Okay, I might as well get this one out of the way now also. After surprisingly <ahem> reaching the wild-card game in 2013, the Zombies actually look pretty good for 2014. Of course, they would look a lot better if not for a plague of pitcher injuries and the brutal cratering of several young players, but still.
Needs:
1) SP, SP, and SP - Thanks to the aforementioned plague, SUR has only 6 active pitchers that I really want to keep for next season and they combined for 83 GS. Yay!
2) Closer - Their 2 relievers combined for 4 saves, so that's probably not going to work either.
3) 2B - Whatever happened to Danny Espinosa? Just last year, he was a GG 2B with power and speed! Now, he's a gaping hole in the lineup.
Trade Bait:
1) Matt Wieters (637 APA, .704 OPS) - This pains me, but I probably need to move him and roll with Rosario as the starting C. Matt is great defensively and pounds lefties, but really struggled vs. RHP. Perhaps he should give up switch-hitting and just hit RH?
2) Nate McLouth (652 APA, 753 OPS vs. RH, LF/CF) - SUR actually has an OF surplus, so I should probably move this long-time Zombie. That makes me sad.
3) Edwin Jackson (31 GS, 4.98 ERA) - Worst season in quite a while, but still playable, only 30 years old and should bounce back.
4) Ross Detwiler (13 GS, 4.04 ERA) - Former #1 pick got caught up in that injury plague, but at least got a card and wasn't bad.
5) John Lannan (14 GS, 5.33 ERA) - Here, take him away!
6) Justin Grimm (17 GS, 5.97 ERA) - Rookie just missed being a decent unlimited starter and instead is a pretty crappy limited one. But he's a Cub now, so that'll work out.
7) Matt Magill (6 GS, 6.51 ERA) - This rookie pitched just enough to get a card, but could be stashed in the minors or rolled out there for 35 terrible starts. Flexibility!
8) Danny Espinosa (unlimited PA, 2b/ss, 465 OPS!) - He's still young, so maybe he just needs a new team. <sigh>
9) Jesus Montero (121 APA, *C*, hit .208 to blow his unlimited status) - Hey, remember when he was a top prospect?
10) Dee Gordon (117 APA, 2b/ss) - Hey, remember when he was a top prospect? He's still really fast! And Tom Gordon's son!
11) Logan Forsythe (267 APA, IF/OF) - He can play all over the place. Too bad he didn't really hit.
12) Jimmy Paredes (UL PA, RF/2B/3B) - Fun position combo for unlimited batter, so there's that. And he's an Astro if that amuses you. Yeah, whatever.
SUR can also afford to deal cash, picks and prospects. However, don't bother asking about the elite minor league talent (Buxton, Gray, Heaney, Heredia, Odor, Olt, Owens, Polanco). I'm not that desperate. I also expect to keep several of my injured pitchers around on E contracts.
Okay, enough for now. Bring on the fabulous offers!
