Monday Rockpile: Rockies Free Agent Bat Targets Aren't Really Upgrades.

Excellent. The only thing I’d point out is that presumably signing Cuddyer and shipping out Smith would result in the return of an infielder better capable of handling 2B or 3B than LeMahieu.

Hawpe is a revered Rockie, but watching him play RF the last two seasons he was there was brutal. His defense made the rest of the OF vulnerable. Yet, his bat was acceptable enough to keep him in the lineup.

Now, we have an OF (Smith) who isn’t as good of a hitter, but is capable and significantly better in the field, and he’s unacceptable because of… need a platoon partner, bad attitude, permanent 4th OF? Who knows.

When all it takes is Vogelsong and Pill, why not? http://multimedia.foxsports.com/device/mobile/t/49528315/miami-might-do-well-to-trade-ramirez.htm?m_n=true

Pretty sure either Cuddyer or Willingham would be playing left field. Didn’t I read earlier this offseason that CarGo’s going to play right almost exclusively, just like he did through the end of last season?

He is interested in Prado (this year’s Michael Young) or, MORE IMPORTANTLY, he will spend the $$$ on PITCHING.

That is all. Stop worrying about Cuddyer/Willingham because, as you say, all that does is add a few inches to the hill. DO’D is not going there.

Too expensive for platoon players, don’t add enough (if anything) to the production obtainanable at lower cost from Smith + platoon partner.

Even if Smith brings a Prado-level IF to plug the 2B hole, the remaining LH outfielder (Blackmon or Wheeler or, if he recovers to 2010 level, Colvin) can STILL be paired with a RH platoon partner for far less money than Willingham or Cuddyer will cost. And that money can be spent on pitching.

I see from Renck’s article today that Spilly would come back to be the platoon partner for less money than he’d get in arbitration. No thank you. Time to turn that page.

at Baseball Musings. A legal supplement that can convert into testosterone inside the body called DHEA.

I have a feeling of bleh when these two names are bandied about. I wonder if a trade for Carlos Quentin would be worth it? — since the White Sox are in rebuild mode.

Posted a Q&A with Tim Wheeler today.. too hard for me to link on mobile

but, dreams sometimes do come true. give us Beltran.

I agree with the general premise that Cuddyer/Willingham are marginal improvements to a hole we don’t have. While Willingham is certainly more steady with the bat and avoids the splits that plague Smith, he isn’t an improvement in the OF and he is likely too pricey on a 3yr deal at age 32-35. Basically the same with Cuddyer, with more emphasis on the fact that he isn’t good at any one position on the diamond.

The problem is that every single one of our other candidates (Blackmon/Wheeler/Colvin – all lefthanded hitters) for RF (or LF if Cargo is going to man RF) have the same issue with LH pitching (I am having difficulty finding career stat splits for minor leaguers … anyone?). This is why the trade for Colvin is so puzzling … he is just another of many we have already in the system. Give me a platoon partner for Smith to play 25% of the time against RH pitching and yeah, I’m happy.

Problem is, Smith is one of our few expendable pieces given the influx of LH OFers on the roster. And we do have a hole at 2nd/3rd. So I can see why he is being dangled. I mean … would we really complain if one (or all) of Blackmon/Wheeler/Colvin were thrown to the wolves in LF only against RH pitching? At least they can field the position and one of them might just be ready/able to contribute in that role.

However, that is also why I think Wheeler/Blackmon are expendable – they profile to have the very same splits that Smith has, and their value may never be higher. I am not sold on either as even an average regular, though I do hold out some hope for Wheeler, but am also scared of his home/road splits – Tulsa being very a favorable hitting environment. The advantage to these guys, obviously, is that they are cheaper than Smith who is going to see his salary increase. And like I said, their value will probably never be higher.

So yeah, if we can fill at least one hole on the IF without trading Smith, and we can find a RH platoon partner at a reasonable cost (Jerry Hairston?), then I am all for it. Use the money saved to get pitching – I for one, would like to see Edwin Jackson/Wandy Rodriguez/Ervin Santana/one of the Miami pitchers or Volquez. And I am okay with trading Wheeler and/or Blackmon if that is what it takes.

I’ve wanted better defense which has been on the decline scince 2009 here. I’m not a fan of the TTO batting style. My biggest problems with CDI were behind the plate. I thought he was costing our pitchers. I want the Rox as a team to take the base hit that’s presented to them instead of trying to jack impossible to hit out pitches. I’m not saying walks aren’t valuble. They are essential for getting people on base. The reason you’re up there though is to knock in runs. While it is possible to walk in a run; you won’t walk in two in the same AB.

You are not going to walk in the Runner from second when a base hit can.I’m not sure we targeted the right people from the gitgo. I’m not impressed withe fall haul of pitchers. We seem to be guilty of looking for set types instead of having some variety. Matzek being a hybrid Marshall pitcher is more the exception. His pitches will arrive from different angles than most people are used to seeing which I think explains both his high K and BB rates partially.

I liked the Met’s Murphy’s Bat better than Prado because of how he produced in Citi Field gave me hope he’d produce in Petco and Dodger stadium and whatever the stadium will be called in SF next week. But his knees and his defense at 2b made me pull for Prado. I wanted Headley to fill in for Nolan and to eventually replace Todd He also could if need be platoon in the OF.At this point if we can’t get a reasonable bat for 2b I’d rather have Nelson and Herrea’s steady glove out there than a tin glove that might smack seven homers instead of three.I’d rather let Pacheco and JD battle it out for 3b then spend the money for something marginally better.I’d rather admit our playoff hopes are on hold this year and slip a little extra money in the stocking stuffers for those whose chances are are going to suffer otherwise.

Aramis Ramirez appears to be gone

@ESPNChiCubs: Breaking news ; MLB source tells ESPN CHICAGO A Ramierz signed a 3 yr deal with Brewers pending physical.

Phillies announce trade of OF Ben Francisco to Toronto for LHP Frank Gailey.

Phillies trade of Francisco opens up poential landing spot for Spilborghs. Phils have liked Spilborghs for a few years as RH bat off bench

Who else can we give to the phillies?

I don’t agree with your conclusion though. I’ll probably have to throw a fanpost together tomorrow to accurately organize my thoughts and argue the other side because I think a Cuddyer could significantly improve this offense (especially if Tracy is still the manager).