<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source confirms: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marlins?src=hash">#Marlins</a>, Volquez in agreement on two-year, $22M contract, pending physical. First reported: <a href="https://twitter.com/clarkspencer">@clarkspencer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/flasportsbuzz">@flasportsbuzz</a>.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/803417678996193280">November 29, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Appreciate Eddie's contributions. He had some great games on our run. Curious to see what we're going to do moving forward.

The Brewers non-tendered Chris Carter who hit 41 HRs last year. I know he's a big power, low contact guy but he is a shithead as well or something?

That's a lot of power...wonder if the Royals will try to get him.

Beat me to it. He's worth a flier. Weird thing about him is he has no split advantage, either last year or for his career. It's identical. I'd have bet anything he killed LH but that's not the case.

206k last year. Maybe not really fit with what we do. Or our park. But 41 bombs is still impressive. Baltimore should sign him to try and break the all time HR record for a team.

Carter can mash it, but he also strikes out so much. Doesn't seem to fit our profile. It's also interesting that so many teams have given up on him.

@FlannyMLB: As Winter Meetings approach, #Royals will listen to all trade offers, including those on Wade Davis. http://atmlb.com/2gFGJlq

Is there a team who isn't listening?

I'm in Cardinals country & I guess there's a rumor going around that they have inquired about getting LoCain. They heard the Cards are offering Wong, Grichuk & Weaver.

I told him the Royals would easily do that deal. I told him the Cards would be stupid to do that though.


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We know that rumor is false, because it'd have already happened if it was real.

If the trade is something like what Anthony Castrovince proposed the other day (Davis for Reynaldo Lopez, Austin Voth, and Andrew Stevenson) that improves KC overall in 2017, I think it will happen. Only a few teams have the motivation, surplus value and players to make that happen, though.


If the Cardinals or another team are willing to overpay like that for Cain, also makes sense for 2017 while improving you for the future, too.

Grichuk could play RF against righties and CF against lefties, with Dyson playing CF against righties and Dozier or Orlando getting RF starts against lefties.

Wong is the starting 2B and can sit versus lefties.

Weakens your offense at one spot but improves it two others. And also bolsters your SP quite a bit. If the Cardinals want to do a crazy overpay like that, I'll take it.

Here's the question: can you do both deals and make the team better in 2017?

Let's examine.

with the $15 million you're saving in salary swaps, you can go get some bullpen help AND sign a Matt Holliday type bat to DH.

Bullpen becomes:
Herrera
Strahm
FA signing (Hochevar? Holland?)
With good depth

Lineup, have to shuffle more. I'd be tempted to go:

LF - Gordon
RF - Grichuk
1B - Hosmer
DH - Holliday
3b - Moustakas
C - Perez
CF - Dyson
Ss - Escobar
2B - Wong

That's a completely balanced L-R lineup. Grichuk is a lower OBP guy than I'd like hitting 2nd, but it makes more sense than Escobar and should help him see fastballs to hit.

7-8-9 is a bit light, but tons of speed there and the ability to be productive playing small ball.






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I just don't see that lineup as a very good run scoring lineup

I think there's very little chance the Cardinals actually give up that much for one year of Cain, so it's all kind of moot...

But that lineup's success would depend, like any 2017 Royals lineup's success is going to, on bouncebacks from guys like Gordon, Hosmer, Perez, and Moustakas.

I think Holliday is an upgrade from Morales (who is primed for one more great season). Wong would be an upgrade at 2B even with his floor performance. And Grichuk would be another bounceback type who offers a big upgrade in RF.


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Just heard on the radio during an interview with Mike Sweeney that Cuthbert went down to Arizona for fall league and did nothing but work at second base. No batting, he just brought his glove and got in a ton of work at second base. He also said with the stuff Staumont had going in the start he saw, Staumont could absolutely step into the 5th spot of the rotation and produce. So, if Cheslor does indeed move to second (because of concerns with Mondesi's bat) then I think we definitely pick up a bat this winter.