PREAMBLE
Sorry but I don't care about the budget as Castillo and Benintendi are not my problem. Last year we were early, now we are late so time to get getting. This is the push to the next level.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Non-tender
Brazoban is a tender and trade. Bart could be the same or we could keep him.
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- None
I just want to take this moment to say how much I enjoyed and appreciated the efforts from Fedde, Grichuk, and Newcomb. I may not be retaining you this off-season but 2026 will always be special.
FREE AGENTS
Sonny Gray - 2 yrs $55M + $30M option with $5M buyout. Payout: 25 - 30 - 5 or 30
Brandon Lowe* - 3 yrs $75M. Payout: 20 - 25 - 30
Ramon Laureano - 1 yr $7M
Dave Bednar - 3 yrs $45M
Steve Okert* - 2 yrs $14M
Jacob Junis - 2 yrs $12M
AJ Puk* - 1 yr $3.5M w/opt $6.5M and $1M buyout.
My SP options were Sonny Gray, Nick Martinez, and Clay Holmes with Gray being the most expensive. Gray and Martinez both 2 yr deals and Holmes the same deal as Lowe.
Lowe is my Benintendi replacement(more below) and Laureano my Grichuk replacement.
AJ Puk won't be available until mid-season. He could be cheaper.
TRADES
Trade Andrew Benintendi and $10M for future considerations to whoever takes him. I'd be willing to go $12M. KC will bite for $3.1M.
Trade Luis Castillo, Shane Smith, and $8M to Angels for Samy Natera*. We get some needed relief from Castillo's contract while adding a lefty for the BP, Angels get 2 SP for $14M and a RP with only 1/2 a season under his belt. All I can say is someone should get fired for the trade that brought him here.
Trade Noah Schultz, Edgar Quero, Huascar Brazoban, and Kyle Lodise for Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen is in his walk year and is my main FA target for 2028 so trade and sign to an extension. Trade comps are Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Cease, and Freddie Peralta.
Other SP trade targets are Shane McClanahan*, Sandy Alcantara, Reid Detmers* for same/similar package or swap Schultz for Sandlin/McDougal for Spencer Strider or Ryan Weathers*. Alcantara is plan B but would need something additional back.
Sending Schultz/Sandlin/McDougal to AAA or move them to the BP is only going to hurt their value. Your swapping years of control for right now.
Trade Anthony Kay* for RP. This is really a RP swap, I don't have anyone in particular in mind and it could be a BP prospect by some team who needs a relatively cheap backend SP. I don't have a spot for him on my roster and I can't send him to Charlotte.
SUMMARY
Lineup:
1B - Munetaka Murakami - $17,100,000
2B - Chase Meidroth - $800,000
SS - Colson Montgomery - $800,000
3B - Miguel Vargas - $5,400,000
C - Kyle Teel - $800,000
LF - Sam Antonacci - $800,000
CF - Tristan Peters - $800,000
RF - Braden Montgomery - $800,000
DH - Brandon Lowe - $20,000,000
Bench:
UTE - Brooks Baldwin/Tanner Murray - $800,000
OF - Brenton Doyle - $3,600,000
PH/OF - Ramon Laureano - $7,000,000
C - Joey Bart - $2,500,000
Staff:
SP1 - Drew Rasmussen - $8,000,000
SP2 - Sonny Gray - $25,000,000
SP3 - Sean Burke - $800,000
SP4 - Grant Taylor - $800,000
SP5 - Hagen Smith* - $800,000
RP1 - Dave Bednar - $15,000,000
RP2 - Jacob Junis - $6,000,000
RP3 - Steve Okert* - $7,000,000
RP4 - Jordon Hicks - $8,000,000
RP5 - Bryan Hudson* - $800,000
RP6 - Davis Martin - $800,000
RP7 - Drew Thorpe - $800,000
RP8 - Samy Natera* - $800,000
SP6 - David Sandlin
RP9 - Tanner McDougal
Mid-year replacements:
RP1B - Mike Vasil
RP2B - AJ Puk*
Carried cost: - $21,500,000
Total Payroll - $157,300,000
