Breaking we just got Donovan!

[D-train]

Fans seem to love him. I like a scrapper. Hopefully he puts up some numbers.

I think the risk with new guys is they get eaten up at T-Mobile and tank from there. Hopefully he can just come out on fire and not have to worry about it.

That would be nice.

[harmony]

Good quote from the FanGraphs analysis of the Brendan Donovan trade:

It’s a classic case where a dime and four nickels are less useful to the Mariners than a quarter.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/another-fin ... team-swap/

[D-train]

Great article there. Very thorough analysis.

Even better for the Mariners, Donovan looks to me like a solid fit for their park. T-Mobile is brutal for hitters, but it’s less punishing for lefties, particularly lefties who get a lot of value from singles and doubles. It’s not even so cavernous that he can’t hit homers there; Busch Stadium is tougher for lefty home run hitters. The biggest thing that makes T-Mobile a pitcher’s park is how much more frequently hitters strike out there. I truly can’t tell you exactly why that is — theories abound — but knowing that’s the problem, I don’t hate a guy who just doesn’t strike out as a solution.

[Pharmabro]

Well that's the great thing about the Trade Deadline. It isn't until the end of July. I didn't think we were getting Naylor and Geno back last year in Spring Training either. I still think Polanco could be had if Cole Young and Colt Emerson aren't ready. Very lefty heavy infield lineup. JP, Colt, Cole, Naylor, Donovan. Could use a Right handed bat.

Right hand bat like Suarez? 15 mil wasn’t an overpay. Just tight ownership.

I didn't want Suarez back. Pass

I'd rather those AB's go to Young and Emerson. Apparently so does the ownership. Plus thats just money saved for a Gilbert or Kirby extension.

Jeff Passan just did a comparison of Brendan to Bo Bichette!!

I did but not at the price of not getting any of the guys we got:


* I think the plan is to let Young/Colt/Bliss, Rivas, etc battle for 2B

* Brandon essentially be penciled into 3B

* I think you see 2 platoons essentially Rob R & Canzone at DH, Robles, and Raley at RF

VS RHP
1. Donavan* 3B
2. Julio CF
3. Cal** C
4. J. Nails* 1B
5. Randy
6. Raley* RF
7. Calzone * DH
8. ? Young* 2B
9. JP * SS
7/9 Lefty or switch vs RHP


VS LHP
1. Rob R DH .302/.399/.560 vs LHP last year
2. Julio CF
3. Cal** C
4. Randy LF
5. Nails* 1B
6. Bliss 2B
7. Donavan* 3B
8. Robles RF
9. JP* SS

So 6/9 Righties/SH vs lefties

The bench becomes basically Platoon mates for DH, RF, and infield plus a catcher. Bliss has had a .761 OPS vs LHP in his young career and has became the right handed relief for non-catcher infield

Just a few thoughts:

* I like JP at #9 because after Round one his OBP becomes a 2nd leadoff hitter in-front of our #1 (another high OBP guy) plus the 2-5 of Julio/Cal/Randy.Nails combo. Nice1


*I feel good about our lineup. But, the price we paid for Donavan was not much less than Marte should have cost. There is that. A 1st Rd pick top 100, a 2nd Rd pick in BW that was a near top 10 guy in BW, Tai Pete another 1st Rd pick and Toolsy guy, and finally a Comp Rd B pick that brings not only the pick itself buy a nice bump in Bonus$, the Cards turned BW into another comp Rd B pick #72, #68 from us and another prospect. The Cards raked in a huge return.

* I am Higher on Ferrer than most. But getting one more freaking hog for the back end of the BP would just about wrapped up an A graded offseason for me.