Nope, it's not a lead-in for a sunburn remedy ad. Today, you are the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and you have a pleasant problem. You've got the following position players at or near the major league level for 2007: Iwamura, Longoria, Brignac, Zobrist, Guzman, Cantu, Baldelli, Crawford, Young, Dukes, Gomes. Who do you want to be in your every day lineup as of the All-Star break in 2007, and at what positions, and who do you want to move (for pitching)?
Iwamura, Longoria, Brignac, Zobrist, Guzman, Cantu, Baldelli, Crawford, Young, Dukes, Gomes
- 1B Gomes
- 2B Cantu
- 3B Iwamura
- SS Zobrist
- LF Crawford
- CF Baldelli
- RF Young
- C Navarro
- DH Norton
AAA - Brignac, Dukes, Upton
No trades until after the allstar break. Let the kids play.
1B Cantu
2B Iwamura
3B Upton
ss Zobrist
DH Gomes
LF Crawford
CF Baldelli
RF Young
The rest of the crew needs to be either given more time in the minors (Brignac, Longoria) or Traded (Dukes..not a nice guy)
I would check the market for Baldelli and Upton.....then when Longoria is ready you can bring him up after an Upton trade or Upton makes room for him by going to CF if Baldelli is traded.
I know that I would start 2007 with Brignac and Longoria as the DP combination in Durham, and watch their adaptation carefully. The goal would be to have an infield of Iwamura, Brignac, Longoria and Cantu by September, 2007 at the latest. In the outfield, I'd like to see Crawford, Baldelli and Dukes. B.J. Upton should be in centerfield in Durham, while I would ask for the moon for Delmon Young.
Trade Baldelli for sure. He's a solid player, but his trade value is more than his worth for the Rays. They need another good young arm and they could be in great shape for a decade.
If I'm the Rays I don't know if I've got all that much to trade. I have zero faith in Zobrist, and I'd move him in a heartbeat. I don't think he will fetch much. I'd trade Gomes to whoever would give me an arm for him, but he's got the Scarlet K. Dukes is a unique problem.
So the three I'd be most likely to move would be the three that would bring back the least: Zobrist, Gomes and Dukes. Since I'm not going to get value for them I'd probably hope that Zobrist would be a good utility guy in the future and that Dukes doesn't kill anyone while he's still on the roster. I think it's still patience mode for me if I ran Tampa.
So the three I'd be most likely to move would be the three that would bring back the least: Zobrist, Gomes and Dukes. Since I'm not going to get value for them I'd probably hope that Zobrist would be a good utility guy in the future and that Dukes doesn't kill anyone while he's still on the roster. I think it's still patience mode for me if I ran Tampa.
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned trading Crawford. While he is just as young as some of these other guys, he already has 5 full seasons in the bigs, and will hit free agency long before anyone else. Will the Rays be able to re-sign him? Doubtful. If not, it would be worth trading him to a team that feels they could re-sign him for some young pitching.
My mistake, I didn't do my homework. Crawford is locked up through 2008 with team options for both 2009 and 2010 at reasonable prices (~8 and 10 million). Also, he only has about 4 1/2 full seasons under his belt.
Still, if I was a GM, I'd be salivating over Carl Crawford. His power has developed more and more every year to the tune of 15-20 HRs and 80 RBIs, he hits .300 and steals 50-60 bases. For a guy this good under control until 2010 who is pretty cheap, I would be willing to give up a lot. It might be worth exploring the trade market.
Still, if I was a GM, I'd be salivating over Carl Crawford. His power has developed more and more every year to the tune of 15-20 HRs and 80 RBIs, he hits .300 and steals 50-60 bases. For a guy this good under control until 2010 who is pretty cheap, I would be willing to give up a lot. It might be worth exploring the trade market.
I'm with the stand pat crowd. If the Rays trade now, they're "selling low" because none of their players had a particularly good 2006.
You're also assuming that the Rays need to trade for pitching. That might not be the case. Check this starting 5:
Scott Kazmir
Jason Hammel
James Shields
JP Howell
Jae Seo or Casey Fossum
Hammel and Shields had some good outings this season (and some rough ones ... they're kids). They all have good minor league resumes. The 5 spot is weak, but that's normal ... look at the Jays' rotation.
2007 is another season of evaluating the talent in Tampa. 2008 could be really interesting.
Lineup:
LF Crawford
CF Baldelli
RF Young
3B Upton
SS Zobrist
2B Iwamura
1B Cantu
C Navarro
DH Wigginton, Norton
You're also assuming that the Rays need to trade for pitching. That might not be the case. Check this starting 5:
Scott Kazmir
Jason Hammel
James Shields
JP Howell
Jae Seo or Casey Fossum
Hammel and Shields had some good outings this season (and some rough ones ... they're kids). They all have good minor league resumes. The 5 spot is weak, but that's normal ... look at the Jays' rotation.
2007 is another season of evaluating the talent in Tampa. 2008 could be really interesting.
Lineup:
LF Crawford
CF Baldelli
RF Young
3B Upton
SS Zobrist
2B Iwamura
1B Cantu
C Navarro
DH Wigginton, Norton
Jeff Niemann is likely to be right there with Kazmir at the top of the Rays rotation very shortly.
C - Navarro
1B - Cantu
2B- Wigginton
SS - Zobrist
3B -Iwamura
LF - Crawford
CF- Upton
RF - Young
DH Gomes
Trade both Baldelli and Dukes
1B - Cantu
2B- Wigginton
SS - Zobrist
3B -Iwamura
LF - Crawford
CF- Upton
RF - Young
DH Gomes
Trade both Baldelli and Dukes