Monday, November 4, 2024

Looking Ahead To The 2025 Season -Part 2 - Building a New Roster To Go For It All in 2025/2026...and beyond.

 OK, so the World Series is now over and we have a new champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Guardians have 2 Gold Glovers (Gimenez and Kwan),  one Fielding Bible Pitcher of the year winner (Bibee)) and 2 Silver Sluggers Finalists (Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor)

The end of the MLB playing season signals the official start of the off-season.  Most fans agree we need starting pitching and an impact bat in the OF.  So do we handle that through free agency or through trades or, possibly, both?

I would like to propose some transactions for the off-season:

1. Re-sign Shane Bieber to a 2-year deal with a 3rd year option. ($15 MM, $23 MM, club option for 3rd year @ $23 MM with a $2 MM buyout)
2. Re-sign Matthew Boyd to a 2-year deal ($22 MM)
3. Look into signing 1-3 top of the 2nd tier free agents (see below)
4. Make the following trades:
  • Trade 1 - To Cleveland: Luis Robert and Garrett Crochet; To Chicago: Juan Brito (Cleveland's #8 prospect), Jhonkensy Noel, Jonathon Rodriguez (#12), Franco Aleman (#30), Doug Nikhazy (#24), Ryan Webb (#27), Myles Straw plus $5 million.
  • Trade 2 - To Cleveland: Brent Rooker and Myles Naylor (Oakland #15).  To Oakland: Angel Genao (#4), Joey Cantillo (#15), Angel Martinez, Nick Sandlin
  • Trade 3 - To Cleveland: Colt Emerson (Seattle #1), Taylor Saucedo; To Seattle: Josh Naylor, Bo Naylor, Myles Naylor (Oakland's #15).
  • Trade 4: To Cleveland: Drew Romo; To Colorado: Jake Fox (Cleveland's #25 prospect), Logan Allen, Triston McKenzie, Will Brennan and $3 Million.
5. Add the following players to the 40-man roster in anticipation of the Rule 5 draft
  • Bryan Lavastida
  • Tommy Mace
  • Lenny Torres Jr.
  • Aaron Davenport
  • Trenton Denholm
  • Nic Enright
  • Alaska Abney
5. DFA or Trade IF you need roster sports but, for now, still on the 40 man
  • Connor Gillaspie
  • Peter Strzelecki
  • Gabriel Arias
6. Guys to think about trading before the roster freeze to avoid losing them in the Rule 5 (not a huge priority as I don't think either of these guys, or others eligible for the Rule 5 this year, would stick on a ML roster at the beginning of 2025).
  • Allan Hernandez
  • Milan Tolentino
New top 30 prospects
  1. Colt Emerson
  2. Chase DeLauter
  3. Travis Bazzana
  4. Jaison Chourio
  5. CJ Kayfus
  6. Ralphy Valesquez
  7. Welbyn Francisca
  8. Braylon Doughty
  9. Joey Oakie
  10. Andrew Walters
  11. Daniel Espino
  12. Jacob Cozart
  13. Cooper Ingle
  14. Robert Arias
  15. Chase Mobley
  16. Parker Messick
  17. Drew Romo
  18. George Valera
  19. Jackson Humphries
  20. Cameron Sullivan
  21. Matt Wilkinson
  22. Austin Peterson
  23. Alex Mooney
  24. Khalil Watson
  25. Aaron Davenport
  26. Nick Enright
  27. Trenton Denholm
  28. Bryan Lavastida
  29. Tommy Mace
  30. Lenny Torres, Jr.
New 40-man roster for Nov. roster freeze (39)

Pitchers (25, 22 if only count non-60 Day DL guys) (SP in bold, 26 Man roster in red)
  1. Pedro Avila (no options remaining)
  2. Alaska Abney
  3. Shane Bieber (60-day DL)
  4. Tanner Bibee
  5. Matthew Boyd (L)
  6. Emmanuel Clase
  7. Garrett Crochet (L)
  8. Aaron Davenport
  9. Trenton Denholm
  10. Nic Enright
  11. Hunter Gaddis
  12. Connor Gillaspie
  13. Sam Hentges (L, 60 day DL) (no options remaining)
  14. Tim Herrin (L)
  15. Ben Lively (no options remaining)
  16. Tommy Mace
  17. Eli Morgan
  18. Erik Sabrowski (L)
  19. Taylor Saucedo (L)
  20. Cade Smith
  21. Peter Srzelecki (no options remaining)
  22. Trevor Stephan (60 day DL)
  23. Lenny Torres, Jr.
  24. Andrew Walters
  25. Gavin Williams
Catchers (3)
  1. Bryan Lavastida
  2. Drew Romo
  3. Austin Hedges
Infielders (4)
  1. Andres Gimenez
  2. Kyle Manzardo
  3. Jose Ramirez
  4. Brayan Rocchio
Outfielders (4)
  1. Steven Kwan
  2. Luis Robert
  3. Lane Thomas
  4. George Valera
Utility (3)
  1. Tyler Freeman
  2. Daniel Schneeman
  3. Gabriel Arias (no options remaining)
Designated Hitter (2)
  1. Brent Rooker
  2. David Fry (60 day DL)
To Be Determined (1-3 free agents on multiyear deals, if necessary)
  1. LHH corner outfielder with power (Alex Verdugo or DeLauter, if he is ready) - Freeman to minors
  2. SS/2B/3B veteran with power (like Paul DeJong) - Schneeman to minors
  3. SP/RP Swingman (poor man's Nick Martinez, now that Martinez has a QO) - Walters to minor
  4. Veteran C with decent offensive skills (e.g., Travis D'Arnaud)
Minor League Signees
  • Major league quality backup catcher to stash at AAA
  • Veteran relief pitchers with better quality than we did in 2024 (assuming we lose Strzelecki), e.g., Enyel De Los Santos comes to mind and even bringing Carrasco back on a minor league deal.
  • Veteran utility infielders
  • Outfielders (not necessarily veterans but could be) with speed who can play defense.  Tony Kemp comes to mind or maybe a 6-year MiLB free agent or two.
  • 1-2 starting pitchers who can't get ML deal and are forced to settle for a minor league deal (like Carrasco in 2024)

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