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Neil Walker on the Block


Dunt

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 18, 2015 -> 10:40 PM)
@FanSided: The #Pirates are shopping Neil Walker, and the #Orioles are among those interested.

https://t.co/Mf5Z2W1pdG

 

This is a trade that makes too much sense for the White Sox. A 2-3 win 2B that can probably be had at a reasonable price and could slide in pretty well in the 2 hole.

 

 

And I believe he could be offered a QO next year or traded at midseason. Pirates need to clear the salary.

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Neil Walker would be completely fine with me, although only having 1 more year of control isn't ideal, unless we "give it a go" again in 2016 and Hahn adds a few strong pieces this offseason to contend. I would see if he could handle 3B so we can give Micah a fair shake at 2B. Or bounce Walker between 2B and 3B and having Micah and Saladino play on the opposite side of Walker.

 

Of course what is the price? Article says Pirates would want young pitching. For a 1 year rental, I would throw then Montas. Or instead, Erik Johnson plus a lower level guy. Walker will apparently cost about $10M.

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QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 07:41 AM)
Neil Walker would be completely fine with me, although only having 1 more year of control isn't ideal, unless we "give it a go" again in 2016 and Hahn adds a few strong pieces this offseason to contend. I would see if he could handle 3B so we can give Micah a fair shake at 2B. Or bounce Walker between 2B and 3B and having Micah and Saladino play on the opposite side of Walker.

 

Of course what is the price? Article says Pirates would want young pitching. For a 1 year rental, I would throw then Montas. Or instead, Erik Johnson plus a lower level guy. Walker will apparently cost about $10M.

 

i was thinking the other day of the pirates and again my crazy idea.... beside that, i guess pitt will try not to compete in the NL Central. but if walker was in a pkg with others players from pitt. walker will be a nice 3b if needed.

 

now pitt is saying the positive stuff about Pedro Alvarez ...

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I'm not sure Walker is worth either Montas or Johnson. If they are trying to get rid of the salary though, I'd wonder if Sanchez and Danish would interest them? Sanchez provides them with the defense their FO values highly and Danish is the type of pitch to contact pitcher they covet. Walker would be perfect for the Sox because he not only fills an offensive void at 2B, but as Jimmy said, he will probably get a QO next offseason. So either we lock him up for a few years or get a draft pick for him and build the farm with more high picks.

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QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 06:22 AM)
i was thinking the other day of the pirates and again my crazy idea.... beside that, i guess pitt will try not to compete in the NL Central. but if walker was in a pkg with others players from pitt. walker will be a nice 3b if needed.

 

now pitt is saying the positive stuff about Pedro Alvarez ...

 

 

Pirates want to move Walker because they can play Jung at 3B and Harrison at 2B. Paying Neil Walker $10 million is a luxury that the Pirates don't really have.

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QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 07:36 AM)
No thanks to Walker. Sure he could net the Sox a comp pick for the '17 draft but will that pick be worth what the Sox give up to acquire Walker is the question. I'm fine with Sanchez or Micah at 2B and would rather use resources to trade for a 3B, C or SS.

 

I dont think you'd have to give up a lot of valuable trade chips for Walker

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 07:51 AM)
I dont think you'd have to give up a lot of valuable trade chips for Walker

Maybe not but last I read, the Sox have roughly 20M to spend on filling out the roster. Spending half of that on Walker to play 2B with holes at 3B, C and SS makes no sense to me at all. The Sox have plenty of in-house options for 2B and could better utilize 10M.

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 07:51 AM)
I dont think you'd have to give up a lot of valuable trade chips for Walker

If that's the case, then he becomes more attractive, but I'm still hesitant spending $10M on a 2B when have several passable options at that position and much bigger holes to fill.

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QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:01 AM)
If that's the case, then he becomes more attractive, but I'm still hesitant spending $10M on a 2B when have several passable options at that position and much bigger holes to fill.

 

Not sure either 2B is all that passable. Even with his defense last season, Sanchez had a -0.2 fWAR and Micah had a -0.4. Walker, by comparison, had a 2.4 fWAR. I would say a 2.5 win improvement is probably worth $10 MM.

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:20 AM)
Not sure either 2B is all that passable. Even with his defense last season, Sanchez had a -0.2 fWAR and Micah had a -0.4. Walker, by comparison, had a 2.4 fWAR. I would say a 2.5 win improvement is probably worth $10 MM.

WAR is a cumulative stat, so you can't compare Walker's to Sanchez's or Johnson's because they didn't get as much playing time.

 

Sanchez's war was negative because of his atrocious home/first half hitting. He seemed to figure it out by the end of the year. If given a full season, I think he could put up a positive WAR.

 

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QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:39 AM)
Can Walker play third by any chance? I know he's been a second baseman for most, if not, all of his career, but I'd go after him if he can make a position change.

He has 802 games at 2B and 15 at 3B. I wouldn't do it. It's not like his 2B defense is anything special, and generally, guys who make a position switch to be a third baseman don't do too well defensively.

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QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:49 AM)
Unsexy, but effective offseason mock:

 

-Resign Alexei to a 1 yr, $7 MM deal

-Resign Soto to a 1 yr $8 MM deal

-Trade Erik Johnson for Martin Prado

-Trade Carlos Sanchez and Tyler Danish for Neil Walker

-Sign Trevor Cahill to 2 yr, $7 MM deal

 

CF Eaton

3B Prado

1B Abreu

DH LaRoche

RF Thompson

LF Cabrera

2B Walker

SS Ramirez

C Flowers

 

BE Saladino

BE A. Garcia

BE Soto

BE M. Johnson

 

SP Sale

SP Quintana

SP Rodon

SP Danks

SP Montas/Cahill

 

CL Robertson

SU Jones

SU Montas/Cahill

RP Duke

RP Petricka

RP Putnam

RP Phillips

You want to give $8 million to a backup catcher?

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When comparing Walker vs Sanchez let's just throw their WAR from last year out. Sanchez was a rookie who had a lot of growing pains and started off the season very poorly. From July 1 on, Sanchez had a .675 OPS. Combine that with his stellar defense and he has a chance to be a pretty acceptable starting 2B next year. Hell, if he can progress a little more and get his OPS up to the .700 range he will probably be more valuable than Walker next year for 5% of the cost. If Walker could play an acceptable third (I don't think he can) I wouldn't mind acquiring him for the right price. There is just no way I would give up a guy like Johnson or Montas to acquire a one year rental in Walker when we have a cheap alternative in house with a chance to put up similar numbers.

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QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:27 AM)
WAR is a cumulative stat, so you can't compare Walker's to Sanchez's or Johnson's because they didn't get as much playing time.

 

Sanchez's war was negative because of his atrocious home/first half hitting. He seemed to figure it out by the end of the year. If given a full season, I think he could put up a positive WAR.

 

His second half line was .252/.302/.385 and that was largely because of a hot July. If you truly want to break down his second half, here are the numbers:

 

July .323/.344/.484

Aug .247/.286/.355

Sept/Oct .171/.259/.276

 

Not exactly lighting the world on fire.

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QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:42 AM)
He has 802 games at 2B and 15 at 3B. I wouldn't do it. It's not like his 2B defense is anything special, and generally, guys who make a position switch to be a third baseman don't do too well defensively.

Sanchez's defense is better at 2B IMO. The only reason I'd want Walker is because of his bat. If he could play acceptable defense and hit .275 with 15 ish homers at 3B, I'd love him.

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QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 08:51 AM)
You want to give $8 million to a backup catcher?

 

Not really giving a ton of thought to actual values on contracts atm

Edited by Dunt
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QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 02:42 PM)
He has 802 games at 2B and 15 at 3B. I wouldn't do it. It's not like his 2B defense is anything special, and generally, guys who make a position switch to be a third baseman don't do too well defensively.

 

in your post, i can agree with some of your point. however at this time of the yr, the nature of the would be or so call baseball experts have a tendency to bring other idea into an equation.

 

in other words, i was reading something about the pirates and their off season plans, whether it was mlb trade rumors or something.

 

in that article they mention that his versatility can move him to 1b / 2b / and 3b .... b/c of the value of his bat. it also stated that he may need to move from 2b b/c of age and defense in the coming yrs.

 

so that was why i mention he can be a nice substitute if the sox were to trade with pitt. it also brought up Cervelli and Marte for trade piece if pitt were to make a bigger deal.... getting prospect now instead of getting comp picks.

 

that is me just thinking outside the box.

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QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 09:14 AM)
in your post, i can agree with some of your point. however at this time of the yr, the nature of the would be or so call baseball experts have a tendency to bring other idea into an equation.

 

in other words, i was reading something about the pirates and their off season plans, whether it was mlb trade rumors or something.

 

in that article they mention that his versatility can move him to 1b / 2b / and 3b .... b/c of the value of his bat. it also stated that he may need to move from 2b b/c of age and defense in the coming yrs.

 

so that was why i mention he can be a nice substitute if the sox were to trade with pitt. it also brought up Cervelli and Marte for trade piece if pitt were to make a bigger deal.... getting prospect now instead of getting comp picks.

 

that is me just thinking outside the box.

 

Where is this idea of him being versatile coming from? He has played a grand total of 109 innings away from 2B in his entire career. If he has to move from 2B as he gets older because he can't handle the defense he is certainly not going to be playing 3B which is a far tougher position. Forget 1B, there is no way his bat can play at 1st.

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QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 10:09 AM)
Has anyone said he wasn't?

 

I believe this post implied it:

 

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 19, 2015 -> 09:27 AM)
WAR is a cumulative stat, so you can't compare Walker's to Sanchez's or Johnson's because they didn't get as much playing time.

 

Sanchez's war was negative because of his atrocious home/first half hitting. He seemed to figure it out by the end of the year. If given a full season, I think he could put up a positive WAR.

 

I should have quoted it, my bad.

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