Maybe they go after Shields.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>One source says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> will obtain a starting pitcher from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Reds?src=hash">#Reds</a>.</p>&mdash; Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/543059463595622400">December 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The Tigers are losing 200 decent innings a year. Offense has never been their problem. This is good for us. Now if they replace him with someone better then that isn't the best thing obviously.

Still alot of time even after the meetings. Still want to see something though

Porcello's WAR was 4.0 last year Cespedes will probably be around 3. He was great as a rookie with an OPS of .861, but including that year his 3 year average is .780 and with the current trends it looks to be around .750.

He will also likely move to RF from LF where I think his defense will be average, maybe a slight step up from Tori, but not much. Overall this isn't an upgrade in RF and it is a downgrad in SP, but we will see who they add to the mix there.

This is kind of like trading Smyly and Jackson for Price. They get the bigger name, but lose out a litte based on WAR.

There were busts out of that system, sure. Hosmer has not developed into the hitting star that was expected.

But the farm system did produce Danny Duffy, Yordano Ventura (both above average SPs currently with more upside), Salvador Perez (a great young catcher), Jarrod Dyson, Lorenzo Cain, the pieces used to trade for James Shields and Wade Davis, Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera and Hosmer (who is at least an average MLB player if not yet a star).

It produced a lot of good players, if not a true superstar. It helped bring back a star/ace type pitcher and a great reliever who was a key part of the drive. Acting like it produced nothing is really not accurate.

You're right that the current hitting prospects in the minor league system are currently kind of light. The best is a SS who is going to be 19 in July and is still likely 3 years away from the major leagues. Hunter Dozier is probably a solid major league player. Beyond that, the guys who provide the most optimism are college hitters like O'Hearn and Downes, who both put up great numbers after signing. That's not great.

A lot rides on Cheslor Cuthbert (who had a solid 2014) and Jorge Bonifacio (who did not), the closest hitting prospects to the majors. Cuthbert seems to have figured something out last year and could be poised for a big year in Omaha. Boni NEEDS to figure something out.

I thnk part of the problem is that until early 2013, the Royals didn't realize what a buffoon minor league hitting coordinator Jack Maloof was. I don't think he's been restored to that position after being removed as the MLB hitting coach, which is a good thing.

It's going to be Cueto. And the return is probably going to be minimal. Knowing the way the Tigers seem to operate...

Hopefully, it's Leake instead.

Tired of hearing 'we're still ok.' This is getting depressing. We are fresh off of nearly winning the WS...players are far more likely to want to play in KC right now, and we don't seem to be taking any sort of initiative to make this team better. As it stands, we're worse than we were last year. That isn't good, considering we didn't win the division, and had to claw our way into October. That was great and all, but not starting the playoffs with an elimination game is a far better option, and I think we'd all agree on that.

With the moves that are being made around us, you have to wonder what the game plan is with the FO. Are they going to ride the wave of the WS knowing that regardless of the moves they make they'll still break attendance records next season? Are they really going to rest on their laurels? If so, that's a bunch of shit. I don't think that's the case, but I'm beginning to wonder.

http://www.royalsreview.com/2014/12/...aseball-player

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>in kemp deal, padres will receive about $25M to offset $107M to go. grandal, wieland and a prospect go to LA</p>&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/543061725604360192">December 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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They need to make some moves, no doubt. Thankfully the offseason doesn't stop at the Winter Meetings.

Unless the Tigers get Cueto from the Reds, I don't think they've really improved their team. Just shuffling deck chairs (In fact, they're likely going to lose Max Scherzer and definitely lost Rick Porcello, which makes them worse). Cespedes helps their offense a little. Porcello hurts their rotation a little.

The White Sox have definitely gotten better, and Moss should help Cleveland, too.

Moore still has work to do. We'll see how it shakes out. If they ARE trying to arrange a more complicated deal, it can be hard to get everything done at the Winter Meetings because of how much else is going on. That's one of the reasons the Shields trade happened after the meetings rather than during...

Now being reported as official

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Cespedes/Porcello trade done deal. Players notified. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedSox?src=hash">#RedSox</a> also getting minor-league pitcher from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a>, per <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi">@jonmorosi</a>.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/543062056585285633">December 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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In a situation like this, does the $25,000,000 get charged to the Dodgers for luxury tax purposes?

You seem like an optimist.

After watching Moore's MLB Network interview, it really sounds like they're waiting for the market to establish itself and then swoop in.

Kind of similar to what the Orioles did last season, which worked out pretty well for them.

It's a smart move, and the opposite of what Moore has done in the past. There may still be some decent arms available in February. Look for the next Santana or Lohse.

It's way too early to freak out. There are options out there for both RF and SP. It's just up to DM to play it right.