Cody Gearin: Two tumbs up! He throw 60+ times a year, misses enough bats to get 8+ K's, doesn't give up a lot of hits and keeps it in the park. OK, he walks folks.....he isn't Mariano. But Gearin is a quality MLB reliever coming to a team rather short of them. This might not be a terrific signing, but it is a solid pickup, all the same.
Tim Beckham: He's basically free, is a quality glove all over the infield, won't be a FA until '21, and just two seasons ago hit 22 HR's. I feel like this one is a steal. I would prefer Crawford to be our SS from day one* (I hate dinking around with Super Two status), but Beckham will do quite nicely. Well done, Jerry. Mostly "Bravo!" on this one.
Dustin Ackley: Welcome back kid. I always felt that when Ackley found his inner kid, the North Carolina one, then he would find his bat, too. I'm hoping he becomes the line drive, all-field hitter that he was for us his first year. Pull and elevate is not his natural game.
One brick at a time, we're putting a squad together. It isn't THAT bad.
*Here is a great article, with video, of every error Crawford made last season. Every one of the 8 errors he made were on throws to 1B; several of them should/coulda be dug out by better 1B play. https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/1/10/18167099/j-p-crawford-made-some-errors-last-year-and-im-encouraged-mariners-shortstop-of-the-future-phillies
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