Why would Contreras want to stay?

[rockondlouie]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

Again

You don't eat contract when you deal away quality players, WillyC and Donny included.

Bloom is going to have to add some major league players this offseason via trade or FA, he's said as much.

Dewitt's business plan has almost always been to allow his POBO/GM to re-invest any payroll saved via retirement, trade or DFA.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

You can't simply gut the entire team, throw out a hap-a z z lineup and expect fans to come to games.

I'd bet Bloom & Dewitt have a deal that he can re-invest any payroll savings he achieves via trades.

I want WillyC & Donny's money, minus any player salaries coming back, to be spent on a major league pitcher (can be a veteran or one coming off injury on one year deals), the pen' (which will be bare after losing Helsley, Maton and likely JoJo), plus a veteran OF'er on a one year deal.

I get the shot-gun approach w/the prospects but you can also go overboard.

You don't go overboard buying powerball tickets instead of food, same w/going overboard w/all your trade assets only getting back prospects/suspects instead of spending some capital on proven major league players.

Unlike you, I don't want to lose 90-100 games in 2026.

I'll be fine spending my season ticket money on a team that stays competitive (80-85 wins) in 2026 knowing Bloom is NOT TAKING HIS EYE off the L-T plan.

[BrockFloodMaris]

With Gray gone and if Donovan, Arenado and, possibly, Nootbaar are traded. The tone I sense, is that Bloom would also like to move Contreras as part of the rebuild.

Same tone I sense. While Contreras is still playing well Bloom realizes that Willcon is not part of the future so he wants what he can get for him now.

In addition to Dan’s rationale, I would anticipate that the shorter the Cards lineup becomes, the fewer strikes WC sees at the plate. He would see a whole bunch of IBB.

[mattmitchl44]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

I wonder how bad we could get this team in 2026? And to think, this cycle of rebuilding the floor to your house every 6-7 (heeeyyy!) years to maybe have a deep playoff run a couple of times is an aspiration.

Once they get the player development system rebuild, I think their "peak and trough" ratio should be much better than that with a long term ML payroll back at $170, $175, $180 million.

IMO, they could see themselves set up for the expectation of a "deep playoff run" (like at least getting through the 1st round of the playoffs) something like four years out of every six. Even if they set themselves up as such going into season, maybe the reality is that they only get through the 1st round three out of those four "set up years" on a regular basis. And then, more rarely, in one of their two cyclic "rebuild years" maybe they occasionally make a bonus, surprise playoff run.

A Top 5 farm system + a $170, $175, $180 million probably = winning at least one playoff series half the time. Then you've presumably set you roster to go much deeper than the 1-2 years out of every six.

[mattmitchl44]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

[rockondlouie]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

[mattmitchl44]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

[rockondlouie]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

While true, history often rhymes, and the patterns are hard to ignore.

Not to mention...those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

[mattmitchl44]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

While true, history often rhymes, and the patterns are hard to ignore.

Not to mention...those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

And I note, this ownership is taking a completely different tack than we've ever seen in the last 25 years. So they are already "breaking their pattern."

[rockondlouie]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

While true, history often rhymes, and the patterns are hard to ignore.

Not to mention...those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

And I note, this ownership is taking a completely different tack than we've ever seen in the last 25 years. So they are already "breaking their pattern."

An old leopard like BDWJr rarely changes his spots.

This is Missouri matt, BDWJR will have to "Show Me" he's taking a completely different tack when it comes to how he sets payroll.

[mattmitchl44]

I read somewhere, speculation of a team that might even take on Contreras' entire remaining contract. In addition to sending as fairly high level prospect to the Cardinals.

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

While true, history often rhymes, and the patterns are hard to ignore.

Not to mention...those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

And I note, this ownership is taking a completely different tack than we've ever seen in the last 25 years. So they are already "breaking their pattern."

An old leopard like BDWJr rarely changes his spots.

This is Missouri matt, BDWJR will have to "Show Me" he's taking a completely different tack when it comes to how he sets payroll.

Like I've said, multiple times now, we'll wait and see.

But, still, spending another $10, $15 million on a 1-year FA instead of sending it with Contreras isn't going to substantially change their wins, or attendance, for 2026.

[rockondlouie]

No way BDWJr should pickup one dime of WillyC's deal.

$18M and two yrs for a catcher (and he would catch at least 80-100 games for his new team) who can hit like Willy is more than fair and should also return a solid prospect.

The Cardinals should pick up as much of Contreras' contract as possible - that will only mean getting back better prospects. Spend their 2026 "payroll" on eating money due on these contracts because they aren't competing in 2026 anyway.

No they shouldn't.

On a player with as much value as WillyC has w/only two yrs remaining on fair contract you want to clear payroll while still receiving back a good prospect.

WillyC has way more value than S. Gray or NADO, the ONLY two player BDWJr should have to eat salary to get rid of.

With that savings Bloom can then add some PROVEN major league talent, albet not top shelf but a veteran SP, some pen' help and possibly a veteran OF bat.

He'll get enough prospects/suspects paying for Gray and NADO, plus not paying a cent when he deals Donny and/or Noot.

You don't pay for prospects/suspects to move solid players like WillyC and Donny.

If you could, hypothetically, get a FV 55 (MLB Top 25) prospect for Contreras by eating $10, $15 million instead of a FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect by eating nothing, eat the money and get the better prospect (same applies if you say FV 50 instead of FV 45). Putting that $10, $15 million for 2026 toward another flyer on a relatively cheap veteran FA on a 1 year deal isn't going to move the needle for 2026 anyway.

I'd love to be that starry-eyed matt but no way WillyC brings back a Top 25 MLB prospect even if BDWJr ate all of his contract!

As I noted, the same applies if you said FV 50 (MLB Top 100) prospect vs. FV 45 (outside MLB Top 100) prospect.

Enough of this needle moving c r a p, I'm getting so sick of people simply willing to lose 90-100 in 2026 while watching attendance fall below 1.5M and Dewitt never bringing payroll back anywhere near $180M.

Yeah, not going to engage again on your long term "conspiracy theories" here. We'll see what happens when it happens.

Huh?

It's a fact that BDWJr has always said attendance determines payroll size, no "conspiracy".

Keep dreaming matt that all these prospects you're wanting to hoard is the only way to rebuild a team.

And you're living in fantasyland if you think Dewitt is going to bring payroll to $180-200M w/o first getting 3+M back in the ballpark.

Again, the future is not set in stone, and the past is not always prologue.

While true, history often rhymes, and the patterns are hard to ignore.

Not to mention...those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

And I note, this ownership is taking a completely different tack than we've ever seen in the last 25 years. So they are already "breaking their pattern."

An old leopard like BDWJr rarely changes his spots.

This is Missouri matt, BDWJR will have to "Show Me" he's taking a completely different tack when it comes to how he sets payroll.

Like I've said, multiple times now, we'll wait and see.

But, still, spending another $10, $15 million on a 1-year FA instead of sending it with Contreras isn't going to substantially change their wins, or attendance, for 2026.

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

[mattmitchl44]

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

As a reminder, you were shocked that Cody Ponce got 3 yrs./$30 million.

What do you actually think you are going to get out of any SP for 1 yr./$5-$6 million, any OF for 1 yr./$5-$6 million and a couple of really cheap middle relievers????

2 wins, maybe 3.

[riff raff]

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

As a reminder, you were shocked that Cody Ponce got 3 yrs./$30 million.

What do you actually think you are going to get out of any SP for 1 yr./$5-$6 million, any OF for 1 yr./$5-$6 million and a couple of really cheap middle relievers????

2 wins, maybe 3.

More like 4 or 5 more losses

[rockondlouie]

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

As a reminder, you were shocked that Cody Ponce got 3 yrs./$30 million.

What do you actually think you are going to get out of any SP for 1 yr./$5-$6 million, any OF for 1 yr./$5-$6 million and a couple of really cheap middle relievers????

2 wins, maybe 3.

I was for sure, massive overpay for Ponce.

But D. May won't cost $30M/3 yrs.

P. Maton was a $2M smart signing for the 2025 pen', those type of deals are out there you just have to find them.

M. Andjuar/30 (2025: .318 .352 .470 .822) could be a cheap one year OFer signing.

A. Hays/30 (2025: 15 HR/.266 .315 .453 .768) could help.

How about R. Refsnyder/33 (2025: .269 .354 .484 .838)?

None of those three should cost more than $3-5M on a one year deal.

You're not going to get all-stars for under $5M but you could get 5, 6, 7 more wins that could keep the team relevant (81-85 wins) w/o veering one inch off the L-T path.

[mattmitchl44]

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

As a reminder, you were shocked that Cody Ponce got 3 yrs./$30 million.

What do you actually think you are going to get out of any SP for 1 yr./$5-$6 million, any OF for 1 yr./$5-$6 million and a couple of really cheap middle relievers????

2 wins, maybe 3.

I was for sure, massive overpay for Ponce.

But D. May won't cost $30M/3 yrs.

P. Maton was a $2M smart signing for the 2025 pen', those type of deals are out there you just have to find them.

M. Andjuar/30 (2025: .318 .352 .470 .822) could be a cheap one year OFer signing.

A. Hays/30 (2025: 15 HR/.266 .315 .453 .768) could help.

How about R. Refsnyder/33 (2025: .269 .354 .484 .838)?

None of those three should cost more than $3-5M on a one year deal.

You're not going to get all-stars for under $5M but you could get 5, 6, 7 more wins that could keep the team relevant (81-85 wins) w/o veering one inch off the L-T path.

Here are FG's model predictions for those guys:

M. Andujar - .279/.324/.421, OPS .745, 1.1 fWAR
A. Hays - .241/.298/.402, OPS .700, 0.3 fWAR
R. Refsnyder - .248/.334/.410, OPS .744, 0.5 fWAR

D. May - 23 starts, 4.35 ERA, 1.5 fWAR

And RPs are a crapshoot.

You can't just take what guys did last year and plop it down as a reasonable expectation for 2026, especially not if you are going to ask them to do it over considerably more playing time.

[rockondlouie]

And I've said that multiple times too, we'll see.

And no one said to spend "10, 15 million on a 1-year FA".

I'd like to see Bloom use WillyC's $18M payroll savings if he's dealt SPREAD over a veteran starter or rehabbing starter on a one year deal under $5-6M, a veteran RP or two at $2M each (ala P. Maton in 2025) and possibly a veteran OF'er.

And you have no idea if those moves would change their win total (it would) or attendance (the more wins, the higher the attendance) in 2026.

As a reminder, you were shocked that Cody Ponce got 3 yrs./$30 million.

What do you actually think you are going to get out of any SP for 1 yr./$5-$6 million, any OF for 1 yr./$5-$6 million and a couple of really cheap middle relievers????

2 wins, maybe 3.

I was for sure, massive overpay for Ponce.

But D. May won't cost $30M/3 yrs.

P. Maton was a $2M smart signing for the 2025 pen', those type of deals are out there you just have to find them.

M. Andjuar/30 (2025: .318 .352 .470 .822) could be a cheap one year OFer signing.

A. Hays/30 (2025: 15 HR/.266 .315 .453 .768) could help.

How about R. Refsnyder/33 (2025: .269 .354 .484 .838)?

None of those three should cost more than $3-5M on a one year deal.

You're not going to get all-stars for under $5M but you could get 5, 6, 7 more wins that could keep the team relevant (81-85 wins) w/o veering one inch off the L-T path.

Here are FG's model predictions for those guys:

M. Andujar - .279/.324/.421, OPS .745, 1.1 fWAR
A. Hays - .241/.298/.402, OPS .700, 0.3 fWAR
R. Refsnyder - .248/.334/.410, OPS .744, 0.5 fWAR

D. May - 23 starts, 4.35 ERA, 1.5 fWAR

And RPs are a crapshoot.

You can't just take what guys did last year and plop it down as a reasonable expectation for 2026, especially not if you are going to ask them to do it over considerably more playing time.

And you definitely can't just take FG's predictions, which have always been sketchy at best and plop them down as gospel.

Plenty of players Bloom could sign for under $5M/1 yr and not veer once foot off the L-T team rebuild goal but could help keep the fan bases attention in 2026.

You've obviously never run a business matt, you simply can't ignore sales (re: attendance, merchandise, concessions, parking. ect...).