Two-Gun Pete

I think posters are laser-focused on the v RHP thing. That Conforto is a LHH means that he's the best solution to them. But, i think this roster has more needs than "just" the v RHP issue. They need OF defense, a non-negative WAR 2B solution, and about 100-120 or so more IP in the rotation. But because the v RHP was emphasized this past postseason, I think we as a board are missing some of the other evident needs. I wouldn't mind Conforto, but I agree with you that there are downside risks with him, as there would be with any FA signing. But I wouldn't lose my shit if they missed out on Conforto, either. If we missed out on Conforto AND Suzuki, THEN I'll lose my shit.

Agreed. But I also think that a 3 year deal would be ideal for Rodon as well. Hes 29 years old now, so a 3 year deal HERE can get him a ring, and maybe a CY, so as to make himself generationally famous in a top market. Once this deal is over, he can, at age 32, use Borass to go rob some stupid FO to make himself generationally wealthy. It takes health and continued improvement, but there's a path forward for Rodon and our SOX.

Fair enough. What do you think Rodon and Bassitt will do this year?

Agreed. It can also help the team beyond Giolito and Lynn leaving in a few years. I suspect that many here don't want Rodon, because they dont think this team can afford BOTH Rodon and Conforto. I think there is more than one way to get what they need without trading assets away. I also don't think that its "Conforto or bust" this offseason. I think there is more than one way to solve RF, too.

Fair question. First, Rodon's medicals apparently look good. Second, Rodon was just returning to the rotation after a few years away, so of course he was going to wear down in his first full time season back in a few years. Third, Bassitt is 33, and may be starting his age-related decline. He also benefitted from the green acres of foul area in Oakland and the Marine layer, both of which can attenuate enemy offenses in Oakland. Taken together, I think Bassitt will underperform his 2021 numbers, and might start his decline. In sum, I think Rodon will be good for his ~3.0ish fWAR projection, while Bassitt will fall short of ~2.0ish fWAR if he pitches in a neutral or offensively-favorable ballpark.

I've already listed their other shitty moves that were fireable offenses in another post. But thinking that a Robin Ventura-led 73 win team from 2014 was going to compete in 2015 was George Custer-level reckless and stupid.

We had ~$15MM in CBT space before the increase. We now have, what, $35MM in space? Let's say we have to eat $10MM of the Kimbrel turd to have him fuck off. That leaves us with ~$41MM or so under the CBT. We could do any one of the following to improve the roster: Kikuchi $10MM, Suzuki $11MM, Tepera $5MM, and what, Miller or Villar $2MM = $28MM? Or: Conforto $20MM, Kikuchi $10MM, Tepera $5MM, Miller/Villar $2MM= $37MM. Or: Rodon $19MM, Suzuki $11MM, Tepera $5MM, Miller/Villar $2MM = $37MM. It can (and should, IMO) be done with just cash. Just use cash.

You seriously think that Oakland, out of kindness in their hearts, would (snicker) NOT try to rob KW/RH again? Seriously? Because they'll talk KW/RH into believing that Bassitt is a golden God, when he's actually just projected to be 2.5 or so fWAR. Just use cash.

Disagreed. Both the Samardzija trade then, and any trade now would be KW/RH dealing from a weakened MiLB system. Lynn was them trading from a surplus. But, using recency bias, the Kimbrel trade shows that they STILL don't know what they need or what it should cost. So, don't trade. Use cash. Save any trade assets for the TDL.

There are a few issues at play here: 1. They haven't shown the ability to self-scout, and determine what they actually need. While Atlanta had the 12th-most fWAR out of their BP, the SOX had the 5th-most fWAR out of the pen. Atlanta had just as many injuries in their OF as the SOX. Atlanta got their everyday lineup fixed, and left their (inferior) BP alone. Who won the WS last year? 2. They don't know how to determine value. Trading for Samardzija then, or Kimbrel now revealed that weakness. 3. (And this is most important, IMO) I disagree with you that they "have to" trade for a SP. Bassitt projects to be worth ~2.5 fWAR. In other words, an average SP, NOT a star. But in order to pay him, you have to risk KW/RH negotiating with Oakland. Kikuchi projects to ~2.0 fWAR and costs only cash. Rodon projects to ~3.0 fWAR, and only costs cash. Just use cash.

Blind Squirrel, meet nut. That aside, tying any future trade talks to the results of the Lynn trade is a canard. Lynn is and was a better player than Bassitt could ever hope to be, and we don't have a surplus tradeable prospect that's anywhere near what Dunning was.

I dont want them trading with Oakland. But you also forgot other robberies by Oakland, to include Ray Durham for Jon fucking Adkins, and Billy Koch for Foulke. So, there's a history of KW/RH building Oakland, and getting robbed in the process. Selling off cheap, young, controlled pieces for future assets is a different skillset than adding pieces for a current window. So, the Quintana/Sale/Eaton trades are not at all material to the discussion of what they need to do NOW. The Samardzija trade, and the Kimbrel trade are more in line with a "win now" mentality.

Thanks, those guys were so awesome that I'd forgotten. "Solid" is a stretch. That pile of crap they did wasn't going to turn the 73 win turdpile from 2014 into a contender in 2015. A lot of what they did back then contributed to subsequent years of being "mired in mediocrity." It was, without question, another fireable offense, but for JR's affinity for KW/RH.

I dont give a fuck what Sheets is and isn't. I also don't think Bassitt is better than what can be gotten for just money. I just don't want KW/RH to trade with Oakland, because Oakland will rob them blind. See: The Jeff Samardzija trade and the Kimbrel trade as reasons why I dont want them trading. Especially with a FO like Oakland.

Yup: They also added such luminaries as: JB shuck, Adam Laroche, Zach Duke, Rob Brantley, Dan Jennings, a PED-free Melky Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio, and topped it all off with Gordon Beckham. I mean, given that that team was led by baseball genius Robin Ventura, thats all they needed to turn a 73 win turd into a contender, amirite? (How were those clowns NOT fired for that stoopid shit again?)

1. You forgot to add into the Samardzija tragedy that KW/RH looked at a 73 win team from the previous season and said, "Durrr, all this team needs in Jeff Samardzija, and we're on our way!" I think I got banned from WSI for a month. Holy shit, that was so fucking moronic. I would have fired every fucking body in the front office for that stupid shit. 2. I think someone finally found a Bassitt trade that I'd do. Throw in Micker Adolfo into that mix.

Thanks. Yeah, Im convinced this is true. Having versatility in your roster is an asset. Especially if your manager knows how to use it. Sad that pretty much our only versatile player is Leury. Maybe Miller or Villar could also be versatile assets, but nothing like the guys in that article...

.I know there haven't been any rumors linking the SOX to him, but he's the RFer I'd want. The ZIPs projection has him being similar in WAR to Conforto, at a fraction of the price; I think they underestimate his defense, though. I think a NPB Gold Glove probably translates pretty easily. Oh, and he's 27, so there's room for growth as he still should be entering his prime.

Got a link to this article? This seems true, but I'd like to read it before I agree wholeheartedly.

And that's fair as well. I think there's a need for IP and cromulent WAR to be added to the rotation. But at this point in the offseason, there aren't really that many options to move the needle that much. So, I'd rather keep the powder dry for the TDL, instead of burning through your trade capital now. OTOH, standing pat means risking negative WAR in the rotation (by means of Keuchel and Lopez and Stiever and Lambert getting too many starts) fucking everything up. No matter who they get, it won't be earth-shattering. We really need IP to preserve Kopech for October, and to get Keuchel to fuck off at year's end.

MLBTR has Kikuchi at 2/$20MM, and Rodon at 1/$25MM. TBH, I think both are a little high, but adding Kikuchi at $10MM/per, and then Suzuki at 5/$55MM helps this year's roster, while leaving room to replace Keuchel at year's end. Or hell, Kikuchi at 2/$20 and Conforto at 4/$80MM fits as well. I just like Suzuki's gold glove, smaller contract, and younger age better than Conforto. Or, Rodon at 1/$19MM, and Suzuki at 5/$55MM also works, assuming we eat $10MM or less of the Kimbrel turd.

Bassitt projects to ~2.5 fWAR; Kikuchi ~2.0 fWAR; Rodon projects to ~3.0 fWAR. All 3 are similar enough in projection, but only one of these three will cost KW/RH to win a trade. None are likely to be TOR options. I'd prefer to just use cash.

Kikuchi projects to ~2-ish fWAR on Fangraphs; Bassitt projects to 2.5-ish. Kikuchi costs only money; Bassitt will cost a reaming by Oakland, plus cash. I'd take my chances with cash only over KW/RH matching wits with Oakland.

PTATC thinks it'll be 24 or so starts. I'm more inclined to trust his experience with this. In any case, leaving it up to a guy in Kopech who has only 8 starts to his name is unnecessarily risky, IMO.

Bassitt's 33, and will cost trade assets. Kikuchi and Rodon project similarly to Bassitt, are younger, and cost only FA cash.