Striker’s 2023-2024 Offseason Plan
PREAMBLE
For the first time in a long time I really hated watching this team. This is my chance to burn it all to the ground and get rid of this awful taste.
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
Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.
- Tim Anderson: $14M ($1M buyout) – Decline
- Liam Hendriks: $15M ($15M buyout, paid $1.5M annually over next 10 years) – Decline
MUTUAL OPTIONS
- Mike Clevinger: $12M mutual option ($4 million buyout) – Takes buyout
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- Yasmani Grandal (Made $18.25M in 2023) – Bye
- Elvis Andrus ($3M) – Bye
- Bryan Shaw ($720K) – Bye
- José Ureña ($720K) – Bye
FREE AGENTS
No. 1: Matt Chapman (4 years $80m).
No. 2: Jung Ho Lee (5 years $80m).
No. 3: Yamamoto (6 years$150m)
No. 4: Imanaga (4 years $72m)
No. 5: Sonny Gray (3 years $60m)
No. 6: JD Martinez (1 year $20m)
TRADES
No. 1: Trade Moncada and Jimenez to the Mets for Alonso and Marte. Alonso hits bombs. Marte can play RF.
No. 2: Trade Cease to the Orioles for Kjerstad, Ortiz, Hall, Norby. I’m going quantity over quality. I feel like Hahn botched the rebuild because he went for the 5 WAR player in the trade and the 2 WAR player in free agency. I’m trading for as many 2 WAR players as I can and will get the 5 WAR player in free agency. All of these players are major leaguers or major league ready. Orioles might want a piece back.
No. 3: Robert and Vaughn to Mariners for Woo and Gilbert.
SUMMARY
This gets me rid of the Hahn leftovers (minus Benintendi) and starts fresh. Lands me around $180m. I’d probably still need to add some bullpen pieces.
LF Benintendi
RF Marte
DH Martinez
1B Alonso
3B Chapman
CF Lee
SS Ortiz
2B Norby
CA Lee
BN Kjerstad
SP Yamamato
SP Gray
SP Gilbert
SP Imanaga
SP Hall/Woo
CL Santos
RP Bummer
RP Hall/Woo
RP Crochet
RP Kopech
RP Toussaint
Those trades are sure something.
They are all close with value on bbtv. Whether they align with team needs and whether the other team would pull the trigger could be a stretch.
What were you thinking?
Why would the Mets want Moncada and Jimenez? The only reason the goofy trade value sight says it is a slight overpay by Mets is Marte is valued at such a negative asset. In fact, the only positive asset is Alonso. Who would the mets play at first?
Mets would do this if
1. They think Moncada and Jimenez can improve on 2023.
2. They think one of Baty/Vientos can play 1B.
3. They value the Jimenez/Moncada options.
4. They too feel the need to mix things up due to underwhelming results.
5. They value Moncada’s glove over Baty’s.
Alonso is a known commodity. Probably max value at 3war. Marte is declining. They could take the gamble on the younger Moncada and Jimenez.
Can I place a -10,000 odds bet they wouldn’t and wont?