OOTP Developments Forums - The Montreal Expos... Exposing the New MLB?

Your 2023 Montreal Expos:

Starting Pitching

LHSP Brett Asselin(23, 3/4*) 3-4 2.52 88K 93IP 15GS 1.5WAR (AAA) // DNP (career) #12 prospect
Asselin is one of three big youngsters making their way to the majors, and we hope that he will become the lefty ace to complement Danny. The changeup is his bread-and-butter out pitch with a mid 90’s fastball, a sinker, a splitter and a knuckle curve making out a deep arsenal to choose from. He has still room for growth in all areas but he is ready and we love his clubhouse presence as a leader. #3 starter

RHSP Sam Griffin(30, 2.5*) 16-12 4.26 103K 32GS 194.1IP 1.6WAR // 59-57 4.15 541K 203G/132GS 882.2IP 10.9WAR (career)
The 2x All-Star was winningest starter in 2021 and really has been a fan favourite for his hard work and dedication. He is a control artist by trait, generating a lot of groundballs by hitting the perfect pitch despite little speed on his sinker. He is signed for this and next year on a cheap contract given his work, but will be in danger by Murietta once he returns. Our #4 starter this year.

RHSP Dan Hinton(23, 4/5*) 11-10 2.97 168K 31GS 4.4WAR) // 15-16 3.46 250K 48GS 6.3WAR(career) #10 SP
An extreme groundballer with mid 90’s zip on his sinking fastball, and a good slider and changeup with a still developing curveball, he showed last season that he can pitch 30+ games despite his injury history and we locked him up until 2030… as said last year, please light a candle that he will stay healthy. First rounder in 2017. Opening day starter in 2023.

RHSP Juan Miranda(25, 3*) 9-12 4.12 181K 32GS 3.4WAR // 9-12 4.12 181K 187.2OP 32GS 3.4WAR DNP (career)
The right-hander had a challenging start to his NMLB career last season but Miranda bounced back and finished well in the final months. A good fastball with the curveball as his outpitch and a deep arsenal of other breaking pitches, there is the potential for a long career. 4th rounder in 2016. #5 starter.

RHSP Austin Roy(24, 3.5/4*) 10-14 3.97 155K 183.2IP 31GS 2.4WAR // 45-56 3.94 728K 790.2IP 130GS 15.4WAR (career)
A 2x All-Star, Roy features a great assortment of pitches including the cutter he invented with us, above average movement and control, and a good clubhouse personality. He clawed back from two bad seasons to finish with an ERA under four, yet ways away from his league leading 2.98ERA in 2020. Signed for 5 more years, he was acquired in June 2021 in the Vinny Roman deal.

Relief Pitching:

RHRP Cesar Alvarado(23, 3*) 4-1 2SV 2.55 44K 53IP 26G/3GS 0.6WAR // 6-4 2SV 4.31 66K 34G/11GS 87.2IP 0.2WAR (career)
Alvarado had a bad start to his NMLB career as a starter in 2021 but really learned his ways in AAA after that and has become a dynamite high leverage reliever/long man/spot starter in 2022, depending on what we need. Also a leader in the clubhouse, his four seam fastball/cutter/changeup mix can dominate at times and we think he is a mainstay in our pen for a while. Acquired via trade from CIN in 2020.

RHRP Kevin Cowden(23, 3*) 3-8 25SV 5.92 72K 59.1IP 59G -0.6WAR // 3-8 25SV 5.92 72K 59.1IP 59G -0.6WAR (career)
Kevin Cowden was slated to be the fireballing, 99-101mph fastball throwing closer of this bunch at age 22… he wasn’t. Control were an issue, simply earned runs were an issue, and there was no way in hell we would let McCreery use him as a closer this season again. He is on borrowed time in some ways, but will get a chance to redeem himself as a setup man. Acquired in December 2020 from Calgary.

LHRP Joe Herzer(25, 3.5*) 3-3 2.76 70K 75IP 57G 0.8WAR // 3-3 2.76 70K 75IP 57G 0.8WAR (career)
The second kid that made his debut out of our pen Herzer made a name as one of the best lefty relievers in the EL by destroying hitters with a devastating slider and a sinking fastball. Groundballs are his weapon of choice, and apart from a little work on his control, he is pretty much a finished product. He will be an integral part of this pen once again and a bargain. 5th rounder in 2019.

RHRP Dustin Jenkins(25, 2.5*) 1-1 2SV 4.80 37K 54.1IP 32G -0.4WAR // 1-1 2SV 4.80 37K 54.1IP 32G -0.4WAR (Career)
Jenkins is here because of McCreery endorsing him, and because of seniority. His ratings are average at best and his performance last season was underwhelming and it if wasn’t the manager screaming his name, the job would’ve went to Robert Estrada who will instead hold down the AAA closer job… for now.

RHRP Glen McKeen(23, 2.5*) 2-2 1SV 3.59 47K 47.2IP 39G 0.1WAR // 5-3 2SV 3.40 83K 90IP 77G 0.8WAR (career)
A waiver wire claim, McKeen was let go by the Denver Seahawks in 2021 and instead of bouncing around, now he is going into his third overall and second full season with us. He is working off a fastball and a changeup that still can add some zip, but apart from that he is a finished product.

LHRP Pablo Mendoza(24, 3*) 1-1 6.14 16K 14.1IP 20G 0.1WAR (KCR/MON) // 1-1 6.14 16K 14.1IP 20G 0.1WAR (KCR/MON) (career)
Mendoza was part of the Cervantes deal and we think that the Royals underestimated him. Apart from two short NMLB stints, he pitched to a 1.23ERA with 15SV in AAA last year and has two devastating pitches in his 97-99 four seamer and a slider. Control… can be iffy at times but we want to give him a shot over Mannino due to upside.

RHRP Adam Rudolph(24, 3*) 1-3 22SV 2.71 81K 66.1IP 61G 0.5WAR // 4-7 26SV 3.40 179K 119G 153.2IP 0.6WAR (career)
Rudolph has a cannon for an arm, firing a 98-100mph cutter with a strong curveball over the plate… mostly. He is an extremely hard worker and while he only has two pitches, he can pitch multiple innings. That, and the fact that he had a good year and didn’t hide well enough, made him our closer late in 2022 and we will run with it. Acquired via trade from Toronto in 2017.

RHRP Freddy Silva(26, 3*) 4-1 0SV 3.57 67K 58IP 51G 0.7WAR // 6-4 1SV 4.36 138K 128IP 106G 1.6WAR (career)
After a BABIP plagued 2021, Silva found his footing in 2022 and has become a model citizen in our bullpen, working off his pinpoint control and four solid pitches. He is clearly the bullpen leader and a loud voice in the clubhouse. Drafted in the 11th round of the 2015 draft, 321st overall.

Catcher

C Gabriel Cervantes(27, 3.5*, R) .288/.346/.480 21HR 80RBI 124G 4.1WAR (KCR/MON) // .271/.343/.465 67HR 224RBI, 404R 210R 398G 11.1WAR (career) #12 C
Getting over via trade when we just wanted to shake things up and close the hole behind the plate, Cervantes really showed us his worth by accumulating more WAR in 77 catchers than all other catchers we had in 2021 and 2022 combined. His blocking and framing is great but his bat is maybe not as good as his 2022 numbers suggest… but the next tier of catcher is unobtanium in trade talks. Acquired via trade from Kansas City Royals in June 2022.

C Jordan Chavis(25, 2.5*, R) .278/.337/.444 10HR 29RBI 70G 1.5WAR (AAA) // .206/.263/.361 6HR 16RBI 32H 20R 48G 0.3WAR (career)
Chavis and Craddock were engaged in a battle for the backup spot, and after four weeks of spring, our new third base coach and catching teacher Tom Acevedo gave us the input we needed. Chavis is the perfect bench captain that will help the team chemistry way more than Craddock, and both have hit around the Mendoza Line anyways. Acquired via trade from WSH in 2020.

Infield

1B Dave Grochowski(24, 3.5*, L) .351/ .416/.410 20HR 92RBI 156G 6.0WAR // .351/.416/.410 20HR 92RBI 194H 86R 156G 6.0WAR (career) #10 1B
GROK!. A miracle season from a rookie that we were not sure would outperform Dan Cook at first, Grochowski inserted himself into the elite contact hitter category right with one big season. Still a humble person, he says that he would be happy to hit over .270 thos season, but a 60 contact and 70 avoid K rating seems legitimate, and I see him hitting .300 again. 9th rounder in 2017.

1B Matt Talbert(25, 2.5/3*, R) .245/.313/.439 9HR 23RBI 75G 0.6WAR // .245/.313/.439 9HR 23RBI 48G 24R 75G 0.6WAR (career)
Using him as an everyday player at DH did not work out the first time, but he found a job in torturing lefty starters as part of a platoon, and he will return for that. Talbert is a solid overall hitter with some untapped power potential(55/60) and I personally think he is a bit overrated by our scouts, but he will get another shot this season. Acquired via trade from San Francisco in June 2021.

2B Joe Hawk(25, 2.5*, L) .269/.325/.461 21HR 70RBI 131G 8/9SB 2.3WAR (KCR/MON) // .269/.325/.461 21HR 70RBI 134H 75R 131G 2.3WAR (career)
A spark that we didn’t expect to get from him, we underestimated Hawk in 2021 and lost him in the Rule 5 draft, and in a move that they should regret, the Royals sent him back… just for him to hit .283-8-17 .934OPS in 27 games. The lefty part of our DH platoon, our scouts have him as a 50/60/50/50/50 against RHP and he can steal a base or two.

2B Fernando Perez(23, 3/3.5*, R) .230/.307/.411 18HR 54RBI 111G 2.4WAR (AA) // DNP (career) #27 2B
Suddenly our biggest hope in the power department and a great 65 rated defender at various infield positions, his scouting report of 65/75 power and his great result at the development lab make it hard not to see our saviour in him… but we have to stay calm. McCreery wanted him in the cleanup spot, but we decided to move him down a spot to ease the pressure… and there are some concerns. He struck out 144 times in 111 AA games and he is only 23 and jumped AAA… Acquired from Jacksonville in December 2021.

3B Julian Hernandez(23, 2.5/4*, R) .304/.356/.448 8HR 33RBI 102G 16/19SB 3.1WAR (AAA) // DNP (career) #5 prospect, #20 3B
The kid is there! A top prospect for years, the Venezuelan has a 60/45/55/45/50 potential bat with 65 rated defense at third and good, but not great speed and stealing. That makes him an overall very strong player that the OSA likes even more, and we see no reason to keep him in AAA after a strong showing last year. International Amateur free agent in 2017.

SS/2B Rich Meilleur(24, 2.5*, L) .213/.254/.311 2HR 9RBI 51G 0.4WAR // .213/.254/.311 2HR 9RBI 35H 17R 51G 0.4WAR (career)
I know. He hits as bad as Robles did, but his defense is a bit better and he is Canadian! Seriously, I think we have seen the floor of Meilleur in 2022 and will see a better offensive showing in addition to Gold Glove defense as our lefty hitting part of our shortstop platoon.

SS/2B Robby Weltzer(26, 2.5*, R) .269/.304/.388 10HR 50RBI 146G 3.1WAR // .250/.289/.361 21HR 113RBI 286H 131R 311G 4.1WAR (career) #28 SS
I know this is a bit cruel to a guy coming off a career year, but we need the power at 2B more than the +5 defense that Robby provides at second base. Instead, he will be our right-handed shortstop platoon and riding the pine as a substitute. Gotta take one for the team mate. Acquired via trade from Los Angeles in June 2021.

Outfield

LF/RF Ignacio Benavides(26, 3*, R) .244/.305/.375 14HR 62RBI 146G 0.7WAR // .255/.318/.387 17HR 172H 84R 79RBI 179G 1.5WAR (career) #17 LF
A good contact hitter that can steal a base, he lacks a good throwing arm to become a great defender, and another boost to become a great hitter… and that showed in 2022 after a hot debut in 2021. I still think that the kid can hit .270 and perform to a 2 WAR tune, and we will give him 2023. Acquired via trade from Cincinnati in November 2020.

LF/RF Ian Messer(27, 2.5/3*, L) .277/.336/.417 6HR 29RBI 73G 1.1WAR // .276/.333/.426 29HR 132RBI 308H 132R 313G 4.6WAR (career)
The most hated player in 2022, Messer got hit by pitch 10 times in 73 games(and 33 times in his career) and lost close to a hundred games due to that, became fragile… and had a good season at the plate when healthy. His bat maxes out at 55/50/45/40/50 as he will never reach his potential and his playing time will be limited this season as he will platoon in right field. Acquired via trade from Boston in the 2020 offseason.

CF Bobby Martinez(24, 2.5*, R) .252/.299/.403 4HR 15RBI 35G 9/11SB 1.0WAR // .252/.299/.403 4HR 15RBI 30H 18R 35G 9/11SB 1.0WAR (career)
A late addition to our final roster last season, Martinez surprised us with 65 rated defense in center, good overall hitting and a lot of swiped bags in limited time. McCreery wants to try him out as everyday CF which is a risk for me, but we have the wiggle room to try. Acquired via trade from SDP in July 2022.

RF/CF Vicente Rodriguez(25, 2.5*) .258/.287/.358 2HR 30RBI 112G 1.2WAR // .267/.295/.363 3HR 52RBI 265H 59R 241G 3.2WAR (career)
Elite speed on the basepaths and in the outfield, Rodriguez was a revelation in 2021, playing great defence as we hoped, while batting for a solid clip and scoring some runs for us, but 2022, he took a step back. His new job for now is elite outfield backup, pinch-hitter, and right-fielder against LHP. Drafted in the 14th round of the 2016 draft, 430th overall.

Tyrese Speed(R, 12-11 3.72) - Dan Hinton(R, 11-10 2.97) as we open up 2023 at home the Boston Aeros!