And we're not.

Yeah, I don't get KC trading the top minor league bat for a vet pitcher.

KC was 72-90 last year, worse than the Mets.

You'd think KC would want to build around Myers and trade off some of their other guys. The move makes no sense. Maybe Shields gets them closer to .500, if that's the goal.

They think they can win.

Different scenarios. AL Central is weak and they may have a chance to make playoffs. Us? We'd have to do better than the Nationals, Braves and Phillies.

Might as well wait till Philly is too old next year, Nationals become an overpaid mess and all we'd have left is our classic Braves rivalry.

they should have dumped francouer and put myers in rf. they could have signed annibal sanchez or kyle loshe, and kept orridizi (sp?). they could also have explored trading for nolasco.

the nats and braves are just warming up.

I think the Braves will stick around. But something is telling me that the Nationals may fizz out. I think this year was maybe their best chance.

Really? They are loaded and have more coming from the minors.

Yes, and it's the dumbest possible thing they can do right now.

They just traded their future for the opportunity to be mediocre. It's too stupid for words.

It's just a feeling lol. No actual facts behind it. I just feel like shutting down Strasburgh is going to come back to haunt them on this era.

I think they absolutely did the right thing.

Their window is just opening- They're gonna be a good team for a long time.

If they don't win in the next two years it's brutal. I was astounded when I saw Baseball America rank the players Tampa got. They slotted them into Tampa's prospect pool and Myers is number one, Odorizzi number five, Montgomery mid-teens and Leonard between 20-30. That's in a loaded farm system. If we got them I'd have to assume every one would be a top 10.

Yep. I couldn't believe what I was reading... Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Shields. But even if they were a team that was a pitcher away (which couldn't be further from the truth. Do you see their rotation?) it's waaaay too much.

It was a desperation move because they may actually approach .500 this year.

I would have given them Dickey and Gee for Myers alone and Dickey and Niese for Myers and Odorizzi.

Couldn't agree with you more... But they definitely had their sights set on Shields for some odd reason.

The only possible explanation I can see is they like Shields because he has produced in the AL East. I know he's younger, but Shields is making $9 million with a $12 million option for 2014 so the money was basically a wash even with an extension for Dickey. They have no shot to keep Shields for less than $15 million+ if he pitches well.

I've read Shields at 10.5 mil in 2013, 12 mil in 2014.

Seems if someone signs R.A. to a 2/25 mil extension, total 3/30, he'd be a better deal than Shields in the long run.

Baseball Reference has him at $9 mil, but I think I read he gets some kind of bonus for being traded. Either way, that's what I was trying to say, they could have had Dickey and controlled him for just as long at a much lower cost in prospects.

KC has the offense to go for it - Perez Cain Moustakas Butler Hosmer Gordon - there can be some serious runs generated by these guys (though I do think Hosmer is super overrated, but Butler is legit stud)

Their window is just opening- They're gonna be a good team for a long time.

>>> Funny thing about window's though. They slam shut faster than expected. I remember those 86 Mets were supposed to win a bunch more too. The division is tough, Nats win wildcard and get bounced in a 3 hour postseason a few times suddenly guys start reaching FA and getting paid, getting hurt, having down years etc. I'd rather be them than us right now but when you have a chance to win go for it. Too many things can happen. We have the Cardinals in this league. They're a threat every single year.