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How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 14 2017 11:45 PM

Jerry Crasnick wrote: The #BlueJays and #Mets have reached out early on free agent Lorenzo Cain, sources say. #Rangers, #Mariners and #SFGiants also have CF openings and could be potential fits. The Giants are juggling a lot of balls right now. I'm not familiar with Jerry Crasnick, but he's apparently from ESPN.

Frayed Knot Nov 15 2017 01:24 AM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Cain has always struck me as the upside of Juan Lagares, or what Lagares could have been had his 2014 season been the start of something rather than seemingly the high water mark due either to him topping out or because he can't ever stay on the field for more than six consecutive weeks. Cain hits for a better BA; like Lagares he doesn't walk a lot but his walk rate isn't super low [.042 walk rate vs .065-.070 ML avg]; low/medium power [12 HRs per every 600 ABs]; really good athlete and defensive CF The backstory on Cain is that he didn't grow up with baseball (despite coming from Valdosta, GA, an area which produces its share ... also its share of onions) and so by the time his mother thought it would be a good distraction to keep him out of trouble in his mid/late teens he was a decade or so behind the kids his age just in simple stuff like learning the rules of the game much less the subtleties. As a result he wasn't in the majors until 24 and didn't get 500+ ABs in a season until the season he turned 29 - when he placed 3rd in the AL MVP and perhaps not coincidentally was the first of the two straight WS years for KC. Of course the downside to all this late bloomer stuff is that he's just now hitting his first FA year only a few months prior to turning 32 which in turn begs the question about how much you want to commit for a guy who relies on his athleticism starting from that age. On the plus side if he's going to start his decline he hasn't yet: OPS of 751 / 838 / 747 / 803 over the last four seasons, essentially his only four full seasons. If you do sign him then you have to deal off Lagares, probably for not very much considering the contract, the lack of ever being a full-time player, and that everyone will know you can't keep him.

Valadius Nov 15 2017 01:57 AM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Lagares will never be whatever it is we thought he would be. I'm fine cutting bait with him.

Edgy MD Nov 15 2017 01:26 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Can we put aside negotiations with Cain, Hosmer, and Moustakas, and just try and get a 2015 Royals group rate?

Centerfield Nov 15 2017 02:28 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Edgy MD wrote: Can we put aside negotiations with Cain, Hosmer, and Moustakas, and just try and get a 2015 Royals group rate? Wade Davis and Greg Holland too.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 15 2017 02:30 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

I guess the theme would be, if you can beat them, join them.

86-Dreamer Nov 15 2017 02:41 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

I like Cain a lot. Sign Cain ($18) and Lynn ($15) and trade for Gordon ($8). Send 2 of Matz, Lugo, Harvey, Gsellman, Montero or Wheeler to the pen (one will be hurt and one will be traded). Whoever is left among Lagares, Nummo, Wilmer, TJ and Dom cover RF and 1B until Conforto returns to MVP form. Better offense, defense, speed, starting pitching and bullpen. C'mon Sandy, this is too easy. Just ask Jeff nicely for $11 million, figure out who to trade, pray all the pitchers are healthy and don't worry too much about those 3'd and 4th round draft picks....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 03 2018 07:10 PM Let's discuss snorting a few grams of Lo-Cain

I've been back and forth on this guy. But you know what? A right handed hitting leadoff type who can play a good CF would be a good thing to have, and we need an outfielder anyway. Yes, he makes Lagares expendable but expend we must. Maybe he nets us a "chip." I worry about costing Zimmo a job but he's the guy in RF till Conforto comes back and decent insurance when Cespy's hammy's inevitably blow out. He'll help the starting staff too. Lessens the need to re-engage Reyes. Gets a brother in the mix with Grandy gone. Would he take 4/60? Why not get Omar on the case already.

Vic Sage Jan 03 2018 07:18 PM Re: Let's discuss snorting a few grams of Lo-Cain

i've been shilling for Cain for a while. The concern of course is that, as a speed guy, he's of an age where that skill starts to diminish. So we'd probably be buying high, but that's to be expected when you snort Lo-Cain.

Lefty Specialist Jan 03 2018 07:36 PM Re: Let's discuss snorting a few grams of Lo-Cain

Love the title.

Edgy MD Jan 03 2018 07:41 PM Re: Let's discuss snorting a few grams of Lo-Cain

If I'm going to bury or deal off Lagares and/or Nimmo, I want somebody just a leetle better. When looking for outfielders, I'm thinking either top or bottom shelf. He's a little too close to the middle for me. He probably wouldn't be a disaster, though. He's consistent enough. The team has mostly been faking it in the leadoff spot since the day Reyes bunted and walked off the field. Cain would be less fakey. I acknowledge that I have perhaps an irrational enthusiasm for Lagares and Nimmo. But Brandon out OBP'd Cain by 14 points last year, even as he batted 40 points lower. That's a tasty muffin.

Centerfield Jan 03 2018 07:51 PM Re: Let's discuss snorting a few grams of Lo-Cain

Yeah, look. At this point I'd take anyone over no one. And I would guess Cain has a few years left in him. My hesitation is that of all of our question marks, the one I have the most faith in is Nimmo. And that's what makes it tough. Will Cain outperform Nimmo? How good is TJ Rivera? Seemed like he could hit a little. Flores put up nearly an .800 OPS. Will our imported infielders outperform these guys? The questions are tough even if we had money to spend. That's why I'd be inclined to bring in the can't miss superstar, then roll the dice with a few of these guys.

Edgy MD Jan 03 2018 07:54 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

The Italian word for can't miss is Votto.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 03 2018 08:28 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

What star level CF are we talking about here? I'd go get him if I knew who you were talking about.

Ceetar Jan 03 2018 08:32 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: What star level CF are we talking about here? I'd go get him if I knew who you were talking about. That guy. the fish one.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 03 2018 08:37 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 03 2018 08:56 PM Re: How about a discussion of Lorenzo Cain?

Patrick = awesome