PREAMBLE
First off, I'm making one free agent move early. I'm firing Rick Renteria and hiring Ron Washington as manager. If I have to watch players bunt, they might as well do it right. Additionally, this will help our infield defense which had some holes in it in 2019.
Privately, I'm bemoaning the fact that all the additional $ from national contracts, MLB.tv and MLB Advance Media has gone to ownership's pocket instead of into the team in the form of additional metrics, competent coaching staffs, facilities upgrades or scouts. I've got my fingers crossed that moving Nick Hostetler to director of the pro scouting side will lead to the acquisition of legitimate major league players who will deliver on-field value.
But the major problem I still have is that the payroll $ seem to be derived from a combination of ticket sales, an undefined portion of the national tv $, and the combined local tv and radio $. So $120 million it is.
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 Tender
My only Non-Tender was Yolmer, but I will attempt to re-sign him for $4.5M. Like gold, not everything tendered will stay, Ponyboy.
CLUB OPTIONS
That's a no on Wellington Castillo.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Pass on all. Sorry, Jose, but I think I can get more value elsewhere.
FREE AGENTS
Lets get weird.
(SP) Gerritt Cole, 8 years, $224M, player opt out after year 3. It's go big or, well, I'm deciding to go big. Cole has cruised through the playoffs and this might not even be enough to sign him now that the Angels are committed to winning or something. This is actually a 4 year, $120 million ($30m per) contract on the first half, and if he earns his money and leaves then great! He'll have been worth $120M.
(C) Yasmani Grandal 4 years, $76M. Not even sure this is enough to get him, but I want a two-way catcher who by all appearances is as good a guy in the clubhouse as on the field.
(DH) JD Martinez, 4 years, $92M. Best hitter out there. In terms of added value, league-wide clubhouse anecdotes seem to portray Martinez as a smart hitter who is able to communicate his approach and likes interacting with other players. But he's mostly here to mash homers.
(SP) Ivan Nova, 1 year $8M. Rotation insurance, that'll put me over the top in terms of salary but given Kopech's uncertain recovery I think it justifies going a little over.
TRADES
(OF) Nomar Mazara acquired for Carlos Rodon (and prospects). Mazara can hit and play all over the diamond.
(OF) Joc Pederson acquired for Alex Colome. The Dodgers are loaded with OF, Pederson is getting a little expensive, but they always love a good reliever. Seems like a good fit.
Summary
I'm just over $111M in salary commitments, but my bullpen is decimated and I'll probably have to grab some starting pitching insurance, but my lineup looks dangerous and the top of my rotation has a ton of potential.
Oh, uh, yeah, I'm moving Eloy to 1B.
| Position | Player | 2020 Salary |
| C | James McCann | $4.90 |
| C | Yasmani Grandal | $19.00 |
| DH | JD Martinez | $23.00 |
| 1B | Eloy Jimenez | $2.30 |
| 2B | Nick Madrigal | $0.57 |
| 3B | Yoan Moncada | $0.60 |
| SS | Tim Anderson | $4.00 |
| LF | Nomar Mazara | $5.50 |
| CF | Luis Robert | $0.57 |
| RF | Joc Pederson | $8.00 |
| OF | Leury Garcia | $2.00 |
| SP | Gerritt Cole | $28.00 |
| SP | Lucas Giolito | $0.59 |
| SP | Dylan Cease | $0.57 |
| SP | Michael Kopech | $0.57 |
| SP | Reynaldo Lopez | $0.59 |
| SP | Ivan Nova | $8.00 |
| RP | Evan Marshall | $1.30 |
| RP | Osich | $1.00 |
| IF | Goins | $0.90 |
Thanks!
