The Sunshine Squad 2024

[IanRubbish]

Having flexibility and exercising it are two totally different issues...

Have to think they'll actually spend this offseason.  It's not just five straight losing seasons, it'll likely be five straight below a .450 win percentage.  They'd reach new levels of foolishness if they didn't.

[varoadking]

Have to think they'll actually spend this offseason.  It's not just five straight losing seasons, it'll likely be five straight below a .450 win percentage.  They'd reach new levels of foolishness if they didn't.

Mini Me says "Hold my beer."

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Luis Garcia was someone I wrote off prior to this season, but at still just 24 he’s having a really nice season.  I think he could be a solid 6th or 7th hitter and the 2B of our future contending teams. 

[OfftheBat]

Having flexibility and exercising it are two totally different issues...

Indeed... we'll see what ownership does this Winter...

[IanRubbish]

Luis Garcia was someone I wrote off prior to this season, but at still just 24 he’s having a really nice season.  I think he could be a solid 6th or 7th hitter and the 2B of our future contending teams.

I agree about Garcia's development this year, all good things there.  But his clock is ticking, along with MacKenzie Gore, he's under team control for another three seasons, and on the other side of 2B, CJ's under team control for another four, so contention has to happen soon. 

[imref]

I think best case is that we get 2 more good seasons from Garcia and trade him in his final year to clear room for Seaver King.

[IanRubbish]

I think best case is that we get 2 more good seasons from Garcia and trade him in his final year to clear room for Seaver King.

We need to Seaver King develop first.  If we start cycling through guys who are supposed to be part of a "rebuild", then we're just turning into an even worse version of the Pirates.

[imref]

We need to Seaver King develop first.  If we start cycling through guys who are supposed to be part of a "rebuild", then we're just turning into an even worse version of the Pirates.

that timeline I posted assumes King is ready for the majors sometime in 2027. He's 21 now so that's not unrealistic. Our window opened in 2012 with Desmond and Espinosa in the MI, by 2019 it was Trea and Dozier.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Let's see what we get out of Dickerson, too. Worse comes to worst, the Caps might pick him up.

[imref]

6-4 in our last 10...

[rileyn]

Beating up on the O's was glorious!  Thank you to the team for me giving one night of joy.

[IanRubbish]

Manny Acta is not being brought back to coach

[varoadking]

38 games remaining...

[IanRubbish]

Just the 3rd to last Sunday without football

[imref]

seems like august has been worse than 7-9, but that's where we are after today's win.

[Natsinpwc]

seems like august has been worse than 7-9, but that's where we are after today's win.

Cause you all have turned into negative nellies.  Anyway more losses needed.  Hard to catch the Angels for third.

https://tankathon.com/mlb

[nobleisthyname]

Cause you all have turned into negative nellies.

I think the news of bringing back the entire coaching staff for next year with so much of the season still left put a sour taste in a lot of people's mouths.

[Natsinpwc]

I think the news of bringing back the entire coaching staff for next year with so much of the season still left put a sour taste in a lot of people's mouths.

Next year the goal will be .500 unless they sign some big guns which is unlikely. Watching the young guys grow.  So the coaching probably does not matter much other than Coles I think.  If they still have Davey in a couple years when contending that will be a mistake. 

[nobleisthyname]

Next year the goal will be .500 unless they sign some big guns which is unlikely. Watching the young guys grow.  So the coaching probably does not matter much other than Coles I think.  If they still have Davey in a couple years when contending that will be a mistake.

Sure, but I think that plays into the negativity. Next season could very easily have a higher goal than merely .500. The fact they're most likely punting yet another season is pretty disheartening, particularly when there's no real reason to.

I do think we should try to trade Gore next trade deadline if we're not trying to compete.

[varoadking]

If they still have Davey in a couple years when contending that will be a mistake.

Yes it will be, but I fear they're gonna keep him around as long as Bobby Cox and other 1 time WS winners so that he can get a plaque in Cooperstown as well...

[Natsinpwc]

Sure, but I think that plays into the negativity. Next season could very easily have a higher goal than merely .500. The fact they're most likely punting yet another season is pretty disheartening, particularly when there's no real reason to.

I do think we should try to trade Gore next trade deadline if we're not trying to compete.

I think fans have an unrealistic expectation based on 2009-12.  From 100 losses to more than 90 wins in three years.  But they added two generational talents from the draft and one slightly below that level.  Harper, Strasburg and Rendon.  We don't have that now.  Maybe Wood.  Not sure what they could get for Gore?  Might make sense to stock the system but he's not helping his trade value this summer.  He has three years of arbitration so there is time. 

[nobleisthyname]

I think fans have an unrealistic expectation based on 2009-12.  From 100 losses to more than 90 wins in three years.  But they added two generational talents from the draft and one slightly below that level.  Harper, Strasburg and Rendon.  We don't have that now.  Maybe Wood.  Not sure what they could get for Gore?  Might make sense to stock the system but he's not helping his trade value this summer.  He has three years of arbitration so there is time.

Rendon wasn't an impact player until 2014.

The Astros lost 111 games in 2013 and made the playoffs in 2015.
The Orioles lost 110 games in 2021 and had a winning record in 2022 and a 100 win season in 2023.
The Cubs lost 101 games in 2012 and made the NLCS in 20162015.

The Nationals didn't get to draft Strasburg or Harper this time, but they did get to pick second overall in one of the deepest drafts in recent history last season and got the largest prospect haul in MLB history by trading a future inner-circle HOF'er with 2.5 years of control left. They also got to trade away a future HOF SP and an all-star caliber SS with 1.5 years of control left the season prior.

If this team can reasonably hope to contend for .500 next season without significant additions, then it stands to reason that a few major additions would push this team over the top. No need to wait a whole additional year. Unless the goal is to compete without spending.

[Senatorswin]

Next year probably depends on two things. The prospects coming through as hoped and signing a pitcher and a bat at first base that can hit home runs.

They have a middle infield. If House comes through they're good there. They need to sign a first baseman with power and the infield is set. They have a left and center fielder. If Crews comes through they have a top notch outfield with some quality depth available if Call can continue to be productive. It would be nice to get a full year of production from the catcher that's locked up for a handful of years.

They have quality young pitchers but need to sign an anchor such as Corbin Burnes (although it bothers me he would skip pitching in his rotation slot on the Sunday before the all-star break so he could pitch in the all-star game. Anyway somebody.

Since this is the Sunshine subject I'm going to say this happens and we're a major player again.

[nobleisthyname]

Not going to happen but since it's the SSS thread I would love if they signed:

Corbin Burnes
Joc Pederson
Christian Walker

I definitely think this would be a playoff team with those additions.

[Natsinpwc]

Rendon wasn't an impact player until 2014.

The Astros lost 111 games in 2013 and made the playoffs in 2015.
The Orioles lost 110 games in 2021 and had a winning record in 2022 and a 100 win season in 2023.
The Cubs lost 101 games in 2012 and made the NLCS in 20162015.

The Nationals didn't get to draft Strasburg or Harper this time, but they did get to pick second overall in one of the deepest drafts in recent history last season and got the largest prospect haul in MLB history by trading a future inner-circle HOF'er with 2.5 years of control left. They also got to trade away a future HOF SP and an all-star caliber SS with 1.5 years of control left the season prior.

If this team can reasonably hope to contend for .500 next season without significant additions, then it stands to reason that a few major additions would push this team over the top. No need to wait a whole additional year. Unless the goal is to compete without spending.

Those are the things exceptions  though.