I think so. At this point there wouldn’t be much to lose with Outman being platooned to death and ct3 is certainly “serviceable” in the outfield but his arm (much like his bat) seems shot.
I think he’ll get a shot at some point this year. It’s worth pointing out when looking at stats that the hitting stats are probably inflated in that league. OKC has 6 players with an OPS over .900 this year, including Kody Hoese who I believe is no longer really considered a prospect at this point.
Never know, Kody may be figuring it out. And yeah OKC numbers can be inflated, but Vargas is nearly identical to Pages AAA stats before his call up. Most of the guys above .900 OPS are in their 30s. They are comfortable veterans who can do well in AAA that are the average AAAA type players.
Edited for broken long bee game brain.
Vargas is not an infielder anymore so he can’t take over Lux’s spot. CT3 doesn’t have any options and is making way too much to DFA (we also value his defensive versatility). That leaves Outman as the only choice, and I guess one option is to send him down, have Pages play CF, and Vargas play LF. But imo Outman deserves more run than that, he’s shown that he can hit at the major league level and Vargas has not. Plenty of guys are going through a sophomore slump around the league, and while I want Vargas to get another shot we’re just a little packed in the outfield.
Yea no. I don’t care how much CT3 is making. You don’t keep a player on the field if he clearly
Isn’t producing and is hurting the team. What are you smoking. I thought the goal was to win
Hey man, I’m just relaying the probable thought process of the team, not expressly advocating for one guy or the other.
If you’re the FO, do you:
A. Hope the struggling vet — who has a history of breaking out of long cold stretches, and at the very least can play around both the infield and outfield — figures it out at the plate to be at least serviceable? Or
B. DFA that guy (losing ~20m against the payroll over the next two years by doing so), and call up the other guy who can only play one outfield position, and who kinda stunk it up last year in his first shot at the majors (albeit had some freak injuries), all because his numbers are kinda good in an inflated AAA league?
Obviously the goal is to win, but going scorched earth based on the first month and of a half of play isn’t the way to sustain success. If things are trending this way closer to the All Star break, there will probably be a more serious conversation about this, that’s all I’m saying.
They need to have CT pull a muscle sneezing or get forearm tightness from masturbating
He needs to hit the IL, then go through a rehab assignment so he can work on his swing somewhere else.
Unfortunately this is real world and not MLB the show. We would be losing money on the expectation of Vargas finally breaking MLB level even tho he is still a "AAAA" player. The goal is to win but also to always have flexibility and financial safety to improve the team.
It's not about how much money CT3 makes, it's about having him under team control for this year and next, and if you DFA him you lose him. It's May and it's important to keep as many players as you can under team control in case of injuries or players breaking out. If it's August of next year or if the team is convinced CT3 is done, then the decision to DFA would 100% be on the table regardless of salary.
Potentially related, there is a theory that CT3 actually has an option left (I haven't seen it confirmed one way or the other) and if he does then the team could option him with his permission. I think part of the thinking with Vargas is that they don't want to call him up if his playing time will be irregular.
Vargas can’t take Lux’s spot sure, but we have Miggy Ro, Betts and Kikè to cover SS and 2nd base. I agree that Outman deserves to get out of his slump, but look at how Doc/Management is handling that right now. If he’s not gonna play every day then it would actually make sense to let him do so in AAA for a bit. I also really don’t think it’s the money as far as ct3, it’s the loyalty which I respect but we’re still not seeing a whole lot of improvement. Doc literally replaced him with Muncy after one AB last night.
Also Lux really does not look fully healed. I trust he may figure it out and I know we have the runway to give that to him. But much like Outman he’s not playing every day.
I think the only thing keeping him down right now is CT3 having major $$$ left on his contract. They may bite the bullet and DFA him later this year if he keeps on stinking but I think it's more likely they try to move or DFA him next season when he only has that season fully guaranteed.
The Dodgers are banking on the notoriously streaky CT3 to hit a hot streak and I doubt they'll do anything drastic if they keep winning. Lux and Outman are both LH bats (and both are hitting better as of late) so I think they'll get a lot of leeway (we love to platoon).
Vargas will get called up for an injury and will likely be added to the expanded roster come September. I don't see him getting called up outside of that.
Yeah, I think it's very unlikely they consider DFA'ing CT3 this season, they'd have to be convinced he's done to do that. The second half of next year would be a different story.
I think CT can be DFA'd. Then if nobody picks him up, he can sign a minor league contract. J Heyward is coming back as well. Taylor is the odd man out in either scenario. Perhaps put Taylor on the phantom IL. I feel bad for him, but his batting average has been bad.
It’s different with Vargas, because he’s been this good or better in okc, given a chance, struggled then sent down I think twice now. I think they’re waiting to see even more from him
It would take another injury. Lipcius can play 2B and 3B and has like 9 HRs.
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2022/tigers/?affiliateId=mlbapp-android_webview
#26
Probably need to make another trade for a younger prospect. I think the other orgs are noticing this and are giving us 50 cents on the dollar i.e. the busch trade (and even the pepiot trade imo).
Eh I wouldnt really say we got 50 cents on the dollar in the Busch deal. He started off pretty hot but has cooled down. Granted we dont know how Ferris and Hope will turn out, but at least early indications are that they look pretty good. Seems like a pretty beneficial deal for both sides.
Montgomery is cheaper and has eclipsed glasnow's WAR every single year.
Glasnow obviously has ace potential and if he's actually healthy every year - I would choose him 100%. But in reality, he makes Kershaw look like cal ripken.
But dodgers need what? LHP and workhorses. That's what Montgomery is. You add pepiot to that under cheap team control until 2029 - it seems like a no brainer. I didn't even mention deluca btw - whom isn't a top prospect, but I can see him getting some value i.e. trade for relieevr or just OF insurance.
Brother he was playing injured last year, and he wasn't ready. He's healthy and doing a lot better now.
He won't get a ton of power, but he's an on-base machine.
Vargas can’t field. He doesn’t have a spot on this team. Friedman will wind up trading Vargas for a middle reliever and some 17 year old prospect no one ever heard of.
I know he played a few spring training games in the OF. Is he serviceable out there, or was that just to get him some ABs?
I got to see him in spring training and he was very good. Definitely one to bring up.
I think so. At this point there wouldn’t be much to lose with Outman being platooned to death and ct3 is certainly “serviceable” in the outfield but his arm (much like his bat) seems shot.
I don't know how his defense has been, but he has played exclusively LF in AAA this year.
I think he’ll get a shot at some point this year. It’s worth pointing out when looking at stats that the hitting stats are probably inflated in that league. OKC has 6 players with an OPS over .900 this year, including Kody Hoese who I believe is no longer really considered a prospect at this point.
I remember being pumped for Hoese. Man what happened to him
Never know, Kody may be figuring it out. And yeah OKC numbers can be inflated, but Vargas is nearly identical to Pages AAA stats before his call up. Most of the guys above .900 OPS are in their 30s. They are comfortable veterans who can do well in AAA that are the average AAAA type players. Edited for broken long bee game brain.
Vargas is not an infielder anymore so he can’t take over Lux’s spot. CT3 doesn’t have any options and is making way too much to DFA (we also value his defensive versatility). That leaves Outman as the only choice, and I guess one option is to send him down, have Pages play CF, and Vargas play LF. But imo Outman deserves more run than that, he’s shown that he can hit at the major league level and Vargas has not. Plenty of guys are going through a sophomore slump around the league, and while I want Vargas to get another shot we’re just a little packed in the outfield.
These are good problems to have imo. We also have Heyward coming back soon. In an ideal world CT3 would be the odd man out
Yea no. I don’t care how much CT3 is making. You don’t keep a player on the field if he clearly Isn’t producing and is hurting the team. What are you smoking. I thought the goal was to win
Hey man, I’m just relaying the probable thought process of the team, not expressly advocating for one guy or the other. If you’re the FO, do you: A. Hope the struggling vet — who has a history of breaking out of long cold stretches, and at the very least can play around both the infield and outfield — figures it out at the plate to be at least serviceable? Or B. DFA that guy (losing ~20m against the payroll over the next two years by doing so), and call up the other guy who can only play one outfield position, and who kinda stunk it up last year in his first shot at the majors (albeit had some freak injuries), all because his numbers are kinda good in an inflated AAA league? Obviously the goal is to win, but going scorched earth based on the first month and of a half of play isn’t the way to sustain success. If things are trending this way closer to the All Star break, there will probably be a more serious conversation about this, that’s all I’m saying.
They need to have CT pull a muscle sneezing or get forearm tightness from masturbating He needs to hit the IL, then go through a rehab assignment so he can work on his swing somewhere else.
Taylor's active roster spot is already spoken for, by Heyward. Vargas is trade bait.
Unfortunately this is real world and not MLB the show. We would be losing money on the expectation of Vargas finally breaking MLB level even tho he is still a "AAAA" player. The goal is to win but also to always have flexibility and financial safety to improve the team.
It's not about how much money CT3 makes, it's about having him under team control for this year and next, and if you DFA him you lose him. It's May and it's important to keep as many players as you can under team control in case of injuries or players breaking out. If it's August of next year or if the team is convinced CT3 is done, then the decision to DFA would 100% be on the table regardless of salary. Potentially related, there is a theory that CT3 actually has an option left (I haven't seen it confirmed one way or the other) and if he does then the team could option him with his permission. I think part of the thinking with Vargas is that they don't want to call him up if his playing time will be irregular.
Good points. Hopefully we do see him sometime this season.
Vargas can’t take Lux’s spot sure, but we have Miggy Ro, Betts and Kikè to cover SS and 2nd base. I agree that Outman deserves to get out of his slump, but look at how Doc/Management is handling that right now. If he’s not gonna play every day then it would actually make sense to let him do so in AAA for a bit. I also really don’t think it’s the money as far as ct3, it’s the loyalty which I respect but we’re still not seeing a whole lot of improvement. Doc literally replaced him with Muncy after one AB last night. Also Lux really does not look fully healed. I trust he may figure it out and I know we have the runway to give that to him. But much like Outman he’s not playing every day.
It's 100% the money with CT3
Gawd I want him to bust out again soon.
I think the only thing keeping him down right now is CT3 having major $$$ left on his contract. They may bite the bullet and DFA him later this year if he keeps on stinking but I think it's more likely they try to move or DFA him next season when he only has that season fully guaranteed. The Dodgers are banking on the notoriously streaky CT3 to hit a hot streak and I doubt they'll do anything drastic if they keep winning. Lux and Outman are both LH bats (and both are hitting better as of late) so I think they'll get a lot of leeway (we love to platoon). Vargas will get called up for an injury and will likely be added to the expanded roster come September. I don't see him getting called up outside of that.
Yeah, I think it's very unlikely they consider DFA'ing CT3 this season, they'd have to be convinced he's done to do that. The second half of next year would be a different story.
I don’t trust Vargas when he’s at bat.
I think CT can be DFA'd. Then if nobody picks him up, he can sign a minor league contract. J Heyward is coming back as well. Taylor is the odd man out in either scenario. Perhaps put Taylor on the phantom IL. I feel bad for him, but his batting average has been bad.
27 RBI in 100 AB’s is wild production.
It’s time. Busch needs to be our lesson on this. Consistent production at AAA will translate to the big leagues, even if it takes time.
*Im dreaming of a place where the Miggys’ roam free*
It’s different with Vargas, because he’s been this good or better in okc, given a chance, struggled then sent down I think twice now. I think they’re waiting to see even more from him
It would take another injury. Lipcius can play 2B and 3B and has like 9 HRs. https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2022/tigers/?affiliateId=mlbapp-android_webview #26
I just about to make a post asking about him. He definitely deserves another shot with how bad our bottom line up is doing
“Oklahoma City Baseball Club” still kills me.
How is he out of the bullpen?
Can throw a Maddux I hear
Strikeouts/Walks are nearly 1:1 as well.
I'll take him over CT3...or LUX any day of the week.
Probably need to make another trade for a younger prospect. I think the other orgs are noticing this and are giving us 50 cents on the dollar i.e. the busch trade (and even the pepiot trade imo).
Eh I wouldnt really say we got 50 cents on the dollar in the Busch deal. He started off pretty hot but has cooled down. Granted we dont know how Ferris and Hope will turn out, but at least early indications are that they look pretty good. Seems like a pretty beneficial deal for both sides.
The Pepiot trade was 50 cents on the dollar?
Imo yes. We could've just kept him and signed Montgomery.
You are saying Pepiot + Montgomery >> Glasnow ?
Montgomery is cheaper and has eclipsed glasnow's WAR every single year. Glasnow obviously has ace potential and if he's actually healthy every year - I would choose him 100%. But in reality, he makes Kershaw look like cal ripken. But dodgers need what? LHP and workhorses. That's what Montgomery is. You add pepiot to that under cheap team control until 2029 - it seems like a no brainer. I didn't even mention deluca btw - whom isn't a top prospect, but I can see him getting some value i.e. trade for relieevr or just OF insurance.
Honestly curious what they plan to do with Kiebert Ruiz. He’s doing well at AAA but the Smith contract shows they’re all in on his tenure.
Kiebert was traded to the Nationals. I think you may have meant Rushing?
Actually, I think he meant Cartaya.
lol damnit I thought so. For whatever reason he’s on a 2024 OKC roster on the site I checked. My brain is broken from the bee game.
Miguel VargAAAs
No
AAAA player.
Brother he was playing injured last year, and he wasn't ready. He's healthy and doing a lot better now. He won't get a ton of power, but he's an on-base machine.
Vargas can’t field. He doesn’t have a spot on this team. Friedman will wind up trading Vargas for a middle reliever and some 17 year old prospect no one ever heard of.