If you want an interesting risk-reward proposition at short, we could just sign Peralta.

The guy looks like he'd be a terrible fielder, but the defensive metrics really like him. Obviously you have the serious PED concerns and one might wonder if he'll fall of a cliff like Melky Cabrera did. He might be had for 2-3 years given those uncertainties, and unlike Drew, would not cost a draft pick and has been one of the most durable players in the game at the position.

Who's the best long term option at short that's available? Via trade etc.

Yeah WTF is up with that? The pain should have subsided to a dull ache.

How far away is our home grown SS? Do we even have one?

That's debatable.

From the perspective of what this team needs (RH power and good defense) it's Tulo. But is he even available, and what would he cost?

The next best option is Castro. He has shown he can hit at the ML level and has the range to be a good defensive SS. He's got character issues though.

Profar is the next best target, but he'll cost a ton in prospects and he was one of the worst players in baseball last year.

After that it's Drew, but he'll cost 4/50 and a first round pick, and he's a terrible, terrible hitter against lefties.

Peralta won't cost a pick, and he's a horse, but how much of his offensive profile is PED-related?

DJ loves Pastornicky, but I've seen the dude play like three ****ing games. I have no idea bout him.

You could also hope against hope that Greg Garcia turns into something.

Infinity and no.

Where would Castro hit, lineup wise?

It seems he'd profile as a good #2 hitter, but carpenter does the same.

He takes no walks. Eight hole, maybe seven depending upon who the CF is and if Wong is playing.

That's my 'break glass' measure.

If we can't make a reasonable deal for a young guy, we target Peralta, improve our offense significantly against LHP and actually dedicate some resources to developing a long-term SS. We seem to be treating SS about like the Chiefs treat QB - patch the hole and hope a difference maker falls in our laps.

That said, he was hideous in 2011 and will be 32 next year. And the PID cloud should probably not be ignored.

There's a real chance he might suck. But if he comes relatively cheap and short term, he's a viable option. I'd far prefer have him for 2 years/$16 million than Drew at 4 years, $48 million and lose a pick. And that may be an overstatement of his value on the market.

I'm learning.

I'm the offspring of someone who things saber metrics are a bad joke. It's a process

Probably very far.

Garcia, by many accounts, has progressed defensively and I like his offensive profile. But the organization doesn't seem to see him as a legit SS.

I liked Jackson, but he just pissed down his leg every time he got a shot. Sorry, but I'm ready to move on. MLB isn't going to give you infinite chances and he's done nothing to seize the opportunities he's been given.

Alex Mejia was a kid we went a little over slot for out of ASU a couple years ago before he blew out his knee. He had a promising start in A ball, but struggled at A+. For a 22 yr old college draftee, that's pretty alarming. He probably has 1 more season to establish himself as a legitimate prospect.

Peoples-Walls may be the only legit prospect in the org. He's 19, appears like he can probably stick at SS and had a very nice 2013. That said, it was his 3rd year in RK ball and he struck out in 1/3 of his ABs - that bodes extremely poorly for even A ball, let alone the upper minors.

Mercado's 18 and got beat up in RK ball this year. Malik Collymore is a draft pick I loved that we paid enough to get him to walk away from his Mizzou commit. Hugely athletic, toolsy as hell but they were playing him at 2b (blocked by Mercado at SS). He struck out an insane 23 times in 57 ABs. Even if he or Mercado come around, they're 5 years away at best.

There's nobody there - at all. Unless they're going to patch this thing together for the next 3-5 years, they've got nothing. And even if they do, the kids in the system aren't exactly sure things.

That's why I think they need to make a move for Castro, Profar or Andrus. This situation isn't going to resolve itself.

If he gets his shit back in order, he's a great fit at the 6 hole. Doubles power, speed that can be used in front of the 7 and 8 place hitters.

If he can get his OBP back to the .333 range, I wouldn't even have a problem with him in the 2 hole behind Carpenter. He's not going to draw many walks, but his approach is much like Craig's when he's right. A .290 hitter with speed and 15 HR pop can do a lot of work between Carpenter and Holliday.

Where will they put Tavares next year in the lineup?

AAA.

Until they think he's been humbled and/or is ready to play CF for Jay. Or if Craig's legs can't handle RF.

I don't think they want him to go north with the club. A) It creates a service time issue and B) this year suggests to me that he still has more work to do, I think the club agrees.

I assumed he'd come out of ST in cf, especially after mo's comments.

I really hated seeing him injured, because I think you're prolly right with what they do with him.