Based on Jerry's words, name the M's 1B, 2B, 3B next year.

[D-train]

Actually looking at him, he doesn't play defense, he doesn't walk, doesn't hit for power. He put up one WAR last season in over 600 at bats. He's getting $14 mil....I'll pass

Totally agree. Seems he and JP had an amazing 2023 in common. Total fluke in both cases.

[Donn Beach]

JP is more valuable, I'm in the zips camp. I'll bet he bounces back

[bpj]

It's not really even that close in my opinion.

I think outside of Marte, he's the best option at 2B.

He's going to be 28 years old, still has some in the tank.

He had two things working against him last year- 1) he got traded to San Diego, a tough park, and 2) he played 116 of his 158 games at 1B/DH because SD has too many middle infielders, so of course the numbers don't love him like a full time 2B.

Here's how he compares over the last three years-

And here's how his season broke down. He had a rough couple months up to the trade deadline, but was his usual self to end the season. You want to cut down on K's? Here's your guy.

Screenshot_20241212_180048_DuckDuckGo.jpg (73.36 KiB) Viewed 160 times

[Donn Beach]

I was speaking to defense, to play the middle infield you need some defense in your toolbox. Seems the issue with Arraez is his defense plays at first base but his bat doesn't. See he did put up some decent WAR back in Minnesota

[Donn Beach]

See he had been getting played at first base in previous seasons, Minnesota played him there 2022, he put up 4 WAR. Wondering if his bat actually played better in Minnesota. How well would his bat play at TMobile

[bpj]

See he had been getting played at first base in previous seasons, Minnesota played him there 2022, he put up 4 WAR. Wondering if his bat actually played better in Minnesota. How well would his bat play at TMobile

He's essentially a bat-first 2B that gets hits and doesn't K. Exactly what we need. He's Ichiro without taking up a power position.

Even in 2024 he played 2B until he got traded to the Padres where they already had Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Ha-Seong Kim in the infield but wanted his bat in their lineup and were weak at 1B.

And in 2023 he played all but 12 games at 2B.

We have plenty of guys that can be late inning defensive replacements. Let's worry about getting the lead first.

[GL_Storm]

See he had been getting played at first base in previous seasons, Minnesota played him there 2022, he put up 4 WAR. Wondering if his bat actually played better in Minnesota. How well would his bat play at TMobile

He's essentially a bat-first 2B that gets hits and doesn't K. Exactly what we need. He's Ichiro without taking up a power position.

Even in 2024 he played 2B until he got traded to the Padres where they already had Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Ha-Seong Kim in the infield but wanted his bat in their lineup and were weak at 1B.

And in 2023 he played all but 12 games at 2B.

We have plenty of guys that can be late inning defensive replacements. Let's worry about getting the lead first.

I'd make the trade. He's got a pretty decent salary so it probably wouldn't cost that much in prospects. And if he can't play second the bat is still useful at DH, 1B or whatever, which isn't ideal but it's just the one year.

But my gut instinct is that they want Nico Hoerner. I think he's their first choice and if that doesn't work out then maybe they look to San Diego and Arraez. Probably though, Corbin Burnes has to sign first and then I think we could see Castillo traded very quickly thereafter and maybe several deals will go down within a few days of each other. They'll probably try to package Haniger or Garver with Castillo in some form or fashion.

[bpj]

See he had been getting played at first base in previous seasons, Minnesota played him there 2022, he put up 4 WAR. Wondering if his bat actually played better in Minnesota. How well would his bat play at TMobile

He's essentially a bat-first 2B that gets hits and doesn't K. Exactly what we need. He's Ichiro without taking up a power position.

Even in 2024 he played 2B until he got traded to the Padres where they already had Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Ha-Seong Kim in the infield but wanted his bat in their lineup and were weak at 1B.

And in 2023 he played all but 12 games at 2B.

We have plenty of guys that can be late inning defensive replacements. Let's worry about getting the lead first.

I'd make the trade. He's got a pretty decent salary so it probably wouldn't cost that much in prospects. And if he can't play second the bat is still useful at DH, 1B or whatever, which isn't ideal but it's just the one year.

But my gut instinct is that they want Nico Hoerner. I think he's their first choice and if that doesn't work out then maybe they look to San Diego and Arraez. Probably though, Corbin Burnes has to sign first and then I think we could see Castillo traded very quickly thereafter and maybe several deals will go down within a few days of each other. They'll probably try to package Haniger or Garver with Castillo in some form or fashion.

I wish I could understand why. Are they after defense again? The only stat he's really better in is WAR, so it's probably defense related. Barfbags.

Arraez and Hoerner will both be 28 years old and Lowe will be 31. Their numbers since 2022-

[D-train]

It's not really even that close in my opinion.

I think outside of Marte, he's the best option at 2B.

He's going to be 28 years old, still has some in the tank.

He had two things working against him last year- 1) he got traded to San Diego, a tough park, and 2) he played 116 of his 158 games at 1B/DH because SD has too many middle infielders, so of course the numbers don't love him like a full time 2B.

Here's how he compares over the last three years-
Screenshot_20241212_175609_DuckDuckGo.jpg

And here's how his season broke down. He had a rough couple months up to the trade deadline, but was his usual self to end the season. You want to cut down on K's? Here's your guy.

Screenshot_20241212_180048_DuckDuckGo.jpg

Need to run a WAR/600 and hope Lowe can stay healthy.
4.2 Marte
2.3 Arraez
3.0 Lowe
3.1 JP

Also Lowe had 4.5 in 2021 which is not included. If it was it would push him up to 3.4.

[D-train]

He's essentially a bat-first 2B that gets hits and doesn't K. Exactly what we need. He's Ichiro without taking up a power position.

Even in 2024 he played 2B until he got traded to the Padres where they already had Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Ha-Seong Kim in the infield but wanted his bat in their lineup and were weak at 1B.

And in 2023 he played all but 12 games at 2B.

We have plenty of guys that can be late inning defensive replacements. Let's worry about getting the lead first.

I'd make the trade. He's got a pretty decent salary so it probably wouldn't cost that much in prospects. And if he can't play second the bat is still useful at DH, 1B or whatever, which isn't ideal but it's just the one year.

But my gut instinct is that they want Nico Hoerner. I think he's their first choice and if that doesn't work out then maybe they look to San Diego and Arraez. Probably though, Corbin Burnes has to sign first and then I think we could see Castillo traded very quickly thereafter and maybe several deals will go down within a few days of each other. They'll probably try to package Haniger or Garver with Castillo in some form or fashion.

I wish I could understand why. Are they after defense again? The only stat he's really better in is WAR, so it's probably defense related. Barfbags.

Arraez and Hoerner will both be 28 years old and Lowe will be 31. Their numbers since 2022-

Damn that is a massive delta in WAR in favor of a guy with a lower OPS. You know I am with you in valuing Offense over defense but that is hard to ignore. Great point on the age difference between Lowe and those other two guys. Especially since he is another guy that can't play baseball without getting hurt.