poppysox

Prepare to be disemboweled.

No worries. We live in the era of the 4 inning start.

My "take" is that the FO knows more than I do. I have opinions like not wanting Machado at those numbers because IMO he would hamper what else we can do. As a fan I have opinions but I have no recourse but to hope the FO makes better choices than the fan base. This is a business that names someone Executive of The Year and fires him the next year. Literally, no one gets it right all the time.

He is an interesting guy but zeroes linking him to us. RH flies under the radar so you never know.

RH and I both agree with you.

When the decision was made not to offer a QO...many people thought it was a sign that his health wasn't the greatest. That might still be the case. It does appear now "in hindsight" that we could have turned him into a 2nd round pick.

There is probably a reason none of us are employed as GM's. Quite honestly...sometimes I would love to bring the Tampa FO over to the southside. It's not like I love it when RH trades a player I like in Madrigal for Kimbrel, etc. However, I will always defend the professional FO people. They have more info for making their decisions than the fan does. Most fans love second-guessing each and every move with 20/20 hindsight. Right now it looks like RH might have turned Rodon into a second-round pick. If instead Rodon accepts the QO and blows out his arm...he was right to not offer the QO. We all have our "opinions"...I'll leave it at that.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

So your answer to why the QO wasn't offered is RH is stupid. If he could have turned Rodon into something worthwhile we won't know. If Rodon breaks down after three starts we will know that RH didn't want to be defending why he pissed 18M down his leg when you all knew he was worthless. GM's have it hard to be ahead of the curve on these things...hindsight is always 20/20.

Well, you would need to ask RH what was actually on his mind. I am simply offering up a reason he didn't give up a QO. I simply don't jump to the FO is stupid answer you apparently fine so easy to offer up.

Why? They signed him last year at a reduced rate when no one else wanted him at the higher $4M number. As I said before, I think they did him a solid for not tying him down with a QO. If they think with his risky health baggage he is worth 15 or 16 why offer the QO?

Maybe...none of us has the info that the FO was working with. I can understand liking a player for some amount but not at a few million higher. That is what the FO did last year only with smaller dollars.

Agreed...Carlos will make the Giants look like geniuses or idiots. I of course will trust the FO to know his situation better than the other 29 clubs.

I think the FO gambled he would be available at less than 18M per year just like last year when they got a bargain. I was thinking that 2 years at 16M might get it done if the injury fears were really out there.

If Vaughn and Sheets are on the team they need to play someplace. Everyone can't be the DH. Vaughn/Sheets/Eloy will probably rotate through left, 1st, and DH while Vaugn and Sheets get some RF work. As others have said, if Vaughn is used in a big trade, then a right fielder is probably a sure thing.

Wouldn't be the first time people liked the pedigree of former 1st rounders. Rebuilding clubs often go for multiple prospects when they need help everywhere.

A deal might be built around two former 1st rounders like Burger and Collins.

I know it wouldn't be popular but I still think the improvement will come from a better than expected 2nd base acquisition (Marte) and quality SP (Rodon). The Vaughn/Sheets/Engel/Garcia needs to be used somewhere and RF can be used as that place. Defense suffers a bit but it isn't like the names being talked about are Roberto Clemente types.

No question he ran out of gas. Probably going to see something along the same line with Kopech this year.

The cost of trading prospects is part of the equation. All things being equal...FA's are the way to go IMO.

I think RH did him a solid by having him test the water without being encumbered with a QO. We know his actual health situation better than anyone and if it's as good as reported...why not?

Rodon...we match any offer he gets would be my guess.

I am hopeful the Cubbies want to bring back Kimbrel to placate the fan base.

Yeah...the media thinks that all quality players belong on a coast team.

I agree. We need our biggest contract in history to be a sure thing...not a hope it works out.