On to the offseason - Part #5 - Need #3

Before talking about this need, which is pitching-based, let's look at our pitching on my proposed 40 man roster

Starting Pitching

First string: Bieber, McKenzie, Quantrill, Civale, Plesac

Backups: Curry, Gaddis, McCarty, Battenfield, Cody Morris, Pilkington

A little further down: Logan T. Allen, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Daniel Espino Joey Cantillo, Tanner Burns

Comments: You can never have enough pitching.  However, in terms of redundancy, of acceptable starting pitching and even guys who might not be ready on opening day but could impact the rotation in a very positive way later in the season, I think we are in pretty good shape. I don't, however, think we can trade Plesac, however, as I think any internal option would be a downgrade at this point and why would you trade Plesac ang get another starter in a trade (losing prospects) or through free agency (bad investment compared to what you would pay Plesac).

Right Handed Relievers:

First string: Clase, Stephan, Karinchak, Sandlin,De Los Santos, Morgan, Morris, 

Backups: Curry, Gaddis, Battenfield, Carlos Vargas

A little further down the line: Espino, Mason Hickman, Mikolajchak, Enright, Cade Smith

Left Handed Relievers:

First string: Hentges

Backups: McCarty

A little further down the line: Tim Herrin

Comments: I think from the right-side we are in roughly the same place as we are with the starting pitching, we have a lot of options, more than I think most teams have especially if we use Gaddis, Curry, Batenfield and Vargas.

However, it is in left-handed relieving that we are not deep.  So, that becomes Need #3

LEFT HANDED POWER RELIEVER

I have already mentioned that we might fill this position with a guy like AJ Puk, combining him in the trade to get Sean Murphy.  Other contenders have done this, both in the off-season and at the deadline so I think it can work.  You just have to add another prospect or two.  

Still, I am willing to leave this to the Guardians' FO.  They have the analytics to, hopefully, allow us to pick exactly the type of lefty reliever we need and even sign a couple of 6-year free agents to minor league deals or a solid major league lefty reliever and a couple of 6-year guys for backup.  It would have been nice just to continue to groom Anthony Gose but he will miss next season so we have to look elsewhere.