Quote from fenn68 on February 2, 2023, 9:37 am

Quote from BoosterSD on February 2, 2023, 8:58 am

Question about Ohtani. I know LAA didnt play him in the OF after the TJ sugery to protect his arm, but does he still want/able to play OF?

If so, that could also factor into the plans for SD. If he is a viable option for the OF, would lessen the need for Soto, right? Even if it is a split time of OF and DH.

I don’t recall the scouting on him as an OF was all that good before TJ but if a team has that big an investment in him and need him to hit and pitch … probably don’t want him to play in the field and add more injury risk or just wear him down more over a full season. The body does need some rest.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 2, 2023, 10:18 am

From what I remember there were some that thought he could be an elite right fielder and that he might be better in the outfield than as a starter. Now that he's established himself as a top starter I doubt anyone will be looking to play him in the field. They aren't going to want to risk injury by putting any extra strain on his arm.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 2, 2023, 10:30 am

Othani played CF in JPN so I think he would be ok in LF.. however as a P probably wouldn't want him anywhere but DH... Quick Question if a Pitcher hits for himself can you DH for another player if you wanted to?

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 2, 2023, 10:36 am

Quote from BoosterSD on February 2, 2023, 9:12 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 2, 2023, 8:56 am

That's about 120m in actual money and 110m in luxury tax money that could potentially come off the books at the end of the season. Obviously it can change a little bit based on option decisions, but that's a lot of money to spend and also a lot of talent to either try to bring back or replace.

Found a link to MLBTR list of potential FA after the 2023 season.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/2023-24-mlb-free-agents.html

For 1B, after Rhys Hopkins and our buddy Josh Bell, the pickings seem a little slim. So unless SD is interested in Hoskins, not a lot of improvement at 1B. Which could leave SD leaving Crone at 1B, and rearranging the INF to accommodate a possible Machado departure.

For the OF, once again not a lot of great options. Maybe look at Ian Happ or Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Bader could be an option as maybe Bellinger if his bat bounces back. And based on bounce backs as well, Gallo and Conforto could be options FA wise.

SP does have some intriguing options. Of course could resign Darvish or Snell, and the tease of possibly getting Ohtani. Then other possibilities could be (not in any order) Marquez, Giolito, Alex Cobb, Flaherty, Heaney, Mahle, Montas, Montgomery.

So maybe the best bang for the buck is resigning Machado and Snell if he has a healthy and good season, and then fill in behind with a couple of the other FA not named Ohtani.

 

Lee Jung-hoo CF

Don't forget Kim's best friend and reigning KBO MVP..who has hired Boras and who will be posted next offseason

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 2, 2023, 10:41 am

Lets assume we re-neg Manny in ST long term.. and we end up WS Champs in 23.. Deciding to trade Soto

What does a package from NYY (imagine that RF and Soto) look like?

Dominguez + Cabrera + Peraza + Schultz enough? Too much?

+ Pereira maybe

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 2, 2023, 11:20 am

If Manny moves on our infield becomes Xander-Tatis-Kim-Cronenworth.....right?

Also,I'd love to hear more about this "Asian players don't want to play with other Asian players" thing.

One, it just doesn't sound like a thing.

Two,why wouldn't they?

Is this just something we are assuming or has anyone researched/written about this phenomenon?

 

 

 

 

Quote from BoosterSD on February 2, 2023, 11:48 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 2, 2023, 11:20 am

If Manny moves on our infield becomes Xander-Tatis-Kim-Cronenworth.....right?

They could move Tatis back to SS, considering that Kim would only have 1 year left of control, and that should work fine, it would be the same as this season, and the strongest defender at SS would still not be playing SS.

We could look at a possible scenario of Tatis returning to the dirt, and line them up this way, Tatis-3B, Kim-SS, Borgaerts-2B, and Crone-1B.

Either way, it does create another OF hole, and would need a replacement in the OF, and there are not a lot good FA options for OF.

So where would SD have the best chance of filling a hole. 3B, OF, 1B......? Depends on who becomes FA, opt outs, and who is available via trade.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 2, 2023, 11:55 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 2, 2023, 11:20 am

Also,I'd love to hear more about this "Asian players don't want to play with other Asian players" thing.

One, it just doesn't sound like a thing.

Two,why wouldn't they?

Is this just something we are assuming or has anyone researched/written about this phenomenon?

I did a quick look on the internet, and did not see anything pop up, so no stories or research that I have found yet. So at this time for me, it is more of an observation. And the fact that I can not recall any two high level Japanese players on the same ML team to this point.

I mean we dont know the money difference between SD and CHC, and we did not get Suzuki, same for BOS and SD with Yoshida, and NYM and SD with Senga. I dont think the money could have been that different in all 3 cases, and there could be other reasons as well, but at least that was the starting of my theory.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 2, 2023, 12:03 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 2, 2023, 10:41 am

Lets assume we re-neg Manny in ST long term.. and we end up WS Champs in 23.. Deciding to trade Soto

What does a package from NYY (imagine that RF and Soto) look like?

Dominguez + Cabrera + Peraza + Schultz enough? Too much?

+ Pereira maybe

I guess it depends on Soto's performance this season. Is he the low BA, low SLG guy that SD got last season. Or is he the career patient batter that punishes mistakes for a great SLG percentage. SD gave up 4 or 5 prospects for Soto (depends on what prospect was added to get Bell included as well) and that was with 2.5 years of control, and under $20M in salary. After this season, he will push $30M+ in arbitration and only have 1 year of control left, and how many of the prospects that you mentioned may have worked their way into the NYY ML roster and started contributing.

Plus, NYY does not push the salary envelope like they used when George was alive and in control. So there might need to be some dollar contracts that would need to be balanced out for the deal to take place.