It's Time to be a GM and Protect Your Players: NL Central version

by LaserVortex888 on Sep 2, 2011 11:03 AM EDT

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a MLB GM?

How about the GM of all 30 teams?

Over the next week or two, I will posting a ~~real life~~ fantasy scenario where you all will get that chance.

Here is your scenario:

There is a new expansion draft format and for one day you get to be a GM of all 30 teams. Here's the catch; you can only protect three players from each organization (sorry not 15, then 3 more, etc., that would take way too long). You get the player as is with his current contract (it makes things more interesting). Keep in mind each teams financial statuses.

Today's version: NL Central

Much much more after the jump.

Astros protect: ~~Michael Bourn~~ ~~Hunter Pence~~ Jonathan Singleton, Jarred Cosart, Jordan Lyles

Analysis: Just like Padres, I have no idea here. The only two players who I would consider locks are now gone so I'm going with prospects. Help me out here please.

Brewers protect: Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Yovani Gallardo

Analysis: Braun and Gallardo are easy picks. I know some of you will question protecting Fielder, but he provides so much value for them. If you don't protect Fielder, than who, Zack Greinke?

Cardinals protect: Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Jaime Garcia

Analysis: Pending free agent or not, you have to protect the best player in the world. I wanted to protect Adam Wainwright as my third, but I need to know for sure that his arm is back to Ace status, so until then I guess I'll take Garcia (not completely sold on it though).

Cubs protect: Starlin Castro, Brett Jackson, Javier Baez

Analysis: Castro is a lock and the Cubs need to rebuild with young talent like Jackson and Baez. Cubs fans need to help me out a bit here.

Pirates protect: Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, James Taillon

Analysis: Besides McCutchen, this one was tough because there are no other clear cut locks to be protected. Tabata has produced at the big league level so I put him in there. I flipped a coin between Gerrit Cole and Taillon (actually it was a coin-flip app, who has coins anymore?). This should be a good one for debate.

Reds protect: Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto

Analysis: The first two players are virtual locks, but the third spot is a bit tougher. You have Brandon Phillips who is a stud, but is in line for a big raise. The Reds need pitching and cannot afford to lose Cueto right now.

Critique away.

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Comments

Brewers and Cards

I would replace Pujols and Holliday with Shelby Miller and that latin pitcher they have in the minors.

And wouldnt protect Fielder, but instead invent a time machine and either go slap Doug Melvin in the face for trading Brett Lawrie for Shaun Marcum, and then protect him. After Gallardo and Braun, the Brewer outlook is pretty bleak after 2012.

by backtocali on Sep 2, 2011 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

For the brewers i would protect Braun, Gallardo and Narveson

Narveson because he is going to be cheap for the next two years yet and won’t be a free agent until 2016

Every man must believe in something, I believe I'll have another drink.

by pjpaulus on Sep 3, 2011 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Here are my thoughts

- Agreed on the Astros. Those are probably their top-3 young players at the moment.

- I’d replace Fielder with Greinke. Fielder is a goner.

- I’d replace Pujols with Miller, although I’m not sure that I’d replace Holliday with Martinez.

- Cubs look good, unless you’re really high on Cashner. I could see someone preferring Cashner to Baez or Jackson, although that’s not the consensus.

- Tabata isn’t a cornerstone, so I’d probably go with McCutchen, Taillon and Cole.

- Agreed on Votto/Bruce/Cueto.

Yes, my real name is actually Satchel.
I'm a columnist for Beyond the Box Score and a writer for MLB Daily Dish.
Oh, I'm on Twitter, too.

by Satchel Price on Sep 2, 2011 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

This is a fun excercise of course

But if a real expansion draft were going to occur, GM’s would have plenty of time to make extensions or deals on players like Fielder or Greinke. For the Brewers, if you protect Greinke in an expansion draft, they only get to hold onto him for one more year it isnt really worth it.

by backtocali on Sep 2, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

It was a lot harder than I originally thought

Some teams have 4 or 5 guys who have valid arguments. Then there are the Padres and Astros and teams like that. It would be so much fun if we could do a bigger expansion draft thingy, but I thought allowing only 3 players to be protected would increase the discussion and save some time.

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? ~Jim Bouton

by LaserVortex888 on Sep 4, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

You shouldn't protect free agents to be

Whats the point of protecting Albert Pujols if you are not going to make the postseason and he will be a free agent to be after the season. (I am assuming this is for 2012?)

Astros: Look Good, could go with bud norris instead of the either lyles or colvin

Brewers: I would switch out Fielder for Rickie Weeks for sure.

Cardinals: definatley switch out Pujols for Shelby Miller, and I could see the case for switching out Garcia for Adam Wainwright

Cubs: Definatley would rather have Geovany Soto for Baez or Jackson.

Pirates: Nothing to argue with there.

Reds: This one is a tricky one. I would probably rather have Chapman or Mecorasco than Johhny Cuento (second coming of Jair Jurrjens IMO)

by Will Groves on Sep 9, 2011 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

Astros: i agree with you all the way with prospects.
Pirates: McCutchen, Tallion, Walker: Young guys with alot of potential.
Cubs: Castro, Barney, baez: castro and Barney are young middle infielders i like, baez is a prospect but i like him.
Cardinals: Pujolds, Holliday, Shelby Miller: same too guys as you and Miller a really promising prospect.
Reds: Votto, Bruce, Stubbs: I like there young bats, could pick up there pitching, they all scare me a little.
Brewers: Fielder, Grienke, Braun: easy picks.

by Jt Malley on Sep 19, 2011 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

Sadly, you are mostly correct about the Cubs

I would keep Garza, Castro and Jackson.

Garza has re-invented himself this year at Wrigley and is at least a #3 starter on any given team in baseball. He’s a 2 or 1 on a lot of teams not called the Phillies. He may not be an ace, but he is a great start.
Anyone who would drop Brett Jackson is pretty nuts. He is a top ten centerfield prospect. He’s a future tier one starter, even if he’s not going to be a superstar.

Barney is going to hit like Theriot but is a better fielder.
Soto is 29 and God knows what he will do over the next 2 years. Plus, when you rely on your catcher for offense you could very well end in a situation like the Twins or Giants.

If you’re talking about making every player at every level of every team available, then Castro and Jackson are your sure keepers for the Cubs.

by subtle on Sep 19, 2011 4:08 PM EDT reply actions