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Post by desousa on Nov 2, 2024 11:05:43 GMT -5
The first shoe to drop.
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Post by yankeesfaninboston on Nov 2, 2024 11:14:15 GMT -5
I would love to have Soto back, but I really have to wonder how much longer can Judge play CF. Soto is not the best RF'er in the game and have no idea how he was even nominated for a gold glove award this year. It would not be the end of the world if Soto signed with another team as the team could address multiple areas of need with those funds. We know if Soto is signed for a 55M or 60M a season, we will see guys like Durbin/Peraza at 2B and Rice/Rumfeld at 1B or bullpen not addressed or another SP that can go deep in games, then we will go through another year of coming up short in the post season. One guy to keep an eye on is Bellinger who is a plus defender at both 1B and OF and his LH swing would play well at YS. In terms of Judge in CF... Stanton is under contract for 3 more years. I think the plan would be, if Soto is re-signed, for him to take over the DH spot for Stanton and Judge to move back to RF. At that point, Judge will be going into his age 36 season with 4 years left on his deal and Soto would be going into his age 29 season with however many years left on the deal he signs. So even though Soto is a terrible defender, he'd still be young enough to where you can get by using him in RF and DHing Judge if he's physically declined to the point you don't want him in the field at all. Also, even though the vibes are great with Stanton coming off a monster postseason, I still don't forget all the troubling signs with him and don't rule out him being unplayable by the last year of that deal, at which point the team would presumably be ok to bite the bullet and bench him for the last year. So it could only be 2 more seasons until the DH spot opens up. So 3 years it the max they'd still be using Judge in CF for if they kept Soto. Even if they don't keep Soto though, I think they still might end up leaving Judge in CF rather than moving him to RF because they'll be desperate for offense and that's easier to find with RF opening than it is adding a CF. But that's part of why I really like Bellinger if they do go the non-Soto route, because he can be an upgrade in CF over Judge and let Judge move back to RF where he's a big defensive upgrade. I also like Bellinger as a first basemen even if we keep Soto because Soto-Judge-Bellinger-Stanton-Jazz is a nice middle of the order. |
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Nov 2, 2024 11:15:13 GMT -5
Not surprising to me. I think they still owe him $6mm after declining the option. Some speculation he might come back on a cheap deal, I hope not, he's been a great MLBer but it's time to move on. |
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Nov 2, 2024 11:19:53 GMT -5
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 2, 2024 11:23:59 GMT -5
I would love to have Soto back, but I really have to wonder how much longer can Judge play CF. Soto is not the best RF'er in the game and have no idea how he was even nominated for a gold glove award this year. It would not be the end of the world if Soto signed with another team as the team could address multiple areas of need with those funds. We know if Soto is signed for a 55M or 60M a season, we will see guys like Durbin/Peraza at 2B and Rice/Rumfeld at 1B or bullpen not addressed or another SP that can go deep in games, then we will go through another year of coming up short in the post season. One guy to keep an eye on is Bellinger who is a plus defender at both 1B and OF and his LH swing would play well at YS. In terms of Judge in CF... Stanton is under contract for 3 more years. I think the plan would be, if Soto is re-signed, for him to take over the DH spot for Stanton and Judge to move back to RF. At that point, Judge will be going into his age 36 season with 4 years left on his deal and Soto would be going into his age 29 season with however many years left on the deal he signs. So even though Soto is a terrible defender, he'd still be young enough to where you can get by using him in RF and DHing Judge if he's physically declined to the point you don't want him in the field at all. Also, even though the vibes are great with Stanton coming off a monster postseason, I still don't forget all the troubling signs with him and don't rule out him being unplayable by the last year of that deal, at which point the team would presumably be ok to bite the bullet and bench him for the last year. So it could only be 2 more seasons until the DH spot opens up. So 3 years it the max they'd still be using Judge in CF for if they kept Soto. Even if they don't keep Soto though, I think they still might end up leaving Judge in CF rather than moving him to RF because they'll be desperate for offense and that's easier to find with RF opening than it is adding a CF. But that's part of why I really like Bellinger if they do go the non-Soto route, because he can be an upgrade in CF over Judge and let Judge move back to RF where he's a big defensive upgrade. I also like Bellinger as a first basemen even if we keep Soto because Soto-Judge-Bellinger-Stanton-Jazz is a nice middle of the order. I think Rizzo should retire, head back to Chicago and work the Cub's Marquee Network. |
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Post by inger on Nov 2, 2024 11:33:40 GMT -5
And the right decision. It’s a worn out ill-fitting shoe. Even if he’s brought back on a cheaper deal, he’s no longer a viable starter and there is no room for a strictly backup IB on this roster. He could be an excellent bench coach, but will likely want to extend his playing career… |
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Post by JEGnj on Nov 2, 2024 11:39:46 GMT -5
Rizzo can come back as a coach if he wants.
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Post by Max on Nov 2, 2024 11:46:52 GMT -5
Bellinger won't be a free agent, he picked up his player option.
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Post by inger on Nov 2, 2024 11:47:52 GMT -5
Bellinger won't be a free agent, he picked up his player option. Just as well. We went down that path before… |
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 2, 2024 11:55:02 GMT -5
Probably a smart decision on Ray's part.
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Post by yankeesfaninboston on Nov 2, 2024 12:04:34 GMT -5
Damn would have been nice for Bellinger to hit FA as an option. If Soto leaves we need a left handed hitter and he'd have been up there with the best available. If Soto says we need a 1st baseman and he'd be up there with the best there too. Even if we didn't sign him, he'd potentially take away a suitor for someone else we wanted in those spots.
Oh well
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Post by ill636 on Nov 2, 2024 12:08:22 GMT -5
Didn't Cole just opt out of his contract...
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 2, 2024 12:10:58 GMT -5
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Post by kaybli on Nov 2, 2024 12:33:47 GMT -5
Didn't Cole just opt out of his contract... It has its own thread. |
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stu
AA
Posts: 82
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Post by stu on Nov 2, 2024 13:04:37 GMT -5
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