Pending Physical

[ChrisLDuncan]

Trade is complete, just hope that Jones' hip is fine.

[SABR Matt]

Jones and Sherrill already passed their physicals...we're just waiting for Tillman and Butler to pass.

[ChrisLDuncan]

This is a pretty good trade for the Ms, they get a top five starter in the AL, and they kept Wlad, Clement, and Trunifel. The one thing that the Ms need to do is keep Jojhima and keep Ibanaez if at all possible a team of:

C: Jojhima
1B: Clement
2B: Lopez
SS: Betancourt
3B: Trunifel
LF: Ibanaez
CF: Ichiro
RF: Balentien
DH: Beltre/Sexson/whomever


Is pretty damn good.

[SABR Matt]

We've got some other nice pieces too...Chen and Tuiasosopo are getting closer to being MLB ready and I also like Mike Saunders

[ChrisLDuncan]

I still like that line up, if Betancourt learns how to position himself in the field and calms down on defense he can be Adam Everett+ defensively. He could possibly be worth five to six wins with his glove alone. Then all he'd need to learn how to do is take a walk.

[SABR Matt]

all three of the guys I listed are position prospects. But yeah...we can get some positive wins from our defense too...Betancourt and Lopez are both capable of good D...as is Wlad Balentien.

[ChrisLDuncan]

But do you see Tuiasosopo being a better player than Trunifel? Or Saunders beating out Ibanaez or Wlad for a starting OF spot? He can probably beat Raul, but that would give you a viable DH option.

[leecemark]

--What year or you talking about? Saynders is several years away and Ibanez won't be roaming the OF by then. He'll be DHings if he is still around. I can't imagine Triunfel will be at 3B and Beltre at DH either. Beltre has a great glove and he'll still be in the hot corner if he signs past his current deal (and Triunfel is unlikley to be up before that). Sexson is on the last year of his dealand I expect an OF/1B/DH free agent to be takig his spot - hopefully a LH power hitter.

[ChrisLDuncan]

--What year or you talking about? Saynders is several years away and Ibanez won't be roaming the OF by then. He'll be DHings if he is still around. I can't imagine Triunfel will be at 3B and Beltre at DH either. Beltre has a great glove and he'll still be in the hot corner if he signs past his current deal (and Triunfel is unlikley to be up before that). Sexson is on the last year of his dealand I expect an OF/1B/DH free agent to be takig his spot - hopefully a LH power hitter.

I'd say Triunfel will be up by 2009, and you're right about Ibanaez. So if Sexson leaves, what about Dunn? I'd imagine he'd be a good addition to the team. Perhaps the Ms should have gotten involved in the Miguel Cabrera trade...

[SABR Matt]

But do you see Tuiasosopo being a better player than Trunifel? Or Saunders beating out Ibanaez or Wlad for a starting OF spot? He can probably beat Raul, but that would give you a viable DH option.

Ibanez is toast very soon...he's not the kind of guy who will be awsome when he's 40.

Triunfel is our future RF, Tui is our future 3B if we can't resign Beltre or our future LF if we can. Saunders could be better than Tui and beat him but it's good to have competition.

[leecemark]

--Where did you see anything about Triunfel being moved out of the IF? I don't expect him to stick at SS, but he is probably either going to replace Lopez (or Roberts!) in 2010 at 2B - or Beltre at 3B if we don't resign him. He'll probably start this year in A ball and he's only 18 so I don't expect him in the majors before 2010. Same for Tui -who probably does end up in the OF (maybe 3B if Lopez and Beltre are both gone by 2010).

[SABR Matt]

The scouting reports I've seen suggest that he's best suited for the corner outfield positions or third base. But Tuiasosopo is closer to being ready at 3B.

[leecemark]

--Tui had an okay season in AA ball last year. He isn't exactly breaking the door down to get to the majors. He has some tools, but he is far from a finished product. My sense of it is he is more likley to move to the OF than Triunfel. Although it may be that neither will be plus defensive IFers in the majors. Its Triunfel's bat that makes him a special prospect.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Ibanez is toast very soon...he's not the kind of guy who will be awsome when he's 40.

Triunfel is our future RF, Tui is our future 3B if we can't resign Beltre or our future LF if we can. Saunders could be better than Tui and beat him but it's good to have competition.

I didn't realize he was that old, I don't expect Beltre to be better than Tui or Triunfel in two or three years. I'd say the team's lineup in a few years will probably be:

C: Jojhima
1B: Clement
2B: Lopez
SS: Betancourt
3B: Triunfel
LF: Saunders
CF: Ichiro
RF: Balentin/Tui (who ever is the better fielder)
DH: Tui/Balentin


However, they still need an impact bat (Mark Teixiera? Adam Dunn? Pat Burrell?)

[SABR Matt]

You mean the bat that hit for zero power and zero walks last year? That bat?

I love Triunfel, but there's no guarantee that he's going to "fill out" and miraculously become awsome. He has a lot of work to do and it's going to be three years before he gets here. Tui will start in AAA this year and if he does well, you could see him stick in Seattle in 2009.