I am hurt that you would have me batting last, Wayne.
I'm in the minority. I like what the Nationals did. They stripped it to bare bones (bear bones?). Their team wasn't going anywhere.
I feel a little sorry for the fans. They won't get to see Trea Turner for an extra year. But, they did get Ruiz and Josiah Gray building blocks for a new buildup in talent there. As much as they were sellers a week ago, I sense they will be buyers this off season. That should pump up their fan base.
Nationals fans have always had a team that is 'going for it'. They're lucky that way.
Teams like the Pirates and Rockies are only there to put $$$ in owners coffers.
Colorado didn't even have the good sense to trade away Trevor Story.
Pittsburgh flounders like a fish on the sands of a beach. No hope.
One more team that is headed towards the road to nowhere are the Miami Marlins. Jeter and his 'gung ho' partners have been there for nearly five years.
Five years. And really, there is no difference in the team.
No batter to fear. Starting pitching that is average. A bullpen that is laughable.
They have hopefuls that played well enough to get Miami into the playoffs for a shortened season.
For a 162 game season though, hopeless.
Worse, they offered Starling Marte, a player who liked playing in Miami and wanted to stay, chump change to stay with the team.
A sign that the Marlins are more about making money for it's 'new owners', not spending for the fans.
They're a team who's best players will always be 'on the way.'
For Jeter, a business, not a game that needs to be won as when he was playing.
Fantasy-wise, I believe if the Nationals do not go on a spending spree this Winter and that Juan Soto will lead baseball in base on balls.
(By the way, I LOVE the new Joey Votto.
Not looking to take a walk, Votto is hitting as Joey Votto should hit.
Take that, analytics!
And dammit Joey, why didn't you do this years ago when I was yelling at you! 500 homers beats any number of BB!)
Soto will miss Trea Turner a LOT, no matter what the Nationals plan is for next year.
During the All Star break, some of us NFBC vets got together and did a mock draft for 2022.
Soto was drafted 12.
Remember, that was before losing Trea.
If not building around him this Spring, he is looking at the second round.
Thanks for the shout out, Wayne!