Grant's I will wear a Red Sox Jersey for a year if I'm wrong, Offseason Plan

[Grant77]

Here's my fairly detailed plan for the offseason, using some reasonable trade scenarios and MLBTR salary and arbitration predictions. Sportsnet had the payroll sitting between 120 and 130 million. Hopefully this generates as much positive discussion as in past years.

 

Trades:

 

- Kevin Pillar (5.3) and Ryan Tepera (1.7) to Colorado for Jon Gray (3.2)

- Kendrys Morales (12) and 8 million to Kansas City for Glenn Sparkman

- Marcus Stroman (7.3) to Los Angeles for Joc Pederson (4.3)

- Luke Maile (min) to Tampa Bay for a prospect

 

Signings:

 

- Yusei Kikuchi (6/50 including posting fee)

- Trevor Cahill (2/22)

- Garrett Richards (2/10)

- Adam Jones (1/8)

- Aaron Loup (1/3)

- Tyler Clippard (1/3)

 

Roster:

C- Jansen (min)

1B- Smoak (8)

2B- Travis (2.4)

3B- Drury (1.4)

SS- Diaz (min)

LF- McKinney (min)

CF- Grichuk (4.8)

RF- Pederson (4.3)

DH- Hernandez (min)

 

BN- Martin (20)

BN- Gurriel Jr.(1.9)

BN- Tulowitzki (20)

BN- Jones (8)

 

 

SP- Cahill (11)

SP- Gray (3.2)

SP- Borucki (min)

SP- Kikuchi (8.3)

SP- Sanchez (3.8)

 

RP- Giles (6.6)

RP- Loup (3)

RP- Clippard (3)

RP- Mayza (min)

RP- Barnes (min)

RP- Biagini (1.0)

RP- Gaviglio (min)

 

Dead money- 8 million (Morales), 5 million (Richards)

 

Total:123.7 million +8 min salary.

 

In a nutshell, my strategy is to bring in some interesting long term pieces without taking on any onerous salary committments or dealing from our prospect pool. After 2019, we're going to have one of the top young cores in baseball and some serious financial flexibility. The goal should be to not mess that up.

 

Regarding the trades:

 

You never know with the Rockies, but it seems obvious that they should move Blackmon to a corner. Pillar is a nice fit for them, considering how barren the FA market is at that position. If we have to add a prospect to him and Tepera then so be it. I think Jon Gray can have success here.

 

I'm ready to move on from Stroman and get what we can for him. The Dodgers will likely be looking to move a LH hitter and their values seem fairly comparable. Pederson would add a desperately needed lefty power bat to our lineup and cover for Grichuk moving to CF.

 

Regarding the signings:

 

I like what I see from Kikuchi and I think he could be a good mid-rotation starter. The MLBTR salary projection is pretty reasonable and I think he fits better into our competitive window than a guy like Keuchel or Happ.

 

I really wanted Cahill last offseason and I still think he is a good fit here. There are injury questions of course, but he could be a stabilizing force for a reasonable cost.

 

This is a good time to take a gamble on a guy like Garrett Richards. We have a lot of financial flexibility, but we're not going to play at the top end of the free agent market. Ten million for prime Garrett Richards in 2020 would be a steal.

 

Jones, Loup, and Clippard are basically placeholders for any free agent that fits the mould. We'll need a good RH bat to spell McKinney and Pederson and we'll need some RP depth. Nobody can predict the FA bargains, so I'm not going to try.

 

Overall, I think this plan would leave us with solid rotation depth. I don't want any of SRF, Pannone, or Gaviglio in the rotation to start the season, as they will be needed for depth. I also think the offense would be improved with Pederson and Vlad Jr. I contemplated dealing Martin, but for the mentorship he can provide Jansen, it's just not worth it to save 2 or 3 million. We could keep Morales and continue to use Teoscar in the corners, but I think he's awful and don't see any improvement on the horizon. We should take what relief we can get for Kendrys.

 

Thoughts?

[Boxcar]

Did this need its own thread? You're not that special, Grant.

[Spanky99]

lol... there's an off-season thread bud????

[Grant77]

I would kill myself before I disgrace myself with such a disgusting piece of clothing.

[Boxcar]

http://content.sportslogos.net/news/2018/10/Boston-Red-Sox-2018-World-Series-Champions.png

[Jonn]

That team f***ing sucks. And I wish we could get Jon Gray that cheap.

[aselvana]

[TheHurl]

I know the narrative is that Colorado's F.O. is stupid but I think Gray's price tag is going to be high enough that the Jays are out. I do think Pillar is getting traded and Colorado or the Nats make a lot of sense. But I just don't see Gray talks going far.

[Spanky99]

I know the narrative is that Colorado's F.O. is stupid but I think Gray's price tag is going to be high enough that the Jays are out. I do think Pillar is getting traded and Colorado or the Nats make a lot of sense. But I just don't see Gray talks going far.

 

Nice.

[WryNGinger]

As an enthusiastic but "casual" fan of these boards, I prefer more specific threads like this. Let each topic be debated on it's own merit rather than be lost among several conversations. The lack of directed threads is a reason I don't spend more time in here.

 

Just stating my 2 cents...

[Brownie19]

As an enthusiastic but "casual" fan of these boards, I prefer more specific threads like this. Let each topic be debated on it's own merit rather than be lost among several conversations. The lack of directed threads is a reason I don't spend more time in here.

 

Just stating my 2 cents...

 

Let's....let's not encourage Grant please.

[Brownie19]

Here's my fairly detailed plan for the offseason, using some reasonable trade scenarios and MLBTR salary and arbitration predictions. Sportsnet had the payroll sitting between 120 and 130 million. Hopefully this generates as much positive discussion as in past years.

 

Trades:

 

- Kevin Pillar (5.3) and Ryan Tepera (1.7) to Colorado for Jon Gray (3.2)

 

[DigitalRock]

Clearly a closet Sox fan.

[Grant77]

I know the narrative is that Colorado's F.O. is stupid but I think Gray's price tag is going to be high enough that the Jays are out. I do think Pillar is getting traded and Colorado or the Nats make a lot of sense. But I just don't see Gray talks going far.

 

Who would you be looking to get for Pillar? He projects for 2+ WAR, so we should be able to extract some reasonable value.

[Captain Adama]

Who would you be looking to get for Pillar? He projects for 2+ WAR, so we should be able to extract some reasonable value.

 

Aside from the fact that Pillar projects for less than 2 WAR. The fact that his worth is driven from defense considerably lowers his trade value.

[Grant77]

Aside from the fact that Pillar projects for less than 2 WAR. The fact that his worth is driven from defense considerably lowers his trade value.

 

All of the available projections on fangraphs have him with a minimum of 2 WAR, a mark he has reached for 4 consecutive seasons.

 

Anyhow, I think we have moved past the days where most GM's don't value defense. A win in the field is as valuable as a win at the plate.

[Ehjays]

You may want to add to the possible trade list as Drury sounds like he want to be a 3rd baseman ONLY and we know he is not gonna be our 3rd baseman in May. Im not sure another team will give 3b either fulltime.

 

 

Atkins said on Tuesday that infielder Brandon Drury would prefer to become a full-time third baseman, but the odds of that happening in Toronto appear slim.

Drury is the early favourite to start the year as Toronto's third baseman, but top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be called up by the end of April. That would either force Drury to move to second base or become the utility type of player he has been each of the last four seasons.

"He wants to play third," Atkins said. "He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him and feel like if he gets a chance to do it on a daily basis, he could be a special third baseman.

"I think most players would just prefer to play one position and that's where they're penciled into the lineup every day, but more and more, versatility is a premium."

 

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-eye-free-agent-ja-happ/c-300354136

[BTS]

You may want to add to the possible trade list as Drury sounds like he want to be a 3rd baseman ONLY and we know he is not gonna be our 3rd baseman in May. Im not sure another team will give 3b either fulltime.

 

 

Atkins said on Tuesday that infielder Brandon Drury would prefer to become a full-time third baseman, but the odds of that happening in Toronto appear slim.

Drury is the early favourite to start the year as Toronto's third baseman, but top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be called up by the end of April. That would either force Drury to move to second base or become the utility type of player he has been each of the last four seasons.

"He wants to play third," Atkins said. "He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him and feel like if he gets a chance to do it on a daily basis, he could be a special third baseman.

"I think most players would just prefer to play one position and that's where they're penciled into the lineup every day, but more and more, versatility is a premium."

 

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-eye-free-agent-ja-happ/c-300354136

 

Just get Vlad a 1B glove and be done with it.

[Bobthe4th]

You may want to add to the possible trade list as Drury sounds like he want to be a 3rd baseman ONLY and we know he is not gonna be our 3rd baseman in May. Im not sure another team will give 3b either fulltime.

 

 

Atkins said on Tuesday that infielder Brandon Drury would prefer to become a full-time third baseman, but the odds of that happening in Toronto appear slim.

Drury is the early favourite to start the year as Toronto's third baseman, but top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be called up by the end of April. That would either force Drury to move to second base or become the utility type of player he has been each of the last four seasons.

"He wants to play third," Atkins said. "He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him and feel like if he gets a chance to do it on a daily basis, he could be a special third baseman.

"I think most players would just prefer to play one position and that's where they're penciled into the lineup every day, but more and more, versatility is a premium."

 

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-eye-free-agent-ja-happ/c-300354136

 

Haha, Drury should be happy if he gets a 25 man place on a team. He's nowhere near good enough to dictate what position he should be playing, Vlad or no.

[Grant77]

You may want to add to the possible trade list as Drury sounds like he want to be a 3rd baseman ONLY and we know he is not gonna be our 3rd baseman in May. Im not sure another team will give 3b either fulltime.

 

 

Atkins said on Tuesday that infielder Brandon Drury would prefer to become a full-time third baseman, but the odds of that happening in Toronto appear slim.

Drury is the early favourite to start the year as Toronto's third baseman, but top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be called up by the end of April. That would either force Drury to move to second base or become the utility type of player he has been each of the last four seasons.

"He wants to play third," Atkins said. "He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him and feel like if he gets a chance to do it on a daily basis, he could be a special third baseman.

"I think most players would just prefer to play one position and that's where they're penciled into the lineup every day, but more and more, versatility is a premium."

 

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-eye-free-agent-ja-happ/c-300354136

 

I think the smart move with Drury is to give him a month at third and reassess from there. His value is very low right now, but that could change with a hot opening month.

[P2F]

I think the smart move with Drury is to give him a month at third and reassess from there. His value is very low right now, but that could change with a hot opening month.

 

I read this as hot opening mouth. Carry on.

[Laika]

You may want to add to the possible trade list as Drury sounds like he want to be a 3rd baseman ONLY and we know he is not gonna be our 3rd baseman in May. Im not sure another team will give 3b either fulltime.

 

 

Atkins said on Tuesday that infielder Brandon Drury would prefer to become a full-time third baseman, but the odds of that happening in Toronto appear slim.

Drury is the early favourite to start the year as Toronto's third baseman, but top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is expected to be called up by the end of April. That would either force Drury to move to second base or become the utility type of player he has been each of the last four seasons.

"He wants to play third," Atkins said. "He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him and feel like if he gets a chance to do it on a daily basis, he could be a special third baseman.

"I think most players would just prefer to play one position and that's where they're penciled into the lineup every day, but more and more, versatility is a premium."

 

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-eye-free-agent-ja-happ/c-300354136

 

This is just transparent posturing for sending Vlad down.

 

"We really wanted Vlad to come North with us, but we also really think Brandon Drury deserves a chance to be a full time third baseman. It was a tough decision but we think Brandon deserves that chance right now - he's been outspoken about it since last fall and we agree that he has a chance to be a special third baseman. And Vlad still needs to work on his... umm... French?"

[glory]

Drury is not good enough to cater to. Defensively he’s been better at 2b and no way he plays 3b over Vlad after a few weeks in April. Put him at 2b after Vlad comes up, whether he likes it or not.

[Ehjays]

Drury is not good enough to cater to. Defensively he’s been better at 2b and no way he plays 3b over Vlad after a few weeks in April. Put him at 2b after Vlad comes up, whether he likes it or not.

 

The funniest part of that was Atkins says Drury thinks he can be " ELITE" there.

 

LOL

[TheHurl]

Who would you be looking to get for Pillar? He projects for 2+ WAR, so we should be able to extract some reasonable value.

 

Mallex Smith trade set the market. More control, cheaper and higher ceiling than Pillar but give Pillar the "he's done it for a few years now" higher floor value. I would say lower than what the Rays got for Smith. I like the return the Rays got because it was a position of strength (injury free the Rays OF is Pham, Meadows and Keirmaier) and got a position of need. I thought Seattle would be the destination for Pillar. I'll look at some potential destinations and see what I think is fair return.

[glory]

Or Pillar to Cleveland for Yandy and then have Hudgens work on his swing plane/launch angle to stop hitting so many damn GB's.