Post by dbackhon on Oct 20, 2018 12:02:23 GMT -5
1) Chicago Cubs
2019: 110 - 52, NL Central Champions. Lost to the Rockies in the NLDS
Who They Were: An absolute juggernaut throughout the entire season the Cubs were the cream of the crop in the National League and only bolstered their roster at the trade deadline. Along with LA they were considered the favorites in the NL and most pundits agreed that a Cubs-Dodgers series in the NLCS was the most likely outcome.
Offseason Review: They kept the core of their team together but lost their trade deadline acquisitions Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista. They further bolstered their core with OF Andrew McCutchen, a 4.4-WAR player in 2019. It's unclear if the Cubs improved this offseason but they held together the most complete and balanced roster in the PBA. The Cubs could use a CF and I would expect them to go after one at the trade deadline if the opportunity presents itself
On the Farm: There isn't much to speak of on the farm. Last years trade-deadline acquisitions depleted the Cubs' system of a lot of their top prospects. Johnathan Sierra is a nice piece but while the PBA team is doing well, the minor league system will be undergoing a lot of rebuilding... A difficult task without their 1st round pick in the 2020 draft.
Best Case Scenario: World Series Champions
Worst Case Scenario: Another early playoff exit.
Key Questions: Do you think that the acquisition of Josh Donaldson has hampered your ability to acquire another marquee piece at the trade deadline in the coming year?
Has your early playoff exit in 2019 at the hands of Colorado changed your approach to team building and managing your roster?
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2) Pittsburgh Pirates
2018: 78-84, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The Pirates were a solid team, with a few solid young players in Josh Bell, Austin Meadows, Tallion, and Polanco who while not in the league's top-tier are certainly very close. It is difficult to put up much better of a record in the same division as the Chicago Cubs. As such the Pirates I'm sure were happy to be in 2nd place but not quite so pleased to have been 32 games back of the division winners.
Offseason Review: The Pirates added two good pieces in Kolton Wong (acquired in trade from STL), and Free Agent Sonny Gray. From a strict talent standpoint these two acquistions seem to be upgrades over their predecessors Jonathan Schoop and Ivan Nova both of whom are now on other ball clubs.
On the Farm: The Pirates farm is barren. Currently ranked the worst farm system in the PBA, and 2019 first-round pick Thierno Danna has struggled out of the gate.
Best Case Scenario: Kuhl proves to be more than a one-year wonder and the Pirates clinch a wild-card berth.
Worst Case Scenario: A quality rotation and young reliable talent keeps the Pirates with at least 72 wins, barring a slew of injuries.
Key Questions:
While it seems as if you are a piece away from being a playoff-caliber (though not championship-caliber) team, you also have a penny-pinching owner and a dearth of talent on the farm so the traditional ways GMs use to improve their teams are - to put it mildly - more difficult for the Pirates organization. How has this lack of resources both financial and prospect-based effected your view on the franchises future?
What do you expect out of Kolten Wong in his first year in Pittsburgh?
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3) St. Louis Cardinals
2018: 75-87, 3rd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The Cardinals were a solid team, but injury woes and spotty production in some spots led the team towards another mediocre finish
Offseason Review: The Cardinals completely overhauled their roster in the offseason, trading away Cardinal Mainstay Kolten Wong as well as bright young players in Stephen Piscotty and Marco Gonzales. However they did acquire a marquee Free Agent in Josh Donaldson who has been one of the PBA's top players in every year that he has been healthy. They importantly retained their ace Michael Wacha.
On the Farm: The Cardinals likely have the best farm system in the division. Kumar Rocker, Nick Pratto, and Luis Contreras, the Cardinals have the organizational depth that allows them the flexibility to become aggressive buyers or bide their time and wait for their young stars to develop. Furthermore they are not a top-heavy system as the OSA has rated eight players in their system as a 3* or better potential.
Best Case Scenario: The new players gel, and Donaldson wins MVP, and the Cardinals clinch a wild card berth.
Worst Case Scenario: The new roster proves to be less than the some of its parts, chemistry issues poison the clubhouse and the organization is forced to rebuild while paying an aging Josh Donaldson $32+ million a year.
Key Questions: Your offseason seems like an enigma, on the one hand you sent away talented players like Kolten Wong, Piscotty, and Gonzales but on the other hand you broke the bank for Josh Donaldson. What exactly were you trying to accomplish this off-season and do you think that you were successful?
Your lineup features a lot of players who haven't been given too many opportunities to start at the PBA level, who of your young offseason acquisitions (i.e. not Donaldson or Incarte) do you think will have the biggest impact this season and why?
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4) Milwaukee Brewers
2019: 70-92, 4th Place NL Central
Who They Were: Milwaukee was a rebuilding team, in particularly they struggled on the mound with a team ERA of 5.28, their highest such total in the PBA era.
Offseason Review: The Brewers seem likely to lose their best batter from last season David Peralta in free agency. While he has not signed with a team currently, it seems likely that he will accept a deal when the draft begins and relieving the signing team of their duty to compensate the Brewers with a draft pick, similar to how Hunter Pence ended up on the Astros last year. They also acquired defensively-challenge IF Mauricio Dubron, and Veteran SP Colin McHugh
On the Farm: The Brewers farm system has a lot of potential PBA starters but its star power hinged on 2B Bo Bichette who looks to be a quality starter but not necesarily a stud, and 18-year old Rodolfo Rivera who has loads of potential but struggled immensely in his first season of rookie ball.
Best Case Scenario: The young infielders take a step forward and the team wins 75 games and can trade its bullpen to a contender for more minor league talent.
Worst Case Scenario: The youngsters stagnate, bullpen studs Diaz and Lorenzen lose their trade value and the Brew Crew loses 100 games.
Key Questions: You have been able to move a lot of a lot of your bullpen but star closer Nate Diaz and Lorenzen remain on the team. What value do these players have on a team that does not look ready for a playoff push?
Are you looking into resigning David Peralta and if not how do you intend to replace his production?
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5) Cincinnati Reds
2018: 65-97, Last in NL Central
Who They Were: Underperformers throughout the season.
Offseason Review: Replacing the terrible Matt Wieters with J.T. Realmuto is an upgrade trading Trent Clark makes this seem like a lateral move rather than a serious improvement
On the Farm: Despite trading away top prospect Trent Clark the Reds have a farm system that is filled with raw talent. However many of these farm hands like Victor Ruiz and Trevor Rodgers are the types of high-risk high-reward talents that often burn out in the minors.
Best Case Scenario: The Reds show that they are better than the Brewers and finish a respectable fourth place with 70 wins or so.
Worst Case Scenario: Reds fans become more eager for the draft lottery than they are for actual games... 100 losses seems plausible.
Key Questions:
What players who have yet to make their PBA debut to you expect to come up to the big club and make a contribution?
What do you expect out of Isan Diaz this year?
2019: 110 - 52, NL Central Champions. Lost to the Rockies in the NLDS
Who They Were: An absolute juggernaut throughout the entire season the Cubs were the cream of the crop in the National League and only bolstered their roster at the trade deadline. Along with LA they were considered the favorites in the NL and most pundits agreed that a Cubs-Dodgers series in the NLCS was the most likely outcome.
Offseason Review: They kept the core of their team together but lost their trade deadline acquisitions Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista. They further bolstered their core with OF Andrew McCutchen, a 4.4-WAR player in 2019. It's unclear if the Cubs improved this offseason but they held together the most complete and balanced roster in the PBA. The Cubs could use a CF and I would expect them to go after one at the trade deadline if the opportunity presents itself
On the Farm: There isn't much to speak of on the farm. Last years trade-deadline acquisitions depleted the Cubs' system of a lot of their top prospects. Johnathan Sierra is a nice piece but while the PBA team is doing well, the minor league system will be undergoing a lot of rebuilding... A difficult task without their 1st round pick in the 2020 draft.
Best Case Scenario: World Series Champions
Worst Case Scenario: Another early playoff exit.
Key Questions: Do you think that the acquisition of Josh Donaldson has hampered your ability to acquire another marquee piece at the trade deadline in the coming year?
Has your early playoff exit in 2019 at the hands of Colorado changed your approach to team building and managing your roster?
---------------------------
2) Pittsburgh Pirates
2018: 78-84, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The Pirates were a solid team, with a few solid young players in Josh Bell, Austin Meadows, Tallion, and Polanco who while not in the league's top-tier are certainly very close. It is difficult to put up much better of a record in the same division as the Chicago Cubs. As such the Pirates I'm sure were happy to be in 2nd place but not quite so pleased to have been 32 games back of the division winners.
Offseason Review: The Pirates added two good pieces in Kolton Wong (acquired in trade from STL), and Free Agent Sonny Gray. From a strict talent standpoint these two acquistions seem to be upgrades over their predecessors Jonathan Schoop and Ivan Nova both of whom are now on other ball clubs.
On the Farm: The Pirates farm is barren. Currently ranked the worst farm system in the PBA, and 2019 first-round pick Thierno Danna has struggled out of the gate.
Best Case Scenario: Kuhl proves to be more than a one-year wonder and the Pirates clinch a wild-card berth.
Worst Case Scenario: A quality rotation and young reliable talent keeps the Pirates with at least 72 wins, barring a slew of injuries.
Key Questions:
While it seems as if you are a piece away from being a playoff-caliber (though not championship-caliber) team, you also have a penny-pinching owner and a dearth of talent on the farm so the traditional ways GMs use to improve their teams are - to put it mildly - more difficult for the Pirates organization. How has this lack of resources both financial and prospect-based effected your view on the franchises future?
What do you expect out of Kolten Wong in his first year in Pittsburgh?
-------------------------
3) St. Louis Cardinals
2018: 75-87, 3rd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The Cardinals were a solid team, but injury woes and spotty production in some spots led the team towards another mediocre finish
Offseason Review: The Cardinals completely overhauled their roster in the offseason, trading away Cardinal Mainstay Kolten Wong as well as bright young players in Stephen Piscotty and Marco Gonzales. However they did acquire a marquee Free Agent in Josh Donaldson who has been one of the PBA's top players in every year that he has been healthy. They importantly retained their ace Michael Wacha.
On the Farm: The Cardinals likely have the best farm system in the division. Kumar Rocker, Nick Pratto, and Luis Contreras, the Cardinals have the organizational depth that allows them the flexibility to become aggressive buyers or bide their time and wait for their young stars to develop. Furthermore they are not a top-heavy system as the OSA has rated eight players in their system as a 3* or better potential.
Best Case Scenario: The new players gel, and Donaldson wins MVP, and the Cardinals clinch a wild card berth.
Worst Case Scenario: The new roster proves to be less than the some of its parts, chemistry issues poison the clubhouse and the organization is forced to rebuild while paying an aging Josh Donaldson $32+ million a year.
Key Questions: Your offseason seems like an enigma, on the one hand you sent away talented players like Kolten Wong, Piscotty, and Gonzales but on the other hand you broke the bank for Josh Donaldson. What exactly were you trying to accomplish this off-season and do you think that you were successful?
Your lineup features a lot of players who haven't been given too many opportunities to start at the PBA level, who of your young offseason acquisitions (i.e. not Donaldson or Incarte) do you think will have the biggest impact this season and why?
-------------------------
4) Milwaukee Brewers
2019: 70-92, 4th Place NL Central
Who They Were: Milwaukee was a rebuilding team, in particularly they struggled on the mound with a team ERA of 5.28, their highest such total in the PBA era.
Offseason Review: The Brewers seem likely to lose their best batter from last season David Peralta in free agency. While he has not signed with a team currently, it seems likely that he will accept a deal when the draft begins and relieving the signing team of their duty to compensate the Brewers with a draft pick, similar to how Hunter Pence ended up on the Astros last year. They also acquired defensively-challenge IF Mauricio Dubron, and Veteran SP Colin McHugh
On the Farm: The Brewers farm system has a lot of potential PBA starters but its star power hinged on 2B Bo Bichette who looks to be a quality starter but not necesarily a stud, and 18-year old Rodolfo Rivera who has loads of potential but struggled immensely in his first season of rookie ball.
Best Case Scenario: The young infielders take a step forward and the team wins 75 games and can trade its bullpen to a contender for more minor league talent.
Worst Case Scenario: The youngsters stagnate, bullpen studs Diaz and Lorenzen lose their trade value and the Brew Crew loses 100 games.
Key Questions: You have been able to move a lot of a lot of your bullpen but star closer Nate Diaz and Lorenzen remain on the team. What value do these players have on a team that does not look ready for a playoff push?
Are you looking into resigning David Peralta and if not how do you intend to replace his production?
---------------------------
5) Cincinnati Reds
2018: 65-97, Last in NL Central
Who They Were: Underperformers throughout the season.
Offseason Review: Replacing the terrible Matt Wieters with J.T. Realmuto is an upgrade trading Trent Clark makes this seem like a lateral move rather than a serious improvement
On the Farm: Despite trading away top prospect Trent Clark the Reds have a farm system that is filled with raw talent. However many of these farm hands like Victor Ruiz and Trevor Rodgers are the types of high-risk high-reward talents that often burn out in the minors.
Best Case Scenario: The Reds show that they are better than the Brewers and finish a respectable fourth place with 70 wins or so.
Worst Case Scenario: Reds fans become more eager for the draft lottery than they are for actual games... 100 losses seems plausible.
Key Questions:
What players who have yet to make their PBA debut to you expect to come up to the big club and make a contribution?
What do you expect out of Isan Diaz this year?