Originally Posted by
mth123
But he's not really at the top of that class. Eric Hosmer, Brandon Belt and Freddie Freeman are all 1B that rank ahead of him on this list. Jesus Montero, Wil Myers and maybe even Bryce Harper might end up there as well. That is really the point. Between the teams that have a big time guy locked up (Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Mark Texiera, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Morneau, Miguel Cabrera) a similarly touted kid already there (Justin Smoak, Ike Davis, Gaby Hernandez, Daric Barton, Matt Laporta) a top player in place (Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Paul Konerko, Todd Helton, Kendry Morales), defensive liabilities that they want to move there (Carlos Lee, Adam Lind), kids on the way (Hosmer, Belt, Freeman, Brandon Allen, Leslie Anderson, Anthony Rizzo, Bobby Borchering etc) a supply of productive vets available for no talent every year (Adam Laroche, Carlos Pena, Aubrey Huff, Lyle Overbay, Derek Lee, Lance Berkman, Nick Johnson, Jorge Cantu, etc.) and other blocked kids who may be on the market (Lars Anderson, Brett Wallace, maybe Allen) its pretty hard to see why a team would give much for a 1B unless he projects as upper echelon. There are plenty being drafted, converted and available every year. There are a few teams that would probably be interested in obtaining Alonso, but many are teams that have little to offer. Unless you could get Andrew McCutcheon, do the Pirates have anything you'd deal Alonso for? How about the Padres? Alonso would be OK in a package similar to how Rizzo was dealt in the Gonzalez deal, but I just don't see him being special enough to headline a deal for anything all that significant. If the Reds could get a good defending platoon LH bat who can add some pop or lead-off skill for him at a position of need (Matt Joyce is a good target) straight up, it would be a great deal. Otherwise, he'll likely be used to get a guy that the other team is dumping for salary reasons.