2023-2024 Offseason Thread

[lou]

Edwards needs to be on the opening day roster and needs to play. I’m going to die on that hill.

I don’t disagree with you, but I think they are going to have him open in AAA and playing every day (maybe at SS a lot) to start, and give Garcia and Brujan the last two bench spots and see if they have it over 8 weeks. Which also coincides with the groan inducing, keep him down roughly 8 weeks and get a year of service time. Because that is potentially a thing too. Ideally he looks so good he outright beats out DLC (optionable) or Garcia (cooked) so it forces their hand. I think Brujan is safe for at least 2 months as their OOO project of a former top prospect who arguably never had a fair shake in Tampa. Remember, Brujan over 550 PA in 22/23 hit roughly .280/.365/.455 (.320 BABIP), 10% BB, 17% K, 16 HR, and 45 SB (but an insane 27 CS with those). Past the crazy CS numbers which are hard to believe, that’s a really encouraging player even for being older at the AAA level. Just saying, I don’t see them jettisoning him for Edwards day one so it’ll have to be frankly Garcia.

[Nick]

Tristan Gray intrigues me. A Utility guy with that kind of power, I just wonder if his hitting profile plays in the majors especially as a bench player, but if he somehow cuts down on the strikeouts and starts hitting for a better average, then you really have something. Pretty much same story as Burdick and Conine, but a little more intriguing with Gray because he plays all infield positions.

[fish16]

Tristan Gray intrigues me. A Utility guy with that kind of power, I just wonder if his hitting profile plays in the majors especially as a bench player, but if he somehow cuts down on the strikeouts and starts hitting for a better average, then you really have something. Pretty much same story as Burdick and Conine, but a little more intriguing with Gray because he plays all infield positions.

we have a number of fringe roster guys who seem to be interesting but not enough space due to vets. I would deal Berti for a reliever and just see what happens with edwards/brujan, then cut ties with Garcia and see how things fare with Gordon and Dane Myers. Then just cut bait with mancini and role with Johnston or gray and see what happens. the vets are nothing special, let's see if we have anything.

Skip said Johnston has been impressing.

[fish16]

im super intrigued to see how the rotation pans out. Eury, Luzardo, Cabrera, and Garrett feel like locks, and then you have a shit ton of guys who can fill the last spot out of Rogers, Meyer, Puk, Chirinos, Weathers, Sixto (lol), Gutierrez, and Soriano.

[lou]

Tristan Gray intrigues me. A Utility guy with that kind of power, I just wonder if his hitting profile plays in the majors especially as a bench player, but if he somehow cuts down on the strikeouts and starts hitting for a better average, then you really have something. Pretty much same story as Burdick and Conine, but a little more intriguing with Gray because he plays all infield positions.

He had a fun split last year in AAA also:

.239/.303/.519 (.822), 25 HR, 30 BB/120 K in 347 AB vs RHP
.223/.336/.388 (.724), 5 HR 16 BB/46 K in 121 AB vs LHP

Seems like he understands his deficiencies against LHP with being more patient and walking at a much higher clip, and just tries to hit the ball to the moon against right handers. Maybe there is a little Patrick Wisdom/Hunter Renfroe sort of offensive profile in there and a very playable .225/.275/.475+ bat lurking. Even with bad defense and 30%+ whiff rate, that could be a 1+ WAR bench guy with the slugging that paces close to a 2 WAR pace per 600 PA which is what Wisdom and Renfroe basically do. He has three options so they can keep him quite a long time if not his whole career (as he is 28) if he seems like something. It was a solid depth move for sure.


But what I came here for is, your boy got a real big mention and I think Skip is telegraphing he's done with Garcia. If he's good, it's a big flub by every team in the league not getting him in the Rule V so that would be something.

He's hitting lefties, righties, running the bases really well. The defense is looking good. Took fly balls the other day. He's just looking like a big leaguer. He's proven that he can hit at the minor league level. There are not many boxes where you can check at the minor league level. You're supposed to make hard decisions in the next few weeks and so far so good on his end - Skip Schumaker on Troy Johnston

[lou]

im super intrigued to see how the rotation pans out. Eury, Luzardo, Cabrera, and Garrett feel like locks, and then you have a shit ton of guys who can fill the last spot out of Rogers, Meyer, Puk, Chirinos, Weathers, Sixto (lol), Gutierrez, and Soriano.

Absent health, hard to say Rogers isn't a lock. Max is going to be built up in the minors + service time considerations, and Puk, Weathers, and Soriano are going to be the multi-inning relievers by all indications. That would be wild if one of them jumps Rogers and Rogers is moved to a multi inning guy instead. I saw Mel said he wants a 5 man rotation so any benefits to workload management with a 6 man with someone else here isn't going to be a thing for him at least.

[fish16]

Absent health, hard to say Rogers isn't a lock. Max is going to be built up in the minors + service time considerations, and Puk, Weathers, and Soriano are going to be the multi-inning relievers by all indications. That would be wild if one of them jumps Rogers and Rogers is moved to a multi inning guy instead. I saw Mel said he wants a 5 man rotation so any benefits to workload management with a 6 man with someone else here isn't going to be a thing for him at least.

rogers is coming off a year in which he pitched less than 20 innings, and he has not been good since before the all star break in 2021, over 2.5 years ago. there is 0 reason why he should be guaranteed anything anymore.

[Nick]

I was just thinking that we hadn't heard much about Rogers so far this spring. His health and effectiveness is absolutely huge for us this year.

[Namaste]

rogers is coming off a year in which he pitched less than 20 innings, and he has not been good since before the all star break in 2021, over 2.5 years ago. there is 0 reason why he should be guaranteed anything anymore.

Rogers was good last year before the lat strain. He shouldn’t be guaranteed anything but he’s more likely to be in the starting 5 than not.

[Namaste]

Tim Anderson has a new home

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tim-ande...nd-a-new-home/

[fish16]

Rogers was good last year before the lat strain. He shouldn’t be guaranteed anything but he’s more likely to be in the starting 5 than not.

He wasn’t. He had 4 starts, 2 were really bad, 1 was good, and the fourth he got hurt in the third inning. He was absolutely horrendous in 2022, and completely lost steam In the second half of 2021. He is probably the front runner but he needs to earn it in spring. He’d be a good reliever option anyways. He could take puks role from last year if puk makes the rotation

[lou]

He wasn’t. He had 4 starts, 2 were really bad, 1 was good, and the fourth he got hurt in the third inning. He was absolutely horrendous in 2022, and completely lost steam In the second half of 2021. He is probably the front runner but he needs to earn it in spring. He’d be a good reliever option anyways. He could take puks role from last year if puk makes the rotation

If Rogers isn't going to throw 125+ innings for this team for you (or call it a collective 300 innings along with Puk and Weathers if you want to drop those three into 1 bucket as the 5th SP/Bulk reliever group), they really need another SP yesterday.

[lou]

Dodgers traded Margot to the Twins - the presumed front runner for Fort Lauderdale native Michael Taylor who is an excellent defensive CF with a career .744 OPS vs LHP which was over .900 last year, who has over 5 WAR his last 1300 PA dating back 2021-2023. He's an OF Berti with a more advantageous platoon split.

vs LHP
DLC .689 career (and terrible defensively)
Jazz .605 career, and under .500 in 2023
Sanchez .559 career
Gordon .550 career
Garcia .550 2022/2023 (roughly)

I think it would be really nice to bring him in, cut the Garcia crap, and you could presumably live with a DLC/Brujan - Taylor - Jazz/Brujan OF vs LHP (No room for Edwards, in AAA). At least there is some hope there with Brujan or DLC hitting a bit more, or Jazz just bringing some defensive value until the relievers get in and Sanchez and Gordon can be brought back into the game for someone. Would also let them DH Jazz a bunch as Taylor could play a lot of games in CF vs RHP as his defense value is vast like Berti. If it keeps Jazz healthy, no reason to not DH him 50 times versus RHP I say.

Anyways. His K rate spiked last year, but he hit more bombs and his BABIP decreased as a result, so maybe there is a different underlying issue there and he just got lucky jacking a few, but it seems like he was selling out for power intentionally. Seems safe to me with the defense, base running, and should hit 12-15 HR with adequate playing time. Maybe they feel confident they get real contributions from Garcia, Edwards, and I guess Johnston and Dane so this isn't a need, but those LHP splits for the presumed main 5 OF are ugly.

[lou]

Fish16's view on Rogers really makes me hope they sign Lorenzen. They could unleash something like this pretty quickly on a consistent schedule.

Luzardo + Brazoban
Eury + Puk
Garrett + Soriano
Lorenzen + Weathers
Cabrera + Rogers

"Relievers" - Scott, Nardi, Chargois and that's it.

Or, you don't keep Puk/Soriano/Weathers/Brazoban on a set throwing schedule (but do with Rogers), and just mix and match their availability as four bulk relievers capable of 2-3 innings a pop. Meyer eventually joins in as a Brazoban/Soriano upgradeand maybe he gets on a set schedule combined with Garrett to really have fire being thrown after Garret's lower velocity.

I guess the point is, they really need another SP IMO or a heavy use bulk reliever, but maybe they know this and why Chiniros, Guitterez, Faucher, McCaughan, Tyler, etc. were all targets as they have 100+ inning potential easily. The pitching is going to be interesting.

[Nick]

Fish16's view on Rogers really makes me hope they sign Lorenzen. They could unleash something like this pretty quickly on a consistent schedule.

Luzardo + Brazoban
Eury + Puk
Garrett + Soriano
Lorenzen + Weathers
Cabrera + Rogers

"Relievers" - Scott, Nardi, Chargois and that's it.

Or, you don't keep Puk/Soriano/Weathers/Brazoban on a set throwing schedule (but do with Rogers), and just mix and match their availability as four bulk relievers capable of 2-3 innings a pop. Meyer eventually joins in as a Brazoban/Soriano upgradeand maybe he gets on a set schedule combined with Garrett to really have fire being thrown after Garret's lower velocity.

I guess the point is, they really need another SP IMO or a heavy use bulk reliever, but maybe they know this and why Chiniros, Guitterez, Faucher, McCaughan, Tyler, etc. were all targets as they have 100+ inning potential easily. The pitching is going to be interesting.

I agree, I really think the rotation the way it's currently looking, will be great at the beginning, but will be a mess by the time we get to August/September.