[Griever20]

The team is playing well. Too well for us to stand pat. And that meant that from the middle of June on, the phones were ringing. A pitcher, something I love to trade for...

The ace situation has not changed since the offseason. Those guys were either with contending teams, or the price was ridiculously high for a pitcher that had not quite the skillset that would suit our ballpark. Therefore, we aimed lower... the #3, low #2 range, like, Taylor in a nutshell.

The discussion went into the fourth hour. "I think we should go with Toronto. Stroman is a good arm, the better of the two going by the numbers, and the contract is decent with the money those guys will eat," John Mozeliak said for the eighth time this evening. Personally, I was unsure about this deal. Toronto is in the middle of nowhere right now.

They are in a strong division, have some pieces left, like Stroman, but their farm system has started to provide some gems, like Bo Bichette. Also, this would be a five-for-one deal. We would send Adbert Alzolay and four minor prospects, age range 22-18, to Toronto. Logan and the OSA do not really like those kids, but there could be a hidden gem here.

"It is a five-for-one deal. If Stroman blows out his arm in his second start, we gave up five bodies for nothing. I like the Detroit deal," Logan said for the ninth time. Of course, I briefly talked with Joe Girardi, and he said he would take either pitcher and that I should make the deal that makes the most sense from a GM perspective.

Michael Fulmer. Marcus Stroman. The later is rated a bit higher, has a 4.59ERA compared to Fulmer's 5.99 mark... and is two years older. Logan thinks, and Doug Brocail, our pitching coach agrees, that we can fix Fulmer and that a lot of that ERA is frustration in being locked up with a bad team. He is under contract until 2023, and the Tigers and Fulmer want out.

"And Detroit is willing to kick in the best prospect of all prospects in that deal," White added to his argument... and it is a valid one. Al Avila, their GM, wants budget room, and knows that Fulmer won't be around for their next window of contention... he wants budget room so badly that he is willing to part with the first overall pick of the 2018 draft, and the #60 prospect, RHSP Casey Mize.

The righty has not quite lived up to the first overall pick but is still rated favorably, and at age 23, is dominating A+ with a 2.49ERA in 15 starts. He would get a shot at AA or AAA for us right away, and with a year of development, he may join Hans Crouse as a top pitching prospect in the high minors...

Decision time is in two hours, I told the two GM's. By then, it will be either Stroman, or Fulmer and Mize for the same package. We have a bunch of extensions lined up for our core players as well. Get an additional arm in. Generate more excitement with extensions, get the fans into the ballpark. Have a surplus of money for the offseason and put the final pieces in place via free agency to REALLY push for a ring in 2021.