If you trade them both and end up with a bunch of prospects some of them will be pitching prospects...who you hope will turn into something just a step or two down from Lee and Felix.
So why not get fewer players...and keep the actual Lee or the actual Felix...rather than hoping you get something kind of like but not quite the real thing.
There is a law of averages type of symetry to this season. The M's weren't as good last year as their record indicated...they're not as bad this year. Figgy, Lopez and Felix having average years would fix a lot of that. Of all the M's only Fister (and perhaps Josh Wilson who I like more and more) are outside established comfort zones. And I think we're looking at a long term #3-type starter in Fister.
I don't know what Bradley's "average" can be assumed to be anymore. His gaudy Arlington-induced numbers of '08 are certainly aberations. First, he was a .358-.466-.679-1.145 guy at home that year (of course)...and a .290-.410-.462 on the road guy. His away numbers are still impressive.....but even that was driven by a season long and unsustainable .388 BABIP!
His mean might approach the 120-ish OPS+ he put up, combined, from '05-'07. But even then...that was for a total of 232 games and 964 PA's over three seasons....and it was 3 years ago, and he's 32 now.....and he's not Ichiro.
But he will most probably be a better player next year....as long as his mental progress continues.
So let's assume you can keep Lee..that gives you (perhaps) a rotation of Lee, Felix, Fister and (perhaps) Bedard next year. That's a good place to start. Add Pineda....there you go. The real question for this team for next year is what do you do at 1B and LF (or DH is Bradley is your LF). Ackley has to be one of those....if so, then you need a bonker at the other position. This team needs a 30 HR bat. I don't think it is Saunders. I once thought (all the way back in ST) that Tui had that potential....but I don't see that now. I don't see the home run stroke that I saw then. I see a guy struggling badly, who doesn't recognize pitches and is just trying to get a piece of everything. He needs to take a Sweeney lesson. Pick a zone...swing hard at pitches in that zone.
I love Lee. But I'm not sure your best bet isn't to trade him. Get two or three in return. A major league arm of some sort and a AAA bat with pop.
Felix? He needs a butt kicking. Time for Sweeney to shut the door and let fly, again.
What we have learned is that Snell, RRS, and French are not full season rotation guys. Not even close.
We've learned that Josh Wilson is a commodity worth hanging on to.
Lopez is a stud with the glove at 3B. Keep him. His bat will come around.
Saunders is a 4th OF type of guy (I know..give the guy a chance some will say...But I'm not seeing 600 AB's of bat there). Worth keeping as that.
Kotchman. He's gone...and should have never been signed. A major Z blunder.
Carp's stroke and approach are terrific. This year, something is missing. I still like him, though.
Langerhans...great guy. Valuable to a contender. Worthless to us. I'ld rather see AAA guys like Wilson and Halman get a bunch of PA's. They would strike out....but let's find out if they would mash some, too.
Let's see this lineup sometime early next week.
Ichiro-RF
Figgins-2B
Ackley-1B
Bradley-DH
Lopez-3B
Guti-CF
Josh Wilson-SS
Wilson/Halman-LF
Johnson-C
moe
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