How and Why Billy Beane Blew It

though maybe a fluke, that Vogt/Phegley combo is amazing -- they have OPS+ of 161 and 155, respectively, for a total salary of less than $1.1 million!

They are ages 31 and 27, so if this isn't a fluke, it's quite a coup for Beane's deal-making -- they both have at least a few more good years, and neither is arb-eligible for a while, IIUC

They are ages 31 and 27, so if this isn't a fluke, it's quite a coup for Beane's deal-making -- they both have at least a few more good years, and neither is arb-eligible for a while, IIUC

Purchasing Vogt from the Rays was consummate Beane deal-making, one of the best of his many excellent deals. Acquiring Phegley, however, wasn't. As I mentioned earlier, Beane acquired Phegley in the deal for Samardzija...who cost him Addison Russell and Billy McKinney. So, he was a solid acquisition in a (so-far) mediocre deal caused by a bad deal.

Beane is an excellent GM, who has made many excellent deals. The chain of Samardzija deals are not examples of them.

Who could've predicted that Vogt, Panik, Kiermaier, and Forsythe would be top 30 players at the season's half way point.

Kiermaier?

Fangraphs ranks Kiermaier as baseball's best defensive performer so far this season.

Yeah, he is great defensively...but his offense has been less than average, IMO.