Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
Season in review
That's a profoud "Exceeds Expectations" performance. Front office killed it. Quartaro killed it. Players performed. Witt continued his ascendance over a full season.
Looking ahead
I think KC will explore its options and be open to a variety of approaches.
Trades? Luis Rengifo (Angels) and Ryan McMahon (Rockies) are both players who would fit nicely in KC. McMahon would be more of a middle-lineup guy, and Rengifo a leadoff hitter. Jonathan India (2B, Reds) also might be a fit. I'd see what the Blue Jays want for Bichette if they make him available, too (because a left side of Bichette and Witt might be the coolest and most exciting in baseball, and they'd be one hell of a 1-2 punch).
Free agents? Alex Bregman is the best 3B on the market and will be looking for a big deal. He'd be a pretty slick fit at 3B and hitting 3rd behind Witt (with Pasquantino behind him and then Perez). If Cody Bellinger opts out of his deal with the Cubs (no guarantee, they owe him $54M the next two years if he doesn't), that fit seems so perfect and obvious as someone who can play some 1B and some CF and some RF... but then you look at park factor and see Baseball Savant would project him as a low teens HR hitter at the K, and wonder ... would that be Andrew Benintendi again?
Anthony Santander is also a FA and coming off a 40+HR season. Baseball Savant projects him as a consistent 30-HR hitter, even at the K. But is he really a fit for KC?
And then there is pitching. Does Wacha return? Would you go try to do something with Sean Manaea or Max Fried instead, and upgrade? Take a chance on Shane Bieber coming off of Tommy John and looking at a mid-season return?
Being aggressive with some FA pitching might make it a little easier to move Brady Singer as part of a trade that makes sense (maybe the Reds in return for India?).
|
Rumor is Bellinger will opt out because Boras knows he can get more in FA and Cubs want the flexibility of using his money for other things since they've got Crow-Armstrong for center now and Suzuki can move to right.
I'm praying.
