Striker’s 2024-2025 Offseason Plan

PREAMBLE

I am a little late turning in my homework, but fortunately nothing big has happened yet, so there is still time for Getz to read this. I am going to take a little different approach this time, with a goal of just filling holes. I feel like a rotation with Burke, Martin, Canon, Thorpe as a core is fine. I feel like those guys can keep you in it 50% of the time, maybe more. I still feel like we need a veteran in there to give us a solid 170ip. I am also going to focus on improving the team walk rate and team defense.

I feel like when it comes to trades, we are looking for the next hall of famers. When you look at the 2024 roster, if you just replace everyone with a 1 WAR player, you actually improve the team by 20 war. It’s amazing what you can accomplish just by not sucking.

MANAGER

Skipping this for obvious reasons.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Write “tender,” “non-tender” or “rework/extend” after each player and their projected 2025 salaries. Feel free to offer explanation afterward if necessary.

• Andrew Vaughn: $6.4M – Non tender. I know they tendered him but I am still letting him walk. I just don’t see him ever turning around.
• Nicky Lopez: $5.1M – Non tender
• Garrett Crochet: $2.9M – Non tender
• Gavin Sheets: $2.6M – Non tender
• Enyel De Los Santos: $1.7M – Non tender
• Jimmy Lambert: $1.2M – Non tender
• Justin Anderson: $1.1M – Non tender
• Steven Wilson: $1M – Non tender
• Matt Foster: $900K – Non tender

CLUB OPTIONS

Write “pick up” or “decline” or “rework” after the option.

• Yoán Moncada: $25M ($5M buyout) – Bye
• Max Stassi: $7M ($500K buyout) – Bye

OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

Try to retain, extend qualifying offer, or let go?

• Michael Soroka (Made $3M in 2023) – Bye
• Mike Clevinger ($3M) – Bye
• Chris Flexen ($1.75) – Bye

FREE AGENTS

List three free-agent targets you’d pursue during the offseason, with a reasonable contract. A good example of a bad idea:

No. 1: Carlos Santana (1 year, $7 million). Plays defense. Walks (~11%). He’s coming off a great year so there could be some bidding up on his price tag. Fangraphs crowd sourcing has him at 1/$7m.

No. 2: Tyler O’Neil (3 year, $36 million). Plays all three outfield positions. Walks (~11%). He’s coming off a great year so there could be some bidding up on his price tag as well. Fangraphs crowd sourcing has him at 3/$51m, but I wonder if the middle class is going to be hurt again this year with all of the TV revenue issues.

No. 3: Sean Manaea (3 year, $48 million). Solid starter. Should be able to give you 3 seasons, 30 starts per season and about 170 ip per year.

No. 4: David Robertson (1 year, $12million). This guy just goes out and does his thing. We need a solid anchor in the bullpen and he is my guy.

TRADES

Propose trades that you think sound reasonable for both sides, and the rationale behind them. A good example of a bad idea:

No. 1: Trade Crochet to the Red Sox for Abreu, Hamilton and Grissom. The prospect guys are going to hate this one. They really want someone with high “grades” so they can talk about them for two years before we forget about them. I just want to fill holes. These are three competent major leaguers. This one passes the BTV sniff test and the Red Sox probably do this because they have depth at all of these positions and they one of the stud starters they have been wanting. Plus they keep all of there coveted prospects.

No. 2: Trade Robert to the Yankees for Austin Wells and Clayton Beeter. Wells is coming off a 3WAR season and walks at 10% rate. Beeter could be a good bullpen arm. I am done with Robert. Am I selling low? I don’t care. Bye. This one passes the BTW sniff test. Yankees do this only if they lose out on Soto or another OF. They have Trevino who can step in.

No. 3: Trade Noah Schultz to the Orioles for Coby Mayo. Orioles have Mountcastle and Basallo to play first and Henderson at 3rd. They don’t have much pitching depth, so maybe they would be up for this fast climber. The White Sox need bats more than arms. Mayo is a stud with the bat and is major league ready. The prospect guys have their pitchforks out.

No. 4:  Trade Quero and Eder to the A’s for JJ Bleday. With the acquisition of Wells, Quero can be traded. Bleday is coming off a career year, so maybe the A’s bite and sell high. Bleday fits that requirement of walking and defense.

SUMMARY

I brought in 7 guys that walk at about 9% or higher (using minor league numbers for Hamilton and Mayo). That should help the offense.

Plugged our hole in RF finally.

Brought in two gold glovers (Abreu and Santana)

CA Wells
1B Santana/Mayo
2B Hamilton
SS Grissom
3B Vargas/Mayo
LF ONeil/Benintendi
CF Bleday/ONeil
RF Abreu/ONeil
DH Santana/Mayo/Benintendi

SP Manaea
SP Canon
SP Martin
SP Thorpe
SP Burke

RP Robertson
RP Beeter
RP Berroa
RP Varland
RP Shuster

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