PREAMBLE
It is time to see if some of these young guys who have worked their way up to the roster can cement themselves in a spot for our next contending team. We need to plug the gaps that will be eventually filled with the next wave of prospects, or higher quality Free Agents when the time comes to start to truly try to compete. At least one multi-year Free Agent deal should be agreed to in an effort to start to build upon the young players with some veteran continuity.
Heading into the project I anticipate targeting the following:
1 - Starting Pitcher
1 - Relief Pitcher
1 - Additional Pitcher
1 - RHH Outfielder
1 - Corner Infielder
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: Whoever Fuller and Venable can agree on.
- Pitching coach: Whoever Bannister and Venable can agree on.
I want Venable to be able to build a staff that he feels best supports him in the dugout while also aligning with the strategy from our Directors of Pitching and Hitting.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Tender
- Steven Wilson: Tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
Tauchman is a valuable veteran leader who can play in either Corner OF spot. Wilson did enough in my opinion to get another shot to earn a spot in this bullpen. Hill is not the caliber of player I want as our 4th OF if we have both Tauchman and Benintendi going into the regular season.
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million option
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
Not trading Robert to this point makes picking up this option a necessity in my opinion. Perez served a purpose of mentoring a very young, and inexperienced, pitching staff this season almost in a coach role as he was rehabbing. I believe he is more valuable as a mentor than as a player, and that his on-field contributions will not hold up moving forward.
FREE AGENTS
SP - Tyler Mahle (1 year, $5.5 million)
SP - Patrick Corbin (1 year, $5.5 million)
LHRP - Caleb Fergusen (1 year, $3.5 million)
1B/OF - Ryan O'Hearn (3 years, $36 million, Team option with a $5 buyout for 3rd year)
RHH OF - Lane Thomas (1 year, $2.5 million)
TRADES
Korey Lee to someone, for something. He is a big league player, he just doesn't fit with the team behind Quero and Teel and he is out of options.
Explore the market for the following players who are out of options (with varying levels of value), but allowing them to compete for a role in Spring Training could end up being just as valuable.
Pitchers: - Bryan Hudson - Yoendrys Gomez
Position Players: - Lenyn Sosa - Bryan Ramos
SUMMARY
Based on the Projected 40-Man Payroll provided of $60,660,467 that leaves $29,339,533 to spend under the $90M budget for this Offseason-Project. My FA Signings total $29M, leaving a very small buffer under the self-imposed Reinsdorfian Budget.
My 26-Man Opening Day Roster: (Spring Training Battle noted as STB)
Rotation:
SP1: Shane Smith
SP2: Davis Martin
SP3: Tyler Mahle
SP4: Patrick Corbin
SP5: Sean Burke
Bullpen:
Long Relief: Mike Vasil
Left Handed Relief (STB): Bryan Hudson/Tyler Gilbert/Brandon Eisert
Right Handed Relief (STB - Pick 2): Wikelman Gonzalez/Yoendrys Gomez/Peyton Pallette/Rule 5 Pick
Right Handed Relief: Steven Wilson
Left Handed Leverage Relief: Caleb Fergusen
Right Handed Leverage Relief: Jordan Leasure
Closer: Grant Taylor
Starting Lineup: Not in Batting Order (Batting Handedness)
Catcher: Kyle Teel (L)
1B: Ryan O'Hearn (L)
2B: Chase Meidroth (R)
SS: Colson Montgomery (L)
3B: Miguel Vargas (R)
LF: Mike Tauchman (L)
CF: Luis Robert (R)
RF: Lane Thomas (R)
DH: Lenyn Sosa (R)
Bench:
Catcher: Edgar Quero (S)
Infield: Curtis Mead (R)
Outfield: Andrew Benintendi (L)
Utility: Brooks Baldwin (S)
Final Thoughts:
Pitching: There are many arms hoping to break into the rotation during the season. Some coming back from injury, some seeking to make their debut, some both. There is flexibility in the rotation of Burke possibly being bumped to the bullpen, as well as the gamble on Mahle's health. The bullpen remains inexperienced, but full of competition.
Trade Deadline Candidates: Martin, Mahle, Corbin, Wilson, Fergusen
Position Players: Teel and Quero will rotate heavily between Catcher and DH. Sosa will mix in at 1B/2B when not DHing. The outfield will mix heavily based on matchups, health, and ability. Benintendi will only play LF (preferably as little as possible), Tauchman in the corners (primarily LF), Robert in CF, and Thomas and Baldwin will cover across the whole OF as needed. Infield is mostly set with Montgomery playing everyday at SS, Meidroth at 2B and backing up at SS, Vargas playing at either corner, O'Hearn playing primarily 1B but he can play some corner OF in an emergency. Lenyn will DH and mix in a little on the infield, Mead can play across the infield other than SS, and Baldwin can play just about anywhere but it seems as if the team is much more interested in him being an OF first with a little 3B thrown in.
Let the young guys play, give them the chance to cement in their roles, and be ready to open up spots for the next wave of prospects to come up this year as needed.
