PREAMBLE
If Jerry really wants to contend, then let's put your money where your mouth is. We need pitching, pitching and more pitching. We NEED to fix RF and 2B, and for God sakes I can't watch Eloy get hurt one more time or dog it to first for fear he'll pull a hamstring. And no more wondering if the Aaron Bummer coming in is the elite guy or the one who can't get a strike to save his life.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2024 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Dylan Cease: $8.8M TENDER
- Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M TENDER
- Michael Kopech: $3.6M TENDER
- Touki Toussaint: $1.7M TENDER
- Trayce Thompson: $1.7M GOODBYE for the 3rd time
- Garrett Crochet: $900K TENDER
- Clint Frazier: $900K TENDER (need a 4th OF not named Sheets or Romy)
- Matt Foster: $740K TENDER (he was serviceable before his injury, Brian Bannister help?)
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) DECLINE
- Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) DECLINE
MUTUAL OPTIONS
Write “exercised” or “takes buyout.”
- Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) EXERCISE
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?
- Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) Let GO
- Elvis Andrus ($3M) Retain
- Bryan Shaw ($720K) Retain
- José Ureña ($720K) Let GO
FREE AGENTS
List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract.
sorry, but there's no way to get this steaming pile back on track with 3 free agents.
No. 1 If Clevinger declines his side of the option, I sign Alex Wood to the same 1 yr/ $12M with a club option for a second year. Although this is likely not a popular move, Clevinger actually pitched fairly well for us compared to everyone else.
No. 2 Lucas Giolito on a 1 year prove it deal for him to get that longer term deal he wants. his collapse after the trade deadline gives him another shot to show he's worth it to the rest of the league's GMs. 1 yr / $12M which is still $2M than he made in 2023.
No. 3. Jake Flaherty on a 1 year prove it deal. He and Gio both get to has Katz help them recover their stuff. 1 yr / $10M, again a $2M raise despite being horrible for the O's after the trade deadline.
NO 4. Sonny Gray 2 years / $28M. Gray was a 5.3 war this year, had an ERA of 2.79 and a SO/BB ratio of 4-1. Plus we make the Twins worse at the same time.
No 5. Jorge Polanco 2 years / $15M. I doubt the Twins pick up his $10M option. I'm sick of seeing him kill us, and again makes the Twins worse.
No 6. Resign Elvis Andrus to a 1 year / $4M deal. someone has to play SS til Colson is ready and he's been a good mentor to younger guys.
No 7. Victor Caratini 2 years/ $7M a decent catcher who can bridge us til Edgar is ready
No 8. JD Martinez 2 years / $20M he's hit everywhere he goes and we'll need a DH
No. 9. Cody Bellinger 4 Years / $110M of which $27M is 2024. Finally a RF we can count on. He rediscovered his MVP swing and he's a huge upgrade to the OF Defense.
TRADES
No 1. Eloy, Bummer and Colas to Boston for their #6 propect Mikey Romero SS/2B and #27 Dalton Rogers Left SP. Romero is a contact gap to gap hitter who gets on base and his arm strength likely projects him sliding over to 2B to replace Polanco in a couple years. Rogers has a high grade on his FB at 94. He's 5'11" and his drop and drive delivery give a very low trajectory and plane, which his low 80s change works off. Eloy will likely hit 40 in Boston and a sinker pitcher is perfect for Fenway, in fact necessary. I had to throw in Colas to get the trade thru the simulator because Eloy is a negative 7 value. Besides, with Bellinger and Robert, Colas wasn't getting ABs anyway.
SUMMARY
I believe this puts me at about $182M although I would argue to Jerry if I need to trade at the deadline, the $5.5M for the Leury Garcia fiasco shouldn't be held against my budget.
1. Benintendi LF
2. Robert CF
3.Bellinger RF
4.Martinez DH
5.Polanco 2B
6.Vaughn 1B
7.Moncada 3B
8.Caratini C
9.Andrus SS
