I respectfully disagree on several of the recent posts.
1. Bichette will not be Hoerner/Shaw-caliber at either 2B or 3B. But don't presume he can't play either 2B or 3B at a good level or a world-series level. He was the regular SS for a world-series team this season, has been entrusted with >700 starts at SS. I expect he'll adapt to 3B or 2B and won't be a "huge mistake" problem at either position.
2. What are they saving it for? They went thrifty on relief to save money, for a purpose. They went thrifty on rotation, to save money for a purpose. They were 20th in scoring after all-star break. Hoyer stated that he likes to use chunks on starters, and that he has money to assemble a strong team. So I remain convinced that there is budget space and team willingness/desire to sign one of the four bats.
3. Some of the posts have suggested that Shaw is so good defensively, and he had a solid 2nd-half with some HR's, what's the point in adding Bichette or Bregman? Bichette would reduce the defense relative to Shaw, do we really want that? Bregman might require years such that by end of deal, he won't be great value, do we want to risk a non-great-value contract in 2030? Other posts have suggested that Bellinger isn't that hot outside of NY, and if you added Bellinger, would you want to use Seiya as DH, and take away Moises' chance to DH? So it seems posters are kinda suggesting don't bother with the four remaining bats, just go with what we've got and brush up with a utility IF and OF. I strongly disagree....
4. **Go get one of the four bats.** My preference is Tucker > Bichette > Bregman > Bellinger. But I think any of those four would help and would fit great. To have spent all off-season pinching pennies and "saving it up" for one of those guys, only to say "Nah, stick with what we've got" would be a failed plan and a super disappointing offseason. If you aren't going to sign one of the bats, then they should have kept Caissie's power bat. If they aren't going to sign one of the bats, then there would have been plenty of $$ to retain Keller or sign one of the pricy relievers. To pinch pennies on relief, to trade Caissie and pinch pennies on rotation, all of that only makes sense if the $$ you were saving in process gets applied to a semi-big bat. (Not like Bregman, Bichette, or Bellinger are real "power bats" or "big bats" or whatever, but all should be asset bats and all would hit at least some HR's.).
5. Acquiring 3B does not and should not necessitate trading Hoerner (or Shaw). Keep all three. Use your $$ to try to win now and into the future.
6. Every year, "subs" who are not primary starters get lots of AB. Past season was one of the healthiest, worst-bench, starters-playing-every-day seasons in recent memory. But there were still ~800 PA for non-starters. Most years, it's way, way higher than that. Point being, *IF* you acquire Bo/Breg and Shaw is bench, there are a LOT of AB's available. DH, 3B, 2B, SS-indirect, perhaps 1B? Not like Shaw is wasted and will never get AB. *IF* he hits like a guy you'd have liked as a primary starter, he'll have access to large numbers of AB. Not wasted at all.
6bThe same relates to "trade Hoerner to make room for Shaw". Keep them both, and have some depth for a rare change!
7. Same goes if you sign Tucker or Bellinger. Yes, that will definitely cut into Moises AB. But if it was hypothetically Bellinger signed, then injury or rest for any of Busch, Bellinger, Seiya, PCA, or Happ could be AB's taken by Moises. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to rest a guy, or a dinged guy, without the lineup falling apart? *IF* Moises shows he can hit, his potential to be first lineup-replacement for any of four positions plus DH gives him a lot of opportunity to help the team win the division.
Sign one of the bats!
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