Quote:
Originally Posted by stevem810
Less negative impact on a winning team.
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Yes, and I was hoping that with the new additions to the team this year and the continued development of some of our younger players that we might be winning enough to counteract the impact.
Plus, we have two captains and a few other solid leaders.
And so far overall morale has remained pretty good.
But.
But (and I haven't fully reported on this yet) we just suffered a double-digit loss streak and have dropped a few games under .500. So trouble could be on the horizon.
My hope is that if the team doesn't turn it around soon (took an 18-inning marathon win on the road to break the losing streak) and if dissension starts to rear its ugly head, I might be able to deal McNeil given that he is a premiere talent- even if in a relatively less important role- and that the contract we were able to sign him to was not that team/budget unfriendly. I'm sure we couldn't get comparable value, but I would be okay with getting a slightly above average thirdbaseman with some power if the economic trade-off was nearly equal.
Or (given an injury about which the diagnosis is pending from that 18-inning win), a decent mid-to-back-end of the rotation starting pitcher. Given how solid the bullpen is and how many good prospects we have coming up at that position, it probably wouldn't be that big a tragedy to just move McNeil along. As good as he is on the field (and he has been looking more like the old dominant Jamel of late), I won't be that crushed to send him packing if needed, especially if it becomes clear that we really won't contend this season.