Today's Chat

[rog]

Q:  What are your thoughts on a Wil Myers/Evan Longoria contract swap? Would give the Padres their 3rd baseman and save them a little money. Giants would get to not ever pitch to Myers again.


A:  I'd rather bet on the much younger player (Myers), and I imagine the Padres would, too.


Wouldn't we all LOVE a swap of Myers' and Longoria's contracts?  That's a no-brainer.  But why in the world would the Padres want to do that.  If they were willing to do so, I can't imagine the Giants turning it down.  Myers is five years younger.

[klaiggeb]

Not me. I'll take Longoria.

I have always believed that Myers is way over rated.

I still do.

[rog]

Not me. I'll take Longoria.


Rog -- Myers' only real problem has been injuries. I don't think he'll ever be the player Evan was over Evan's first six seasons, but I'm even more convinced that Evan himself will no longer be that player.

Myers has the ability to be a 20/20 man, which he was in each of his two full seasons. In those two seasons he totaled 58 homers and 48 steals. Longoria has shown similar power, but he has stolen only six more bases in his 11 seasons than Myers stole in those two.

Myers has the speed to have played all three outfield positions at least 39 times. Longoria has the speed to have played more than one game at ... third base.

The past three seasons -- which include Evan's bounceback 36 homer season in 2016, Evan has hit just three more homers than Myers in 248 more at bats. In other words, at this point Myers appears to be the more powerful. During that period Myers has stolen 61 bases to Evan's 9.

You know what is most worrisome about Evan? This past season he walked just 22 times in 480 at bats. That's just horrible.

With Myers being five years younger, IMO it's really tough to make a strong argument for Longoria over Myers. Myers costs more, but he's also hypothetically in his prime, while Evan appears to have left his.

Now, Wil likely isn't a third baseman, although he played 36 games there last season. But if the Giants had Wil instead of Evan, I think they could play him in the outfield and come up with a third baseman.

The big chance the Giants would be taking is health. But being five years older, I don't think the projected playing time for Evan should be all that much greater than for Wil.

Here's an intriguing context: In the past three seasons, Will has played 395 games. Evan has played 441. Bryce Harper, expected to sign for at least $300 million, has played in 417.

[klaiggeb]

Longoria might/likely will never be the player he was.

But I am not a Myers fan.

Throw in the injuries and that just pushes me away from him even more.

[rog]

Myers is far from a perfect player, but in 2016 he drove in 94 runs, primarily from the two-hole. Joe Panik has 77 RBI's in the past two seasons combined. Myers has power, and he can run quite well for a first baseman. He doesn't hit for a lot of average, and he's so-so as a fielder.

[klaiggeb]

We were talking Longoria and Myers. Why did Joe, who is NOT an RBI guy, pop into this conversation?

[rog]

I was endeavoring to show how impressive Myers' 94 RBI's primarily out of the two-hole were. Although I don't think he's a good enough hitter to bat third and doesn't get on base enough to hit leadoff, Myers can hit almost anywhere in the lineup.

Last season over 46% of his batted balls were hard-hit, and over 27% were line drives. Wil's far from my favorite, but I like him better than Evan. And I like a lot that he's five years younger.

The Padres would save money by trading Wil for Evan, but I would be quite surprised if they would do so -- even though I think they need a third baseman.

[Islandboagie]

Myers main problem is hes a headcase. But I'd still probably take him, hes a good ballplayer.