It is time for the money to be spent and it is time to win.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M Tender
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M Non-tender
- James McCann, $4.9M Tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M Tender
- Leury García, $4M Tender
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M Tender
- Josh Osich, $1M Tender
- Ryan Goins, $900K Non-tender
CLUB OPTIONS
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 Buyout
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Retain - 2 years, $24 million
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) Let go
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) Let go
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) Let go
FREE AGENTS
Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $80 million). I wanted the Sox to get him last year and now we luckily have another shot at him. Not much to be said here, arguably the best catcher in baseball.
Zack Wheeler (5 years, $100 million). Injury history is a little scary but he’s been healthy and great the last two years. Cole isn’t a realistic option and I think Wheeler has more left in his arm than Bumgarner.
Dallas Keuchel (2 years, $24 million). Keuchel’s market will be interesting. He pitched very meh for the braves after signing very late. He is a solid back of the rotation starter at this point of his career. Tanner Roark is another starter I like to round out the rotation. I went with Keuchel over Roark here because I like his upside a little more and like his championship experience.
Will Smith (3 years, $30 million). Colome is better suited to be a setup man, which is what he will be with Smith in the fold. He has averaged 1.6 fWar over the last 2 years and had 34 saves last year.
Brad Brach (1 year, $5 million) Solid bullpen piece that could be had for cheap.
TRADES
Joc Pederson for Konnor Pilkington and Luis Gonzalez. Being an above average OF with a year of control likely means Pederson’s trade value is probably one or two 45 FV prospects. Pederson is 27 and with no prospects ready to take over RF, it is possible that Joc is on the team for a few years.
Rotation:
1. Giolito
2. Wheeler
3. Keuchel
4. Lopez
5. Cease
Setup man: Colome
Closer: Smith
Lineup:
RF Pederson
SS Anderson
1B Abreu
3B Moncada
LF Jimenez
C Grandal
CF Robert
DH Collins
2B Madrigal
Wow. That is a stacked line-up and solid rotation. I pondered signing JD Martinez but figured it might be better to allocate that money elsewhere. Collins, Abreu, Grandal and Jimenez can all DH when they need a rest. I figure that Zack Collins deserves a shot and if he isn’t good we could get a decent bat at the trade deadline. The payroll should be in the $120 millionish range. This is a playoff team.
