2023-2024 Offseason Thread

[lou]

according to this guy Andres Bolivar, we are one of the teams in the catcher market and have looked at Grandal and Garver. Garver is more of a DH and a spare C and Grandal is still a decent defender but has been pretty bad as a hitter for the last 2 years. Neither guy would seem to be a full time answer. I think Fortes is still going to be involved as a backup who gets a lot of playing time.

Garver would make a ton more sense to me if they are confident that the robo umps are coming after this upcoming year. I might pull the trigger regardless if he can catch 90-100 games and DH another 30. His bat is that good where i would overlook the defensive deficiencies. Especially important that he is that productive offensively from the C position. Corner OF is a lot easier to find. No idea what they do at SS but finding a high level offensive catcher would take a lot of pressure of Bendix to find the high level SS and 1 corner OF guy they need.

Garver also has some 1b experience so there is a world where he can play 130-140 games, with a lot of them coming at 1b and DH splitting time with bell to keep them both fresh but still in the lineup on a very consistent basis.

You’d play Garver 50-60 at C and 70+ at DH IMO. I think he is interesting in that kind of role for sure.

[fauowls44]

They did a Rays thing again - Vidal Brujan + an inventory arm

Brujan is OOO. He’s making the team. He’s a good bet for what they gave up (Lindsey)

I wonder what role they are envisioning for Brujan. Hampson replacement or something more?

[lou]

I wonder what role they are envisioning for Brujan. Hampson replacement or something more?

I would think too it means Hampson will be non-tendered unless they want to keep Edwards in AAA even longer. Could open up a Berti trade too.

[fauowls44]

I would think too it means Hampson will be non-tendered unless they want to keep Edwards in AAA even longer. Could open up a Berti trade too.

I was thinking he’s perhaps a cheaper Berti option as well. I suppose he could compete for time at SS if all other options fail…obviously not ideal, but I would bet he could produce more than Wendle did last year in the same amount of at bats.

[sports24/7]

Lee is going to be happy. I feel like he’s been talking about Brujan for like 3 years.

[fish16]

Brujan is just a flier. It says a lot how much the rays fans seem to be happy that he’s gone

[lou]

Lee is going to be happy. I feel like he’s been talking about Brujan for like 3 years.

He had a pronounced RHP advantage split in AAA last year. I think we can all agree it’s a good project and didn’t cost much. I can really see him getting the strong side of a 2B platoon with Edwards for two months and see if it’s a change of scenery success. Edwards can grab some other games in the OF, etc. Brujan’s AAA numbers are much better than he’s shown so I think it’s just jumping in the pool and betting on playing time consistency and him not over thinking am I going to play today makes him more comfortable, etc. Basically, I’m saying a 150-200 PA audition here and heavy spring training usage. They can afford to give him that even as a “contender.”

[sports24/7]

I don't know how you can compare their body of work when Ng has been in a position where she has been the top decision maker when it comes to baseball moves in an organization and Bendix hasn't.

Who knows who did what in either organization, but one has a spotty history with some hits, but a lot of misses, and the other rose through the ranks of one of the best front offices in the sport, and was involved in a lot of good things.

[fish16]

Stallings non tendered. So is hampson. Don’t get that one, he was good. I would have at least brought him to spring

[lou]

Stallings and Hampson non tendered

[fish16]

Knizner non tendered by the cardinals

[lou]

Stallings non tendered. So is hampson. Don’t get that one, he was good. I would have at least brought him to spring

Saves over $500-700k on base salary and if you have to DFA him as he falls apart even more. It’s Brujans spot now

[lou]

Knizner non tendered by the cardinals

He’d be a great MiLB deal signing

[Lee Stone]

Lee is going to be happy. I feel like he’s been talking about Brujan for like 3 years.

True that ... at least about the part that I discussed acquiring him a couple years ago. The happy part no longer works for me because he never panned out. Edwards is the far better hitter of the two.

[lou]

True that ... at least about the part that I discussed acquiring him a couple years ago. The happy part no longer works for me because he never panned out. Edwards is the far better hitter of the two.

Brujan is still really young even if Edwards is younger. If Brujan is a good defender at 2B/LF (which he might be), he becomes a real player even at a .650 OPS with his base running upside which is enormous. He had a .900 RHP split ops in AAA last year. I wouldn’t give up on him at all. Also, the Marlins were real bullish on Lindsey and he got positive draft mentions as a steal. They did give up someone they internally really like here which I think speaks to what they expect coming back.

Ultimately, I think those two are going to play a lot and it’ll come at the expense of mostly DLC with them able to play Arraez and Bell at 1B and DH.