So, clearly this guy has fallen out of favor with the Kansas City Royals. He has clearly struggled at the ML level, despite excelling in the upper minors.

 

We need a 3B between now and Dominguez, who is no sure thing anyway. I don't know what it would take to get him, but he could be very interesting here.

 

Here's the MLBTR article:

 

 

Where Could Alex Gordon Go?

By Howard Megdal [May 11 at 4:27pm CST] Let's face it: if the Royals aren't going to give Alex Gordon a chance to play regularly when they are 11-21, 10 games out of first, and weeks shy of Memorial Day, he has fallen out of favor with the club. After just 38 plate appearances, the Royals sent Gordon - the player they once selected him second overall - to Triple-A to make way for... Alberto Callaspo.

 

But Gordon, still just 26, is a career .320/.433/.577 hitter in the minor leagues. Clearly, some team should take a flier on Gordon as a possible long-term answer at third base. Which teams are best suited to do so, and how much is it likely to cost?

 

• The Phillies seem like an interesting landing spot for Gordon, though not at first blush. Placido Polanco, after all, is signed through 2012. But Gordon could be an upgrade from Greg Dobbs at the very least. If Gordon fulfills his promise, the Phils could attempt to deal Polanco. More to the point, Gordon seems to fit the Phillies' template- his acquisition would be akin to the buy-low on Jayson Werth- and Philadelphia has depth in the farm system. A couple of their secondary pitching prospects could get it done.
  
• The Orioles have a combined zero homers from Rhyne Hughes and Garrett Atkins, so Gordon could appeal to them as an option at first. Corner infield prospects Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell lurk in the minors, but with Miguel Tejada locked up for just one year, Gordon would provide the O's with depth and upside.
  
• The Athletics don't have a ton in the way of a present or future player blocking Gordon. Kevin Kouzmanoff is a decent option, but he hardly has Gordon's upside at this point. With a number of nearly-ready pitching prospects to integrate into a young staff, the Athletics could well deal from pitching depth for Gordon, too.
  
• The Padres are another possible landing spot, with Chase Headley unlikely to keep up his batting average-fueled start. San Diego has several third base prospects, including James Darnell, who Baseball America ranked as the organization's third-best prospect heading into the season. Still, none of the Padres prospects have even proven themselves at Double-A, so acquiring Gordon and giving him the chance to win the third base job wouldn't impact any of them in the short-term. It would also echo the acquisition of another buy-low, former top draft pick: Adrian Gonzalez. A package of one of the Padres' third base prospects and a pitcher should be enough to pry Gordon loose.
  

 

We need a 3B?

Well, I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him. He wasn't that bad his first two years in the bigs. Obviously, it depends on the asking price.

We need a 3B?

 

Maybe, but I figure we'll probably have Morrison play 1st in 2011 and have Sanchez switch to 3rd, which is more of his natural position. Or you can have Dominguez and Sanchez compete for the job, although I'm not sure Dominguez is MLB ready.

We need a 3B?

 

Maybe, but I figure we'll probably have Morrison play 1st in 2011 and have Sanchez switch to 3rd, which is more of his natural position. Or you can have Dominguez and Sanchez compete for the job, although I'm not sure Dominguez is MLB ready.

 

 

Gaby Sanchez will not play 3B. There's a better chance of Coghlan moving to 3B, and Bonifacio playing 2B. I think Gordon would be an intriguing pickup, as well, especially if the team doesn't plan on keeping Cantu.

Btw, Gordon is .260/.347/.428 (.775 .OPS) in his career in the big leagues vs. RHP. That's really not all that terrible. He was once a big-time prospect. I could totally see a guy like Billy Beane trying to pick him up, as the article states.

I would love to acquire him if the price is right. But that seems more like a video game trade than a real life trade.

The problem is that I'm not willing to give up any pitching for him, TBH; at least, not any SP. We have a dearth of quality SP as it is.

What happens after this season when Cantu and Uggla leave and Coghlan will be playing second base? I assume Morrison is slated to be playing first and Gaby will be moved.

 

Who plays third in 2011 if Dominguez proves that he can't hit?

We need a 3B?

 

Maybe, but I figure we'll probably have Morrison play 1st in 2011 and have Sanchez switch to 3rd, which is more of his natural position. Or you can have Dominguez and Sanchez compete for the job, although I'm not sure Dominguez is MLB ready.

 

You obviously never saw Gaby play 3rd at the U of Miami. It was an adventure every night !

What happens after this season when Cantu and Uggla leave and Coghlan will be playing second base? I assume Morrison is slated to be playing first and Gaby will be moved.

 

Who plays third in 2011 if Dominguez proves that he can't hit?

 

 

That's precisely why I made this thread.

 

I think the chance that Dominguez is "ready" to face Major League pitching on Opening Day 2011 is less than 10%.

It's not exactly same situation, but one similar player was in LAA.

3B Brandon Wood.

 

Former Angels high-rated prospect, but now he is batting for 9th spot with terrible avg.

(.165/.182/.237)

 

Also Wood was an out-of-option player, so Angels was trouble with trading him.

How about him??

What happens after this season when Cantu and Uggla leave and Coghlan will be playing second base? I assume Morrison is slated to be playing first and Gaby will be moved.

 

Who plays third in 2011 if Dominguez proves that he can't hit?

 

First, whose to say Uggla leaves and/or they move Coghlan to 2B. I can see scenarios where 2B/3B is Uggla/Coghlan, or 3B is Coghlan with 2B as..... I'm not going to say it. But you know who.

 

Second, always the potential for cheap free agents to cover for a year. Mike Lowell comes to mind. So does Mark Ellis, J.J. Hardy, Johnny Peralta, Melvin Mora, Ty Wigginton, Brandon Inge, Pedro Feliz, etc. Not exactly stars anymore for any of them, but they could handle 500 PA as a stopgap assuming each were healthy. Not really the end of the world here if Dominguez is not ready (which is likely he is not).

 

Really just a lot of options and we can wait to see it play out. All I know is, Cantu will be gone in Free Agency, and Gaby won't be moved to 3B. Past that, who knows.

What happens after this season when Cantu and Uggla leave and Coghlan will be playing second base? I assume Morrison is slated to be playing first and Gaby will be moved.

 

Who plays third in 2011 if Dominguez proves that he can't hit?

 

 

That's precisely why I made this thread.

 

I think the chance that Dominguez is "ready" to face Major League pitching on Opening Day 2011 is less than 10%.

Acquiring a Gordon or Wood or Chris Davis or Max Ramirez or whoever from the "former top, fallen somewhat out of favor" prospect bin is an ideal best case scenario for longterm growth, but it's really unlikely the Marlins luck into something like that for a reasonable price. I don't think any of them have reached Hermida cheap yet, based on they don't cost $3.5 million in salary, but they'd each probably command West/Miller/Vanden Hurk/Tucker level arm plus another RP prospect I'm guessing. Is that worth it to the Marlins longterm? Doubtful with Coghlan, Dominguez, and Smolinski around. Arm preservation is our most important thing. We need all of them to see what sticks.

 

I think the FA stopgap scenario is the best idea. Keep Uncle Wes, sign another veteran, and let them hang out batting 8th grinding out AB. By all means, if you can get a kid cheap go for it, but it's got to be a situation where you literally give up prospects outside our top 25. Maybe push it a little for Gordon with a Sanabia level guy, but definitely not a top 10 prospect at this point.

We need a 3B?

 

Maybe, but I figure we'll probably have Morrison play 1st in 2011 and have Sanchez switch to 3rd, which is more of his natural position. Or you can have Dominguez and Sanchez compete for the job, although I'm not sure Dominguez is MLB ready.

 

 

If true, this would be very sad. Gaby lost that 3B position in college for good reasons. I don't expect him to be here next year.

 

Also, I'm not so sure Cantu is leaving after this season. Uggla and Cody most likely will be gone. That's going to leave a nice chunk of cash open from our $47.4 mil payroll of this year, which is going to be going up for next year. Actually, just figuring in what their raises may be, they could all financially fit back in. Doubtful, but possible. Change that to very doubtful, but possible.

We need a 3B?

 

Maybe, but I figure we'll probably have Morrison play 1st in 2011 and have Sanchez switch to 3rd, which is more of his natural position. Or you can have Dominguez and Sanchez compete for the job, although I'm not sure Dominguez is MLB ready.

 

 

If true, this would be very sad. Gaby lost that 3B position in college for good reasons. I don't expect him to be here next year.

 

Also, I'm not so sure Cantu is leaving after this season. Uggla and Cody most likely will be gone. That's going to leave a nice chunk of cash open from our $47.4 mil payroll of this year, which is going to be going up for next year. Actually, just figuring in what their raises may be, they could all financially fit back in. Doubtful, but possible. Change that to very doubtful, but possible.

The Marlins have Uggla and Cody under club control, they do not with Cantu who will be a free agent. With Gaby, Morrison, and Dominguez around, I think it's a foregone conclusion Cantu is first gone of those three. Cantu isn't going to sign a 1 year tender which is all the Marlins need as all those guys are real close to MLB ready. 2012 at the latest. Can't be signing Cantu for 3-4 years when we may higher potential performers in the wings.

 

The smart thing to do is resign Uggla for 1 year, have Coghlan/Uggla be the 2B/3B in any combination, and let Uggla walk after 2011 for two first round draft choices.

 

C - Baker, Paulino

1B - Gaby, Morrison

2B - Uggla

SS - Hanley

3B - Coghlan

LF - Carroll, Petersen

CF - Maybin

RF - Stanton

Additional Bench - Wes Helms/Veteran, Bonifacio/Barden

 

That makes the most sense. You resign Helms, and that's all in the organization already. And maybe you even keep Cody (or sign another OF on a 1 year contract) and leave Petersen in AAA.

 

That's what I would do anyways. It would be good to get serious looks at all the kids before the stadium to see if free agency dollars need to be devoted to a position if someone flops.

Gaby and Logan will probably outhit Maybin, Carroll and Petersen so would like to see if Logan can handle the OF.

That makes the most sense. You resign Helms, and that's all in the organization already. And maybe you even keep Cody (or sign another OF on a 1 year contract) and leave Petersen in AAA.

 

I think this is a lot more likely. Petersen only has a total of 115 PAs in AAA.

 

I agree with everything else you said, though.

Getting rid of Cantu I don't really like, but then I remember the Marlins have a pretty good farm system....so just get something good and not just the lame 'cash and prospects'. Also Cantu is already 28.