2022-2023 Offseason Thread

[Nick]

I've never disliked Castano. He seems to be adding some velocity and variety. Much more worthy of a spot in the opening rotation than Cueto or B Garrett, especialy if spring training is viewed as an honest competition. He accomplished yesterday's feat against the same Cardinals lineup that has demolished fellow lefties Rogers and Garrett.

which it isn't.

[fish16]

Lees hate for cueto already is peak lee. The guy might be the best number 5 starter in the league

[Lee Stone]

Lees hate for cueto already is peak lee. The guy might be the best number 5 starter in the league

But, right now, is he better than Castano? That's all that should matter if you are trying to win.

[lou]

But, right now, is he better than Castano? That's all that should matter if you are trying to win.

To be fair, Castano got hit pretty hard his last start - looks like 7 screamers that didn't really cause damage (https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamef...rtId=51#719038)

Castano having an option year makes him much more palatable to keep around this year regardless if he opens or doesn't open with the team, but count me in on expecting his career FIP/XFIP (4.86/4.96) as the likely expectation. That being said, if those are the Marlins replacement innings and he's effectively their 14th or 15th pitcher this year, that smokes what Hernandez/Hoeing/Ladwig did last year and that's "a win."

Nice camp for Castano, he's probably the 7th SP until Eury and Eder (or Smeltzer or Sixto or shit maybe they do stretch out Puk eventually) over take him. Good for him for a guy kicked off the 40 man.

[lou]

But, right now, is he better than Castano? That's all that should matter if you are trying to win.

I think everybody would pick Cueto who is frankly a veteran and will just revert to form more than likely.

[lou]

Lees hate for cueto already is peak lee. The guy might be the best number 5 starter in the league

I'd slow that roll:

Kirby or Gonzalez (SEA)

Andew Heaney

German/Montas(DL)

Quintana/Peterson (I like Peterson a lot personally)

Painter (is he healthy? He is their Eury)

Brown (HOU) (Also love him, may be a year away)

Probably more like Ian Anderson.


Cueto is "acceptable" for a rotation spot for sure, but let's not expect much more than 150 acceptable innings. However I do think if we combined Cabrera, Garrett, and Cueto into a combined 4/5 SP monster and they all get 60 starts cumulative, that's an above average situation with mega upside if Cabrera lands as Diet Sandy and Garret can pitch mix that slider over 125 innings.

[Lee Stone]

To be fair, Castano got hit pretty hard his last start - looks like 7 screamers that didn't really cause damage (https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamef...rtId=51#719038)

Castano having an option year makes him much more palatable to keep around this year regardless if he opens or doesn't open with the team, but count me in on expecting his career FIP/XFIP (4.86/4.96) as the likely expectation. That being said, if those are the Marlins replacement innings and he's effectively their 14th or 15th pitcher this year, that smokes what Hernandez/Hoeing/Ladwig did last year and that's "a win."

Nice camp for Castano, he's probably the 7th SP until Eury and Eder (or Smeltzer or Sixto or shit maybe they do stretch out Puk eventually) over take him. Good for him for a guy kicked off the 40 man.

I think Hoeing is going to be strong out of the pen ... if not to start the season, soon thereafter.

[fish16]

But, right now, is he better than Castano? That's all that should matter if you are trying to win.

Yes, yes he is. You’re basing everything on spring training. Cueto has been a good pitcher for like 15 years at the big league level and he was really good for Chicago last year. As you do though, you’re basing all evaluations off of spring training. Pitchers are ramping up for the season and tinkering with things in spring. Not everything is what it seems. Hell zack greinke was literally letting guys on base in his last start because he wanted to work on his pickoff move

cueto has 32.4 war over 15 years, 3 of which were severely hampered or cut short by injuries. He isn’t what he was in cincy, but he is a quality starter in this league and has been for years. Castano is a long reliever

[fish16]

I think Hoeing is going to be strong out of the pen ... if not to start the season, soon thereafter.

Because of a few innings out of the bullpen in spring right? He allowed 17 runs in 12 innings last year in games that counted

[lou]

I think Hoeing is going to be strong out of the pen ... if not to start the season, soon thereafter.

I hope you are right as this team could use a beneficial right hander out of the pen short and long term.

[lou]

We got a double from Fangraphs today, 2B positional rankings - https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-pos...s-second-base/

TLDR - Arraez is really good

[fish16]

We got a double from Fangraphs today, 2B positional rankings - https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-pos...s-second-base/

TLDR - Arraez is really good

I think arraez will be our best hitter by the end of the year. He isnt a power bat, but he is elite elite at plate discipline and being a pure hitter. We all love jazz obviously, but the way his OBP decreases as the year goes on each of his first two years is slightly concerning. It's hard to say because he has missed so many games in the second half of the last 2 years, but while he has an elite ceiling because of the power hitting ability, there also is somewhat of a floor due to the OBP concerns that he needs to alleviate this year in what is hopefully a full year.

[fish16]

luzardo was good again today. they are really making a mistake not, at the very least, attempting to sign him long term. I think he is going to be a legit #2 this year. In spring training not even counting his great outing in the WBC, he's thrown 13.2 innings, 15 k's and 1 BB with a 1.17 WHIP. I believe his WBC outing was 4 scoreless innings with 5 k's and no walks too.

Andrew nardi i think is going to nab the last bullpen spot if they dont make a move for another guy before the year starts. Lefty, already on the 40 man, having a nice spring. he went 2 perfect innings today, 4 k's, no walks, spring ERA down to 1.42. Spring stats dont necessarily mean much, but given his competition for the last spot flaming out and being terrible this spring, he seems to be the guy to get that last spot as of now. He was horrendous in his first taste of the bigs last year, but has been looking good in spring for whatever its worth. Hoeing also has good stats this spring but isnt on the 40 man. he was dominant in AA last year, then really good in AAA, and had high leverage opportunities in both levels. For the year last year it was 51 IP, 76 k's, 18 walks, 2.29 ERA, and .92 WHIP.

[fish16]

hopefully this doesnt jinx anything, but regardless of all spring training performance both good and bad, we havent had much at all in terms of significant injuries, just minor stuff. the relievers who started out a little banged up in Scott and Puk have pitched well since coming back, Fortes has minor knee tendinitis, and burdick had a toe issue but played today. Other than that, we havent had a single significant injury, which is really all you can ask for in spring.

[lou]

luzardo was good again today. they are really making a mistake not, at the very least, attempting to sign him long term. I think he is going to be a legit #2 this year. In spring training not even counting his great outing in the WBC, he's thrown 13.2 innings, 15 k's and 1 BB with a 1.17 WHIP. I believe his WBC outing was 4 scoreless innings with 5 k's and no walks too.

Andrew nardi i think is going to nab the last bullpen spot if they dont make a move for another guy before the year starts. Lefty, already on the 40 man, having a nice spring. he went 2 perfect innings today, 4 k's, no walks, spring ERA down to 1.42. Spring stats dont necessarily mean much, but given his competition for the last spot flaming out and being terrible this spring, he seems to be the guy to get that last spot as of now. He was horrendous in his first taste of the bigs last year, but has been looking good in spring for whatever its worth. Hoeing also has good stats this spring but isnt on the 40 man. he was dominant in AA last year, then really good in AAA, and had high leverage opportunities in both levels. For the year last year it was 51 IP, 76 k's, 18 walks, 2.29 ERA, and .92 WHIP.

How do you know they aren't? Practically, they can do this next year also and Luzardo may want to bet on himself (which may be a good bet for him).