Introducing a new feature that Ghost/Steve came up with. Similar to our Point-CounterPoints, but different in that we don’t respond to each other. Instead we change our plan based on what others have said or some have gone and stuck with their original plans.
We are also copying/pasting some suggestions from the comment’s section also.
2019Nats: here is mine, using MLB Traderumors dollar amounts.
I go after the younger hitters who fit better with the time track of James Wood, Dylan Crews, Daylen Lile, etc.
- 2B – Bo Bichette (28 yo) $26m AAV (8/$208m)
- Trade CJ Abrams save <$5.5m> projected arbitration and receive back a current ML starting pitcher and play Nasim Nunez at shortstop. Trade Luis Garcia Jr. and save <$7.5m>.
- Sign ML backup shortstop not named Paul DeJong
- SP – Ranger Suarez $23m (5/115) (Backup would be Michael King or Dylan Cease if Cease was $25m and not $30m)
- Trade MacKenzie Gore for best package of near ML ready players. Savings <$6.5m>.
- 1B – Josh Naylor (28 yo) $18m (2/36)
- RP’s – sign to minor league deals ex-Nats Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia (RP) and determine mid-year if we need to make a trade. I would not try to do any Trevor Williams 2/$16m deals at this point for RP, maybe next offseason.
Total is $68m minus $19.5 for the trades plus salaries of starting pitcher and young players traded for – so round up to $60m.
A lot of times you have to pivot. Other guys as backup plans would be Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Michael King, and Dylan Cease (all depending on the deal). The other option would be to punt on the 1B and go with J.T. Realmuto as our catcher solution, so in that case it would Realmuto, Bichette and Ranger
Andrew: My $57.2 million:
- Lucas Giolito $14 million per year
- Rhys Hoskins $10 million for 1 year
- Alex Bregman $27 million for 7 yrs to get a lower AAV
- Raisel Iglesias $12 million for 2 years
- Trade Luis Garcia Jr. to save $6 million
- James McCann $5 million for 1 year
- DFA Riley Adams and save $1.5 million
- DFA Irvin to save $3.3 million (or consider signing him for much less on his 1st arb deal) and that would keep my numbers around $59 million
DonH: I go early and hard after Alex Bregman to send a message. And I add years and/or dollars to the MLBTR numbers for the guys I really want.
- Alex Bregman 7 years @$30M per year. And, if necessary, I throw in an opt-out after 3 or 4 years to sweeten the deal. And I go public with the offer and say it expires at midnight on November 30.
- Lucas Giolito 3 years @$14M a year
- James McCann 1 year @$5M
- DFA Riley Adams to save $1.5M.
- Josh Bell 1 year @$7M
- I trade Luis Garcia Jr. for whatever minor leaguers I can and save $7M
- Max Scherzer 1 year @ $15.5M. I promise him a trade to a contender of his choosing if the Nats don’t have a reasonable shot at the postseason. And if I get a few more dollars to spend, I add games started and games appeared in as incentives to Max’s contract. I include games a appeared in to entice him to consider the bullpen.
- DFA Jake Irvin to save $3M
Total $60M
JQuest: my shopping spree:
- Eugenio Suarez (1B) – 3 years, $23 million per year
- Cody Ponce (SP) – 2 years, $11 per year
- Pete Fairbanks (RP) – 2 years, $9 per year
- Victor Caratini (C) – 2 years, $7 per year
- Michael Kopech (RP) – 2 years, $6 per year
- Sean Newcomb (RP) – 1 year, $2.5 million
Total $58.5M
NatsFanSince2012: Here is mine:
- Bregman – $30M /7
- Gore extension $25 M /7 (-expected arbitration of $5M and deferring $3.5M to second year to get me at $60M)
- Bell – $6M/2
- McCain $5M/1
- Zach Littell – $11M
- Subtract $7M for Garcia (trade or non-tender)
- DFA Adams -$1
$60M
Paul Toboni PoBO Burner: $59.5 million
If I sign Alex Bregman, Zack Littell, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Bell, and trade Luis Garcia Jr. and put Bregman at 2nd base and I use The Athletic numbers:
- Alex Bregman $29 million
- Zack Littell $10 million
- Pete Fairbanks $11 million
- Josh Bell $8 million but I offer him $6 million
- Subtract Luis Garcia Jr.‘s $7 million to trade for a MiLB reliever
- J.T. Realmuto $12 million
- DFA Riley Adams subtract $1.5 million
Steve: Exactly $60M
- Zack Littell $10 million
- Alex Bregman $27 million
- J.T. Realmuto $12 million
- Raisel Iglesias $12 million
- Josh Bell $6 million
- I trade Luis Garcia Jr. to save $6 million
- DFA Riley Adams to save $1 million
Steve M.: These are some great suggestions. I agree with Don that you go after Alex Bregman hard upfront. Let everyone know that you’re serious about winning and the rest will fall into place. Make it a priority to get a big signing done by Day 1 of the Winter Meetings. Be the team that makes the first splash instead of …. doing nothing much.
