PTOITWCFTPP wrote:

MFP wrote:Bryant would be really interesting in this lineup for sure but...

I still think I'd rather just pay for Rendon and then use whatever trade chips you'd have used for Bryant to try to land a pitcher.

If you get the sense that Rendon is dead set on going elsewhere, then sure. Go for it.

I get what you are saying and that’s fine to want to do, but Bryant is fantastic. I’d rather have Bryant, even at the cost of prospects plus a huge contract. If they traded for him and wanted to upgrade pitching, offer Cole something substantial. All of this really comes down to our tax implications. Are we paying it or not? Act like a big market team and go get great players

See, I agree with your approach in theory but maybe not necessarily in practice because I just think Rendon is better than Bryant is. Thus, if you can add the better player in Rendon AND use whatever trade chips you'd have used on Bryant on top of that to land another upgrade to the rotation, I feel like that's a better way to go out and get great players.

Rendon (with contract in hand) + Good SP for prospect cost > Unsigned Bryant for prospect cost + Lesser SP on the FA market

All of that said, if Rendon's off the market, then go out and get Bryant (but try like hell for Lindor first).

Happy to welcome either Bryant or Rendon. Prefer Rendon at just the $$$ instead of giving up what few prospects we have. 2 years of Bryant makes it a little tougher decision. Even with the small age difference think I slightly prefer Rendon as a player.

mcare89 wrote:

MoBettle wrote:

mcare89 wrote:

MFP wrote:Bryant would be really interesting in this lineup for sure but...

I still think I'd rather just pay for Rendon and then use whatever trade chips you'd have used for Bryant to try to land a pitcher.

If you get the sense that Rendon is dead set on going elsewhere, then sure. Go for it.

Yeah, this is where I am. It seems silly, and that's coming from someone who loves Kris Bryant. Bryant's only a year and a half younger, and whether it's one year or two, I would assume whatever price you pay, you pay with the intention of re-signing him, at which point he's going to get paid a pretty similar price to what Rendon gets now, give or take a few million. You're going over the tax line if you get either one of them, so I don't really see what the benefit of Bryant is until Rendon is off the market.

They may like Bryant because it’s more realistic to add him and fill out the roster to some extent while staying under the tax in 2020. He’s projected at 18.

I agree that would be the logic, but I'm just at the point with this team where if you're trying to stay under the tax in 2020, you're going to hurt yourself in some way. Either you're not going to be good enough now, or you're going to compound the problem by continuing to hurt yourself later (i.e. trading prospects). The only way to alleviate that push and pull is either finding a true diamond in the rough for cheap, or by wallpapering over the holes with cash.

Yeah I’m with you, will just believe they pay the tax when I see it.

They may even try to pawn Segura off of the cubs to replace Bryant. I would be less annoyed by a Didi signing at that point I guess.

Can we get the Cubs to throw Ian Happ in the deal?

If they can add Rendon, Donaldson, or Bryant to play third... sign Didi for short, move Segura to 2nd and Kingery to CF now we are talking a lineup...

Shadow, these talks going anywhere?

Wheels Tupay wrote:Man, Klentak looks pretty smart nabbing Wheeler on that deal.

Yeah, I'd say the Wheeler deal looks much better today than it did before, and I was fine with it before.

Titlehungry wrote:If they can add Rendon, Donaldson, or Bryant to play third... sign Didi for short, move Segura to 2nd and Kingery to CF now we are talking a lineup...

I'm just as happy with Kingery to SS, Segura to 2B and Haseley in CF. Make a deadline move or 2 if any of the 3 aren't cutting it.

Nightengale says Texas, Philly and LAD in “hot pursuit” of Rendon.

TempleFan22 wrote:Shadow, these talks going anywhere?

To happy hour.

Girardi's live at the winter meetings. https://www.pscp.tv/w/1BdxYeAXAbyxX

Rosenthal says Didi would be willing to accept a one year deal. Hmmmmmm.

I could live with that.

Would rather add Bumgarner or Porcello,

TempleFan22 wrote:Nightengale says Texas, Philly and LAD in “hot pursuit” of Rendon.

I cannot believe that DC is not in the mix. Then again, I cannot really believe that Philly is.

thephan wrote:

TempleFan22 wrote:Nightengale says Texas, Philly and LAD in “hot pursuit” of Rendon.

I cannot believe that DC is not in the mix. Then again, I cannot really believe that Philly is.

DC just blew their load on Strasburg.

Yes and no, they are deferring a bunch of that, and have some salaries coming off the books. It will be a turning point when the first Nationals, Zimmerman, is forced into retirement (said he will not play for another team), but I see that happening as he has been playing with house money for a while and turned up healthy enough at just the right time. I have always felt that they will end up with their backs up against the wall with Rendon and sail into the land of luxury tax problems.

Related to that I need to think about the Nationals cash flow as there are potential some unique problems there as a business proposition that the WS win will cover for a little while. When I can organize those thoughts I will take it to the Nats thread.

thephan wrote:

TempleFan22 wrote:Nightengale says Texas, Philly and LAD in “hot pursuit” of Rendon.

I cannot believe that DC is not in the mix. Then again, I cannot really believe that Philly is.

I doubt they are blowing smoke. They signed Strasburg, and that means they are likely out on another $30MM/year contract.

Werthless wrote:

thephan wrote:

TempleFan22 wrote:Nightengale says Texas, Philly and LAD in “hot pursuit” of Rendon.

I cannot believe that DC is not in the mix. Then again, I cannot really believe that Philly is.

I doubt they are blowing smoke. They signed Strasburg, and that means they are likely out on another $30MM/year contract.

Lerner already said publicly that it would be one or the other, not both.

I missed that. Stras was the lock all the way then.