2012 Free Agent Wish List

Besides the fact that he plays for the Redsux, what has he done to warrant any hatred? I’m not trying to stir the pot here, I sincerely want to know. All I see is one of the toughest outs in the majors who takes his walks, hits for decent power, plays two positions very well and rivals Erstad in intensity.

Did he say or do something at some point to piss everyone off? Is it his ugly face? Or is it really just hatred for all things BoSux?

I think that we can count on one of Williams, Richards, or Chatwood, but not two of the three (or, in the event of an injury, all three).

We can save a few million dollars by trading Abreu. I believe that this will happen. Trading Izzy and Trumbo will not save us money. Izzy will make $3.8 million. Trumbo will make the minimum. For $4 million, it would be impossible to replace their production. The only way it would make sense to trade one or both of them is if another team took on Wells or Hunter in return — or gave us a legitimate player. I doubt that will happen.

First question — does Kendrys come back?

If no, then there are a number of ways that Trout could play. The most likely one would not even require an injury. It would merely require the team to trade Abreu and for Wells to continue to suck. In that case, Trout would take over left field, Bourjos would play center field, Hunter would play right field, Trumbo would play first base, and Fielder would DH. Or even in the absence of any roster move, if Kendrys does not come back and there is an injury to either Bourjos or Hunter, then Trout is right back in the mix. In that case, Fielder would DH, Trumbo would play 1B, and the remaining outfielders (Wells, Abreu, Trout, and the one who was not injured, Bourjos or Hunter) would share time at the three outfield spots.

Sure, Trout would not get his at-bats if we sign Fielder and if Kendrys does return. I still do not see any reason, however, to trade Bourjos in that scenario. Instead, Trout would start the year at AAA, and we probably would trade Abreu. That would leave Wells in LF (at least to start), Bourjos in CF, and Hunter in RF. The obvious odd man out would be Trumbo. He either would have to take away a starting job from Wells or Callaspo, serve as a platoon with Kendrys, or be traded. Any injury in this scenario would provide plenty of at-bats for everyone except Trout. That is not such a big problem, however, because he would get his at-bats in 2013 after Hunter and Abreu (and perhaps Wells) are gone. The upgrade in offense next season would more than compensate for this, and if Trout dominated AAA, he might just force his way ahead of Wells, Abreu, and Trumbo, regardless of what else happens.

Then the question is how healthy he is. If Kendrys is only able to DH, then Fielder has to play 1B. In that case, Trumbo is the one who is blocked, unless he can transition to either the outfield or third base.

This is what I have posted in other threads. The GM cannot be expected to win next season (at a greater rate than the team did this season), unless the payroll is increased significantly. The goal should be 2013, after we are free of the salaries of Hunter, Abreu, Takahashi, and Izturis. The GM will have way more to spend in 2013, especially if one or more of Aybar and Kendrick are let go in free agency.

I would think 8 years and $180 million or thereabouts (Teixeira money). Prince is the same age as Teixeira when Teixeira signed his contract. Teixeira’s WAR totals in the three years prior were 3.8 in 2006, 5.0 in 2007, and 7.3 in 2008, for a total of 16.1. Prince’s are 6.4 in 2009, 2.7 in 2010, and 5.2 in 2011, for a total of 14.3. Teixeira has an edge of 0.6 per season, but with the way salaries increased last season, I don’t know why we should expect Prince to get much (if any) less than Teixeira did.

It’s pretty obvious that if Napoli had stuck around Mathis would have still caught the majority of the games and Napoli would have played first. Napoli is a much better hitter than Trumbo, but we would have still been stuck with the disaster that is Jeff Mathis.

…but throwing 20 Mil plus on a top of the order guy would be better served for a high OPS guy like Fielder. You’ll get OBP & SLG.

Our team only has one bullet in the Offseason Big Splash gun.

…I just don’t see Shortstop as a need to upgrade. This is just my opinion but Aybar is a great defender and he holds his own as a major league hitter. I would sign him to an extension(and Howie). I’m not talking huge money here but they’re not the problem with the team and its production issues.

We do have huge holes at DH and 1st. Who’s going to be playing in those positions for the future? Abreu’s bat has diminished completely and who knows what will come of Kendrys Morales. Plus Trumbo had an OBP sub-.300 which is horrible.

he’s only making $3 million this year and by the time he is a Free Agent(end of next season), he won’t get more than 8-10 Million a year.

…in the future, he could also play multiple positions. He wouldn’t be locked in at 2nd. You could throw him at DH, 1st and LF. Jut depends on how the future plays out.

He lead the team in OPS this year and hit .255 with RISP plus .571 with the bases loaded. Only maded $3.3 in 2011. I don’t think it would cost the team too much to have him signed for 3 or 4 more years after 2012.

…anyone would want to trade Howie or Aybar. They are productive players but wouldn’t net much in return.