There is, however, one crucial difference. Unlike in 2009 and 2010, there is no slam-dunk, no-doubt-about-it, even-a-Trump-supporter-can-tell-you guy. But unlike 2023, there’s no “well if they draft X, we’ll take Y. Whoever they decide on, he’s pretty much theirs.
While they can’t trade the pick, this does create some interesting possibilities for trades nevertheless. Just spitballin’ but methinks Brady House and Robert Hassell just became trade chips for GM Mike Rizzo.
It might take more than that, of course, but as we just saw, this is a franchise that is starved for starting pitching and has a bit of surplus when it comes to young position players with major-league potential. And Rizzo has done it before.
First, though: A quick look at the Top 5, courtesy of MLB Pipeline’s latest rankings…
- Ethan Holliday, SS/3B (HS)
- Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M, Jr.
- Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida St., Jr.
- Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara, Jr.
- Seth Hernandez, RHP, (HS)
Lots of options here… trade House and replace him with Holliday. Take LaViolette and see which OF not named Jacob Young or Dylan Crews can play 1B. Or keep House and move him across the diamond. We’ve got all winter and spring to think about it.
It’s an early holiday gift, whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or both!