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.
