Post by dbackhon on May 24, 2018 8:48:07 GMT -5
1) Texas Rangers
2018: 100-62, 2nd AL West
Who they were: One game away from winning the pennant.
Offseason Review: Offseason moves were a more conservative approach to a "win-now" mentality. Texas brought in Madison Bumgarner without selling the entire farm (though they did give up their fair share for him), and were able to re-sign veteran players like Cole Hamels and Carlos Santana to one-year deals.
On the Farm: The Rangers have two top-shelf prospects in Kyle Lewis and Reimer Salinas, as well as a nice grouping of mid-tier prospects headlined by the raw but immensely talented Jason Groome. Lewis looks primed to take over the LF position at the major league level as early as this season.
Best case scenario: Texas wins the World Series
Worst case scenario: Texas makes an aggressive move at the deadline to cement themselves as the World Series favorite, gets slowed down by injuries and looks over matched in the ALDS.
Key questions: 1) About half of your payroll is set to leave at the end of this season. Have you given thought to who you want to extend and who you are willing to let go?
2) Would you be willing to trade the majority farm system if it meant winning a world series?
2) Houston Astros
2018: 93-70, 2nd AL West
Who they were: A playoff-caliber team that found themselves on the outside looking in.
Offseason Review: Relatively quiet, as per usual with Houston.
On the Farm: Houston has a deep stable of three-star prospects. However, many of those prospects have not had minor league success to back up their potential.
Best case scenario: Derek Fisher breaks out as the next big thing in Houston with a 35 double, 35 HR season and Houston finds itself as a contender for the pennant without making any major additions to their roster.
Worst case scenario: Correa and Bregman stagnate or even regress a bit. Altuve's production doesn't improve from last year. Fisher doesn't develop into the next young Astro stud. The Astros find themselves outside of the playoffs yet again wondering if their young core is talented enough to get them back to the playoffs without outside help.
Key questions: 1) What would have to happen for your team to be willing to make a major deal at the trade deadline?
2) You certainly could have afforded to be more aggressive in the offseason. What is the reasoning behind the conservative approach?
3) Los Angeles Angels
2017: 81-81, 4th AL West
Who they were: The Angels were a .500 baseball team last year despite a "down" year from Mike Trout.
Offseason Review: The Angels added some nice pieces in Marco Estrada, Kelvin Herrera, and Lucas Duda. They were solid, not spectacular but they weren't in a position where it'd be wise to do anything spectacular.
On the Farm: There's not a lot there and what is there isn't particularly exciting. Jake Thompson has potential if his changeup develops but it has not be effective for him at all since he was drafted.
Best case scenario: Mike Trout wins MVP, and the other players are able to win games for the team even when he has an off-night. They still finish a distant third behind Texas and Houston but reach the high-80s in wins.
Worst case scenario: Mike Trout is traded for a horde of prospects that flame out on the farm.
Key questions: 1) If the team starts out poorly this year would you consider trading Trout?
2) Other than Trout who do you consider your most important player?
4) Seattle Mariners
2018: 84-78, 3rd AL West
Who they were: A team with a lot of good players but were unable to overcome the raw talent of Texas and Houston.
Offseason Review: The Mariners were relentless on the trading block seemingly willing to trade for anyone and everyone without a clear strategy driving their actions. The whole team looks completely different to last year's squad. Seattle sold the farm for Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, but they also sent Profar to the Dodgers in exchange for young outfielders may not be able to contribute immediately.
On the Farm: Seattle sold the farm to get Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez which took all of their top-tier prospects... They still have a couple of decent prospects remaining like Nick Collins and Taylor Tramell, but neither of those players are projected to be franchise changing studs.
Best case scenario: Seattle's GM turns out to be a mad genius and this amalgamation of players proves to be more than the sum of their parts and challenges for a wild card spot.
Worst case scenario: The veterans show their age, the young players flop at the major league level and Seattle finds itself rebuilding without financial flexibility or much of a farm.
Key questions: 1) Trading for Stroman and Sanchez and trading Profar to LA are both moves that make sense on their own but not in context with each other... Can you describe your approach to this offseason? Do you think you accomplished your goals?
2) Your major league roster seems to have a plethora of outfielders but a dearth of infielders. Do you plan to address this before spring training?
5) Oakland A’s
2017: 76-86, 5th AL West
Who they were: The lowest paid team in the PBA found themselves in the basement yet again.
Offseason Review: Deathly quiet. Their only move was to sign Nick Markakis, which to the A's credit is the exact type of cheap but potentially effective move this sort of team needs to make to be competitive.
On the Farm: They have a lot of talented players in the upper minors who should be able to contribute at the PBA level in 2020. However aren't any world-beaters outside of Blake Rutherford.
Best case scenario: Matt Olson becomes a bona fide superstar, Franklin Barreto takes a step forward, and the young players in AA and AAA continue to progress and contribute at their respective levels.
Worst case scenario: Injuries to young players derail not just the A's 2019 season but hinders the player's development impact future years... Oakland finds itself in the basement for the next few years.
Key questions: 1) What do you expect out of Max Schrock this year?
2) Which players on the current AA and AAA roster do you think will make an impact for the big league club this year?
2018: 100-62, 2nd AL West
Who they were: One game away from winning the pennant.
Offseason Review: Offseason moves were a more conservative approach to a "win-now" mentality. Texas brought in Madison Bumgarner without selling the entire farm (though they did give up their fair share for him), and were able to re-sign veteran players like Cole Hamels and Carlos Santana to one-year deals.
On the Farm: The Rangers have two top-shelf prospects in Kyle Lewis and Reimer Salinas, as well as a nice grouping of mid-tier prospects headlined by the raw but immensely talented Jason Groome. Lewis looks primed to take over the LF position at the major league level as early as this season.
Best case scenario: Texas wins the World Series
Worst case scenario: Texas makes an aggressive move at the deadline to cement themselves as the World Series favorite, gets slowed down by injuries and looks over matched in the ALDS.
Key questions: 1) About half of your payroll is set to leave at the end of this season. Have you given thought to who you want to extend and who you are willing to let go?
2) Would you be willing to trade the majority farm system if it meant winning a world series?
2) Houston Astros
2018: 93-70, 2nd AL West
Who they were: A playoff-caliber team that found themselves on the outside looking in.
Offseason Review: Relatively quiet, as per usual with Houston.
On the Farm: Houston has a deep stable of three-star prospects. However, many of those prospects have not had minor league success to back up their potential.
Best case scenario: Derek Fisher breaks out as the next big thing in Houston with a 35 double, 35 HR season and Houston finds itself as a contender for the pennant without making any major additions to their roster.
Worst case scenario: Correa and Bregman stagnate or even regress a bit. Altuve's production doesn't improve from last year. Fisher doesn't develop into the next young Astro stud. The Astros find themselves outside of the playoffs yet again wondering if their young core is talented enough to get them back to the playoffs without outside help.
Key questions: 1) What would have to happen for your team to be willing to make a major deal at the trade deadline?
2) You certainly could have afforded to be more aggressive in the offseason. What is the reasoning behind the conservative approach?
3) Los Angeles Angels
2017: 81-81, 4th AL West
Who they were: The Angels were a .500 baseball team last year despite a "down" year from Mike Trout.
Offseason Review: The Angels added some nice pieces in Marco Estrada, Kelvin Herrera, and Lucas Duda. They were solid, not spectacular but they weren't in a position where it'd be wise to do anything spectacular.
On the Farm: There's not a lot there and what is there isn't particularly exciting. Jake Thompson has potential if his changeup develops but it has not be effective for him at all since he was drafted.
Best case scenario: Mike Trout wins MVP, and the other players are able to win games for the team even when he has an off-night. They still finish a distant third behind Texas and Houston but reach the high-80s in wins.
Worst case scenario: Mike Trout is traded for a horde of prospects that flame out on the farm.
Key questions: 1) If the team starts out poorly this year would you consider trading Trout?
2) Other than Trout who do you consider your most important player?
4) Seattle Mariners
2018: 84-78, 3rd AL West
Who they were: A team with a lot of good players but were unable to overcome the raw talent of Texas and Houston.
Offseason Review: The Mariners were relentless on the trading block seemingly willing to trade for anyone and everyone without a clear strategy driving their actions. The whole team looks completely different to last year's squad. Seattle sold the farm for Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, but they also sent Profar to the Dodgers in exchange for young outfielders may not be able to contribute immediately.
On the Farm: Seattle sold the farm to get Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez which took all of their top-tier prospects... They still have a couple of decent prospects remaining like Nick Collins and Taylor Tramell, but neither of those players are projected to be franchise changing studs.
Best case scenario: Seattle's GM turns out to be a mad genius and this amalgamation of players proves to be more than the sum of their parts and challenges for a wild card spot.
Worst case scenario: The veterans show their age, the young players flop at the major league level and Seattle finds itself rebuilding without financial flexibility or much of a farm.
Key questions: 1) Trading for Stroman and Sanchez and trading Profar to LA are both moves that make sense on their own but not in context with each other... Can you describe your approach to this offseason? Do you think you accomplished your goals?
2) Your major league roster seems to have a plethora of outfielders but a dearth of infielders. Do you plan to address this before spring training?
5) Oakland A’s
2017: 76-86, 5th AL West
Who they were: The lowest paid team in the PBA found themselves in the basement yet again.
Offseason Review: Deathly quiet. Their only move was to sign Nick Markakis, which to the A's credit is the exact type of cheap but potentially effective move this sort of team needs to make to be competitive.
On the Farm: They have a lot of talented players in the upper minors who should be able to contribute at the PBA level in 2020. However aren't any world-beaters outside of Blake Rutherford.
Best case scenario: Matt Olson becomes a bona fide superstar, Franklin Barreto takes a step forward, and the young players in AA and AAA continue to progress and contribute at their respective levels.
Worst case scenario: Injuries to young players derail not just the A's 2019 season but hinders the player's development impact future years... Oakland finds itself in the basement for the next few years.
Key questions: 1) What do you expect out of Max Schrock this year?
2) Which players on the current AA and AAA roster do you think will make an impact for the big league club this year?
