The season is almost over for most of our favorite teams, so might as well get started early talking about next year. For me, it's Atlanta, so here I go. The Braves lineup, currently:

Giles: 2B
Renteria: SS
Jones: 3B
Jones: CF
McCann: C
Francoeur: RF
Laroche: 1B
Diaz/Langerhans: LF

Giles is likely to be moved, and Chipper is likely to miss 60 games or so next year. I hope neither happens. But they have Willie Aybar ready and able to play either position and do it fairly well. If Giles is moved, I'd like to see a young starting pitcher to Atlanta in return. Maybe Giles for Jason Windsor and Marco Scutaro or something like that. Not that I value Scutaro much, but he's better than Pete Orr and can play more positions off the bench.

If the Braves could swing that trade then the starting rotation would become something like this:

Smoltz
Hudson
Hampton
James
Windsor

With Davies and Ramirez being other options as well, though I'd try to package Horam and Langerhans for some bullpen help. The pen should look something like this:

Wickman
Boyer
McBride
Villarreal
Yates
Paronto
Free agent/trade acquisition. Hopefully a Dennys Reyes/Mike Macdougal type. Maybe even Joe Borowski if they can afford it.

Regarding the lineup, the biggest question revolves around whether Andruw Jones gets traded. Obviously, if he does, the Braves will have to get another center fielder in return, because they don't have anyone in the system to replace him. Personally, I can't see a trade being made, but that might be wishful thinking. I'd much rather see Renteria go than either Giles or Andruw, but that's not happening. So, probable lineup after trades:

Aybar - 2B
Renteria - SS
Jones - 3B
Jones - CF
McCann - C
Francoeur - RF
Laroche - 1B
Kelly Johnson/Diaz - LF

I expect KJ to get the bulk of playing time next year after losing this entire season to injury. Langerhans simply hasn't hit, but can be a valuable fourth outfielder for someone else. Laroche would fill in at the 4 spot if Andruw is traded, but if not will probably be the best 7 hole hitter in baseball again. Offense won't be the Braves' problem next year, even with the giant suck-hole of outs entrenched in the 6 spot.

One reason I'd like to see Renteria moved is because I think the offense has enough flexibility to insert a guy like Scutaro into the lineup and still remain productive. Renteria's defense is terrible, and with any groundball pitchers it has a huge effect. That's one of the many reasons Tim Hudson has been so awful. The lineup I'd shoot for if I was John Schuerholz:

Giles - 2B
McCann - C
Jones - 3B
Jones - CF
Laroche - 1B
Francoeur - RF
Johnson - LF
Generic Weak Hitting, Slick Fielding SS not named Neifi.

Starters:
Smoltz
Hudson
Hampton
James
Gil Meche/Greg Maddux/Woody Williams/Kyle Davies

Bullpen:
Wickman
Foulke
McBride
Boyer
Villarreal
Kline
wait for it...Kerry Wood

Add yours to your little hearts' desires.

This thread is going to anger Clubber.

yep

apparently the Yanks won't be in the bidding for Zito which I'm not sure how I feel about. Obviously they need pitching...but I've read he could be the classic guy who can't handle playing in NY.

Regardless, I hope the Yanks win the W.S. just so Torre retires and stops fucking up the bullpen.

Cleveland has a pretty decent lineup, but they need another starter, a closer, and a veteran bat.

my Dodgers are close to being serious contenders, but they need to adress some stuff:

1. This team needs a legit ACE (doesnt everyone?) Penny is a good #3 starter, but doesnt seem to have the head to be an ace. Hes too inconsistent. Same as Lowe, and the rest of the starters in LA. I am praying for Zito, if only because what other FA aces are out there? A blockbuster trade could happen. Maybe

2. NO HR threat in the lineup. Boy, Soriano would look real good in blue. Ned Colletti, MAKE IT HAPPEN

3. Bullpen woes. LA lucked out with Saito, but losing Brazoban and then Gagne AGAIN was devistating. Tomko, Hamulack, Gio, they all suck ass. Broxton is a long way from being a dominant closer, but he might get there one day.

I would absolutely give Eric Gagne an incentive laden deal and see if he can regain his magic. Gagne has publically stated his desire to remain a Dodger, but asshole Boras is his agent so...

4. JD Drew is a nice 5-6 hitter, but hes constantly injured and lacks cleanup hitter stuff. Kent is 56 yrs old and is just about done. Nomar is a great player, but may have played his way into huge money.

LA has to hope James Loney is the real deal at 1B, the "mark grace" type hitter they claim he is, and Lofton is OLD, so Matt Kemp must put it together and become the superstar he appears to be one day.

Id LOVE to see Andy laRoche get a shot at 3B, Betemit is awful, batting .200 since August. LaRoche is said to have the potential to be a David Wright type, lets find out please?

I cant wait to see what Colletti does in November. I would say to seriously make a WS run in 2007, the Dodgers MUST come away with Zito and Soriano, not one, BOTH. I know its a lot to ask, but stranger things have happened. I am already excited for 2007.


my dream for 07:

Furcal SS
Kemp CF
Drew RF
Soriano 2B
Kent/Loney 1B
LaRoche 3B
Ethier LF
Martic C

Zito
Lowe
Penny
Billingsley
#5?

Broxton
Tomko
Brazoban
Gagne


gee, thats it!

I would expect Zito to be a Dodger in 2007. If not, an Angel.

are the dodgers in on that japanese guy who might be coming over next year?

supposedly the Padres will be in on this as well.

The Jays have a few holes, but I think they're close. Assuming they hang onto Vernon Wells:

Reed Johnson - LF
Alex Rios - RF
Vernon Wells - CF
Troy Glaus - 3B
Lyle Overbay - 1B
Greg Zaun - C
Aaron Hill - 2B/SS
????? - 2B/SS
Adam Lind/John Hattig - DH

Maybe they'll try Russ Adams at second base again next year, maybe they'll move him in the off-season. It would be nice to see them bring in a solid guy like Adam Kennedy to fill out the middle infield with Aaron Hill.
I'm assuming Frank Catalanotto won't be back because he may want to go somewhere where he'll play more often, but if he's back he'll DH and play a little bit of LF.

The rotation, like this year, looks great...

Halladay
Burnett
???Lilly???
Chacin
Marcum

Marcum has shown signs of great potential throughout the year, and the others are great. Lilly is a free-agent, so I don't know if he'll be back. I hope he is, but if not I think the Jays will go and get someone (Zito maybe... although everyone wants him, they'll have some money and be looking for a lefty. I think what they need the most out of the rotation is health... if Burnett and Chacin hadn't missed 2 months each this may have been a different season.

Aside from that, I would like to see them pick up 1 or 2 arms for the bullpen. They have Ryan, League, and Speier who were all awesome this year, but Speier is a free-agent. If they lock up Speier and keep Accardo and Tallet, they'll be close to ready.

I'm excited for the coming off-season/season, but a little nervous about the Wells situation. I think they'll either sign him to an extention or he'll be gone before the season starts.

you can have Carl Pavano and $$ towards his contract for a bag of balls to fill that 5th starter role.

phil, isn't zaun a FA? are the jays planning on having him and molina again next year?

Hmm....


no. thanks

havent heard them mentioned, all I have heard is that that guy is 95% a yankee as long as Cashman makes him an offer.


Dodgers have a lot of so called ace-potential pitchers in A and AA, but thats years away obviously. Billingsley is supposed to grow into an ace, but his control is nonexistant right now. may take a while on him

if he ever gets healthy again, I bet he'd do ok in the NL West - LA, SD, and SF all have big parks.

he is the kind of guy who you would think would do well once he left the bronx, but for his money LA could get an entire rotation.

I only want Pavano if:

-We get Zito to top the rotation, which I think will happen;
-The Yankees pay his entire contract;
-We're actually talking about Chien-Ming Wang and not Pavano. Screw that jerk, he's multiple injuries waiting to happen.

I'd rather have Carlos Lee in left than Soriano. Sori doesn't walk enough and I think he will sign with a team dumb enough to play him at second. I would also consider letting Kemp and Ethier play every day, because Matt Kemp will be a stud. Did you see his numbers when they sent him down in July? Insanity.

The bullpen is a huge issue, though. Saito might go back to Japan, since all he wanted to do was prove to himself as a major leaguer. He's done that and then some this year.

Why not sign Jason Schmidt away from the Giants? He's a FA...

coming off a terrible year.

and I dont want no Giants on my team!

jason schmidt is not having a terrible year.