look at it this way, we're not paying $3.25 mil to Qualls, so it's an increase of $4 million over last year.

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If he signs, great, if not, we get a draft pick, right?

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Correct.

We'll likely inject even more youth next year, so it's good to keep a couple of veterans around. Rasmus would be a good one to keep.

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If he signs great. I think it's a bit over priced for Colby but at the same time that kinda money isn't hindering us or putting a major dent into our payroll.

I'm alright with it.

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Charlie kinda broke it down last night:

It is a little overpriced probably, but I believe with that amount, we get a compensation pick if he says no. Plus, committing that money for one year isn't a big deal.

Colby may decide to pursue a deal with more years for more security, and he could realistically get an offer of say 3 years, $37 Mil. Kinda all depends on what Colby is looking for. He could get more money per year for this one year, or get less money per year for more years, etc.

I think it's a good move for us. He says yes, and we get a proven outfield bat. He says no, and we get a compensation pick and we look at filling that spot with either marisnick or one of our minor leaguers

I'll try to find the article, but evidently, no one takes the qualifying offer in recent history.

I would expect him to not take it and test the market. He can likely find someone to give him a longer contract... He might have given us a solid so we get the pick.

I like Colby and think he fits well here but I just don't think he makes a solid middle of the lineup guy. I'd like to move down to 6.

I really want someone a little more consistent than Rasmus or Gattis in the 4 hole. I know BA doesn't mean sheet to this team but I want a decent power (30 HRs) and a higher BA (.270) guy hitting in the 4 hole.

Not sure if that's out there via FAs or not but I think that's what this team needs.

I think it's a good situation to be in. I'd prefer rasmus sign the offer though. You wanna talk about hunch keeping guys loose? Don't you think a veteran with the personality of Rasmus keeps the young guys loose? I do.

That's so important over 162 games. I'm assuming we can match an offer in free agency if we say up it to two years for 26?

Saw this yesterday and thought it was pretty interesting

I want Colby back.

Bring up Reed and Appel.

1B Reed, Valbuena
2B Altuve
SS Correa, Marwin
3B Valbuena, Marwin
LF Rasmus, Tucker
CF Gomez, Marisnick
RF Springer
C Castro, Conger

Mid season you have guys like Kemp, Fisher, and JD Davis who could all be ready.

Colby needs to leave, and it's purely from a business standpoint that I say that. I want the compensation pick and want to spend that money on someone else. Platoon Tucker and Marisnick in left and you get much more bang for your buck without sacrificng much production.

What'll be interesting to see is if guys like Duffy or Tyler White perform well in the spring and warrant a roster spot. What do you do with guys like Valbuena and Gattis, assuming they haven't been dealt? A couple of low average, high strikeout guys that provide a little power, but a lot of really bad at bats.

Also, what do we do with Jed Lowrie?

I think Colby ends up staying one way or the other. He's a weird cat and I think after not quite fitting in in Toronto and meshing really well here he's realized how important that is and that he's really found a nice place to play. And that really doesn't bother me as long as he's not signed to be a middle of the lineup hitter.

I think we need to improve at DH. Gattis just didn't show me enough to keep him around. He was atrocious down the stretch and in the playoffs. The DH should be one of the best hitters on the team and Gattis was far from that. I could maybe see Gattis being moved but I doubt it. Who wants a guy that can't play defense anywhere and can't hit as well as you'd like a DH to hit?

Unfortunately, I think we're stuck with Jed "The Antigue Glass Doll" Lowrie. He's under contract and no one wants to trade for his fragile ass. I hope Lunhow can make something work but I don't see it happening.

We probably keep Valbuena just because of his ability to play both 3B and 1B. But man I hope we significantly upgrade one of our corner infield spots. If we upgrade 1B then Luis and Jed split time at 3B, and if we upgrade 3B then Luis stays on for a some spot starts at both spots. I'm alright with that, but I don't see Luis as an everyday player. We've got to get better at 1B and 3B.

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If he signs great. I think it's a bit over priced for Colby but at the same time that kinda money isn't hindering us or putting a major dent into our payroll.

I'm alright with it.

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And if he can replicate this year's postseason performance...worth every penny.

No doubt. And if he does that when we have one of the best players of this century on our hands for a measly 15.8M

But hey we can hope can't we?

I really think the big questions is what are we going to do with guys like Kemp and Fisher?

One or both could end up being above average to great hitters. Both play pretty good outfield defense. I think Kemp was the main reason losing Deshields didn't hurt us and why we didn't protect him.

Fisher can probably benefit from another year, but Kemp was arguably ready halfway through this year.

We need to upgrade at catcher and 1B for sure. We also need a bullpen flamethrower with put away stuff. No more contact pitchers closing out games.

Colby isn't coming back. Bring up the Kemp kid and put him at leadoff.

Your assumption or has this been verified?

I had the same question. I think it's his assumption. I went on mlbtraderumors this morning and the only thing I saw was that we had made the offer to Colby and that Luhnow wants him back. But I very well could have missed something reported from another site

I think it's assumption.

My guess is that Colby doesn't sign the offer, but he signs a 2-3 year deal with us at less than 15.8M/year. Maybe something like 3 years 30-35M.

I also saw on twitter that Andrew Miller is on the block and the Yanks are shopping him. That wouldn't be a bad option if he's not priced incredibly high.

And don't hold your breath on upgrading at catcher. I think this regime is content on sacrificing offense for what Castro brings behind the plate and with the pitching staff. I'm not sure I agree on that, but that's the sense I get.

Good write-up on what's going on at the GM meetings. Seems like closers are the hot commodity in the trade market.

Link

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Not only is Reds star closer Aroldis Chapman still eminently available and Padres star closer Craig Kimbrel out there as well, there are a few more star relief entries on the block. The Yankees are willing to entertain trade ideas regarding their excellent reliever Andrew Miller, as was reported Monday on CBSSports.com, and it doesn't end there. Not even close.

According to two rival GMs, the Pirates' Mark Melancon, the top closer in the National League this year and winner of the Trevor Hoffman award, is also out there for the taking, meaning four of the best ninth-inning guys in the game are being talked about in trade here. And possibly more.
"Everyone's closer is available," one GM said. "People, especially the young GMs, have no fear of trading their closer."

Beyond that vaunted foursome, the Rangers have fielded some interest in their closer,Shawn Tolleson, who came out of nowhere to have a special season in 2015. Even thePhillies' hard-throwing young closer Ken Giles is said to be available, though that may be more about a team looking to change as much as they can coming off their disastrous season.

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And this concerning the Astros

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Houston seeks a righty and lefty for the pen, a starting pitcher, some help at first base and maybe a left fielder, assuming Colby Rasmus rejects the $15.8-million qualifying offer ... Congrats to them and the Nats on breaking ground on the new spring facility down the road at West Palm Beach. As of spring 2017, they will no longer be in Kissimmee and Viera, respectively.

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I can't see Colby coming back here.. Someone is going to offer him an actual contract and he would be dumb not to take it. And I don't think we are in position to give him a multi-year contract. Preston Tucker needs more at bats.

I'm hoping we get a starting pitcher, a flamethrower out of the pen, and someone who can hit that can play 1st or 3rd.

Gold Glove for Jose Altuve. His first.

2nd straight Gold Glove for Dallas

Hinch finalist for manager of the year

Definitely assumption

Wouldn't a glove made of gold weigh thousands of pounds and be difficult to close?

Mlbtraderumors:

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The Astros could aim to achieve "balance" with their roster moves, Evan Drellich of The Houston Chronicle writes. Adding some high-octane arms to the pen and some contact bats to the lineup might prove beneficial, though GM Jeff Luhnow notes that his primary concern is with achieving production through whatever means necessary (and, presumably, at a good value).

In other news, also via Drellich, Luhnow says that he's not inclined to move catcher Jason Castro and center fielder Carlos Gomez, even though both players are a year away from free agency. "I think Gomez right now is our center fielder and Castro's our catcher and those guys are hard to replace," Luhnow said. "We could be looking at a situation next year where either or both of those are in the qualifying offer camp as well, so. If you trade 'em, you're potentially giving up opportunity to keep them on a one-year deal after next year. Or a draft pick if they choose to sign elsewhere. That's a valuable situation. But most importantly for us, I think Gomez and Castro are key parts of our team next year."

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Do they really think Castro is a guy that would ever be worthy of a qualifying offer? (Face palm)

Why is he so in love with Castro???

Castro isn't even worth the qualifying offer amount spread out over a 3 year deal.

Catchers aren't the easiest thing to replace...You could likely find a guy who would hit 20 points higher, but would be a significant drop behind the plate.. Could you imagine having a guy like Conger behind the plate all season? Other teams would set all time record for steals.

Castro is arguably the best overall defensive catcher in the AL.