- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,572
- 13,062
OPENING DAY ROSTER
How I would handle the lineup when Didi comes back
1- Ellsbury *Better leadoff hitter than Gardner
2- Didi *May have been our best hitter for the season (Ignoring Sanchez's 50 games)
3 - Sanchez
4 - Bird
5 - Holliday
6 - Gardner
7 - Castro
8 - Headley
9 - Judge
Prospects
Gleyber Torres - Projects for SS, I would move him to 2B for Didi
Clint Fraizer - Projects for CF, possibly LF
Blake Rutherford - Listed at CF, likely a RF as his body develops
Jorge Mateo - Listed as SS, should be moved to CF, maybe even part of a trade
James Kaprielian - A 3/4 starter, with possible # 2 stuff
Justus Sheffield - Maxes out at a # 3
Chance Adams - SP. Likely gets called up in July or August for depth purposes
Dustin Fowler - Brett Gardner prospect
Miguel Andujar - 3B
Albert Abreu - Throws flames, but could either be a Front End Starter or a Bullpen guy. Leaning toward Bullpen because that brings him up faster.
Future Outlook:
2017 Season, Going into 2018:
2018 Season, Going into 2019:
How I would handle the lineup when Didi comes back
1- Ellsbury *Better leadoff hitter than Gardner
2- Didi *May have been our best hitter for the season (Ignoring Sanchez's 50 games)
3 - Sanchez
4 - Bird
5 - Holliday
6 - Gardner
7 - Castro
8 - Headley
9 - Judge
Prospects
Gleyber Torres - Projects for SS, I would move him to 2B for Didi
Clint Fraizer - Projects for CF, possibly LF
Blake Rutherford - Listed at CF, likely a RF as his body develops
Jorge Mateo - Listed as SS, should be moved to CF, maybe even part of a trade
James Kaprielian - A 3/4 starter, with possible # 2 stuff
Justus Sheffield - Maxes out at a # 3
Chance Adams - SP. Likely gets called up in July or August for depth purposes
Dustin Fowler - Brett Gardner prospect
Miguel Andujar - 3B
Albert Abreu - Throws flames, but could either be a Front End Starter or a Bullpen guy. Leaning toward Bullpen because that brings him up faster.
Future Outlook:
2017 Season, Going into 2018:
I think we're a middle of the pack club, in a worst case scenario 78 wins, in a best case scenario 88 wins. There's a lot of what ifs, IF CC puts up a good year, IF Pineda can be consistent, IF Severino can find what he did in his rookie year. That's why I don't think we'll be anywhere near a playoff spot come All Star Break, but unlike last year, I wouldn't go after gutting the team for prospects. Especially a guy like Holliday because you start to develop that reputation, don't sign here because there's a good chance they'll trade you.
The only trade I would make is a front end starter, who we could get at least a couple of years from before they hit 30 (Sanchez, Bird, Didi, Torres, Fraizer, Kaprielian, Abreu, Betances are untouchable)
Free Agency:
- Masahiro Tanaka : Absolute must re-sign... Hope for 6 year / $140mil, but would go up to 7 year / $175mil, exact contract Felix got at 26, and Strausberg got at 27. (Would only put him behind Price, Kershaw, Scherzer & Greinke in terms of overall money)... I know some are worried about the UCL tear eventually giving way.... But we have no choice, without Masahiro, there's no Front End Starter, and all our prospects are pointless. You could always add in a stipulation that Felix has in his contract, if he has an elbow injury that puts him on the DL for 120-130 days, there is an added year on to his contract for the cost of $1million dollars.
($3mil added to 2018 & 2019 payroll)
- CC if CC pitches like he did this past season where he wasn't the Ace we're used to, and not the guy we're paying... But if he looks like an Okay 3, a good 4.. I have no issue keeping him around for his veteran experience. The only issue is, that I'd be at somewhere around 3 year / $21mil with about $10mil in incentives for throwing a number of innings, staying off the DL, etc.
-Pineda, not sure there's a reason to bring him back unless he's cheap.. When he's on, he's a solid # 2, but when he's not he's barely a rotation guy, on the unfortunate side, he's more bad than good.. If he's around his current $7.4mil, then okay. If he's looking for $15mil!?!? No thanks.
- Tyler Clippard - Good to have, should keep (3 years/ $24mil)
- Dellin Betances - We really screwed ourselves here for $2mil... I know he's likely leaving or they'll needlessly trade him.... But they should be offering him $10mil / year for 5 seasons. Would put him at the 5th highest salary, and give him $15mil in incentives (All Star Games, IP, staying off the DL, # of Holds, Finishing in Top 10, Top 5, # 1 in Holds).
Overall +/-
Tanaka ($3,000,000) New Contract (7 year / $175mil)
Holliday $13,000,000 End of Contract
Sabathia $18,000,000 New Contract (3 year / $21mil base)
A-Rod $21,000,000 Retired
Clippard ($2,000,000) New Contract (3 year / $24mil)
Betances ($7,000,000) New Contract (5 year / $50mil base)
C. Carter $3,500,000 End of Contract
(We gained $43mil in payroll.... Could be $50mil if you let Pineda walk)
Looking at FA's we're only likely to be in the market for SP.
- Arrieta is too old (32 and MLB Trade Rumors thinks it can push into low $30Ms per season. They think it will be less than 6 years, but even then) Unless it's 4 year / $120mil, with a club option or buy out after 3... Not sure, I can do it. (Also unless Cubs get wallet shy, just can't see him leaving a perennial contender)
- Cueto... Saying 5 years at a $25-29mil a season AAV)
- Darvish.... TJ surgery recently, almost missed 2 years, also had an injury immediately after coming back. They think he'll pass Zimmerman's TJ Surgery Alum record of 5 year / $110mil... If he's vintage Darvish, it could get into the $150mil+
(Alex Cobb may be a decent option... Depending on his market)
- Tyler Ross, Jaime Garcia, Andrew Cashner just don't seem like great names to have.
-JD Martinez - 5year / $100mil projected.. Could stomach it, but he wouldn't be in the field, he'd have to be DH, no future room in the OF, but at DH, he'd complicate a lot for us going forward.
- Justin Upton - Would be 30.. Would love to have him, but if he puts up another .240-.255 BA season, he's not worth 5 year / $110m he'd likely want (Has 4 year / $88mil left)
- CarGo.... I'm meh on him
Call Ups for Opening Day 2018 season:
- Gleyber Torres (Coming up to play 2B, Castro likely moved to 3B... Or move Torres to 3B. Didi is too good defensively at SS)
- Clint Fraizer (If Judge really struggles, I think they end up bringing Fraizer up this season around August to play RF... In 2018, he'd likely move to CF, and Ellsbury would go to RF or LF depending on where they want to Gardner)
- James Kaprielian.. Will come up as a #4 starter
- Chance Adams... Not better than Kaprielian, but more ready. Would come up in the way Bryan Mitchell did in past couple seasons, and likely stick as a Spot Starter or a # 5.
The only trade I would make is a front end starter, who we could get at least a couple of years from before they hit 30 (Sanchez, Bird, Didi, Torres, Fraizer, Kaprielian, Abreu, Betances are untouchable)
Free Agency:
- Masahiro Tanaka : Absolute must re-sign... Hope for 6 year / $140mil, but would go up to 7 year / $175mil, exact contract Felix got at 26, and Strausberg got at 27. (Would only put him behind Price, Kershaw, Scherzer & Greinke in terms of overall money)... I know some are worried about the UCL tear eventually giving way.... But we have no choice, without Masahiro, there's no Front End Starter, and all our prospects are pointless. You could always add in a stipulation that Felix has in his contract, if he has an elbow injury that puts him on the DL for 120-130 days, there is an added year on to his contract for the cost of $1million dollars.
($3mil added to 2018 & 2019 payroll)
- CC if CC pitches like he did this past season where he wasn't the Ace we're used to, and not the guy we're paying... But if he looks like an Okay 3, a good 4.. I have no issue keeping him around for his veteran experience. The only issue is, that I'd be at somewhere around 3 year / $21mil with about $10mil in incentives for throwing a number of innings, staying off the DL, etc.
-Pineda, not sure there's a reason to bring him back unless he's cheap.. When he's on, he's a solid # 2, but when he's not he's barely a rotation guy, on the unfortunate side, he's more bad than good.. If he's around his current $7.4mil, then okay. If he's looking for $15mil!?!? No thanks.
- Tyler Clippard - Good to have, should keep (3 years/ $24mil)
- Dellin Betances - We really screwed ourselves here for $2mil... I know he's likely leaving or they'll needlessly trade him.... But they should be offering him $10mil / year for 5 seasons. Would put him at the 5th highest salary, and give him $15mil in incentives (All Star Games, IP, staying off the DL, # of Holds, Finishing in Top 10, Top 5, # 1 in Holds).
Overall +/-
Tanaka ($3,000,000) New Contract (7 year / $175mil)
Holliday $13,000,000 End of Contract
Sabathia $18,000,000 New Contract (3 year / $21mil base)
A-Rod $21,000,000 Retired
Clippard ($2,000,000) New Contract (3 year / $24mil)
Betances ($7,000,000) New Contract (5 year / $50mil base)
C. Carter $3,500,000 End of Contract
(We gained $43mil in payroll.... Could be $50mil if you let Pineda walk)
Looking at FA's we're only likely to be in the market for SP.
- Arrieta is too old (32 and MLB Trade Rumors thinks it can push into low $30Ms per season. They think it will be less than 6 years, but even then) Unless it's 4 year / $120mil, with a club option or buy out after 3... Not sure, I can do it. (Also unless Cubs get wallet shy, just can't see him leaving a perennial contender)
- Cueto... Saying 5 years at a $25-29mil a season AAV)
- Darvish.... TJ surgery recently, almost missed 2 years, also had an injury immediately after coming back. They think he'll pass Zimmerman's TJ Surgery Alum record of 5 year / $110mil... If he's vintage Darvish, it could get into the $150mil+
(Alex Cobb may be a decent option... Depending on his market)
- Tyler Ross, Jaime Garcia, Andrew Cashner just don't seem like great names to have.
-JD Martinez - 5year / $100mil projected.. Could stomach it, but he wouldn't be in the field, he'd have to be DH, no future room in the OF, but at DH, he'd complicate a lot for us going forward.
- Justin Upton - Would be 30.. Would love to have him, but if he puts up another .240-.255 BA season, he's not worth 5 year / $110m he'd likely want (Has 4 year / $88mil left)
- CarGo.... I'm meh on him
Call Ups for Opening Day 2018 season:
- Gleyber Torres (Coming up to play 2B, Castro likely moved to 3B... Or move Torres to 3B. Didi is too good defensively at SS)
- Clint Fraizer (If Judge really struggles, I think they end up bringing Fraizer up this season around August to play RF... In 2018, he'd likely move to CF, and Ellsbury would go to RF or LF depending on where they want to Gardner)
- James Kaprielian.. Will come up as a #4 starter
- Chance Adams... Not better than Kaprielian, but more ready. Would come up in the way Bryan Mitchell did in past couple seasons, and likely stick as a Spot Starter or a # 5.
2018 Season, Going into 2019:
This is where all the fun happens. But unless all the young kids take leaps, and we keep Dellin 
We'll be a 78-88 win team again.
Gardner & Headley in their last season... See ya! Maybe get moved at the deadline, but probably not.
Adam Warren.... I'd be willing to give him $5-5.5mil a year.. Too versatile. Great in the bullpen, but can give you 3 innings if need be.
$30mil coming off on Gardner, Headley & McCann's $5.5mil trade.... Adding $3-4mil on Warren.
2019 Call Up:
Mateo as a Utility Player, if he hasn't been traded yet
Abreu if they decide he's a bullpen guy
Andujar if he's not traded, or something better comes up
Free Agency
I'm going all out for Bryce Harper & Manny Machado.. Both over $30mil a season.... I'd rank Machado over Bryce, but think Bryce is the easier get.... Also the marketing for Bryce is a big reason they should bring him in. He'll put the butts in the seats.
Also if Machado is a no... Josh Donaldson although he's 33, is a worthy candidate to look at.
Then really see if you can convince Keuchel, or see what Matt Harvey's value is at,
But Harper & Machado or Donaldson is the reason why we should consolidate some of our prospects that are not Sanchez, Bird, Torres, Fraizer, Kaprielian.... And maybe Judge or Rutheford (One, not both). We need more pitching depth, and in the next couple of years, unless you pay $$$ for older guys over 30 on long term contracts 5+ years in Arrieta, Keuchel, Cueto, Darvish, Harvey, it's Tanaka and hope in our rotation.
Think of this:
Torres - 2B
Harper - RF
Sanchez - C
Machado or Donaldson - 3B
Bird - 1B
Didi - SS
Fraizer - CF
Judge - LF
Castro - DH
Ellsbury is the 4th OF
We'll be a 78-88 win team again.Gardner & Headley in their last season... See ya! Maybe get moved at the deadline, but probably not.
Adam Warren.... I'd be willing to give him $5-5.5mil a year.. Too versatile. Great in the bullpen, but can give you 3 innings if need be.
$30mil coming off on Gardner, Headley & McCann's $5.5mil trade.... Adding $3-4mil on Warren.
2019 Call Up:
Mateo as a Utility Player, if he hasn't been traded yet
Abreu if they decide he's a bullpen guy
Andujar if he's not traded, or something better comes up
Free Agency
I'm going all out for Bryce Harper & Manny Machado.. Both over $30mil a season.... I'd rank Machado over Bryce, but think Bryce is the easier get.... Also the marketing for Bryce is a big reason they should bring him in. He'll put the butts in the seats.
Also if Machado is a no... Josh Donaldson although he's 33, is a worthy candidate to look at.
Then really see if you can convince Keuchel, or see what Matt Harvey's value is at,
But Harper & Machado or Donaldson is the reason why we should consolidate some of our prospects that are not Sanchez, Bird, Torres, Fraizer, Kaprielian.... And maybe Judge or Rutheford (One, not both). We need more pitching depth, and in the next couple of years, unless you pay $$$ for older guys over 30 on long term contracts 5+ years in Arrieta, Keuchel, Cueto, Darvish, Harvey, it's Tanaka and hope in our rotation.
Think of this:
Torres - 2B
Harper - RF
Sanchez - C
Machado or Donaldson - 3B
Bird - 1B
Didi - SS
Fraizer - CF
Judge - LF
Castro - DH
Ellsbury is the 4th OF
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he was safe.
