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It is time to transition to a team that can contend.  Key building blocks are in place.  There is virtually no payroll commitments.  It is time to fulfill the promise  that the money will be spent.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

    • Alex Colomé, $10.3M  Tender
    • Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M  Tender  He will keep 2nd base warm until they call up Madrigal.  After that he will serve as a utility infielder.
    • 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  Non-tender

CLUB OPTIONS

    • Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout  Decline

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, or let go?

    • Jose Abreu  - Resign (2 yrs / $25 million with 3rd yr team option for $12.5 million with $2.5 million buyout)
    • Iván Nova Resign (1 yr / $8 million)
    • Jon Jay - Gone
    • Hector Santiago - consider minor league contract later in offseason

FREE AGENTS

No. 1: Gerrit Cole (7 yrs, $232 million). It will take record setting guaranteed $ and AAV to close the deal.  He'll add an experienced ace to the front of the rotation.

No. 2:  JD Martinez (3 yrs, $75 million).  No more first time DH's.  This will add a force to the middle of the lineup.

TRADES

No. 1: Trade Blake Rutherford and Bernardo Flores to Texas for Nomar Mazara. I'm hoping that with the glut of outfielders Texas has, and with a large projected arbitration salary for Mazara that they will not be open to several non-premium prospects.  If it takes a ransom to get him, I would explore other options.  I see Mazara as still young with a chance to blossom with a change of scenery.  He is controllable for 2 more years and which point he either breaks out, or we have a better idea whether any of the existing outfield prospects (Adolfo, Basabe, Walker, Gonzalez) are ready.

SUMMARY

Roster

C - McCann

1B - Abreu

2B - Madrigal

3B - Moncada

SS - Anderson

LF - Jimenez

CF - Robert

RF - Mazara

DH - Martinez

Bench - Collins, Sanchez, Garcia, Engel

Rotation - Cole, Giolito, Lopez, Cease, Nova

Bullpen - Colome, Bummer, Fry, Herrera, Cordero, Marshall, Osich + 1 TBD

In-season - Kopech, Rodon

I am not counting on Kopech being available on opening day.  If the rotation stays healthy during the year, I see at least 1 or 2 of the existing pool of starters sliding into the bullpen when Kopech and Rodon return.

I'm estimating payroll to be around $132 million for 2020.

This is my first time doing this.  I'm curious to hear what others think.

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