That's the implication of what we've heard from Toboni recently. This makes sense. The organization likely came into the year thinking SELL SELL SELL but given the team has shown themselves to have a playoff caliber offense they would be shooting a gift horse in the mouth to do that. You want a great offense. You have it. You want great pitching. EH. So the goal should be to get good pitching. Simple?
Well it would be if you had a ton of money from owners that wanted to spend but no one believes that so instead we are left with trying to do particular sales to fund the pitching without hurting the offense.
And now we're at the problems.
You can't really sell good pitching because you need good pitching. Is Foster Griffin good pitching?
You should sell your good hitters to be to fund the pitching of now and that does make sense but the organization was planning to keep the those guys. Can they get over their initial desires?
Or alternatively, will they decide to gamble on those guys to replace some guys like Garcia they could sell now?
My guess? The latter. Selling good guys now - Garcia, Abrams for real pitching.
And... I don't love it. Birds in the bush are those for reasons. Every team can name more prospects they were excited about that didn't pan out. But I don't have the information they have. If the money is not coming any time soon then it will be foolish to go in now on guys that will be gone in a couple years. But I don't think you can say anything like that for sure based on what they do.
It's also hard. Because guys selling WANT the kids. They aren't looking to get guys for now. So there has to be some kids thrown in.
A lot of people are saying this is a fascinating deadline for the Nats and I agree. We could see anything from a complete rebuild to a light push for the playoffs this year and you can justify any of that.
I think trading CJ would be a terrible message to send to the team and the fan base. Regardless of how it is intended, the message received by the vast majority would be “The Nats don’t plan on contending in 2027 or 2028”.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Simple. Teams that are contending Do Not Trade Away Stars. They will need those stars to contend. The Nats did not trade Harper in 2018 or Rendon in 2019 because they were trying to win.
When we traded Gore that bugged a lot of folks, but the counter argument was “we were 66-96 WITH Gore. What makes you think this team is about to add 20+ wins and contend in 2026?”.
Now the fans have a hope that even if the Nats don’t make the playoffs (likely) that this team could be seeing the “2011 season”. That team was 80-81, but had a young core why more on the way. A team on the rise to get excited about and a team good free agents who want to “sign with a winner” would be willing to join at all/join without a “because you stink” overpay.
LG Jr is arguably a possible trade chip. Yes, he’s a long standing Nat and has been on an amazing heater (batting almost entirely against RHP, but still). Ortiz can plug in for him but not completely replace him. Stipulated.
BUT…if LG Jr can pull in a #5 starter better than Alvarez, Mikolas or Littell? Bring in a decent bullpen arm or two? The positive impact of addressing the 2026 team’s flaming dumpster fires (excuse me, weak areas) would likely on balance make the 2026 team’s flaming dumpster better overall. And that sends a very different message than “Just when you thought we were coming out of the six year rebuild we’re trading away one of our biggest hits for…more future potential”.
Sure, LG Jr might not (even likely won’t) draw those kinds of players. Then don’t trade him.
But don’t tell the players who are in meaningful late July games for the first time and fans that have endured six grinding years of ugly that “Nope, we’re not there yet so we’re selling off one of the two biggest hits from the Soto trade.” Don’t. Do. It.
Sums up my feelings exactly. I'd like to see them sign Griffin to a 3-5 year extension for veteran innings-eater money. He's been producing the results of a #2 starter, which he isn't, but his underlying numbers have been steadily improving as well and he's been a legit #3-4. Gio Gonzalez lite, maybe. (Honestly, he's basically Miles Mikolas at the start of his Cardinals career, coming back from overseas at the same age and with similar stuff, only left-handed.) I don't want to see them trade Abrams. Garcia, yeah, that would be okay, because we have hypothetical replacements on hand. Cleveland seems like an obvious target; the Guardians have a laundry list of competent relievers and their primary 1B and DH have been awful; Garcia would immediately be the second-best hitter on their team (should be third, but Ramirez is having a down year); heck, given how awful the non-DeLauter parts of their outfield have been (even Kwan's been bad), maybe some of our depth pieces could sweeten the pot. (with Martinez on the IL, even Dylan Crews with his present stats would be an upgrade for the Guardians in CF; think about that.)
DeleteI think we need a great closer badly! I would pay whatever was needed for Mason Miller! Then run with what we have from there. Louis is beloved by his teammates, so it would damage team chemistry if he was traded. I have lost most of my hope for Crews. Perhaps he still has value to someone. Meade has earned a few years more at Third with his breakout. That make House expendable as well.
ReplyDeleteSign Griffin or trade him. A wild card spot is not worth losing his value at the end of the season. Trade LG, if there is value. We would only lose a game or so. Hold Abrams unless the buyer offers unreasonable value. After the 2028 season, we should have plenty of good shortstops ready to replace him, and he might sign a reasonable extension before then.
ReplyDeleteWe are obviously talking about winning this year (keep Griffin!). Next year is complicated by the prospect of a salary floor -- which, if adopted, will light a fire under penny-pinching owners. How does this affect Griffin? The Lerners might have to increase team payroll by $140 million +. Meanwhile, with the proposed salary cap, several teams (think: Dodgers) will need to disgorge high-end talent with big contracts. There should be more pitchers to choose from, and more money to do it with. Not good timing for Griffin, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteA salary cap/floor AND short-term disgorgement don't work. Assuming the owners unexpectedly win big on the cap (unlikely), I doubt there are 24 owners who would vote for disgorgement in a short timeframe. For some, it would mean spending far more than they do now; for others it would mean giving up key players.
ReplyDeleteGriffin will get money from someone by December 1--if he is interested in an offer from us before free agency (uncertain) we should get it done. Teams need 8-10 pitchers minimum who are of ML quality. Foster should be on that list--we have a lot of pitching talent that is healing or developing, but i see no path to ten without taking advantage of good pitchers who are not yet in the long-term plan.