignoring the 2 previous horrendous years for andrus. He is absolutely tremendous defensively and that's always been his strength, but to act like he is this huge plus against lefties is just ridiculous. He's slightly better against lefties for his career than Berti. Andrus last year was very solid offensively. The 4 years prior, however, his WRC+ by year were 76, 76, 57!!, and 74. Every single projection system that fangraphs has that you love to use has him as a well below average hitter next year.

Amaya and Groshans as the 3rd SS option is fine. If they are needed for a few weeks, it's fine. they shouldnt be up all year if they arent getting everyday ab's. Berti as the platoon partner for Wendle is fine. The difference between Gurriel and Groshans/Amaya is greater than the difference between Andrus and Berti. And if gurriel is truly done, you cut bait and move on. If he rebounds though, that's a significant upgrade against lefties with elite contact skills.

As far as hampson is concerned, he's obviously nothing great, but if he's the guy they choose as the last roster spot guy over Amaya and Groshans, i'm fine with it. He was terrible last year, but i'd expect his numbers to be better than Amaya or Groshans getting part time ab's, and i'd prefer to prioritize their development rather than using them as the 4th guy on the bench given what they would produce at the major league level.

Gleyber is absolutely available, they are trying to clear his payroll for luxury tax and open up the path for Volpe. The only issue is, can he play SS? I'm not sure if he can, but they might think he can and would make a ton of sense if they can swing a trade for him. I did read he doesn't have the arm for 3B. He hammers lefties and is a sure thing 130 or more starter if he is good enough at SS.

They need a SS unless Berti and Segura are capable of playing call it 600+ innings in the field and are good enough. I don't see it, but maybe I am wrong. That's double their innings there last 3 seasons. Comparing Berti to Andrus isn't comparing guys at the same position. Andrus is a rock solid defensive SS with maybe some hitting upside, see 2022. Berti is a do everything guy who has been deployed mainly at 2B/3B. He's barely played SS and he's now 33. Just saying, oh yea he can play the hardest spot in the field in a new non-shift environment is a big HUH to me. But maybe I am wrong. I'd be HAPPY to be wrong. It's just a bold move to say Wendle/Berti is your SS platoon when you know, you just didn't sign 4 of them in FA like the POS Sherman is. I am glad we like high 600 OPS up the middle defenders now though.

And then, Gurriel still doesn't make sense as then you're opting to put Soler in the OF when you could just sign Profar who has a lot more upside offensively and defensively than a 39 year old Gurriel/Soler in the field IMO. This is where Lee mentions Brandon Drury would have been perfect - and he's right. That would be a perfect guy for this last spot right now to get 100+ starts and just hammer lefties. And if that's too expensive, smart teams like the Braves get guys like Jordan Luplow (.842 career OPS vs LHP) to fill this roll which is what the Marlins would then have. He cost them nothing. We want to be the Braves right? Frankly, let Burdick make the roster to play against lefties if the choice is Gurriel and Hampson is a disaster in spring training. I agree, let Amaya and Groshans play everday for at least 3 months in AAA. Burdick has a platoon advantage split against them and I'll bet on youth and athleticism. Burdick is going to be 26 so he doesn't need the PA as much as Amaya/Groshans. Hell, just play LeBlanc and cycle these guys until one works. Use whatever money on something else.