Melky gon get paid

[CJ-Freeway]

Re-sign him or our lineup (which already sucks) will suck even more.

[Vincent]

Re-sign him or our lineup (which already sucks) will suck even more.

 

#Analysis

[Chappy]

The money doesn't stretch as far as you may think. With player increases through contracts and arbitration, AA is going to have to make some tough decisions if he wants to bring Melky back along with addressing the major deficiencies on this roster.

[Chappy]

Re-sign him or our lineup (which already sucks) will suck even more.

 

Great input, keep it up.

[Chappy]

Lind is a health nightmare as well. He can't play a position, he can't face LHP and he can't stay healthy. If you're bumping up against a payroll ceiling and have other things that need to be addressed, right there is where you look to save your cash, first and foremost. Reimold, without having to play the field (other than, perhaps, as an occasional "day off" fill-in, may actually be able to stay healthy, and be productive. And if he isn't, you're only losing out on a little bit of payroll not being in there.

 

Agreed. When this team can't even field major league calibre players at 2B/3B, Lind at his price tag with his health concerns and inability to hit LHP makes him expendable (assuming that money is utilized elsewhere).

[CJ-Freeway]

Great input, keep it up.

 

Well, that's what happens when I'm at work hungover. #Analysis , as would the others on the board say. However I think my input was clear and direct and precise lol.

[Chappy]

Well, that's what happens when I'm at work hungover. #Analysis , as would the others on the board say. However I think my input was clear and direct and precise lol.

 

Not really. Our lineup is 4th out of 30 teams in the MLB in runs scored and that is including the past month or so where our lineup has been decimated with injuries. Without Melky the lineup takes a huge hit, but it would still be in the upper half of the league. The impact of Bautista and EE is just that significant.

[saskjayfan]

Lind is a health nightmare as well. He can't play a position, he can't face LHP and he can't stay healthy. If you're bumping up against a payroll ceiling and have other things that need to be addressed, right there is where you look to save your cash, first and foremost. Reimold, without having to play the field (other than, perhaps, as an occasional "day off" fill-in, may actually be able to stay healthy, and be productive. And if he isn't, you're only losing out on a little bit of payroll not being in there.

 

Most of the games Lind has missed this year has been due to a fractured foot. That's bad luck, not exactly something you expect to repeat. He's missed a couple weeks because of his back which you can probably expect every year.

[Chappy]

Most of the games Lind has missed this year has been due to a fractured foot. That's bad luck, not exactly something you expect to repeat. He's missed a couple weeks because of his back which you can probably expect every year.

 

A platoon player with chronic back problems doesn't seem like the best way to invest whatever available funds AA will have to work with considering the more pressing needs.

[John_Havok]

A Francisco/Reimold DH platoon would provide an overall solid bat for the lineup. Mix in the occasional DH start for Melky and I like that a whole lot better than paying Lind twice as much as Francisco likely gets. Lind is a platoon player himself and considering the other more pressing needs for this team saving a few million on what Lind will make could go a long way.

 

How about a Melky DH and figure something out for LF? Melky is a bad enough defensively in LF that moving him to DH would barely affect his value and the defensive upgrades to someone or a platoon who is just average defensively is 1-2 wins on it's own.

 

You could still run him out there once or twice a week and rotate the others through DH.

[o2cui2i]

How about a Melky DH and figure something out for LF? Melky is a bad enough defensively in LF that moving him to DH would barely affect his value and the defensive upgrades to someone or a platoon who is just average defensively is 1-2 wins on it's own.

 

You could still run him out there once or twice a week and rotate the others through DH.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

THIS!

 

Melky is an offensive force. His D isn't really as bad as some try to make it out to be, but he could perform as a DH and as LF. that would be the perfect kind of depth for making a run.

[saskjayfan]

A platoon player with chronic back problems doesn't seem like the best way to invest whatever available funds AA will have to work with considering the more pressing needs.

 

Most pitchers in baseball are right handed. He had 521 at bats last year. It's not like he's a 50% player. He's an 80% player and he doesn't just hit right handers okay. He destroys them. He has an .878 OPS this year and had an .854 OPS last year. This year amongst qualified players only 10 have an OPS north of .850 in the American League. 6.5 million for that level of production is a bargain.

 

He had 15 day DL stint for his back this year and a 15 day DL stint for his back in 2012. He did not have a 15 Day DL stint last season.

[Chappy]

How about a Melky DH and figure something out for LF? Melky is a bad enough defensively in LF that moving him to DH would barely affect his value and the defensive upgrades to someone or a platoon who is just average defensively is 1-2 wins on it's own.

 

You could still run him out there once or twice a week and rotate the others through DH.

 

I'm sure Melky will only sign here if he can play LF though as other teams would give him that opportunity. Personally, I would bring him back as the LF, but I would give him the occasional start at DH at least for 2015 and then re-evaluate things from there. If AA is willing to get ballsy then I'm hoping he drops both Lind and Francisco and focuses on acquiring a real 4th OF and a legitimate middle infielder (although it's almost certainly going to end up being Izturis). Keep Reimold as the 5th OF, primary DH and late game PH (when not starting). Thole and Valencia would round out the bench.

 

That scenario (assuming Izturis is the primary middle infield backup) would only require AA to acquire a 4th OF and resigning Melky, while shedding the salaries of Lind and Thole. That would leave some much needed payroll flexibility to try and acquire a true 2B or 3B and address the pen. If he can flip Buehrle and she'd at least half his salary he might even have a chance to go after an upgraded SP.

[o2cui2i]

I'm sure Melky will only sign here if he can play LF though as other teams would give him that opportunity. Personally, I would bring him back as the LF, but I would give him the occasional start at DH at least for 2015 and then re-evaluate things from there. If AA is willing to get ballsy then I'm hoping he drops both Lind and Francisco and focuses on acquiring a real 4th OF and a legitimate middle infielder (although it's almost certainly going to end up being Izturis). Keep Reimold as the 5th OF, primary DH and late game PH (when not starting). Thole and Valencia would round out the bench.

 

That scenario (assuming Izturis is the primary middle infield backup) would only require AA to acquire a 4th OF and resigning Melky, while shedding the salaries of Lind and Thole. That would leave some much needed payroll flexibility to try and acquire a true 2B or 3B and address the pen. If he can flip Buehrle and she'd at least half his salary he might even have a chance to go after an upgraded SP.

 

Rasmus and Fransisco are two guys I never want to watch play for the jays again. McGowan should be going as well.

[Chappy]

Most pitchers in baseball are right handed. He had 521 at bats last year. It's not like he's a 50% player. He's an 80% player and he doesn't just hit right handers okay. He destroys them. He has an .878 OPS this year and had an .854 OPS last year. This year amongst qualified players only 10 have an OPS north of .850 in the American League. 6.5 million for that level of production is a bargain.

 

He had 15 day DL stint for his back this year and a 15 day DL stint for his back in 2012. He did not have a 15 Day DL stint last season.

 

Ok, so we bring Lind back and then forget about acquiring a 2B/3B? Even if payroll goes up there isn't going to be an endless pit of money to work with after guys see increases through their contracts and arbitration.

 

This team has bigger needs that can make a stronger impact on the roster.

[Chappy]

Rasmus and Fransisco are two guys I never want to watch play for the jays again. McGowan should be going as well.

 

I hope AA let's Francisco and Lind go, or somehow trades Francisco for something. Rasmus is as good as gone as well.

[John_Havok]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

THIS!

 

Melky is an offensive force. His D isn't really as bad as some try to make it out to be, but he could perform as a DH and as LF. that would be the perfect kind of depth for making a run.

 

His defense really is that bad. Defensive metrics hate him, the eye test is no better.

[John_Havok]

I'm sure Melky will only sign here if he can play LF though as other teams would give him that opportunity. Personally, I would bring him back as the LF, but I would give him the occasional start at DH at least for 2015 and then re-evaluate things from there. If AA is willing to get ballsy then I'm hoping he drops both Lind and Francisco and focuses on acquiring a real 4th OF and a legitimate middle infielder (although it's almost certainly going to end up being Izturis). Keep Reimold as the 5th OF, primary DH and late game PH (when not starting). Thole and Valencia would round out the bench.

 

That scenario (assuming Izturis is the primary middle infield backup) would only require AA to acquire a 4th OF and resigning Melky, while shedding the salaries of Lind and Thole. That would leave some much needed payroll flexibility to try and acquire a true 2B or 3B and address the pen. If he can flip Buehrle and she'd at least half his salary he might even have a chance to go after an upgraded SP.

 

I guess it does depend on what other teams are doing, but I'd try to get that extension done before other teams have a chance. Losing Melky after this year would be a decent blow to the offense, especially considering AA will never be a serious FA player for anyone of upper talent level.

[saskjayfan]

Ignoring the "hometown discount" for a second, because that's highly unlikely to happen ("but we have more of your kind" isn't going to cut it), you want to exercise Happ's $6.7M option and Lind's $7.5M option. You want to deal Buehrle and Dickey ($33M total, but eat $8M of their contract). And not exercise Morrow's option. What about the options on Santos, McGowan, and Thole? And we're going to assume that Melky comes back at $14M per. Who are you and aren't you offering arby to (and which of them makes the MLB team) out of Lawrie, Francisco, Delabar, Cecil, Kawasaki, Valencia, Reimold and Dan Johnson? And what's the offer that lands this "good veteran starter" in the offseason?

 

So, in this scenario, you're already at $124M, you stripped away Dickey and Buehrle, and brought back a "vet starter" who will probably be as expensive, or more expensive, than Dickey, and less effective ... and you still have Goins/Izturis at 2B, no pen and a long-man as your 2nd starter and 3 guys wearing underoos rounding out the rote.

 

 

I didn't outlay every decision that has to be made. Santos is an option you likely buy out. I have no idea if Melky would sign for a bit of a discount. Happ already makes 5.2 mil so at 6.7 you're only adding 1.5 mil. Getting rid of 42 mil in salary from the likes of Morrow, Buehrle,Rasmus and Dickey would be money you can re-invest. Melky already makes 8 mil so if you did 14 mil AAV that's only a 6 mil bump and you could back load it with 10 mil year one and in year two you clear out the 7 mil or whatever Romero makes next year and bump up melky in year 2 and 3 of his contract.

 

You replace 2 of the starters with young players at league min. Gose replaces Rasmus at league min. You add 2 mil for Melky, 1.5 for happ, 6 mil for Reyes. Other players will get raises too, but to save time add 10 mil. That still leaves you over 25 mil. Beaston also said payroll could go up. You have a lot of money to address multiple positions.

 

I know you don't like to spend poor Rogers money, but I'd love to get a Scherzer or Lester. I know the odds are long, but shields is out there. There are quality pitchers under contract that could be traded for. When you have 4 young guys who can start for nothing..all the money you would normally allocate to the starting rotation can be spent on getting a number one or a 2.

[Chappy]

I guess it does depend on what other teams are doing, but I'd try to get that extension done before other teams have a chance. Losing Melky after this year would be a decent blow to the offense, especially considering AA will never be a serious FA player for anyone of upper talent level.

 

Yeah I've been advocating a Melky extension all year for that very reason. He seems to like it here too which is a good thing.

[CJ-Freeway]

Not really. Our lineup is 4th out of 30 teams in the MLB in runs scored and that is including the past month or so where our lineup has been decimated with injuries. Without Melky the lineup takes a huge hit, but it would still be in the upper half of the league. The impact of Bautista and EE is just that significant.

 

Yes but don't you think that us being 4th right now is thanks to May and pretty much all the games played before EE left?

[Chappy]

Yes but don't you think that us being 4th right now is thanks to May and pretty much all the games played before EE left?

 

EE has been gone for more than a month now and they are still 4th. Sure he is a big reason why, but the fact remains this is one of the best offences when healthy.

[ElNik2013]

Yes but don't you think that us being 4th right now is thanks to May and pretty much all the games played before EE left?

 

 

One could say if you took away 3 of the O's top 6 hitters, their line up would suffer, but who knows maybe they have clones for their top hitters stashed away in AAA.

[saskjayfan]

Your math is bad. I already did a complete payroll rundown for next year and posted it to the board, and my figure of $124M based in what you did tell us, and which I recited, is correct (assuming you don't pick up any of the other options). And that's only 12M less than what they had for this year, based on one 12M replacement and one league minimum replacement for Dickey and Buehrle. If you go after Lester or Scherzer, you're basically where you are now.

 

Jays payroll next year

 

1st EE 10 mil

2nd izzy 3 mil

SS Reyes 22mil

3rd Lawrie 500k

Left Melky 10 mil?(back loaded contract)

Centre Gose 500k

Right Bautista 14 mil

Catcher Butterball 5 mil

DH Lindy 7.5

 

Bench tolleson, Francisco, muni reimold, Thole, Valencia - (pick 4) 4-5 mil

 

Starting pitching:

 

Romero 7.5

Morrow 1 mil

Stro/hutch/sanchez 1.5mil

Happ 6.7 mil

 

Relievers

McGowan 4 mil

Santos 750K

Redmond/delabar/Jenkins/loup 2.5 mil

Cecil 2 mil

 

That's about 98 mil going into next year if found someone to take on Dickey's and Buehrle's contracts. You get to drop 7.5 mil from Romero following year. If Beeston was serious and the Jays could add salary, you could add a stud starting pitcher and a couple bullpen pieces and perhaps upgrade 2nd for 42 mil....that would get them up to 140....a modest increase in payroll indeed. 20 to 25 mil per year for a starter and 17 to 22 mil to fill in the rest of the roster. Even if you had to eat 8 mil of Dickey's and Buehrle's contract you'd be looking at 20 to 25 mil and 9 to 14 mil to fill out the roster. You might have to get creative with your bullpen and look for a cheap 2nd base option, but I would still put the bulk of the money to getting a quality starting pitcher.

[TheHurl]

One could say if you took away 3 of the O's top 6 hitters, their line up would suffer, but who knows maybe they have clones for their top hitters stashed away in AAA.

 

I think what he's saying is that the 5.5 runs per game team that the Jays were in May is not an indicator as their true talent. EE's streak was a big part of that, and as great as EE can be, he's not always going to be that good. The bigger thing is that we'll probably never see a streak like that from Francisco ever again.

 

Using your O's comp (a team that I still struggle to believe is as talented as their output) they will probably never get similar output from a guy like Steve Pearce who suddenly in June/July was more than a lefty killer and hit everyone.

[saskjayfan]

I'm not wading through the muck of this rundown (missed arby guys, buyouts included, which should be included for 2014, etc.), so here's a likely roster with Melky at 14M (no backloading ... that's so 2thousandnaughts), some random veteran pitcher for "cheap" at 12M, and Lind and Happ brought back. Obviously, a Scherzer or Lester could cost twice as much, so that would put you right where they were this year, already.

 

[TABLE=width: 426]

[TR]

[TD] [/TD]

[TD] [/TD]

[TD]2015[/TD]

[TD] [/TD]

[TD] [/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]POSITION[/TD]

[TD]PLAYER[/TD]

[TD]CASH[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]AAV for TAX[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]C[/TD]

[TD]Navarro[/TD]

[TD]5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]4[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]1B[/TD]

[TD]EE[/TD]

[TD]10[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]9.67[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]2B[/TD]

[TD]Goins[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SS[/TD]

[TD]Reyes[/TD]

[TD]22[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]18.33[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]3B[/TD]

[TD]Lawrie[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[TD]arby[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]DH[/TD]

[TD]Lind[/TD]

[TD]7.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]7.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]LF[/TD]

[TD]Melky[/TD]

[TD]14[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]14[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]RF[/TD]

[TD]Bautista[/TD]

[TD]14[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]13[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]CF[/TD]

[TD]Gose[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SP1[/TD]

[TD]Vet Starter[/TD]

[TD]12[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SP2[/TD]

[TD]Happ[/TD]

[TD]6.7[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]6.7[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SP3[/TD]

[TD]Stroman[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SP4[/TD]

[TD]Hutchison[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SP5[/TD]

[TD]Norris[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]CL[/TD]

[TD]Delabar[/TD]

[TD]1.5[/TD]

[TD]arby[/TD]

[TD]1.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SU[/TD]

[TD]Cecil[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[TD]arby[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]SU[/TD]

[TD]Stilson[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]MR[/TD]

[TD]Loup[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]MR[/TD]

[TD]Jenkins[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]MR[/TD]

[TD]Wagner[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]MR[/TD]

[TD]Redmond[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bench1[/TD]

[TD]Jimenez[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]0.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bench2[/TD]

[TD]Francisco[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[TD]arby[/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bench3[/TD]

[TD]Izturis[/TD]

[TD]3[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]3.33[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bench4/MR[/TD]

[TD]Kawasaki[/TD]

[TD]1[/TD]

[TD]arby[/TD]

[TD]1[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]26th Man[/TD]

[TD]Romero[/TD]

[TD]7.75[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]6[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Eaten Contract[/TD]

[TD]Buehrle[/TD]

[TD]8[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]8[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Total Salaries[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]123.95[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]108.53[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Incidentals [/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]12[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Total Payroll[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]123.95[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD]120.53[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]Janssen[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]Rasmus[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[TD].[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]Santos[/TD]

[TD]6[/TD]

[TD]option[/TD]

[TD]6[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]Thole[/TD]

[TD]1.25[/TD]

[TD]option[/TD]

[TD]1.25[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]McGowan[/TD]

[TD]4[/TD]

[TD]option[/TD]

[TD]4[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Departed (2015)[/TD]

[TD]Morrow[/TD]

[TD]10[/TD]

[TD]option[/TD]

[TD]10[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

What exactly did you say that is any different than what I did? Melky would not be at 14...backload the contract and he's at 10. Take that 4 mil and add it to the 12 for your random starter. Add another 6 to 8 and you have a 22 to 24 million dollar starter. Eating 8 mil on a Buehrle is a worse case scenario. I don't think you would have to do that. If payroll is 140 you still have flexibility to improve the bullpen or second. My point was that 19 mil on buehrle and 12 mil on dickey are committed dollars. That 31 mil would be better spent on one starter. If you had to eat some of buehrle's contract you could still 23 to 25 mil dollars which can get you a decent starter.

[TheHurl]

I'm not sure if you all are advocating trading Dickey and Buehrle to gain payroll flexibility but if you do that this team has lost it's biggest asset they had this year...pitching depth. You can't move 450 innings and replace them with pitchers that have never hit 140 innings and take away most of the minor league starting options at the same time. Well you can do it, but it's a really dangerous move and you hare hoping for 2005 White Sox lightning in a bottle. Having pitching depth this year is what has allowed guys like Jenkins and Sanchez to come up and provide a little value to the pen. I'm certainly not against moving one of Dickey or Buehrle if the right deal comes along but no way should or will the team move both. Not to mention there is poor optics in moving Buehrle at least.

[SAAviour]

Where is Sanchez in that payroll? Not that his 500k makes any difference.

AAA?

Traded.

I know a lot of you have written him off but he is one of the 8-10 starting pitchers we will need in my mind and he starts before Norris does. His biggest issue (control) has not shown up yet.

[saskjayfan]

I'm not sure if you all are advocating trading Dickey and Buehrle to gain payroll flexibility but if you do that this team has lost it's biggest asset they had this year...pitching depth. You can't move 450 innings and replace them with pitchers that have never hit 140 innings and take away most of the minor league starting options at the same time. Well you can do it, but it's a really dangerous move and you hare hoping for 2005 White Sox lightning in a bottle. Having pitching depth this year is what has allowed guys like Jenkins and Sanchez to come up and provide a little value to the pen. I'm certainly not against moving one of Dickey or Buehrle if the right deal comes along but no way should or will the team move both. Not to mention there is poor optics in moving Buehrle at least.

 

I understand there's risk, but I'd rather go with a Shields and Sanchez, or lester and Sanchez, or Hammels and sanchez....than Dickey and Buehrle. The dollars are the same. You eat half those innings with a veteran guy. You take obvious risk with three young players in stro, hutch and sanchez in the rotation. You have Redmond though, who has been quite durable and could start. You have Norris who will be ready next year as number 7. This team needs a front line starter. Look at the trade deadline, all teams went out and got top of the rotation guys and those teams already had top of the rotation guys!

 

I completely understand that you don't trade dickey and Buehrle if you couldn't get a legit top of the rotation guy. If you can, I would get that guy to lead a group of highly talented young starters.

[Hawkins]

Payroll will go up because players will get raises not because AA has a bigger budget to play with. AA needs to let Rasmus and Morrow walk (such a waste of assets). Sign Adstrubal Cabrera (to play second so he can rebuild his value) and trade for Josh Johnson. I know Johnson sucked when he was here but for 4 million he is worth the risk. Buerhle, Dickey, Hutchinson, Happ, Johnson, Stromar, Sanchez and Norris gives this team good depth. More realilistic is that AA will resign everyone and take one more shot at this team being healthy and maxing out its potential.