Toronto did everything they could do hide Hernandez and Gurriel in aggressive shifting patterns but they are truly godawful defenders. So happy they are gone.
Must move some of these guys:
1 of Sal Perez or Logan O'Hoppe
Ramon Laureano
Marcus Stroman
Hunter Renfroe
Kyle Bradish
John Means
Adam Wainwright
Kyle Hendricks
Charlie Blackmon
Daniel Lynch
Dean Kremer
Jurickson Profar
Roughly sorted by value, top down. Would takes pick upgrades for most, particularly the bottom half.
Top ~4 names probably have the most value but all of these names are very available as I fear a roster crunch in spring training and want to get in front of it.
I am now past the point of hoping that he ever gets in shape
But if he is a groundball machine again this year the pattern will be glaringly obvious as his one elite season will have come after his one offseason of trimming weight
yeah they are getting some pretty optimistic projections from Steamer
other systems disagree
(Steamer - The Bat)
Siri: 2.7 - 1.5
Bethancourt: 2.1 - 0.6
Aranda: 1.6 - 0.5
Franco: 5.6 - 4.8
Diaz: 4.1 - 3.2
Paredes: 2.9 - 2.3
The Bat must be a bit more conservative. I see some 0.5 WAR discrepancies for the Toronto hitters, but there aren't any gaps as big as some of these Rays projection gaps.
Belt has had surgery on his right knee three times.
2015 minor meniscus tear repair
2018 "major microfracture surgery to stimulate cartilage growth"
2022 "Sept. 3 surgery to clean out cartilage and scar tissue"
The 2022 surgery does not sound "major" but of course with his age and repeated problems I would not exactly expect a fully healthy Brandon Belt. He will have chronic issues in this knee forever, I think.
they aren't done.
still have one obvious demotion on the projected 25 man roster (Lukes)
a couple trade candidates on the 25 man (Biggio, Richards)
and some 40 man guys who are DFA candidates (Thornton, Gage, Hatch)
we don't have numbers or anything but looks like it will be a bit deeper right down the lines and maybe in RCF LCF but also a bit closer where the bullpens push in
but from all the stories, the big change will be the reduction in foul territory next year as all the infield seats come in. that will be when the general offensive park factor trends up the most.