We CAN get something done. It all depends on what we want to swap. If Paxton and Taijuan Walker are on the table there's very VERY little we can't get done. If we're willing to trade Fister, League or any of our other Non-Felix, Non-Pineda arms, we have serious possibilities.
Other teams have pitching needs and blocked hitters. Grandal and Alonso are blocked (or in Alonso's case, not trusted as a LF either). So's Carpenter, IMO. KC's hitting prospect boom hasn't yet been replicated with all their minor league arms and they need some immediate starters to hold down the fort and help their young offense win, instead of the raft of 80 ERA+ guys they do have.
I don't know what Jack WILL do, but the roster makeover is not impossible. It just requires agility and derring-do, both of which Jack seems to have.
And at some point it will require cash. I don't think Fielder will be included in that cash, but trading for a Butler or a Gordon and then extending them is a nice alternate use of funds.
Having Ackley and Smoak helps a lot. Having a ton of pitchers who can (in theory) succeed in the Safe helps too.
Paxton right now is Morrow with a curve instead of a slider. Hultzen is one of the most majors-ready arms in the draft, again in theory. Beavan, Carraway and Erasmo are all contenders for the #5, and Robles is a dark horse as he gets his bearings after his surgery. The M's rushed him back to AAA, so they believe he'll find it soon.
We have mobile assets. We just need to move them for the right rewards, and be willing to look at a pitcher we traded and think "Man, that guy is good..." while our new offense is winning us a pennant behind our own great pitching.
~G
Add new comment
1