This has been asked 3 years
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Re: next year, I can’t see true contention. Maybe they do a 2015 Twins type thing where they play well over their heads and kind of luck into 80+ wins, but unless they make some major moves in FA (which I don’t anticipate), I have a hard time seeing it.

I AM encouraged by Adalberto Mondesi. We’re seeing the talent that I’ve been talking about since he was 16 come out. (Seriously. I first started pumping him when he was in Idaho Falls at 16 doing the same type of things as Jurickson Profar at that level).

The most encouraging thing is that his ability to take good at bats is really taking a jump up. His walk rate is still too low, but if he can increase it a bit as he matures and becomes more comfortable, he becomes a potential star.

I still think they should entertain offers
for Merrifield in the offseason, but they shouldn’t just be moving him to move him. If you get a team willing to pay a price that makes it worth it - which to me is a top 25 prospect and another top 75-100 guy at this point, plus some filler - great. If not, continue to hold him until the price and buyers match up.

I want to see Nicky Lopez next year. Would love to see a Merrifield/Lopez/Mondesi combination in he lineup. Tons of speed, lots of pressure on the D.

For the OF, Gordon has at least been a somewhat respectable hitter this year and his defense rebounded nicely. He’s going to end up a shade over 2 wins. Still not in line with the contract, but next year’s the last year. If he’s just awful again, like 2016 and 2017, they could cut bait early in the year.
CF, for me, would still feature Brett Phillips, though he does have minor league options remaining, which could be a factor. Soler and Bonifacio need to get everyday ABs assuming health and no suspensions, and can rotate through RF and DH.

We need to see O’Hearn and Dozier at 1B and 3B at this point, based on what they’ve done lately. It’s encouraging but needs to be shown out over a full season. That leaves Cuthbert on the short end.

The rotation has a few promising young guys in Keller and Junis and a real enigma in Duffy, and a real albatross in Kennedy.

If Kennedy and Duffy are both healthy and have seasons like they did in 2016, that could be a solid group. Big “if,” though, at this point...

And the bullpen... we’ll see an injection of young arms next year, I think, with Lovelady and likely Staumont getting some run. They have some useful pieces, and I’m sure they’ll go bargain bin shopping for guys like Peralta again. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see the pen be molded into a pretty effective group through a combination of youth and lotto tickets.
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Duncan, curious of your thoughts on Jorge Lopez?
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I am assuming Whit goes to CF and Lopez to 2nd if all 3 guys are with the club?
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I won't mention my undesirable opinion of what to do with Whit, but if you keep him I think you keep him in the IF at 3B once Lopez gets here. Goodwin or Phillips would be the options at CF IMO. The outfield is already potentially crowded enough with Gordon, Goodwin, Phillips, Bonifacio, and Soler. I suppose the IF is just as crowded with Mondesi, Lopez, Merrifield, Dozier, O'Hearn, Merrifield, and Lopez before too long. There's going to be a roster crunch with some guys having to be optioned down to AAA if they have remaining options or traded away. They also might end up keeping Lopez in AAA for far longer than they should because of no openings or playing time available.
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Either Phillips or Lopez stays down. That is probably going to be a roster spot won in spring training although technically they arent fighting over the same position. Dozier and O'hearn will man the corners.
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Duncan is encouraged by Mondesi's 5.5 war pace and 3rd on the team slug % (barely behind Soler, barely ahead of Salvy). And his plus scores in all 3 phases, baserunning, hitting, fielding


Go out on a limb there.
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Hey man, it’s the biggest bright spot from this season.

Not only does he look like he’ll be a worthwhile starter, he’s flashing star/superstar potential.

That wasn’t a slam dunk before the season.

It’s incredibly encouraging.
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Whit to CF or 3B or just floats a lot.


I like him as someone to keep exploring. Think he’s probably best used as a reliever long-term, but no reason to not give him a chance to prove he’s a solid starter first...
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+1

It seems obvious now, but there was a large minority on this forum who wanted to trade him for the BPO at the beginning of the year.
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I suggest putting all those morans on iggy.
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You can trade Merrifield, but at this point it can’t be for just any old return.

A couple of back-end top 100 types just doesn’t cut it for a guy with 4 years of control left, who has averaged 4.5 rWAR over his first two seasons as a regular.

Just too much variance there, with the way those guys pan out.
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Well, I'm not going to harp on the trade anymore because I know my opinion on it will just piss people off on here. But, I will say that my desire to trade him is based on the assumption/premise that we do get aj Adam Eaton type return for him. If not, keep him and I guess try again at the deadline. I think it's safe to say his value will never be higher than it is now. That's all I'll say, my opinion on the matter is known. I won't bring it up again.

On another note, the Mesa brothers have been cleared to sign with teams. I seriously doubt we have any chance with either, but damn it sure would be nice to pull off a miracle and pluck one of them.
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That's just ignorant. He hadn't even played a full season of major league ball yet.
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Of course he has. Dude playing like an AS. Do that over the year he's borderline top 5 player (only 7 players have a war >5.5)


It was just a major understatement u made that's all. Dude is an awesome talent.
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