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Nadam23 wrote: ↑16 Sep 2025 11:05 am Our best 4 hitters:

Herrera .284/.371/.829
Contreras .257/.344/.791
Burleson .281/.333/.784
Donovan .283/.351/.760

So basically four .800 OPS guys. What do we need next season to have a great lineup? We know Winn and Pages/Crooks will be in the lineup. Winn should be in the .700-.750 OPS range. Pages/Crooks in the .650 - .700 range. Scott will probably also be in center. I would hope he can get in the .650-.700 range as well next year and get around 50 stolen bases.

So we need 2 more guys for the lineup and they need to be studs. 1 Infielder and 1 outfielder. I don't think Arenado, Gorman, Walker, or Nootbaar are the answer. I think to have a great lineup we just need these two players: Whetherholt and a free agent star (or trade for a star).

Whetherholt I think will be in the .800-.850 OPS range in his first year. The free agent star needs to be an outfielder with an .850 OPS or higher and be a 30+ HR hitter. Good luck finding that. There are only 6 players in MLB with an OPS over .900 this year and 20 over .850. Not a lot of options and also Bloom probably won't be adding a big contract in his first year and a with strike on the way.

So besides Whetherholt, how are we going to get that .850+ star player that can turn our lineup into a great one?

I don’t want to be rude but that is 1 .800 OPS guy including 2 DH only in Burleson and Hererra and Donovan will require a extension or should be traded this off season before his return is diminished because of FA. The answer is trade Arenado Donovan Nootbar Walker and Gorman for pitching and then sign Tucker and Bichette (3B). Then you will have a 6 - .800 OPS guys and more pitching

I don't see this team having any chance to be great offensively in 2026.

C Crooks, Pages 50/50
1B Contreras
2B Wetherholt, Torres
SS Winn
3B Arenado/Donovan
LF Burleson/Donovan
CF Scott
RF Church, Fermin
DH Herrera

UT guys who don't play a lot: Fermin, Torres (both high OBP guys with speed but lacking power)

AAA: Walker, Saggese, Prieto
Moving on: Pozo, Koperniak, Siani

1. Trade Nootbar for a RH OF to replace Church or Scott. Fermin stays because we need a 2nd RH OF who doesn't play a lot.
2. Trade Gorman for a prospect. Replace with the super utility Torres.
3. Trade Arenado for nothing and send some cash but if you can't then trade high on Burleson for a SP and move Donovan to LF.

Arenado seems open to being traded now, but I doubt anyone covets him. He should have accepted the Houston trade.

You hope that Wetherholt provide some offense.
You hope to acquire a RH RF who hits much better than Walker.
You hope that Torres, Fermin, and Crooks hit better than and Gorman, Saggese, and Pozo.
You get faster by trading Nootbar, Gorman, and Arenado or Burleson and adding Church, Torres, Fermin
You get faster by swapping Pozo out and Crooks in.
You get better defense by trading Gorman and maybe Burleson and sending Walker to AAA.

This is just a starting point. I hope for some wheelin' and dealin' to create some excitement and a new start.