PREAMBLE
The pitching is now a disaster. Rightfully so, since we shipped vet pitchers off to re-stock the pathetic farm system.
The twins loaded their lineup with left handed bats. The royals are building a lineup around Pasquantino and Melendez. Kerry Carpenter and Greene are legit in Detroit. Kwan is the Arraez of Cleveland. Let’s bolster the starting pitching with some veteran LHP to give the system a year to build up pitching depth. If the pitching progresses quickly, move the two year guys to the bullpen. I’ve heard playoff teams are allowed to do that. Shrug.
As for the lineup, let the washed fade away and give Sosa a chance in the meantime. I’d ship off Sheets, but I guess supposed left handed power is worth a gamble and there isn’t trade value to be had anyways. Allow Ramos, Montgomery, Quero, and even Colas time to develop good (?) habits in Charlotte/Birmingham. Bring in veteran LH pop via Joc and if you need to - flip him, probably can find a taker come late July.
My goal was to build a competitive team that I’d be willing to watch while avoiding the temptation to throw a bunch of early 20 somethings into the fire. Added benefit of providing opportunities to the younger players on the cusp at middle infield, maybe one of them breaks through. At the same time, they can develop in the minors if needed.
Anyone on the 40 man that was left off: Take a spring training invite, good luck.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
* Dylan Cease: $8.8M tender
* Andrew Vaughn: $3.7M tender
* Michael Kopech: $3.6M tender
* Touki Toussaint: $1.7M tender
* Trayce Thompson: $1.7M non-tender
* Garrett Crochet: $900K tender
* Clint Frazier: $900K non-tender
* Matt Foster: $740K non-tender
CLUB OPTIONS
* Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) declined
* Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) declined
MUTUAL OPTIONS
* Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) Takes buyout
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
* Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) Let go
* Elvis Andrus ($3M) Let go
* Bryan Shaw ($720K) Retain 1 yr / 3M
* José Ureña ($720K) Let go
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Sean Manaea (2 yr / 24M)
No. 2: Yariel Rodriguez (3yr / 24M)
No. 3: Michael Lorenzen (2 yr/ 24M)
No. 4: Hyun Jin Ryu (1yr/ 12M)
No. 5: Gary Sanchez (1yr/5M)
No. 6: Joc Pederson (1yr/11M)
No. 7: Whit Merrifield (2yr/16M)
No. 8: Randal Grichuk (1yr/ 4M)
No. 9: Emilio Pagan (2yr/11M)
No. 10: Johnny Cueto (Minor League Deal)
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Dylan Cease to NYY for Spencer Jones, Drew Thorpe, and Roc Riggio. Number 1, 5, and 19 prospects of NYY. Jones is the high risk/reward prospect and a fine match for Cease. He makes a good headliner since he’s not yet a finished prospect. You can dream on him and Wolkow threatening Borchard’s landing in 2027. Thorpe has 2/3 starter potential and Riggio is a left handed bat with athleticism plus decent pop at 2B.
Payroll approximately 180M
Rotation:
Manaea
Lorenzen
Rodriguez
Ryu
Toussaint
Cueto (if needed prior to 6/1)
Bullpen:
Santos
Kopech
Crochet
Bummer
Shaw
Pagan
Banks
Scholtens
Lineup:
LF: Benintendi
CF: Robert
1B: Vaughn
RF: Pederson/Grichuk
DH: Jimenez
3B: Moncada
2B: Merrifield
C: Sanchez
SS: Sosa
Bench:
C - Lee
IF - Remillard
OF/1B - Sheets
OF - Grichuk
Knocking on the door in AA/AAA:
P: Burke, Eder, Nastrini, Mena, Leasure, Thorpe
OF: Colas, Tatum, Jones
2B/3B: J. Rodriguez
C: Hackenburg, Quero
1B: Elko
3B: Ramos
SS: Montgomery
