PREAMBLE
We'll need lots of free agents because our 1st round draft picks during the rebuild have been 2014 Rodon, 2015 Fulmer, 2016 Collins and Burdi, 2017 Jake Burger. That said, I think we can get there within the budget but can't afford the very top tier like Cole, Strasberg, Rondone.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Write “tender” or “non-tender” after each player and their projected 2020 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.
- Alex Colomé, $10.3M nontender, need a closer who can get a strikeout
- Yolmer Sánchez, $6.2M nontender. too much for too little hit
- James McCann, $4.9M tender
- Carlos Rodon, $4.5M nontender. enough failed seasons due to injury
- Leury García, $4M nontender.
- Evan Marshall, $1.3M tender
- Josh Osich, $1M nontender
- Ryan Goins, $900K nontender
CLUB OPTIONS
Write “pick up” or “decline” after the option.
- Welington Castillo: $8 million/$500,000 buyout No way for $8M
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
Try to retain, or let go?
- Jose Abreu (made $16M in 2019) Retain at 2 yrs/ $30M w/club option
- Iván Nova (made $9,166,167 in 2019) let go
- Jon Jay (made $4M in 2019) let go
- Hector Santiago (made $2M in 2019 on split contract) let go
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Zack Wheeler 4 yrs/$68M I'd love to say Cole or Strasberg but with Reinsdorf, let's be real.
No 2: Jake Odorizzi 3 yrs/ $45M slides into 3rd or 4th slot and added benefit of making the Twins worse at the same time.
No 3: Yasmani Grandal 4 yrs/ $68M I don't think we can expect same numbers from McCann and Grandal is better defensively. can DH when McCann catches.
NO 4: Nic Castellanos 2 yrs/$16M helps with RF power numbers as Wrigley production translates well to Rate Field.
NO 5: Will Smith 3 yrs / #39M upgrade from Colome for only 2.7M who can get a strikeout. always felt like we were living on the edge with Colome, despite his conversion on saves.
No 6: Brock Holt 1 yr/ $4.5M plays 2B until Madrigal is "ready", then fills utility INF better than Leury would for about same dollars.
Summary
Engel plays CF til Robert is here. Holt at 2B until Madigal. Lopez/Cease until Kopech is ready to go, then whichever is performing worse goes to pen. I think I'm just below the $120M budget.
Starting Pitching
Wheeler $17M
Giolito $.6M
Odorizzi $15M
Cease $.6M
Lopez $.6M
Kopech $.6M
Relief Pitching
Smith $13M
Herrera $8.5M
Bummer $.6M
Fry $.6M
Marshall $1.3M
Cordero $.6M
Hamilton $.6M
someone from camp until Kopech into SP $.6M
Position Players
Grandal C/DH $17M
McCann C/DH $4.9M
Collins DH/1B $.6M
Abreu 1B/DH $15M
Madrigal 2B $.6M
Anderson SS $4M
Moncada 3B $.6M
Eloy LF $2.3M
Robert CF $.6M
Castellanos $ 8M
Engel CF $.6M (starts til Robert)
Holt INF $4.5M (starts at 2b until Madrigal)
Palka DH/RF $.6M
