Well we have a lot of holes. Gonna have to give in. Extend Dre, get the absolute best available hitter, and pitcher. And why not? Lay down 2B for the team and then become cheapos? Not saying go pay Pujols until he's 50 but you have to be in the convo for FAs that will improve the team.
you dont need to spend to win if we had a GM more competent than Ned, we'd be in a much better situation if Kasten hires a strong GM, we're good. the extra money would be gravy, but you dont need it to win
no doubt, a competent gm would have us in a better place but i agree with tb, you have to be willing to spend to win you just have to spend wisely and effectively
trade for Headley sign Swisher or Napoli for 1B sign Hamels I do want to spend, just not like the recent Cubs and Mets spend wisely. dont go after Hamilton or Quentin because they are bigger names, etc
A little more on advanced scouts. I could never find proof in writing that Ned had cut back on the number of advanced scouts we had scouting opponents at the major league level. It was consistant with other cut backs ordered by McCourt. We often felt coming into a series that our guys were not as prepared with hitting plans for the other teams pitchers and vice versa. Perhaps with new owners coming in we have already increased the number but for what ever reason the guys have seemed very prepared for the Pirates and Padres. Granted not as much of a challenge to prepare for as other teams.
Why do we have to be so thrifty? For the sake of being thrifty? Not saying those guys won't improve the team, just asking
We'd have a 'pretty good' 3Bman...still have a hole in LF, a converted 1Bman, and nothing very good at 2B
Because of the opportunity cost involved whenever you spend money on anything. When we spend money on one thing we give up the opportunity to spend it on something else. Money is never an unlimited pot and decisions have to be made. Ten million not spent on a player can be used for scouting, player development other players not as expensive etc etc etc. Not spending 10 more million on a top free agent might be used to sign a bunch of young prospects from Latin America etc. I suspect Stan will not try to avoid having top draft picks and will relish getting the best possible ones.
because the 1 big FA, Josh Hamilton, scares me not even the alcohol. the injuries. i hope the Rangers lock him up go after Napoli, Miggy Montero, Swisher
I just want to make it clear that I think our team would win the NL West easily with that team, and I'd be stoked to fill in the lineup card with an improved Gordon, healthy Dre, Matt, and a solid addition of Headley, Napoli, and a killer rotation with Kershaw/Hamels/Bills/etc. Zack Lee not far away, Ruby, etc. Just saying...if Prince was on the market again and Detroit didn't go nuts, I'd expect to sign him.
He's a lot younger than I assumed he was. I thought he was like 36. He gets on base. Why not in the outfield? Fill a hole instead of kind of patching another one.
I trash on Loney as much as the next guy but replacing him at 1B w/ Nick Swisher isn't something I dream about. I will wait to call 1B a complete HOLE until we get further into the season. This is obviously James's final chance.
I am not saying the issue or question will be the player absent money consideration. The article talks about free agents thinking we will be throwing big money at them or top dollar and the author is saying that Stan may not be willing to go as high as they may want or others have gotten and the length of contracts based on history may not be as long as others have gotten.
That would be an absolutely dramatic upgrade, sliding Swisher 2nd in the lineup would be amazing for Kemp and Ethier. IMO. He's a slick fielder along with being an AJ-like count worker. @TB
There is another consideration and that is not just the length of contracts but the disadvantage the NL has when competing with the AL over length of contract. Because of the DL it is easier for the AL to give a player a longer term contract that takes them into their mid thirties and beyond. Easier for Detroit and the Angels with Fielder and Pujols than the NL. There is an article out there about that concern.
I hope everyone reads the entire article linked so we are all having the same conversation. The article isn't about what Kasten should do but what history suggests he might do.