I've trade to give Moore some rope but it's dumb shit like this that shortens that rope.

Re: Hamilton ... there isn’t much to lose there for KC other than dollars and there’s some serious upside.

He’s an excellent defender in CF. He can get to replacement level there even if he’s as bat with the bat as he was a year ago.

I could also see the Royals and all that OF grass at the K helping him regain some offensive value. He’s going to be encouraged to bunt and slash and take advantage of his speed as a Royal. If they can’t bring out an average offensive player in him, no one can.

This is an exciting signing that gives KC arguably the best trio of base stealers in baseball. This is a super cheap 1 year deal on a rebuilding team that also gives Hamilton a home ballpark where he can thrive. Our base running and outfield defense are both elite.

When did I say they're the same? You can't really be that dense. They don't need to be the same, they just need to give us enough capable bodies to not be left with a complete black hole at any one position. Despite what Moore has said about rebuilding, they're clearly in rebuild mode. I'm not a big fan of Moore obviously, but I don't think he's that oblivious and ignorant to not see the merits of making a trade IF the right return is offered. Moore is covering his bases in case he is offered a return he can't refuse.

Ozzie Smith is the best defensive player ever, scoring higher than even Brooks Robinson in the fWAR tables. 67 WAR, didn’t destroy all that much value st the plate either since he played in a slapdick era where slapdicks at middle infield was fine. I used to say he was basically a hyped up Frank White but that’s not really true - SS is vastly tougher to play and hence Ozzie was worth about twice what White was over their careers.


Oh. Harold Baines is the worse choice I’ve ever seen. Even he said he was “shocked”. He and Bruce “hairy bush face” Sutter have no biz being in. All these mediocrities make it likely I’ll avoid ever going to Cooperstown

This does feel like Moore's doing prep-work for a Merrifield deal. If we can get value from a Whit trade and nail the draft this year, our system suddenly looks a whole lot better.

Gordon, Hamilton, and Phillips would make for the best outfield defense in baseball. Sorry Boston. 5 million is chump change.

I can give a dozen reasons why I'm not a fan of Moore, but this move? Who cares if we sink $5 million on a reclamation project for 1 year. How is this a negative?

I saw a lot of people on Twitter talking about Baines last night....could not believe he got in.

Props! I agree completely and thought we should note our rare agreement!

Re: Merrifield, I agree they’re positioned to move him if the right return presents itself, but we’ll have to see what is out there.

:bravo:

I can see the merits of holding on to him and trying again at the deadline. I saw a report that the Reds are considering trading Scooter Gennett, obviously hurting Merrifield's value. We can hope Lopez lights it up in Omaha for 2-3 months, possibly making Merrifield expendable.

Whit’s trade value will never be higher than it is right now; 4 years of control left coming off of leading all of MLB in SB and hits. The time to strike is now, but ONLY if you get the right offer. You don’t just trade him for the sake of trading him.

Hopefully someone blows the Royals away . . . .

Absolutely. Jack Morris being in the Hall of Fame is a joke. His career ERA+ was 105! But hey, he threw a lot of innings, so put him in the Hall!

Not sure if the premise is correct or not, but I saw an article that theorized his value is too high right now to get the return we want, and that maybe in a year or so he might finally have a value equivalent to a trade we could reasonably expect to receive.

I’m fine with the Royals holding on to him for another year or so if no one is willing to give up something good and ‘fair’ in value right now. Eventually (maybe at the trade deadline this year?) someone will try and meet the Royals asking price. Royals definitely need to slow play this one . . . . .