***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***

[rwperu34]

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Why not instead move some of those young guns to the bullpen?


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I actually support this idea. I think Homer Bailey might have the highest EV as a reliever and the Reds still have a high leverage slot available.

[rwperu34]

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I think you are underrating Kubel. I'd have him penciled in as the starter in LF for next season. He is average to above average as a fielder (in left) and an above average hitter. His 2007 line was very similar to the average AL left fielder:
AL Average: .275/.335/.426
Kubel: .273/.335/.450

What makes me even more hopeful about his future is that his walk rate consistently improved all year, he hits more line drives then anyone on the team and he had a great second half. In fact, over the 2nd half, he was the best hitter on the team, hitting .303/.379/.511. That isn't a big enough sample so that you could expect him to keep it up next year, but it is enough to hope. Combined with his career minor league line of .320/.388/.499 it seems a little more likely that his 2nd half performance could look more like his future then this 1st half.

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I've got Kubel penciled in as well, and they could make do with him if they had to, but this is one area where they can and will look to improve.

[rwperu34]

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they should actually trade santana and blow it up

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Dynamite drop in. That broadcasting school has really paid off.

[Vyse]

your post had a lot of superfluous mean-nothing in it, it's simple: blow it up.

[rwperu34]

I think the most interesting thing about this story is, while they give Santana gets the headline, the only thing the Yankees specifically say the are looking for is relief. Joe Nathan is a much more tradeable piece of the Twins puzzle, and Juan Rincon is pretty fungible to the Twins but has some value to the Yanks. Maybe we'll see a Rincon for Brett Gardner deal come out of this. Another possibility would be Nathan for Cabrera, although that doesn't really make a whole lot of sense for the Yankees.

[Neuge]

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It is easily addressed: trade Dunn.

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That's trading over 30% of your offense when it's at best unproven Bruce can replace it and Hamilton can hold up for an entire season.

[SL__72]

I just think with the CF/DH/3B/2B situation they have, they shouldn't be looking to improve a position where they already have a league-average player. Right now, given in-house talent, they might be able to swing a league-average platoon at one of those 4 positions with the other 3 all being significantly below average.

[Vyse]

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It is easily addressed: trade Dunn.

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That's trading over 30% of your offense when it's at best unproven Bruce can replace it and Hamilton can hold up for an entire season.

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You know very little about baseball if you think trading Dunn is bad.

[Vyse]

Is it me, or are the preliminary offers for Santana really low?

The Twins have opened trade discussions for Johan Santana by asking the Yankees for a package of at least three young players that would include one of their three top starters -- Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy -- plus center fielder Melky Cabrera.

The Twins are talking with several teams and are asking for a large return for their two-time Cy Young winner. From Boston, they asked about one of two top young pitchers -- Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester -- plus center field prodigy Jacoby Ellsbury, league sources told SI.com.

Dude, Lester + Ellsbury? Done in a second. Hughes + Cabrera? SIGN ME UP WTF?!?! This is not a lot for the best pitcher in baseball.

[wisehandpoker]

1) Is he still the best pitcher in baseball?
2) Is one year of him really worth more than five years each of Cabrera/Hughes or Ellesbury/Bucholz?

The Twins' leverage comes from the trading partner's ability to negotiate with Santana, but it's partially nullified by Santana's no-trade clause. Getting ten years worth of major league ready, high celing talent doesn't seem that far off to me.