Thole will be the backup catcher, which means that they can go get another bat bench. Only that bat bench is Smoak. In Smoak's tryout (last year), he didn't excel at any one skill. If I was the new GM, I would ask what the budget this year is going to be, and then raise it by 3.9M, because why the hell would they make that decision one week before hiring the GM?
Everything this offseason has been a downgrade, and if you are going to downgrade then you take a flyer on a guy that excels at one skill. OBP, speed, defensively. Or a young guy that could break out. Smoak is going to bother me all season long. Thole not so much, because at least he does one thing really well.
Something that AJ Jimenez can't be taught, apparently.
__________________
"By Grabthar's hammer ... what a savings."
|