Flash

Couldn't agree more. Watching the Astros-Rays underscores how important great defense is. IMHO Abreu needs to DH and we need a solid glove playing first who can pick, especially with the error prone youngsters around the horn.

Sign Grandal and Wheeler and deal for someone like Ian Happ (can play anywhere and SH).

Hopefully, we will improve defensively. It will manifest in better pitching metrics. The strong offensive performances by Anderson and Abreu might lull us into overlooking how badly they field their positions (I understand Anderson has exceptional range and is still learning SS, so no need to come to his defense). The Yankees and Cubs have several assets who are in limbo for 2020. In addition to Gardner, I like the idea of Gregorious. On the Cubs, Happ and Schwarber are interesting although I doubt they would move Schwarber.

Would check out the assets on those teams likely to dump salary (i.e. Red Sox, Rockies, Cubs) and see if there are any fits. Might also see which teams have contracts they would like to offload in a package with a quality player.

What do you think it would take to pry David Dahl from the Rox? What if we took on Wade Davis' contract along with sending them Lopez, Rutherford and ???

I'd consider giving a package of Lopez, Colome and either Rutherford or Collins. Boston would have to consider it.

That is out of the box and actually pretty interesting. This club can use a few high BB IQ guys and Zobrist might rub off on a few of our talented dunces.

Notice his relaxed stance. He isn't coiled up with his left foot pointing inward.

Would identify and pursue key pieces through trade. Is there a scenario where the Mets would part with Syndergard and Nimmo? What could we reasonably offer? Would a package including Lopez, Colome and Vaughn make sense? I honestly believe, even allowing for an adjustment period for Madrigal and Robert, if we can somehow pull off a big trade for a TOR piece plus sign Grandal, we leapfrog to the top of the division.

I don't disagree unless TA can move to OF (and if he can, that would take care of several issues). Even if he can't/won't, Didi brings LH pop and reliable middle IF skills. I've seen several pro-JD Martinez posts and personally feel Didi brings more to the table at this point and will cost considerably less.

Gregorious situation interesting. Fan favorite but injury-marred season and Gleybor and Lamahieu have to play. Would love if the Sox could sign him and worry about positional issues later.

Would love for us to target a LH hitter(s) w/pop, ideally one who gives us positional flexibility. Without researching (sorry) contract situations, guys I would consider include Gregorious, Benintendi, Joc Pederson and Nimmo. Nimmo is particulary interesting due to age and yrs. of control. Maybe we can work a trade w/Mets, possibly to include Matz.

Machado hitting .259 w/.795 OPS. Still like him but it appears we may have dodged a bullet.

Saw someone suggest Benitendi. Wonder what it would take? Would you part with Colome, Lopez and Rutherford? Would that be enough?

I like his bat but he is 26 years old in his 4th year as starting SS w/500 games under his belt. He ain't turning into Ozzie Smith or even Ozzie Guillan. If you can keep his bat and upgrade the most important position AND add LH balance to lineup without significant payroll burden, why wouldn't you try him in RF ?

Gregorious won't be 30 until next Feb. Been injured for most of this year but had 4.6 WAR in 2018 and 4.0 in 2017. Obviously the very definition of stop gap.

Who is the 30 year old 'stop gap' you refer to?

I'm not so sure moving from IF to OF is as easy as we assume (see Dee Gordon/Mariners). I was never a gazelle but played 4 yrs of HS baseball back in the day and remember how the ball appeared to wobble as my feet planted in pursuit of fly balls. Getting an instant beed on trajectory, angle flight path, etc. is harder than it seems. That said, I wouldn't move Moncada, even he he took to the OF naturally. TA on the other hand, I would try, especially if we can upgrade our defense while also filling an OF spot and keeping TAs bat in the lineup.

Personally, on the assumption TA can play OF, I'd rather we pursue Gregorious than Rendon. He solves for LH bat w/with 25-30HR potential while providing a huge upgrade at SS. We can assume TA will eventually cut down on the errors, both mental and physical but why risk it when someone like Gregorious might be available at less than half (both AV and # of yrs.) than Rendon?

Love the idea of Gregorious. LH hitter with some pop and huge defensive upgrade at SS. Yankees might let him walk due to Gleybar and Lemahieu. Might be had for 2-3 yrs. for $12M/per. The question is can TA handle OF. If yes, we would be close to done positionally.

Ray Ray...your alias (Rational Fan) is spot on. Normally I agree with the boys but they are either being stubborn or lazy. Either way, great job calling them out.

Nova has been pitching great since the break. If that keeps up, there will be plenty of demand for his services. The front office will need to anticipate what to expect from him in '20 and possibly beyond (might require multi-year commitment). If his recent performance appears sustainable, I would try to lockhim up before FA season gets underway. If he continues as he has been lately, will cost way more than $5-6M/per.

Can see us resigning Nova if demands are in the realm of sanity (maybe 2yrs/$25M?). Who knows what it will take for some of the upper tier guys but I'd feel pretty good about our chances with Gio, Lopez, Kopech, Cease, Nova and any of Ryu, Bumgarner, Wheeler, Strasburg and of course, Cole.

Been following the Padres box scores and while Machado has been steady, he hasn't set the world on fire or played to his contract. That said, now with benefit of hindsight and notwithstanding the clumsy courtship by front office, am curious on whether the majority believe we should have outbid Padres or that maybe we are better off without him and his $300M K.

Much milder climate to say the least. I've found its a surprisingly easy drive to Chgo., even from Atlanta.