PREAMBLE
As plenty of submission's have already said, last season was the least fun you could possibly have as a fan of a professional sports team. So we are making some drastic changes, hard to argue this group deserves another shot together. It wasn't all Tony.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2022 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
TENDER
- Lucas Giolito: $10.8M
- Dylan Cease: $5.3M
- Reynaldo López; $3.3M
- Michael Kopech: $2.2M
- Danny Mendick: $1M
NON TENDER
- Adam Engel: $2.3M
- Kyle Crick: $1.5M
- José Ruiz: $1M
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $12.5M ($1M buyout)- Pickup
- Josh Harrison: $5.625M ($1.5M buyout)- Buyout with a big thank you. Brought energy and soul to a soul-less team. Respect to Josh.
PLAYER OPTIONS
- AJ Pollock: $13M ($5 million buyout) — BUYOUT. I honestly think after that season he would take a $1-3M loss or so to get out of town, and I don't disagree. Wasn't his fault, he was overextended, another Hahn plan with 0% chance of working out.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- José Abreu (Made $18M in 2021)- 2 yrs, $25M. Hometown discount. 0% chance I am letting him take the fall for any of this garbage. Build him a statue. He retires here.
- Johnny Cueto ($4.2M)- Bye. Thanks a ton, but bye. Lightning in a bottle.
- Vince Velasquez ($3M)- Bye. Did your job. Eat innings and stink. No complaints.
- Elvis Andrus ($14.25M)- I would see what his market is but ultimately think the hot month+ gets him a decent deal. We roll with TA.
MANAGER
I am resigned to it being Ozzie. I don't want Ozzie but it is Jerry after all. Time for Ozzie to cement some legacy then and fire these lazy overpaid bums up. Bring back the fire. No more protected status because poor Yoan had his 234 hamstring pull of his 20's.
I am also firing Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams effective immediately. Who I am hiring I don't know, not researching candidates as there is 0 shot that Jerry does this. But this is my plan therefore I am canning them both.
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Brandon Nimmo 5 YRS, $110m. I don't know that this gets it done but that is my guess. Either way, we need speed, contact, lefties, and actual baseball players. Here you go. Plus fills a hole I am about to open.
No. 2: Jose Quintana 2 YRS, $20m. Count me in. This guy is going to pitch until he is 40. Just constantly adjusts. Ozzie will love him. Need a lefty.
No. 3: . Gary Sanchez 1 yr, $10M. Wasn't that bad last year in MIN behind the dish. I am dumping Yaz obviously. Let's give him a chance.
No. 4: Albert Almora Jr, 1 yr, $5M. Need OF depth. Nimmo is going to miss some games in CF.
Should be noted I am also paying Leurey to go away. Eat that salary.
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Luis Robert and Yazmani Grandal to the Texas Rangers for OF Adolis Garcia, C Sam Huff, and UTIL Josh Smith.
Selling Luis "high". He is a complete liability health wise. The reality is I wanted to shake it up by trading Yoan but the Chicago Dogs would pass on having him at this point. So, we pivot to Luis (Eloy and Tim have their own issues but generally I think they actually get hurt and are otherwise great players with passion who want to win and love being here). Texas feels like a team who desperately wants stars and wants to get to the postseason in their new ballpark, but after last years spending spree probably can't afford to go out and sign Judge/Turner. So we trade them the biggest star we have and make them eat Yaz's deal along with it. Maybe he bounces back and they have a stud C to help them make that playoff push. I'll bet against it. In return we get a young, exciting C (the Rangers have Heim so they can move him), an actual MLB Corner OF who can both hit AND not be a disaster in the field, and a solid UTIL guy who isn't Leurey.
No. 2: Trade Andrew Vaughn to the Tampa Bay Rays for SP Shane Baz. Taking advantage of Hahn's total incompetence feels very Rays so they swoop in and use their SP depth to get a future All Star 1B on his rookie deal at the min. In return we get a potential front line starter whos all of 23.
No. 3: Salary dump Kendall Graveman to the New York Mets. Mets will have to replace Edwin it seems. Feels like we can get them to eat this for no return. Graveman was fine but much like Jose I am not trading away one of the few things about the last 2 years that worked, so Liam is staying. We aren't paying for two closers and having one not close.
SUMMARY
- Brandon Nimmo CF ($22M)
- Tim Anderson SS (12.5)
- Eloy Jiminez DH (10.3)
- Jose Abreu 1B (12.5)
- Adolis Garcia LF ($700K)
- Oscar Colas RF ($700K)
- Yoan Moncada 3B (17.8)
- Gary Sanchez C (10)
- Danny Mendick 2B ($700K)
Bench
Sam Huff C ($700K), Romy Gonzalez IF ($700K), Gavin Sheets *OF* ($700K), Albert Almora Jr ($5M)
- Dylan Cease ($5.3M)
- Lance Lynn ($18.5M)
- Michael Kopech ($2M)
- Lucas Giolito ($10M)
- Jose Quintana ($10M)
*Shane Baz in AAA to start but its a matter of when not IF. He'll never go back down.
Bullpen:
Jimmy Lambert ($700K)
Davis Martin ($700K)
Garrett Crochet ($700K)
Joe Kelly ($9M)
Jake Diekman ($3.5M)
ReyLo ($3M)
Aaron Bummer ($3.75M)
Liam Hendricks ($14.3M)
Extra
AJ Pollock - $5M
Leury - $5.5M
Total - $187M
In summary, I doubt this team contends for a WS. But with a new manager, some actual SP Depth, a lineup with a few more guys who can actually run and defend, maybe they can take the division and more importantly be enjoyable to watch. Plus, a playoff series with Cease-Lynn-Kopech-Baz-Corchett-Hendricks isn't the worst place to be. Never know what happens then. Also think my moves keep the door open for a situation where we want to just blow this thing to shreds after the year and re start fresh.
