after reading the story about Cruz and PED's and Knowing MLB will do something about this. (they have to right?)
If MLB cracks down the minimum is 60 game suspension, and if the story is breaking now I would think the suspesion would come down before the begining of the season meaning he would be gone until end of may / june (if at all) then he has to go to the minors and get back up to speed. Heck it could be the end of June or the Allstar break before he comes back if he comes back.
So what do you guys think is going to happen now? Sign Bourn, bring Beltre or Bourbon up, trade for another Outfielder?

Olt to OF

Don't want Bourn. Don't want Olt in the OF. There has to be a better solution.

Olt to 1B, Moreland to RF? He has experience there.

It is hard not to knee jerk over the story, but I would wait to see what happens with possible suspension is coming down the road. I am in favor of letting Olt have a chance to grab the position if it becomes available. I do not want Bourn as he is old and going to decline quickly now.

This looks very bad for Cruz. I don't know what evidence is required to subject him to liability (records showing he received PEDs versus actual positive test results). And I don't know how the Rangers will react. The article referenced about a dozen players and only named 4-5, but Gio and A-Rod were also mentioned as being patients receiving PEDs.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-01-31/news/a-rod-and-doping-a-miami-clinic-supplies-drugs-to-sports-biggest-names/

Brandon Snyder will ride in on a pale horse swinging a silver boomstick and save the world a la Mike Trout.

Book it.

Here is a question if the clinic gave the records to the news paper that breaks the chain of evidence. Can MLB or the Feds do anything with this?

I told you all we would regret trading MY. We could have moved him to RF easily with his versatility. Definitely going to miss his big bat.

^^^^gnat, go away

Haha Txball, that's funny.

I would think just waiting is the proper response now. He hasn't tested positive, so I wouldn't think a suspension is forthcoming. However, a positive is not necessary for suspension, since a player can be suspended if found in possession of PEDs. An article is not going to be sufficient evidence for suspension, so I'm sure the only thing to do know is wait and let the process work.

Does this alleged use by Cruz really surprise anyone?

I would sure hope that he stopped using before last year, b/c if he was on PED's then they sure were crappy. Also, I guess this should put the kabosh on any possible talk about contract extensions. Let it ride for home more year and then move on.

IMO, he's going to be suspended and that leaves the only logical thing to do is either trust that Martin can play RF (or switch with Murphy and play LF) or we have to sign or trade for another power bat in the OF... and I don't think Bourne is going to provide much power. I wanted him to complement Cruz, not replace him. I think that maybe hitting in the bandbox put his HR total around 13-15 but that's a real stretch given he's never hit more than 9 in a season.

This is one position we are sorely lacking prospects in the farm system. We have only a few up and comers but they are still light years away from making it to the big leagues. JD needs to use this draft to find some power bats that play OF.

Cargo anyone???

No need to overreact and go get a guy like Bourne. Look at internal options - Olt, Kinsler, Moreland, etc. Think a little outside the box. He was likely gone after this year anyways, and 2013 is clearly a rebuilding year (rebuilding being relative) even before this.

Or, we could go ahead and call up Beiras.

If you mean calling Beras up to the majors, he's ineligible until July, so they couldn't if they wanted to - to say nothing of his lack of farm experience.

If you mean calling Boras (I assume on the phone), presumably asking about Bourn, I understand, but I'm not crazy about the idea.

alfonso soriano anyone?

Cargo anyone???

No.

alfonso soriano anyone?

No.

If you're hankering for a trade, Josh Willingham is probably a guy that could be had on the relative cheap.

Willlingham is the first person I thought of. Big right handed bat. Only a matter of time before he ends up on a list or tests positive though.

This is simple. Move Kinsler to a Ben Zobrist type role. Where Kinsler is able to play 1b, 2b, 3b, LF and some RF. Murphy can play RF as can Moreland. With a likely suspension looming on Cruz this certainly gives the future superstar and rookie all star in Jurickson Profar a chance to play everyday.

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/foul_territory/2013/01/report-links-nelson-cruz-to-performance-enhancing-drugs.html

THey said if the story is confirmed it's a 50 game suspension and that he made an order as soon as July 2012!

Per AJM, if there is any disciplinary action to be taken, it's entirely possible it won't be until midway through the season. If that's the case, the available pickings for trade will be more plentiful than they are right now.

TL;DR: don't lose any sleep over this. Yet.

Profar, an OF (gentry, Martin, bourbon, whatever), a pitcher (buckel, grimm, perez) and some other guys for Stanton.

Let's do this.

interesting development. Always liked willingham and would trade for him in a NY minute. AROD makes this interesting as they will not want to suspend him being with the yankees and NY stardom. whatever his defense is if I am Cruz, I use it too. With no positive test the list of users is still circumstantial evidence. the players assn will require more proof. Cruz can always claim yeah I got these things but never used them. Did you see my stats last year? If i was using this stuff my stats should have gone up not down.