Hot Stove: 2019-2020 Offseason

[Slateman]

then we could have had Rendon and Trout. But who could afford that?

We could have afforded an outfield of Soto, Acuna, and Harper.

[Slateman]

Maybe we just don't do anything major this offseason.

Donaldson is the only remaining 3B that will get big money and I'm pretty much not interested in a 34 year old that hits .250. He's on his way to Adam Dunn territory.

We're set in the OF, unless we really want to move Eaton. And even then, I don't know that it's worth it for a Castellanos or Ozuna. They're good bats, but Ozuna's shoulder limits him to LF and Castellanos is pretty terrible in the OF.

We clearly don't need more starting pitching.

The remaining relievers are … meh? Treinen signed with the Dodgers. Smith is off the board. Betances? Harris? Hudson? Cishek? I don't really care desperately about any of these guys. If I had to sign one, I'd choose Betances, mainly because he'd probably want a one year deal. Had I known Rendon was gone, I would have gladly given Pomeranz a four year deal at 8 million AAV.

Castellanos is the only big bat left that we could find a spot for. I'd play him at first base in a heartbeat. Heck, I'd even tell him he can play first for a season and if he doesn't like it, we'll just not pick up Eaton's option and he can move back to the OF. But I think he'd like first base a lot. But Zim and Kendrick will probably occupy first base.

That leaves a lot of meh players. Asdrubel Cabrerra, Brock Holt, Starlin Castro .... Shouldn't be more than 5MM AAV for any of them. All of them have time at second and third, so Kieboom can play whichever position he's comfortable with.

So yea, get Betances and another of the infielders. Look to acquire something at the deadline if you are actually in the playoff race. Focus next offseason on getting Mookie Betts

[RyanZimsKazoo]

Betances and Hudson are the two we should want for the BP. Because our BP is looking something awful.

[imref]

Where we are today (40 man):
OF: Soto, Robles, Eaton, Taylor, Stevenson
INF: Kendrick, Turner, Difo, Kieboom, Noll
C: Gomes, Suzuki, Barrera, Read
SP: Scherzer, Strasburg, Sanchez, Corbin, Ross, Voth, Fedde
RP: Rainey, Guerra, Doolittle, Suero, Strickland, Barrett, Bourque, Braymer, Elias, Finnegan, McGowan, Austen Williams

Definitely wouldn't be a bad idea to get a 3B (Todd Frazier anyone?) and a 1B (Zimm?)

[RyanZimsKazoo]

RP: Rainey, Guerra, Doolittle, Suero, Strickland, Barrett, Bourque, Braymer, Elias, Finnegan, McGowan, Austen Williams

What a god awful BP. 

[Slateman]

Betances and Hudson are the two we should want for the BP. Because our BP is looking something awful.

We got the best out of Hudson when we needed it. No reason to get locked into that guy for a couple years.

[Slateman]

Where we are today (40 man):
OF: Soto, Robles, Eaton, Taylor, Stevenson
INF: Kendrick, Turner, Difo, Kieboom, Noll
C: Gomes, Suzuki, Barrera, Read
SP: Scherzer, Strasburg, Sanchez, Corbin, Ross, Voth, Fedde
RP: Rainey, Guerra, Doolittle, Suero, Strickland, Barrett, Bourque, Braymer, Elias, Finnegan, McGowan, Austen Williams

Definitely wouldn't be a bad idea to get a 3B (Todd Frazier anyone?) and a 1B (Zimm?)

Frazier and Eaton hate each other, so I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

[Expos]

We could have afforded an outfield of Soto, Acuna, and Harper.

And never win a thing because we would have two of the biggest douche-bags in baseball.

[Expos]

It's not, but go ahead and tell yourself that if it makes you feel better

Depth is better that one star player. Just ask the Angels.

[Slateman]

And never win a thing because we would have two of the biggest douche-bags in baseball.

Depth is better that one star player. Just ask the Angels.

We just won because of depth. Rendon is depth. Adding replacement level players is not "depth." Its what we had in April and May.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

We're going to spend all the money that would've went to Rendon on either Donaldson plus 1 RP (Hudson) or a cheap 3B and then maybe spend a lot on the 'pen and get 2 quality guys.  Then we're going to have to either add an infield bat at the deadline or help the bullpen. 

[RyanZimsKazoo]

We're going to spend all the money that would've went to Rendon on either Donaldson plus 1 RP (Hudson) or a cheap 3B and then maybe spend a lot on the 'pen and get 2 quality guys.  Then we're going to have to either add an infield bat at the deadline or help the bullpen.

If Nats were offering 30mil AAV/ I assume that will go towards a bullpen arm and 2B. Maybe a castro.

Still want Kris Bryant. Kieboom is nothing special in my opinion.

[Slateman]

We're going to spend all the money that would've went to Rendon on either Donaldson plus 1 RP (Hudson) or a cheap 3B and then maybe spend a lot on the 'pen and get 2 quality guys.  Then we're going to have to either add an infield bat at the deadline or help the bullpen. 

So filler. We're going to replace a top 10 player in all of baseball with filler.

[Slateman]

If Nats were offering 30mil AAV/ I assume that will go towards a bullpen arm and 2B. Maybe a castro.

Still want Kris Bryant. Kieboom is nothing special in my opinion.

Nats backed themselves into a corner on this. They almost have to trade for Bryant, or they're going to lose a season.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Nats backed themselves into a corner on this. They almost have to trade for Bryant, or they're going to lose a season.

Please, tell us the team needs to be blown up again like you did last season.  Your "lost seasons" end up alright. 

[Slateman]

Please, tell us the team needs to be blown up again like you did last season.  Your "lost seasons" end up alright. 

[Lazarchick 31]

Nats backed themselves into a corner on this. They almost have to trade for Bryant, or they're going to lose a season.

Agree with this completely. It's all feel good because of the WS title but they really gaffed this up big time. You're trying to replace a top 3 hitter in the game and maybe the most clutch hitter in baseball. Donaldson won't even sniff that production or that role if he's signed here. Bryant could if he clicks here. But I just don't see any way to replace Rendon this year. Not to be all doom and gloom but for Rizzo the chips fell perfectly. And sure he should get that credit but let's not act like he traded for Hudson to be our WS closer or such.

Let's just be honest here, we are counting on Zimmerman and Kendrick to be regular starters come 2020. With a limited prospect pool, we are primed for a hangover this year.

[bluestreak]

He's not wrong...

[Slateman]

He's not wrong...

Yea, he is. Everyone knew why I did it. Just like the Caps. You and him can go troll somewhere else.

[Slateman]

freak it, go all in on Bregman. Anyone not named Soto is up for it.

[Expos]

Nats backed themselves into a corner on this. They almost have to trade for Bryant, or they're going to lose a season.

Did you say the same thing last year when we lost Harper?

Rendon is gone and he is a good player but he wasn't the only reason we won.

[bluestreak]

Yea, he is. Everyone knew why I did it. Just like the Caps. You and him can go troll somewhere else.

  on you calling someone a troll.

[Slateman]

Did you say the same thing last year when we lost Harper?

Rendon is gone and he is a good player but he wasn't the only reason we won.

Naw, I was good with Harper leaving. I wanted to trade him at last year's deadline.

You can say the same thing about Strasburg. He is a good player but he wasn't the only reason we won.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Naw, I was good with Harper leaving. I wanted to trade him at last year's deadline.

You can say the same thing about Strasburg. He is a good player but he wasn't the only reason we won.

And you wanted to trade Max, Stras, Rendon, Howie etc this past deadline.  Great idea.

[NJ Ave]

I love Tony, and wish we kept him. That being said, I don't think it's particularly likely that he remains a 6-7 win player for very long if at all. In the past decade, only three 3rd basemen have had seasons of 6+ WAR at age 30 or older. Beltre twice, Donaldson once, Miggy once. Only Beltre and Justin Turner have had 2 or more seasons of 5+ WAR.

Third base is a rough position, and while Tony isn't as injury-prone as his first couple years, I also wouldn't say he's exceptionally likely to be more durable than average. At 1B, he's more like Anthony Rizzo, and while that's a nice player, no one is falling all over themselves to pay Anthony Rizzo $35 million a year.

I hope I'm wrong, and I'll be rooting for the Angels in the AL for sure.