Honestly, if Santana wants anything more than 3/36 (which, he likely will) and Duffy/Paulino and Ventura continue lighting it up in the minors, I would be more content on focusing that money on an extra bat for the next season. Saving it for an extension offer for Shields would be worth it as well.

I suppose I am just more pessimistic, given that a few years ago we were all jizzing our pants over the projected rotation of Montgomery, Dwyer, Lamb, Duffy, and Odorizzi.

Not to be uncharacteristically optimistic, but isn’t there going to be a big bump in revenue sharing after this year because of the new TV deal? I heard the figures last offseason, wasn’t it something like $15-20 million a season per team?

After reading that, I completely agree with this....

And it's not just the holes at the positions. Not only do we need to find a RF and 2B, we need some power RF and 2B since our other positions are probably set in stone for at least another couple of seasons (maybe).

After the last 28 years, I do not blame you at all.

Bubba Starling was also 5 for 5 last night. He's hitting .243 over the last 10 games, which isn't great, but it's a lot better than where it was.

I was of this mindset before, (until I posed the thoughts to Duncan, that is) but I now believe that if we're at least 5 games back come August, the only way we trade Santana is if we can make a Billy Beane type fleecing (with Moore's trading track record, I doubt this will occur).

2013-2014 are kind of our all or nothing years, right? If so, keeping our dynamic 1-2 punch for the playoffs will be essential.

chiefspants already pointed out the main issue with that...

The only teams that will be interested in trading for Santana will be in the playoff chase. And a team in the running is not likely to have a spare RF/2B just laying around that they can part with. Not a good one that would be an upgrade for KC.

I think the only way Santana gets traded is if KC is out of the running for at least the wildcard. Hopefully we don't get to that point.

I still think Chase Utley makes the most sense as a trade target. I know he's old, and expensive, and injury-prone. But he also could give you 2-3 WAR from the 2B spot if he stays healthy the whole second half.

It's the type of move Walt Jocketty always seemed to make, with great success (Will Clark/Larry Walker/etc), when he was in St. Louis, and I think that could be a nice boost for KC. That one extra stick would transform the lineup a bit.

Gordon
Utley
Perez
Butler
Hosmer
Cain
Moustaksas/Tejada
Escobar

I get it.

Main difference being... Paulino and Duffy have already succeeded at the major league level. They both seem to have recovered completely and have the same live arms they did before. Most TJ guys like that bounce back with almost no problem at all.

When we were excited about those 5 guys, none had pitched above AA. And the best of them (Lamb) suffered an injury and is still trying to make it all the way back (recent signs that's happening, though).

I keep watching the Angels fail to make up ground in the AL West and keep dreaming about Howie Kendrick. Utley would be nice, but damn...Kendrick is a ball player.

If they want Ventura, they can stick it where it counts.

The way Ventura's pitching, I would want more in return. But Kendrick brings power, defense, and is only 29.

I want whoever the Rockies don't want and throw in the trash.

You're kidding, right? They can have our 160 lb "pitching prospect" if it means getting a stick in return. He's more likely Juan Cruz than Pedro Martinez.

Kendrick is hot right now, but when he evens out he generally hits around .285/.330/.410 with around 10 HR's a year (numbers that will likely go down once he arrives at Kauffman.)

From a pure value standpoint, I would want a little more in return for the best prospect we currently have in the minors.