OK, so I am a prospect hugger. I admit it. I've sought counseling for it for that didn't stick.
Turns out that behavior like this is either genetic or environmental. As I don't have any squirrels or hamsters in my bloodline, I have to assume it is environmental. Since neither of my parents were hoarders, I have to assume it is something about my life experience that led me to be this way about Cleveland Guardians' prospects.
Maybe it was the fact that when I grew up "Wait 'till Next Year" signs could be seen at Municipal Stadium soon after Memorial Day. So, looking towards next year and the hope that prospects bring caused me to be the prospect hugger I am today.
Or maybe it was my knowledge that we will never be competitive for the big free agents and so always will need to backfill with prospects.
Maybe it's because I have seen a recent trend showing that the Guardians have SUCKED at making trades in the past few years.
But the cause doesn't matter as much as the reality that I am a prospect hugger.
So, saying what I am going to say next has taken a lot of patience and several dozen paper bags as I created this post.
But the paper bags are used up, so here goes:
It's time to go all in for the 2026 season.
As many others have said, we won't be doing this in mainstream free agency. No Schwarber, no Tucker, no Alonso. Besides the fact that we SUCK at free agency, we just don't have the money.
So, as a number of others have said, we have to do this through trades and, maybe, at the edges of free agency to backfill holes (especially in the pitching staff) that we might create this off-season.
So, here's my plan, augmented by some articles and twitter posts I have read:
We trade for Zach Neto, Ketel Marte, Louis Robert Jr. and Willson Contreras.
And here is the part where I blow through the hyperventilation bags:
I don't care how many prospects it takes to get them.
That's right. Except for Chase DeLauter, everyone else is on the table.
If we have to empty the whole farm system and throw in Arias, Rocchio, Kayfus, Valera, Noel, JRod, Brennan I am fine with that. I am even OK with including Messick (though I would rather trade Cecconi). I would like to keep Aleman and Walters as bullpen insurance but I am even OK with including them if it gets these deals done, especially if I can get some quality veteran RPs coming back to us in these deals.
To put it another, more dramatic way, if you take a snapshot of our current NLB Pipeline top 30 prospects and all of them are gone by next spring training to get these 4 guys, I am fine with that. I am even better with it if we get some quality RPs and a maybe a couple of AZL/GFL or DSL prospects back.
Now it's likely we wouldn't have to include all the top 30 prospects so there should be some left but...whatever it takes.
It's time to get something done and it's time to make our run while keeping the window wide open with long-term deals or years until free agency even if, as is the case with Robert Jr., the contract may be bloated compared to the production the player might provide.
Since we won't open our wallets to bloated free agent salaries, it's time to open the prospect vault to get it done, even if it means loosening those purse strings to pay the salaries of these 4 guys.
If the lineup next year looks like this, I am satisfied:
C - Naylor
1B - Contreras
2B - Marte
SS - Neto
3B - Ramirez
LF - Kwan
CF - Robert Jr.
RF - Delauter
DH - Manzardo
Bench - Fry, Schneeman, Martinez, Hedges
I am good with this IF we keep our pitching staff (minus Messick, if necessary) intact.
This is how we make a statement. This is how we put ourselves in contention to go to the WS. If it all collapses due to injuries or poor performances, it collapses. It's time to take a gamble in any area where we have a chance to improve...through trades.
Wow, I've gotten through this whole post without having to use one paper bag. Maybe even a prospect hugger like me can be cured.!
