Assuming the planned Nats trajectory is "do nothing, see you in 2027" do you want a mini-run after the break to get your hopes up?
I say sure. Better baseball is better baseball even in the pursuit of nothing.
Do you have a goal win total for the end of the year
.500 or bust!
Do you want to see these guys traded or re-signed (let's assume reasonable market contract - which means decently big but not crazy
Miles Mikolas or Zack Littell?
Take the bag of balls.
Foster Griffin?
I guess trade - nice find but let me put pitching $ toward something other than a mid-rotation 30yo with half a good season in the bank
Luis Garcia
Hmmm. I've always liked him but I feel like replacing a 1B should be the easiest thing (should - the Nats have shown it's not) and you are trading high. Still he's 26. I guess I say Keep because I like my continuity but I understand.
CJ Abrams?
SIGN
Who do you want to win the East and make the playoffs in general and no stupid "the meteor" answers. Gotta pick.
Phillies for the East. Been ok with them since the Schmidt days.
Brewers and well I don't want the Dodgers but let's be honest with ourselves.
WC, if not the Nats - Pirates, Padres, D-backs
In the AL. Yankees obv, Indians, oh jeez I don't like any of my choices. Texas is the worst. Seattle is a bunch of cry babies - Boston west, Houston has gotta purge all the cheaters... I guess Seattle wins out, yuk.
Being honest again, Rays are at least in as a WC, so them and Twins and Blue Jays. I don't love the Jays but let Toronto be rewarded for trying again.
Re a mini-run: agree that better baseball is sufficient rationale, but I'm also rooting for this FO to be forced into an awkward spot. Both for the entertainment value and for the information we'd learn about their priorities.
ReplyDeleteGuardians?
ReplyDeleteI agree on the entertainment value...and sympathize but don't agree on the value of the front office showing its hand. As fans, we want a transparent FO that feeds our fandom and builds public support for the team. However, public transparency is rarely a good thing in the type of high-level negotiations that occur between teams and between teams and players. A certain amount of mystery about Toboni and Mark Lerner's intentions is an asset not a liability.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair point, but I think the advantages of that mystery are often overstated. In fact, while you certainly want to keep some things close to the vest, often clarity about priorities and understanding where the two parties have overlapping interests is the most important part of a successful negotiation.
DeleteOf course, those negot
I'm in the "anyone can be traded ... for the right price" camp. For Littell and Mikolas, that's a bag of baseballs (although someone has to pitch). I'd love to see them make a move to sign Abrams, but I don't expect any long term extensions until after the new CBA is finalized (whenever that is). I'd move Griffin, but it shouldn't be cheap. I'd be fine if the team QO'd him at the end of the season. Yes, it's an overpay, but it would only be for a year and it would give them a chance to see if they can put together an extension. And it's not like they can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteI'd keep Griffin, for a reasonable price. Who knows -- maybe he likes it here; maybe he's grateful the Nationals signed him. But he'll probably want at least 2, if not 3 years. I'd still sign him (for 2 years). I'd let Garcia go for the right price. Sure, he's hitting well, but he's a platoon first baseman. Nats can move Wood, or Lyle, or any of their outfielders (except Jacob Young) to first base.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to consider about deadline deals is that we have no idea how good Toboni is at those, but it’s very likely he will be worse than Rizzo, who (for all his faults) made numerous incredible trades at the deadline (Capps for Wilson Ramos, Cristian Guzman for Tanner Roark, Candelario for Herz, Lester for Lane Thomas, etc)
ReplyDelete