The Royals need pitching and the injuries with their pitchers this past season show just how reliable any pitching is in MLB. I would even advocate going to a six man starting rotation to spread the chance of injury even less throughout the rotation. At this point, the Royals only have three starting pitchers; Ragans, Singer, and Zerpa for 2024.
That is the #1 priority and if Salvy’s trade can add quality pitching it is a good move!
I don't know that adding an additional starter actually reduces any injury risk and given that they barely even have half of a six-man rotation, I think that's probably a bit of a lofty goal. But they certainly need to add pitching and trading Salvy is one of the ways they can do that.
I believe Sal can still be an important power bat. He has a fairly rare ability to recognize mistakes and punish them. I also believe that he cannot continue to catch the majority of a team's games and avoid injury. This is a repeated pattern. Sal, for whatever reason takes a beating behind the plate and it inevitably impacts his ability to hit. The worst thing the Royals can do is stay pat, and leave him as the primary catcher. He will get injured and they will pay a lot of $$ for little production.
Alternatives? Trade him? Sure..... I'll trade anyone as long as I get better value in return. That can be a complicated equation when you factor in leadership or intangibles or whatever, but essentially whatever leads to more wins long term ultimately is good value, and the Royals badly need more pitching.
If you don't trade him, the best way to use him is as a primary DH and 1B. I'm not sure that Vinnie is better or worse than Sal at 1B defensively. Neither are spectacular, neither are horrific. So, you've got two guys who are sharing the same two positions.
Whether you allow him to be the backup C, is certainly something to consider, but the injury possibility is still there to whatever degree he catches.
I don't think Sal's bat has slowed much. Most of his offensive numbers going down can be placed on hand and arm injuries from catching, and then the late season concussion, etc.
I'd prefer to trade him for a couple of Cole Ragans.... easier said than done. I hope they make the right decision.
I agree that if you want the best out of Salvy, he's not catching 125 games. He's probably not catching 100 games, but I can see a path where he catches 75-80 games a year for whatever team he's on. The question is if the rest makes his bat playable as a DH or an occasional first baseman (which, I thought he looked fine and could be better than that with offseason work, of course).
I understand that trading Salvy is good if we can get REALLY GOOD pitching and not a reclamation project. And maybe an equal or better home run producer.
But wow, my first impulse is to move to whatever town he's going to play in, I'd miss him that much!
Signed,
#1 Fan Lady.
PS Of course it's a crush but it's more like I wish I was his grandma (I think I'm old enough) and could make him dinner and cookies and listen to his stories about the game and watch his kids for him occasionally.
I mean, let's be real. I'd probably enjoy making him dinner and cookies and listening to stories from him too, so I don't think that's limited to grandmothers!
It'll be a hard pill to swallow for the fans for sure, if he's moved.
This exchange warms my heart. I've been married for 27 years, named my only child Brett, and it's only been the last few years my wife has really shown interest in the team. 99% of that is because she loves Salvy. I'll attribute the other 1% to our son moving to KC four years ago and now we have no excuse for not getting to KC and going to games.
And people like your wife are why the decision definitely goes beyond what happens on the field, which is a big reason why Bobby Witt Jr. becoming a face of the organization actually helps the process along. But, man, some people are going to be very upset even if it's a great trade.
After months of considering the possibility of it happening, I think I've finally made my peace with it. But I don't think I can stand the thought of Salvy wearing a White Sox uniform, no matter the return. This is a good reason not to let me be GM.
"Tellya wut...tchrow in a truckload'a haat beef sandwiches, & we'll call it good. I'll take my answer off the air. Tanks!" - Chicago Mikey, South Side Since Birth
I think they may have to pay most of his salary and add Garcia or Loftin to the deal to get a good return (the Marlins’ top two pitching prospects?). I doubt that’s going to happen, but that would be a clear announcement that JJ is going in a different direction.
I don't think they'd trade him and Garcia in the same deal without getting back an absolutely massive haul and I don't think they have to pick up more than half to get a solid prospect. What level of prospect, though, is obviously dependent on how much more than half they go. I could see them getting the price down to $8ish million per year and getting something pretty good, though.
The Royals need pitching and the injuries with their pitchers this past season show just how reliable any pitching is in MLB. I would even advocate going to a six man starting rotation to spread the chance of injury even less throughout the rotation. At this point, the Royals only have three starting pitchers; Ragans, Singer, and Zerpa for 2024.
That is the #1 priority and if Salvy’s trade can add quality pitching it is a good move!
I don't know that adding an additional starter actually reduces any injury risk and given that they barely even have half of a six-man rotation, I think that's probably a bit of a lofty goal. But they certainly need to add pitching and trading Salvy is one of the ways they can do that.
I believe Sal can still be an important power bat. He has a fairly rare ability to recognize mistakes and punish them. I also believe that he cannot continue to catch the majority of a team's games and avoid injury. This is a repeated pattern. Sal, for whatever reason takes a beating behind the plate and it inevitably impacts his ability to hit. The worst thing the Royals can do is stay pat, and leave him as the primary catcher. He will get injured and they will pay a lot of $$ for little production.
Alternatives? Trade him? Sure..... I'll trade anyone as long as I get better value in return. That can be a complicated equation when you factor in leadership or intangibles or whatever, but essentially whatever leads to more wins long term ultimately is good value, and the Royals badly need more pitching.
If you don't trade him, the best way to use him is as a primary DH and 1B. I'm not sure that Vinnie is better or worse than Sal at 1B defensively. Neither are spectacular, neither are horrific. So, you've got two guys who are sharing the same two positions.
Whether you allow him to be the backup C, is certainly something to consider, but the injury possibility is still there to whatever degree he catches.
I don't think Sal's bat has slowed much. Most of his offensive numbers going down can be placed on hand and arm injuries from catching, and then the late season concussion, etc.
I'd prefer to trade him for a couple of Cole Ragans.... easier said than done. I hope they make the right decision.
I agree that if you want the best out of Salvy, he's not catching 125 games. He's probably not catching 100 games, but I can see a path where he catches 75-80 games a year for whatever team he's on. The question is if the rest makes his bat playable as a DH or an occasional first baseman (which, I thought he looked fine and could be better than that with offseason work, of course).
I understand that trading Salvy is good if we can get REALLY GOOD pitching and not a reclamation project. And maybe an equal or better home run producer.
But wow, my first impulse is to move to whatever town he's going to play in, I'd miss him that much!
Signed,
#1 Fan Lady.
PS Of course it's a crush but it's more like I wish I was his grandma (I think I'm old enough) and could make him dinner and cookies and listen to his stories about the game and watch his kids for him occasionally.
I mean, let's be real. I'd probably enjoy making him dinner and cookies and listening to stories from him too, so I don't think that's limited to grandmothers!
It'll be a hard pill to swallow for the fans for sure, if he's moved.
This exchange warms my heart. I've been married for 27 years, named my only child Brett, and it's only been the last few years my wife has really shown interest in the team. 99% of that is because she loves Salvy. I'll attribute the other 1% to our son moving to KC four years ago and now we have no excuse for not getting to KC and going to games.
And people like your wife are why the decision definitely goes beyond what happens on the field, which is a big reason why Bobby Witt Jr. becoming a face of the organization actually helps the process along. But, man, some people are going to be very upset even if it's a great trade.
I definitely get it, but she will be pretty sad. But I think Bobby and Vinnie will help her get over it.
I think so too. Those are two good guys to have to take the mantle.
After months of considering the possibility of it happening, I think I've finally made my peace with it. But I don't think I can stand the thought of Salvy wearing a White Sox uniform, no matter the return. This is a good reason not to let me be GM.
Dylan Cease and Luis Robert isn't going to work for you?
No way, they are tainted by association.
*grumble grumble* I guess I could maybe live with that.
Fine fine, add in Jake Eder and Nick Nastrini.
*more grumbles* OK, I suppose.
"Tellya wut...tchrow in a truckload'a haat beef sandwiches, & we'll call it good. I'll take my answer off the air. Tanks!" - Chicago Mikey, South Side Since Birth
I think they may have to pay most of his salary and add Garcia or Loftin to the deal to get a good return (the Marlins’ top two pitching prospects?). I doubt that’s going to happen, but that would be a clear announcement that JJ is going in a different direction.
I don't think they'd trade him and Garcia in the same deal without getting back an absolutely massive haul and I don't think they have to pick up more than half to get a solid prospect. What level of prospect, though, is obviously dependent on how much more than half they go. I could see them getting the price down to $8ish million per year and getting something pretty good, though.