What is your 2019-2020 offseason plan for the Brewers?

[mattyo]

This roster is a mess. The last 2 Septembers have been fun and beautiful, but it has really masked some objectively awkward roster problems.

 

Moose and Grandal were versatile middle of the order bats and they are gone. Thames and Anderson were reliable, stabilizing, quality players and they are gone. Chacin and Miley were stalwarts in 2018, and Lyles and Pomeranz were dominant in 2019...all 4 are gone.

 

Hiura likely isn't a National League player. Arcia is a bad regular.

 

Cain and Braun are old. Shaw is terrible.

 

The minor league system is bad.

 

Woodruff and Yelich is all we got right now.

 

 

Stearns has his work cut out for him.

 

I wouldn't blink if Stearns blew it all up and started over. Trade Yelich, Hiura, Woodruff and Hader and Cain for 5-6 top 50 guys and another dozen high upside fliers and play for the future.

 

I guess we could try to piece something together this year and see what it's like at the deadline, but I'm not optimistic right now. I can't see a WS caliber team in the next 2-3 years, so it makes sense to try to assemble one for 2023-2030.

 

What the hell is this? Woody and yelich all we have? Not the best relief pitcher in the game? or the RP coming back from an injury that was one of the best in the game? Calling for a rebuild with 3 years of cheap control for the NL MVP and two of the best pitchers in the game?

 

The doom and gloom on this website is almost unbearable.

[mattyo]

Also news flash for some posters on this site - The Milwaukee Brewers are NOT trading the NL MVP with 3 years of control left. Nor are they trading the best RP in the game with multiple years of control left. Its not happening, and its CERTAINLY not happening for these low ball offers that have been suggested here (Hader for MEJIA??? lol come on).

[clancyphile]

I think there is probably more value in pitching on the free agent market than there is for hitters. For example, for the 18.25 million they would have had to pay Grandal they could likely land two above average starting pitchers like Tanner Roark and Kyle Gibson. Arguably an improved rotation of Woodruff, Gibson, Roark, Davies, Houser/Nelson/Burnes and the SP Depth it would subsequently create is likely greater to the whole than Grandal. The team would also still have money to flesh out their lineup without having added significantly to last year's payroll.

 

Without a true 1B on the roster, they could look to someone like Kendrick or Encarnacion. Because they jettisoned Thames instead of paying him an add'l 6.5 million dollars, I assume the team believes they can find a similar player for cheaper or even a better player for the substantially same amount of money. If Moustakas comes back, they can move Shaw to first and find a right handed platoon player from the bargain bin.

 

I think Pomeranz has a chance to return as well even at a market rate. Having Hader, Pomeranz and Knebel at the back of the bullpen would make late innings tough.

 

For $18.5 million, the Crew could bring back Lyles, Gio, and reunite with Miley. Combine with Woodruff and Davies for the top five, with Houser/Supak/Burnes/Brown in the wings.

 

That becomes a very stable rotation, especially with a Pomeranz/Knebel/Peralta/Houser/Suter pen.

 

Deal Hader to the Padres for a Mejia/Morejon/Lauer package - that secures a decent partner with Pina, and two more controllable options for the rotation or pen. Between QTC/Andrews/Perdomo, one or more can give us 85-90% of Hader for $500K, and then Thames can come back for about $5 million a year for two years, and the Crew can bring Moose back and come up with some package for Cesar Hernandez (or pluck him from free agency if he is non-tendered).

 

cf: Cain/Grisham

2b: Hiura

rf: Yelich

lf: Braun/Grisham

3b: Moustakas/Encarnacion

c: Mejia/Pina

1b: Thames/Encarnacion

ss: Hernandez

pitcher

bench: Cain/Grisham/Braun, Pina/Mejia, Shaw, Encarnacion, Mathias

rotation: Woodruff, Miley, Lyles, Davies, Gio

bullpen: Knebel, Pomeranz, Suter, Peralta, Houser, Perdomo, J. Guerra, Yardley

[clancyphile]

Also news flash for some posters on this site - The Milwaukee Brewers are NOT trading the NL MVP with 3 years of control left. Nor are they trading the best RP in the game with multiple years of control left. Its not happening, and its CERTAINLY not happening for these low ball offers that have been suggested here (Hader for MEJIA??? lol come on).

 

Using BaseballTradeValues.com:

BREWERS GET:

C Mejia ($22.2 million)

LHP Morejon ($23.8 million)

SP Lauer ($16.5 million)

 

PADRES GET:

LHRP Hader ($48.3 million)

OF Lutz ($7.8 million)

 

Brewers come out ahead, and given how close Lauer and Morejon are to the majors, the Brewers may have extra cash lying around for upgrades. Mejia is also no black hole in the lineup.

 

Yeah, stinks to give up Hader, but at worst, Morejon is 95% of what Hader does at major-league minimum. Or, he is a young ace who pairs with Woodruff. Lauer's solid. And the cash that frees up could land the Crew an upgrade at shortstop, or maybe puts the Crew in a position to make a move for Rendon at third.

[Oxy]

What the hell is this? Woody and yelich all we have? Not the best relief pitcher in the game? or the RP coming back from an injury that was one of the best in the game? Calling for a rebuild with 3 years of cheap control for the NL MVP and two of the best pitchers in the game?

 

The doom and gloom on this website is almost unbearable.

 

Okay, Woodruff, Yelich, Hader and Hiura is all we got. I did say that they will likely try to piece together a good team this year, and when that happens I'll be optimistic once the games start. Right now is not that time though. Right now I want to turn those 4 guys into 8 guys like them by 2024, cuz getting to a WS (let alone winning a WS) just isn't going to happen with those 4 guys, spare parts and our current farm system.

 

 

I don't look at it as doom and gloom, I look at it as optimism for 2023 and beyond!

[TURBO]

Also news flash for some posters on this site - The Milwaukee Brewers are NOT trading the NL MVP with 3 years of control left. Nor are they trading the best RP in the game with multiple years of control left. Its not happening, and its CERTAINLY not happening for these low ball offers that have been suggested here (Hader for MEJIA??? lol come on).

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present, David Stearns! Welcome!

[RollieTime]

What the hell is this? Woody and yelich all we have? Not the best relief pitcher in the game? or the RP coming back from an injury that was one of the best in the game? Calling for a rebuild with 3 years of cheap control for the NL MVP and two of the best pitchers in the game?

 

The doom and gloom on this website is almost unbearable.

 

Okay, Woodruff, Yelich, Hader and Hiura is all we got. I did say that they will likely try to piece together a good team this year, and when that happens I'll be optimistic once the games start. Right now is not that time though. Right now I want to turn those 4 guys into 8 guys like them by 2024, cuz getting to a WS (let alone winning a WS) just isn't going to happen with those 4 guys, spare parts and our current farm system.

 

 

I don't look at it as doom and gloom, I look at it as optimism for 2023 and beyond!

 

The issue with this statement is that of those 8 guys you acquire, 4-5 become regular major leaguers with hoping 2-3 are all-stars. We have 3-4 all-stars on the roster right now between Yelich, Hader, Woodruff, and (arguably) Hiura. With all of them controlled for a minimum of 3 years still. Plus, most of the guys you would acquire won’t be solid or good regulars their first year or two anyway. Now the future window you’re talking about is down to 3-4 years, which is basically where we are at right now.

 

Also, Stearns and his guys need to do a better job of drafting and bringing in talent through the draft. They obviously do a superb job in identifying flaws in guys already at the MLB level and turning some of them into positive contributors. But the amount of talent brought in through the draft and in international signings has been underwhelming. I would say the last couple have been better in that we have a lot of intriguing arms in the lower minor leagues, but they are still multiple years away and our entire minors is pretty void of bats outside of a couple guys. The upper minors really does not have much talent for pitching or bats that will be big time contributors for the Brewers. Obviously Yelich cost us a ton, but there has been nobody that has replaced those guys as of yet.

 

On a similar and yet different note, drafting Ray over Puk was one I never understood. We had arguably the top pitching prospect fall into our lap at the 5 slot and we passed on him. Now, instead of having a lefty that throws upper 90’s and has the makings of being similar to Hader and making the minimum for 3 years for us, we have a guy who is running out of time to figure it out (and is already 25 and still hasn’t cracked the MLB!).

 

Back to your point partially here, if we had Puk, that would possibly give us the option to move Hader now. Get someone like Lux for 6 years, move Hader and his increasing salary, bring in Betances to replace Hader and his salary, retain Pomeranz, and have Puk, Suter, and Knebel still while adding a shortstop on the cheap. Lots of what ifs, but it’s something that could of been done and would have us sitting in a much better place right now.

 

I do agree though that we could move Hader now, freeing up $5-6 million to add another piece while gaining a couple legit MLB prospects to help extend the window now. Because after the three year window as it sits, we have Woodruff for 1 year, Hader for 1, and Hiura for 3. That is not enough. We need more talent, but a full rebuild is risky and I don’t think will get us to where we need to be for at least 5 years. Maintaining a long competitive window happens by trading a piece from the MLB roster sometimes, bringing in controllable talent, and adding them to the mix (while removing the traded players’ salary to bring in someone else to replace an additional need).

 

Sorry for the long reply and multiple tangents. It kind of all ties together though.

[clancyphile]

What the hell is this? Woody and yelich all we have? Not the best relief pitcher in the game? or the RP coming back from an injury that was one of the best in the game? Calling for a rebuild with 3 years of cheap control for the NL MVP and two of the best pitchers in the game?

 

The doom and gloom on this website is almost unbearable.

 

Okay, Woodruff, Yelich, Hader and Hiura is all we got. I did say that they will likely try to piece together a good team this year, and when that happens I'll be optimistic once the games start. Right now is not that time though. Right now I want to turn those 4 guys into 8 guys like them by 2024, cuz getting to a WS (let alone winning a WS) just isn't going to happen with those 4 guys, spare parts and our current farm system.

 

 

I don't look at it as doom and gloom, I look at it as optimism for 2023 and beyond!

 

I don't think the Crew needs to do a total teardown, but some re-tooling is needed.

 

Hader/Lutz for Mejia/Morejon/Lauer nets the Crew a solid catcher until Feliciano/Henry/Fry get to the majors, a Hader-esque replacement in Morejon (who could also join Woodruff in the rotation), and Lauer becomes another rotation option.

 

Plus, the money saved could land an upgrade at SS like a non-tendered Cesar Hernandez.

 

Bring back Moose to play 1B... make a run for Rendon... bring Thames back as the top 1B/LF/RF backup, add Gio and Miley to the mix...

 

cf: Cain

2b: Hiura

rf: Yelich

3b: Rendon

1b: Moustakas

lf: Braun

c: Mejia

ss: Hernandez

Pitcher

Bench: Pina, Grisham, Shaw, Mathias, Thames

rotation: Woodruff, Miley, Morejon, Davies, Lauer

bullpen: Pomeranz, Knebel, Peralta, Suter, Houser, Yardley, J. Guerra, Gonzalez

 

The other option could be Stephen Vogt instead of Thames, but that means accepting Shaw would have to cover the corner OF slots.

[wntrtxn21]

I think there is probably more value in pitching on the free agent market than there is for hitters. For example, for the 18.25 million they would have had to pay Grandal they could likely land two above average starting pitchers like Tanner Roark and Kyle Gibson. Arguably an improved rotation of Woodruff, Gibson, Roark, Davies, Houser/Nelson/Burnes and the SP Depth it would subsequently create is likely greater to the whole than Grandal. The team would also still have money to flesh out their lineup without having added significantly to last year's payroll.

 

Without a true 1B on the roster, they could look to someone like Kendrick or Encarnacion. Because they jettisoned Thames instead of paying him an add'l 6.5 million dollars, I assume the team believes they can find a similar player for cheaper or even a better player for the substantially same amount of money. If Moustakas comes back, they can move Shaw to first and find a right handed platoon player from the bargain bin.

 

I think Pomeranz has a chance to return as well even at a market rate. Having Hader, Pomeranz and Knebel at the back of the bullpen would make late innings tough.

 

I don't see Roark or Gibson being above average and worth the money. Roark: 4.35 ERA - 4.67 FIP - more hits than IPs - 1.4 WHIP. All those number would increase at Miller Park. He made $10M last year. Gibson: 4.84 ERA - more hits than IPs - 1.45 WHIP - made $8.1M last year. Pineda would cost about the same and was much better. IMO Burnes doesn't start in the big leagues much less the starting rotation. I think everyone wants Pomeranz back, but there might be a bidding war for a lefty pen guy. Kendrick would be a great pickup with Walker as the backup 1B-3B. If Stearns can re-sign Moose, then Shaw is cut or traded.

[wntrtxn21]

Also news flash for some posters on this site - The Milwaukee Brewers are NOT trading the NL MVP with 3 years of control left. Nor are they trading the best RP in the game with multiple years of control left. Its not happening, and its CERTAINLY not happening for these low ball offers that have been suggested here (Hader for MEJIA??? lol come on).

 

Using BaseballTradeValues.com:

BREWERS GET:

C Mejia ($22.2 million)

LHP Morejon ($23.8 million)

SP Lauer ($16.5 million)

 

PADRES GET:

LHRP Hader ($48.3 million)

OF Lutz ($7.8 million)

 

Brewers come out ahead, and given how close Lauer and Morejon are to the majors, the Brewers may have extra cash lying around for upgrades. Mejia is also no black hole in the lineup.

 

Yeah, stinks to give up Hader, but at worst, Morejon is 95% of what Hader does at major-league minimum. Or, he is a young ace who pairs with Woodruff. Lauer's solid. And the cash that frees up could land the Crew an upgrade at shortstop, or maybe puts the Crew in a position to make a move for Rendon at third.

 

On what planet is Morejon 95% of Hader? That sight has had many, many problems estimating value.

To say Morejon is worth more than Mejia tells you the sight is waaaay off. Morejon in the minors: rookie thru A 128 IPs - 124 hits - 1.3 WHIP - 3 BBs per 9. He has 36 IPs at AA. Nothing suggests he would be even 1/2 of what Hader is, much less an ace. Lauer is a better prospect and he projects to be a #5/long man in the pen arm. Plus the Brewers give up Lutz. NO thanks.

[Jaylyn]

Considering how much attention Moose is getting, I'm starting to think that only a 3 year deal will get him back.

[wntrtxn21]

What the hell is this? Woody and yelich all we have? Not the best relief pitcher in the game? or the RP coming back from an injury that was one of the best in the game? Calling for a rebuild with 3 years of cheap control for the NL MVP and two of the best pitchers in the game?

 

The doom and gloom on this website is almost unbearable.

 

Okay, Woodruff, Yelich, Hader and Hiura is all we got. I did say that they will likely try to piece together a good team this year, and when that happens I'll be optimistic once the games start. Right now is not that time though. Right now I want to turn those 4 guys into 8 guys like them by 2024, cuz getting to a WS (let alone winning a WS) just isn't going to happen with those 4 guys, spare parts and our current farm system.

 

 

I don't look at it as doom and gloom, I look at it as optimism for 2023 and beyond!

 

I don't think the Crew needs to do a total teardown, but some re-tooling is needed.

 

Hader/Lutz for Mejia/Morejon/Lauer nets the Crew a solid catcher until Feliciano/Henry/Fry get to the majors, a Hader-esque replacement in Morejon (who could also join Woodruff in the rotation), and Lauer becomes another rotation option.

 

Plus, the money saved could land an upgrade at SS like a non-tendered Cesar Hernandez.

 

Bring back Moose to play 1B... make a run for Rendon... bring Thames back as the top 1B/LF/RF backup, add Gio and Miley to the mix...

 

cf: Cain

2b: Hiura

rf: Yelich

3b: Rendon

1b: Moustakas

lf: Braun

c: Mejia

ss: Hernandez

Pitcher

Bench: Pina, Grisham, Shaw, Mathias, Thames

rotation: Woodruff, Miley, Morejon, Davies, Lauer

bullpen: Pomeranz, Knebel, Peralta, Suter, Houser, Yardley, J. Guerra, Gonzalez

 

The other option could be Stephen Vogt instead of Thames, but that means accepting Shaw would have to cover the corner OF slots.

 

Rendon is going to make north of $25M per. Moose probably $10-11M per. Hernandez is already making $8M and going to get more expensive, plus they would have to trade to get him. With those three guys alone you've added $44-50M to the payroll. Morejon has pitched a total of 36 IPs at AA and hasn't impressed yet. He has done very little in the minors and is nowhere near MLB ready. Lauer is a #5 at best. You're basically trading one of the best relievers in MLB plus Lutz for a catcher that the Padres are trying to make into an OF plus two guys who are questionable prospects. And the starting staff would still be one of the worst, if not the worst in the NL.

[Jopal78]

I think there is probably more value in pitching on the free agent market than there is for hitters. For example, for the 18.25 million they would have had to pay Grandal they could likely land two above average starting pitchers like Tanner Roark and Kyle Gibson. Arguably an improved rotation of Woodruff, Gibson, Roark, Davies, Houser/Nelson/Burnes and the SP Depth it would subsequently create is likely greater to the whole than Grandal. The team would also still have money to flesh out their lineup without having added significantly to last year's payroll.

 

Without a true 1B on the roster, they could look to someone like Kendrick or Encarnacion. Because they jettisoned Thames instead of paying him an add'l 6.5 million dollars, I assume the team believes they can find a similar player for cheaper or even a better player for the substantially same amount of money. If Moustakas comes back, they can move Shaw to first and find a right handed platoon player from the bargain bin.

 

I think Pomeranz has a chance to return as well even at a market rate. Having Hader, Pomeranz and Knebel at the back of the bullpen would make late innings tough.

 

I don't see Roark or Gibson being above average and worth the money. Roark: 4.35 ERA - 4.67 FIP - more hits than IPs - 1.4 WHIP. All those number would increase at Miller Park. He made $10M last year. Gibson: 4.84 ERA - more hits than IPs - 1.45 WHIP - made $8.1M last year. Pineda would cost about the same and was much better. IMO Burnes doesn't start in the big leagues much less the starting rotation. I think everyone wants Pomeranz back, but there might be a bidding war for a lefty pen guy. Kendrick would be a great pickup with Walker as the backup 1B-3B. If Stearns can re-sign Moose, then Shaw is cut or traded.

 

The bottom line is the Brewers don’t have five bonafide major league starters on the roster. Gonzalez won’t be back, Lyles like Miley before him is probably going to be hunting for greener ($) pastures. The Brewers aren’t likely going to add a $20 mil/season starter. So they’re shopping in the 2nd tier aisle for starting pitching. Players like Roark, Gibson, Kuechel, Porcello, Pineda. None of them world beaters but all bonafide major league starting pitchers, which allows the Brewers to avoid having to pitch, Peralta, Burnes, Suter, as starting pitchers.

 

The problem with Pineda is he is never healthy with a history of multiple elbow injuries, a shoulder injury, a knee injury. Then when finally healthy for once, he gets busted for prescription medications that “a friend gave him” used for “weight loss” or as a masking agent for PEDs. Too risky for a team like the Brewers

[Eye Black]

So far the Brewers offseason plan seems to be to shed as much salary as possible from role players in order to create a significant amount of financial flexibility. I know we’re conditioned to believe the Brewers won’t swim in the deep end of the Free Agent pool, but they at least have some money to spend this offseason.

 

 

Monday will be another round of tender/non-tender decisions with Arcia and Shaw being the most anticipated possibilities that could go either way.

 

Below are the players from 2019 that already won’t be on the roster in 2020 (unless of course some of the free agents re-sign).

 

Anderson (Blue Jays)

Grisham (Padres)

Davies (Padres)

Grandal (White Sox)

Pomeranz (Padres)

Moustakas (FA)

Thames (FA)

Lyles (FA)

Gonzalez (FA)

J. Guerra (reportedly non-tendered)

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

So far the Brewers offseason plan seems to be to shed as much salary as possible from role players in order to create a significant amount of financial flexibility. I know we’re conditioned to believe the Brewers won’t swim in the deep end of the Free Agent pool, but they at least have some money to spend this offseason.

 

 

Monday will be another round of tender/non-tender decisions with Arcia and Shaw being the most anticipated possibilities that could go either way.

 

Below are the players from 2019 that already won’t be on the roster in 2020 (unless of course some of the free agents re-sign).

 

Anderson (Blue Jays)

Grisham (Padres)

Davies (Padres)

Grandal (White Sox)

Pomeranz (Padres)

Moustakas (FA)

Thames (FA)

Lyles (FA)

Gonzalez (FA)

J. Guerra (reportedly non-tendered)

 

Hernan Perez and Tyler Austin were both waived as well. And of course Jeffress was released toward the end of the season.

[SRB]

Adjusting my plan to spend $40 million since we no longer need Didi G.

 

Sign Zach Wheeler for 4/$72M ($18M in 2020), sign Michael Pineda for 2/$22M ($11M in 2020), sign Todd Frazier for 1/$7M ($7M in 2020), re-sign Eric Thames for 1/$4M ($4M in 2020)

 

C Pina

1B Thames/Braun

2B Hiura

SS Urias

3B Shaw/Frazier

LF Braun/Gamel

CF Cain

RF Yelich

 

SP Wheeler

SP Woodruff

SP Pineda

SP Lauer

SP Houser/Burnes

[Lathund]

So far the Brewers offseason plan seems to be to shed as much salary as possible from role players in order to create a significant amount of financial flexibility. I know we’re conditioned to believe the Brewers won’t swim in the deep end of the Free Agent pool, but they at least have some money to spend this offseason.

 

 

Monday will be another round of tender/non-tender decisions with Arcia and Shaw being the most anticipated possibilities that could go either way.

 

Below are the players from 2019 that already won’t be on the roster in 2020 (unless of course some of the free agents re-sign).

 

Anderson (Blue Jays)

Grisham (Padres)

Davies (Padres)

Grandal (White Sox)

Pomeranz (Padres)

Moustakas (FA)

Thames (FA)

Lyles (FA)

Gonzalez (FA)

J. Guerra (reportedly non-tendered)

 

Hernan Perez and Tyler Austin were both waived as well. And of course Jeffress was released toward the end of the season.

 

Could add Jhoulys Chacin to that as well.

[wntrtxn21]

So far the Brewers offseason plan seems to be to shed as much salary as possible from role players in order to create a significant amount of financial flexibility. I know we’re conditioned to believe the Brewers won’t swim in the deep end of the Free Agent pool, but they at least have some money to spend this offseason.

 

 

Monday will be another round of tender/non-tender decisions with Arcia and Shaw being the most anticipated possibilities that could go either way.

 

Below are the players from 2019 that already won’t be on the roster in 2020 (unless of course some of the free agents re-sign).

 

Anderson (Blue Jays)

Grisham (Padres)

Davies (Padres)

Grandal (White Sox)

Pomeranz (Padres)

Moustakas (FA)

Thames (FA)

Lyles (FA)

Gonzalez (FA)

J. Guerra (reportedly non-tendered)

 

Hernan Perez and Tyler Austin were both waived as well. And of course Jeffress was released toward the end of the season.

 

Could add Jhoulys Chacin to that as well.

As well as Jeffress-Albers (non-tender candidate)

[RollieTime]

I thought it would be beneficial to list the salaries for Brewers players and their projected arby raises to get an idea of where their payroll situation is realistically at. Below is what I came up. I believe I have every player listed that could realistically make the roster Opening Day.

 

Position Players

 

Braun $17 million

Cain $16 million

Yelich $12.5 million

Hiura $500K

Arcia (Arb. $2.7 million)

Urias $500K

Pina $1.8 million

Shaw (Arb. $4.7 million)

Gamel (Arb. $1.6 million)

 

Total $57.3 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $500K

Lauer $500K

Houser $500K

 

Total $1.5 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $5 million

Knebel (Arb. $5.2 million)

Nelson (Arb. $3.7 million)

Guerra (Arb. $3.5 million)

Claudio (Arb. $2.2 million)

Suter $1 million

Peralta $500K

Feyereisen $500K

 

Total $21.6 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

D. Guerra $500K

D. Williams $500K

Wahl $500K

Faria $500K

Burnes $500K

Black $500K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$57.3 + $1.5 + $21.6 + $8.25 = $88.65 Million Payroll

 

I am not sure if buyouts and deferred payments are included in the payroll, but I did it for this exercise. Factoring in all of the arby raises, our payroll is around $88.65 million, roughly $40 million below payroll in 2019.

 

If the Brewers decide to let Guerra ($3.5 million, sounds likely he’s gone), Nelson ($3.7 million, toss up but I think he’s gone), Shaw ($4.7 million, toss up but I think he is gone), and Arcia ($2.7 million, toss up but I think they tender him and trade him or trade him prior to the tender/non-tender deadline), they could have an additional $14.6 million freed up on their payroll. Which is not an insignificant amount of money. That would drop their payroll down to $74.05 million, giving them roughly $55 million to spend to reach last year’s season ending payroll.

 

Just thought it would be a good exercise to get people on the same page of where their payroll situation is at currently and to help with people thinking of creating or revising their offseason plans.

[brewmann04]

I don't see them Letting Shaw go unless DS has a plan for third.

[MrTPlush]

So I wonder what the plan is with the payroll. Won’t be Grandal and won’t be Didi (or even Pomeranz). While we aren’t as loaded with money as many on here think there should still be quite a bit of excess money after we hypothetically sign Moustakas.

[reillymcshane]

Okay, let's try this again.

 

Using cost estimates from MLB Trade Rumors and Fangraphs.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2020.html

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-top-50-free-agents/

 

Off Season Moves - VERSION 1

 

- Trade Josh Hader to the Mets for Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith a prospect or two.

- Sign Stephan Strasburg - 6 years/$180M

- Sign Jason Castro 2-years/$12M

- Sign Avisaíl García - 2-years/$14M

- Sign Jordan Lyles - 2-years/$10M

- Sign Josh Lindblom (from Korea) - 2 years/$8M

- Don't tender Shaw, Nelson, Saladino. Saves over $10M.

 

Hitters

 

C - Pina ®/Castro (L)

1B - D. Smith (L)

2B - Hiura ®

SS - Urias ®

3B - McNeil (L)

OF - Braun ®, Cain ®, Yelich (L), Garcia ®, Gamel (L)

IF - Arcia

Corner IF - Ideally find a right handed hitting player who could handle 1B and 3B

 

I think you would end up with a nicely balanced lineup.

 

Pitchers

 

SP - Strasburg, Woodruff, Houser, Lyles, Lindblom, Lauer, Burnes (two of the latter four players would move to the bullpen)

 

RP - Knebel, Claudio, Guerra, Suter, Peralta, other young guys such as D. William, T. Williams, Yardley, etc.

 

Notes

 

- Castro - a lefty - platoons with Pina forming a nice set of receivers (if a bit offensively challenged)

- Strasburg offers a top-of-the-rotation pitcher we lack. Could go after Cole if we want to spend more - and give more years

- You let Lyles, Houser and Lindblom slot in the rotation (along with Woodruff and Strasburg) - but don't be afraid to use Burnes or Lauer if someone shines - or there is an injury or someone falters. Otherwise, the non-starters move to the bullpen.

- Smith looked like a potent bat last year - but in limited time (177 ABs, 13 HR, .881 OPS). Becomes our full time 1B. But you could use Braun could against lefties if willing.

- I'd work Peralta as a reliever from day one. I think he could be really good in that role if he focused on it.

- Arcia is utility IF. Perhaps he steps up his game and keeps SS job. If so, Urias still gets lots of reps at 2B, SS and 3B.

- Garcia is a solid, but not spectacular RF. Should hit around .280 and get you 20 HR. Not a great player, but decent. You'd need to manage playing time between all the guys, but between injuries, pinch hitting, DHing, and (perhaps) Braun playing some 1B, it would be manageable.

- McNeil slots in at 3B full time.

 

Salary

 

- Cost is now about $120M. Still need to add a reserve corner IF, and maybe a relief pitcher.

 

ALTERNATIVE VERSION

 

If we can spend more money, here's a different version:

 

- Don't sign Lyles or Garcia. Live with an OF of Braun, Cain, Yelich, Gamel and a lesser guy (meaning cheap)

- Sign Wheeler for 5-years/$100M. Gives you a rotation of Strasburg, Wheeler, Woodruff, Houser and one of Lindblom/Lauer/Burnes. Would be pretty interesting.

 

This would make the payroll about $130M, which is probably doable, but not much room for any additions. Would be risky. Would really need some guys to step up in the bullpen.

[Eye Black]

 

Off Season Moves - VERSION 1

 

- Trade Josh Hader to the Mets for Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith a prospect or two.

- Sign Stephan Strasburg - 6 years/$180M

- Sign Jason Castro 2-years/$12M

- Sign Avisaíl García - 2-years/$14M

- Sign Jordan Lyles - 2-years/$10M

- Sign Josh Lindblom (from Korea) - 2 years/$8M

- Don't tender Shaw, Nelson, Saladino. Saves over $10M.

This would be the perfect offseason, IMO. I would be ecstatic if these were ultimately all the moves made when the dust settles.

[wntrtxn21]

Okay, let's try this again.

 

Using cost estimates from MLB Trade Rumors and Fangraphs.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2020.html

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-top-50-free-agents/

 

Off Season Moves - VERSION 1

 

- Trade Josh Hader to the Mets for Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith a prospect or two.

- Sign Stephan Strasburg - 6 years/$180M

- Sign Jason Castro 2-years/$12M

- Sign Avisaíl García - 2-years/$14M

- Sign Jordan Lyles - 2-years/$10M

- Sign Josh Lindblom (from Korea) - 2 years/$8M

- Don't tender Shaw, Nelson, Saladino. Saves over $10M.

 

Hitters

 

C - Pina ®/Castro (L)

1B - D. Smith (L)

2B - Hiura ®

SS - Urias ®

3B - McNeil (L)

OF - Braun ®, Cain ®, Yelich (L), Garcia ®, Gamel (L)

IF - Arcia

Corner IF - Ideally find a right handed hitting player who could handle 1B and 3B

 

I think you would end up with a nicely balanced lineup.

 

Pitchers

 

SP - Strasburg, Woodruff, Houser, Lyles, Lindblom, Lauer, Burnes (two of the latter four players would move to the bullpen)

 

RP - Knebel, Claudio, Guerra, Suter, Peralta, other young guys such as D. William, T. Williams, Yardley, etc.

 

Notes

 

- Castro - a lefty - platoons with Pina forming a nice set of receivers (if a bit offensively challenged)

- Strasburg offers a top-of-the-rotation pitcher we lack. Could go after Cole if we want to spend more - and give more years

- You let Lyles, Houser and Lindblom slot in the rotation (along with Woodruff and Strasburg) - but don't be afraid to use Burnes or Lauer if someone shines - or there is an injury or someone falters. Otherwise, the non-starters move to the bullpen.

- Smith looked like a potent bat last year - but in limited time (177 ABs, 13 HR, .881 OPS). Becomes our full time 1B. But you could use Braun could against lefties if willing.

- I'd work Peralta as a reliever from day one. I think he could be really good in that role if he focused on it.

- Arcia is utility IF. Perhaps he steps up his game and keeps SS job. If so, Urias still gets lots of reps at 2B, SS and 3B.

- Garcia is a solid, but not spectacular RF. Should hit around .280 and get you 20 HR. Not a great player, but decent. You'd need to manage playing time between all the guys, but between injuries, pinch hitting, DHing, and (perhaps) Braun playing some 1B, it would be manageable.

- McNeil slots in at 3B full time.

 

Salary

 

- Cost is now about $120M. Still need to add a reserve corner IF, and maybe a relief pitcher.

 

ALTERNATIVE VERSION

 

If we can spend more money, here's a different version:

 

- Don't sign Lyles or Garcia. Live with an OF of Braun, Cain, Yelich, Gamel and a lesser guy (meaning cheap)

- Sign Wheeler for 5-years/$100M. Gives you a rotation of Strasburg, Wheeler, Woodruff, Houser and one of Lindblom/Lauer/Burnes. Would be pretty interesting.

 

This would make the payroll about $130M, which is probably doable, but not much room for any additions. Would be risky. Would really need some guys to step up in the bullpen.

 

IMO your payroll estimate is low. The big downfall is the bullpen. It would be one of the worst in baseball. Peralta is a once every 3 days guy. Who knows about Knebel. Claudio is highly questionable with the new 3 batter rule. Suter is a long guy and none of the others have done anything to indicate they would be late inning options. If they trade Hader they have to get somebody in the pen to replace him.

[Vollbc74]

Stealing your format Riley and sticking with a Hader/McNeil/Smith trade but changing up the FA signings:

 

Off Season Moves -

- Trade Josh Hader to the Mets for Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith.

- Sign Zach Wheeler - 5/$100M

- Sign Alex Avila - 1/$15M

- Sign Howie Kendrick - 2/$16M

- Sign Dallas Kuechel - 3/$39M

- Sign Delin Betances - 2/$18M

- Sign Jedd Gyorko - 1/$4M

 

Non-Tender - Shaw, Nelson, Saladino, Guerra

 

Lineup

CF - Cain

RF - Yelich (L)

2B - Hiura

3B - McNeil (L)

LF - Braun

1B - D. Smith (L)

SS - Urias

C - Pina/Avila (L)

 

 

Bench:

Arcia (SS)

Kendrick(1B/LF)

Pina/Avila ©

Gamel (LF/RF/CF)

Jedd Gyorko (3B/2B)

 

 

Starters:

Wheeler

Woodruff

Kuechel (L)

Houser

Lauer (L)

 

Relief Pitchers:

CL - Knebel

SU - Betances

MR - Burnes

MR - Suter

MR - Peralta

MR - Black

LOOGY - Claudio

AAA Shuttle

 

Notes

- Kendrick/Braun/Smith all get 3-4 starts per week between 1B/LF

- Betances is a injury risk, but he can be the elite SU man we need if healthy

- If Burnes become the weapon out of the BP he was in 2018, we are loaded in the BP again even without Hader

 

Salary

124.7M