2022-2023 Off-season Discussion Thread

[Elvir Ovcina]

seems he would be a good fit as a mentor, insurance for Ruiz, and upgrade over Adams:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/as-pitchers-and-catchers-report-gary-sanchez-is-still-looking-for-work/

Mentor for what?  "Don't do what I did?" 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Mentor for what?  "Don't do what I did?" 

TBH, they are completely different hitters, and I like Ruiz's defense more.  Ruiz is a plate discipline and contact guy, Sanchez is a high K and power guy. Ruiz's K%/BB% was double Sanchez's last year and almost double Sanchez's for GS's career.

If you were to pick up Sanchez, he'd need PAs to convince people that any rebound to, say 2019 levels, is real.  I'm not sure where the PAs would come from.  You don't hold back Ruiz's development, Meneses, Smith, Candelario, and even Matt Adams are competing for 1B/DH PAs (with Candy more of a 3rd baseman). 

[welch]

In NY, Sanchez was thought to be a good hitter, at least when he hit homers, and one of the worst catchers in baseball. How would he be a mentor to Ruiz?

[imref]

In NY, Sanchez was thought to be a good hitter, at least when he hit homers, and one of the worst catchers in baseball. How would he be a mentor to Ruiz?

He's got a lot more experience as a starter. and is a two-time all-star. Right now Ruiz is the senior catcher on the squad.

[welch]

He's got a lot more experience as a starter. and is a two-time all-star. Right now Ruiz is the senior catcher on the squad.

Not good experience as a starter, though. Ruiz is a better catcher than Sanchez has ever been, and a better hitter than Sanchez except that Sanchez has hit home runs. Sometimes. Yankees preferred having a defensive catcher who might hit .250 than having Sanchez.

[imref]

Not good experience as a starter, though. Ruiz is a better catcher than Sanchez has ever been, and a better hitter than Sanchez except that Sanchez has hit home runs. Sometimes. Yankees preferred having a defensive catcher who might hit .250 than having Sanchez.

You don’t have to better than someone to coach them as my little leaguers found out

[welch]

You don’t have to better than someone to coach them as my little leaguers found out

Ah, yes. But I think someone like Yan Gomes would be a better mentor. Of course, Gomes is signed to the Cubs...

[catocony]

Luke Voit signed a minor league deal with the Brewers.  I guess non-tendering him was a smart move since no other team is looking at him as a real option. 

[blue911]

Consensus move.

[zimm_da_kid]

Consensus move.

That being said, I think a minor league deal for him is a great deal.  Surprised nobody at least offered him a guaranteed million

[imref]

IIRC, this guy has been hit or miss on these sorts of stories:

Héctor Gómez  @hgomez27
3h
SOURCE: The Washington Nationals are showing interest in Gary Sanchez. Now, #Nats and #Angels emerge as the frontrunners to sign him.

@z101digital @ZDeportes

[Five Banners]

IIRC, this guy has been hit or miss on these sorts of stories:

Héctor Gómez  @hgomez27
3h
SOURCE: The Washington Nationals are showing interest in Gary Sanchez. Now, #Nats and #Angels emerge as the frontrunners to sign him.

@z101digital @ZDeportes

Cmon Arte

[Slateman]

Oh cool, Sanchez can show Ruiz how to strike out

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Cmon Arte

If he signs on a minor league deal with an invite, then I'm maybe OK with the Nats kicking the tires, but short of that, this would be an awful signing.  The guy is strictly a DH now.  Assuming that the plan is that Meneses is in the field for either Dom or Corey when facing a lefty, that still isn't many ABs for him. I'd much rather see a useful piece like Call get more opportunities.  And yes, I did call Call useful.

Figure primary starting lineup with an outfield of CD / Robles / Thomas, infield of Candyman, Abrams, Garcia, and Dom, with Meneses DH.  Vargas and Call on the bench, with a C (likely Adams) a lock too. That means 2 more backups, likely a 2d OF and an IF. Garrett and Kieboom, with Chavis, and longer shots like Downs, Pineda, Alu, Stevenson and others in the mix for now. Sanchez is at most a 3rd catcher/ backup DH. If Meneses is getting time in LF against lefties, maybe a Sanchez signing means they are trying to make it impossible to keep Garrett on the 26 man roster by squeezing out all the playing opportunities.

[Natsinpwc]

Yea. Makes little sense. They should have been looking for a defensive oriented catcher as the backup.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yea. Makes little sense. They should have been looking for a defensive oriented catcher as the backup.

and they have Henry Blanco as a coach. 

[imref]

Luis Garcia joins Ruiz in moving from Boras to Octagon.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Luis Garcia joins Ruiz in moving from Boras to Octagon.

not sure how I feel about them joining the UFC.

[imref]

not sure how I feel about them joining the UFC.

he'll have to work on his defense though

[Elvir Ovcina]

he'll have to work on his defense though

And his hitting.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gonna post this here and maybe move it to the spring training thread, but Golden is pretty high on Stone Garrett. From today's Svrluga chat:

Is it too early to ask for the name of one player who might surprise the faithful in 2023?

Andrew Golden
Nationals Reporter
I would say Stone Garrett. The Nationals signed him as a free agent in November after he was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He's a late bloomer who made his major league debut last season at 27 years old but hit 53 homers over the last two minor league seasons and is known for his power.

He made his major league debut last season and finished with a .276 batting average and .848 OPS in a small sample size (27 games). He's competing with Alex Call for the backup outfielder spot in camp and could start the year in the minors, but he's someone to watch for if he does make the majors.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/03/07/washington-nationals-spring-training/

[Natsinpwc]

Gonna post this here and maybe move it to the spring training thread, but Golden is pretty high on Stone Garrett. From today's Svrluga chat:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/03/07/washington-nationals-spring-training/

[Senatorswin]

Also from the Svrluga chat today talking about Corbin:

"His real issue, in my view, is that he never fully developed a third pitch that he can rely on in any count. That makes him present as a reliever who actually is trying to navigate a lineup three times. That's hard."

Make him a reliever and at least get some production from him.

[Natsinpwc]

Also from the Svrluga chat today talking about Corbin:

"His real issue, in my view, is that he never fully developed a third pitch that he can rely on in any count. That makes him present as a reliever who actually is trying to navigate a lineup three times. That's hard."

Make him a reliever and at least get some production from him.

At this time he is not blocking anyone. Just think of him as the 5th starter and hope he can keep the ERA around 5.00 and go 5 or 6 innings a game.

[Senatorswin]

At this time he is not blocking anyone. Just think of him as the 5th starter and hope he can keep the ERA around 5.00 and go 5 or 6 innings a game.

While not being ideal that would be okay but at this point I'm not thinking he's capable of that. With Doo having health issues he could fill a lefty role in the pen facing less batters per outing.