Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Need a RHRF to platoon with Mazara. Top three (3) candidates listed. Hunter Pence FA Revamped his entire swing after a disastrous 2018 season after seven very successful years with Giants and two championships. Fan favorite who works very hard at the game, in fact, so hard that he went to the Dominican Republic after the bad season and completely changed and worked on a new swing. The result he signed a $2M contract with the Texas Rangers and had a very good season hitting against LHP with an OPS of over 1.000. For the money Pence may be a bargain and veteran winning presence that could take the cake for a great value sign here to platoon with Mazara in right. Pence actually made the All-Star team last year. Experienced winning ball player. Great leader and teammate. Excellent communicator. One of the most underrated players of the past decade. Does not fit the image of the perfect baseball player whose style of play looks a bit strange but the man gets the job done the offensively and defensively with an accurate arm and is truly committed to his craft. An all-time San Francisco Giants legend. The kind of player and persona that might go over big with Chicago fans and in the clubhouse. Very good guy. Deep desire to always do his best and win and find silver linings even in a loss. One of the most passionate players in the game whose play and preparation are an example to his team. Might really fill the bill. Yasiel Puig FA Tremendous talent but comes with the kind of baggage that may or may not scare off Uncle Jerry who once had Dennis Rodman with the Bulls. One of the very best defensive RF's in the game and arguably the best throwing arm since the likes of Roberto Clemente and Ichiro Suzuki. Was the most popular player while on the Dodgers. Since becoming a father he seems more responsible. Cuban connection cannot be overlooked and with a competitive audience environment in Chicago with the Cubs Puig is a headliner that could bring in numbers of fans. If this is indicative of change in his life Puig rented a helicopter and flew to a Camp for Jewish boys (Camp Simcha) who are ill and led one of the most memorable days any athlete has done out of love for others. There are risks with a clubhouse that is considered excellent and no one wants to rock the boat. Puig brings an aura to the game that has potential much like Rodman. Note-Puig is fluent in English. Since signing Edwin Encarnacion Mazara is going to be a platoon RF with Puig, Pence, Pillar OR L. Garcia and/or Engel). Possibility he could end up in Japan. He trained this off-season with a Sumo Wrestler Kevin Pillar FA Simply one of the very best defensive outfielders in the game top talent for CF but plays anywhere and with a high level of superior defense to earn him the nickname 'Superman'. Played for a number of years with the Blue Jays and was traded to Giants where he had his best offensive numbers of his career though much can be related to juiced ball. Still his defense is among the best in the game. All said I imagine there are clubs looking for a defensive stud in CF so I have my doubts of a White Sox sign here but if anyone thinks Adam Engel can go get it watch Pillar. Amazing he has never won a Gold Glove. Was surprised the Giants decided not to sign him. Inspiring player. One of the above list appears likely otherwise Leury Garcia or possibly Adam Engel which beyond a defensive replacement is at this point shaky. Then someone for the Bullpen likely one and maybe two via FA or one from trade. Nonetheless experience in pen for a good team can be essential. All said is age a factor for two-year deals? Update included. Will Smith, FA age 35 last with Astros. (3 years for $24M with Nationals) He gone! Craig Stammen, FA age 35 last with Padres. (3 years for $12M with Padres) He gone! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Daniel Hudson, FA age 33 to start season last with Nationals and former fifth round choice of White Sox traded a long time ago to Arizona for Edwin Jackson. Steve Cishek, FA age 33 last with Cubs. Had made public statements given the choice he would like to end up with the Red Sox. Unusual submarine motion. Collin McCugh, FA age 32 last with Astros. Brandon Kintzler, FA age 35 last with Cubs. Pedro Strop, FA age 34 last with Cubs. Ivan Nova, FA age 33 Is White Sox starter a candidate with no bullpen experience? et al. And/or potential trade for a reliever such as Andrew Miller, age 34 currently with Cardinals. (1-year at $12M for 2020) Hefty numbers for a LHRP. Ken Giles, age 29 currently with Blue Jays ($6.3M for 2019 and FA 2021) Josh Hader, age 25 (FA 2024) Long-shot. Yankees would be favorites. Or another potential reliever. Shame injuries hit Ian Hamilton (#11 draft choice) and Ryan Burr (#5 draft choice of Arizona acquired via trade) that ended their seasons. Hamilton is short and Burr is tall. Could one or both emerge in 2020? Hamilton showed chops two seasons ago for Birmingham and Charlotte prior to auto accident and getting his in jaw in dugout which resulted in season ending surgery. Wipeout slider. Burr throws straight over the top. Is Matt Foster a sleeper? Fairly consistent numbers and throws strikes. Stocky bulldog type. (#20 draft choice) Last chance for Carson Fulmer if he can get some spin on the ball otherwise his days with the organization are winding down. (#1 draft choice) Is same for Dylan Covey? (#1 draft choice unsigned of Milwaukee and drafted again as #4 of Oakland. Acquired via Rule 5 claim) Jose Ruiz was pretty poor last season. Former catcher (signed by San Diego) who became a relief pitcher. So far has shown little in MLB games. Decent MILB numbers but the show is different. Does not hide ball well. Watch Tyler Johnson for later season. Not easy for hitter to pick up. (#5 draft choice) Zack Burdi who still has not gotten it back since TJ surgery. As discussed in prior post does not hide ball well. (#1 draft choice) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maloney.adam Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) Will Harris, not Will Smith. Edited January 5, 2020 by maloney.adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nardiwashere Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 OP is like Caulfield on steroids 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 There is Will Smith, a lefty and former Giants, who signed with the Braves and is from Georgia. And there is Will Harris, a dominant set up man who had pitched for the Astros and signed with the Nationals. Both men signed three-year contracts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Probably needs to be merged into the Catch-All thread at some point... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 4 hours ago, maloney.adam said: Will Harris, not Will Smith. Second time he's done that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Abreu Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 1 hour ago, caulfield12 said: Probably needs to be merged into the Catch-All thread at some point... Just this one or all of them? How else will we be able to distinguish between the daily updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) 44 minutes ago, Jose Abreu said: Just this one or all of them? How else will we be able to distinguish between the daily updates? Maybe its own website/dedicated blog? On the plus side, he manages to make me look, in the words of my old AP European History teacher, "brief and pithy." In all seriousness, it does prove that reading about players in a "scouting report" style is definitely an acquired taste. Or maybe he was talking about Will Smith's acting career is "now gone"??? Edited January 6, 2020 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bschmaranz Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I wish people would stop thinking Puig as a platoon partner for Mazara. They both hit righties better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Spell check here, but Arodys Vizcaino needs a lil bit more love. I want him, Hudson, and Pence......Although, I don't mind Leury/Engel being the partner for Mazara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 8 minutes ago, bschmaranz said: I wish people would stop thinking Puig as a platoon partner for Mazara. They both hit righties better. http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32574/type/batting3 863 vs. 673 (LHP) over a three year period. In retrospect, it might have been better to just sign Puig (rather than trading Walker), but that is just as much dependent upon his being accepted into the clubhouse as his numbers. He was fine with Cincy and Cleveland...at any rate, that ship has sailed. They're definitely getting a cheaper version in Mazara, even if Puig only signs for $8-9 million. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 3 minutes ago, scs787 said: Spell check here, but Arodys Vizcaino needs a lil bit more love. I want him, Hudson, and Pence......Although, I don't mind Leury/Engel being the partner for Mazara. Hudson will get $10 million or so based on his 2019 numbers and post-season. However, if you start delving into FIP and BABIP, you'll quickly lose interest and realize how fortunate he was to be in the current position he occupies after the last couple of seasons bouncing around and being available to pretty much any team as a roster claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.J. Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 i guess i have to post this since i spent time looking at his (ugly) numbers Guillermo Heredia could be a bench option, non-tendered rather than given ~$1M by TB, good defensive corner OF, kind of sort of hits lefties, cuban. also supposed to be a "clubhouse" guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneofthemikes Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 15 hours ago, Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF said: One of the above list appears likely otherwise Leury Garcia or possibly Adam Engel which beyond a defensive replacement is at this point shaky. Why is this still the narrative about Engel? He's an elite defender, was improved at the plate in the second half last year, and hits lefties well which is EXACTLY what people don't like about Mazara. We're not asking him to be an everyday starter, we need him to be a 4th OF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 1 hour ago, oneofthemikes said: Why is this still the narrative about Engel? He's an elite defender, was improved at the plate in the second half last year, and hits lefties well which is EXACTLY what people don't like about Mazara. We're not asking him to be an everyday starter, we need him to be a 4th OF. http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/34064/type/batting3 Over the last three years combined, he’s been a 679 ops hitter against LHP. Hits lefties well for one season is SSS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackDoorBreach Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 1 hour ago, oneofthemikes said: Why is this still the narrative about Engel? He's an elite defender, was improved at the plate in the second half last year, and hits lefties well which is EXACTLY what people don't like about Mazara. We're not asking him to be an everyday starter, we need him to be a 4th OF. That was like 89 PA's against LHP. There is much to doubt about that vs his career #'s. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I'm fine with Engel as the 4th bench piece (maybe 5th if they go with a 7-man pen), as long as he's not the primary 4th OF. Basically only late inning pinch runner/defensive sub. Occasional start in CF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 Hunter Pence is the most suitable RF platoon option with Mazara. He had an OPS last season against lefties of more than 1.000. Winning ball player who could be a fan favorite. Excellent teammate. I concur that Yasiel Puig hits RHP better and is not the best suited of free agents to platoon in RF. He is but one option. Pence is the best suited player. Ironically he played with Mazara in Texas last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 Note is that Hunter Pence was out for a total of 67 days with two stint from injuries. Should this be a factor? If not Pence they may go with Leury Garcia. Pence is intriguing. Solid veteran who has won and come up big in big games. Quote s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 10 hours ago, Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF said: Hunter Pence is the most suitable RF platoon option with Mazara. He had an OPS last season against lefties of more than 1.000. Winning ball player who could be a fan favorite. Excellent teammate. I concur that Yasiel Puig hits RHP better and is not the best suited of free agents to platoon in RF. He is but one option. Pence is the best suited player. Ironically he played with Mazara in Texas last season. I agree with you that Pence is custom made for this platoon situation. Pence is a hard working veteran that the fans would love. I am starting to believe RH traded for Mazara thinking he would be the full time guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoso-Pierce-Allen-HOF Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Mazara at this point of his career has yet to show he can hit lefties. Pence compliments the right side of the plate and would bring a solid veteran presence on a team looking to win in 2020. Also a fan favorite, winner and leader. Rick Hahn is fully aware of the shortcomings of Mazara and much like what the old Orioles used to do platooning is a smart idea particularly with a 26th man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 KyLlo Ren, please pin to top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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