2012 Offseason Plan

[overseascardfan]

So listening to Hall & Towers it looks like ARZ will be in the market for a shortstop, starting pitcher, more bullpen help & possibly an upgrade at third base.

Towers has said that a SS will most likely be obtained in a trade, but both he and Hall have said that Justin Upton will most likely be in a D'backs uniform Opening Day. So who do they trade to get that SS? Kennedy? Cahill? Bauer? Skaggs?

From what I've read both BOS & TEX will target Upton this offseason. BOS shed a quarter of a billion dollars and need a young impact player and like Upton. TEX may lose Hamilton and will need someone to replace him and like Upton as well. Both teams have a young SS and 3B that would really help ARZ. If either TEX or BOS is willing to give up that package, Towers needs to pull the trigger. We have plenty of OF's.

So my plan is to sign:

SP James Shields - He'll be 31 so he's older than Greinke but I think he comes cheaper. Great numbers in AL so they should get better in the NL.

SP Annibal Sanchez - 29 years old and would be a really good #5 SP. Signing him depends on whether ARZ deals Kennedy or Cahill.

Trade:

ARZ - Justin Upton
BOS - Will Middlebrooks, Xander Boegarts

or

ARZ: Justin Upton
TEX: Elvis Andrus, Michael Olt

Look to trade Kennedy or Cahill, and get rid of Chris Young.

 

[Gaddabout]

ARZ: Justin Upton
TEX: Elvis Andrus, Michael Olt

If Texas is willing to make this deal, you pull the trigger without even thinking twice about it. And you're happy with the L-R outfield of Kubel, Eaton and Parra. A little light, but you make up for it with the combination of Olt and Andrus. Lots of nice OBAs and baserunning. Better defense, to boot.

I doubt Texas is willing to part with both, and I don't think you do that deal for just Olt. I dunno about that.

 

[overseascardfan]

If Texas is willing to make this deal, you pull the trigger without even thinking twice about it. And you're happy with the L-R outfield of Kubel, Eaton and Parra. A little light, but you make up for it with the combination of Olt and Andrus. Lots of nice OBAs and baserunning. Better defense, to boot.

I doubt Texas is willing to part with both, and I don't think you do that deal for just Olt. I dunno about that.

I think that an OF of: Kubel, Eaton, Parra & Pollock will be pretty good, just shift Kubel to RF where his production would be quantified. Parra can go back to LF and Pollock can back up all 3 spots.

According to rumors TEX will probably be willing to offer Andrus for Upton as they have an uber-prospect in Jurickson Profar waiting in the wings but Andrus doesn't give you the offense Upton does so if I were Towers I would ask for Olt to be included, a 2 for 1 would suffice and TEX still has Beltre so it would make absolute sense for them. Add the leverage with a potential deal with BOS and TEX may jump.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Towers has said that a SS will most likely be obtained in a trade, but both he and Hall have said that Justin Upton will most likely be in a D'backs uniform Opening Day. So who do they trade to get that SS? Kennedy? Cahill? Bauer? Skaggs?

I think your idea of a pitcher being moved to acquire a SS is very realistic. Hudson is going nowhere, and the chances of Kennedy or Cahill being moved are highly unlikely. I also think it would have to take a hell of an offer for them to consider moving Miley or Skaggs. At this point, that more or less brings us down to either Bauer, Corbin or Hoimberg being dealt.

On paper, I don't know how to read into Ken Kendrick's comments about Bauer. His immaturity/entitlement is certainly documented, however his talent, ceiling and potential are so damn high that I just can't bring it in me to see them moving him this soon.

Fortunately, the team has the rare surplus of young arms, with more waiting in the wings. This is a benefit.

Another issue where Arizona seems to have a surplus is in the OF. Kubel turned out to be the power bat that was needed. I think he's safe. Upton, I'm wavering on. I think if the team gets an offer they'd be ridiculous to refuse, they trade him, but I'm pretty convinced he's coming back in 2013. Eaton may have pushed Chris Young out of town with his performance. At this point, I'd say most likely to be dealt are Young and Parra. I'm not entirely sure what kind of package they could get for Young, think Parra fetches them a little more.

As for WHO Arizona targets at SS, the two most likely could be heading to Arizona are Elvis Andrus or Asdrubal Cabrera. Andrus seems to be the ideal target. I'd love to see them make a move at Alcides Escobar, but I really can't see Kansas City moving him. That said, here's my proposal.


Arizona gets

Elvis Andrus

Texas gets:

Gerardo Parra (Hamilton's a free agent and no lock to return to Arlington. If he does however, he's athletic enough to where they could move him to RF, move Nelson Cruz to 1B or DH and give themselves a very good defensive OF with Hamilton, Cruz and Murphy)

Patrick Corbin (I hate to see the Snakes give him up, and think he does very well in Texas. You gotta give something to get something, and Corbin isn't to me on that "untouchable" list.

Bryan Shaw (Ranked as one of Arizona's top 10 prospects to start the season, Shaw quickly progressed as a reliable hand and could wind up either as a respectable starter or a very good relief pitcher. Texas can use all the hands they get when it comes to reliable arms. They get two young and potentially good ones.

Just my .02