After a close call at a repeat title we should be able to pretty much run it back in 2031 with the exception of Andrew Greckel, who has gone free agent. Now we've also had Wander Franco opt out of his contract but we have a 7/210 offer to him which he seems to favor, so I'm expecting to re-sign him. If for some reason that changes, well we'll have a lot more money to spend but a big hole to fill at SS.
Our position-by-position outlook:
C-JT Realmuto was re-signed for two more seasons and is the best catcher in baseball still at age 39. Here's hoping he doesn't suddenly realize how old he is. Corey Collins has been the perennial backup but he's starting to get expensive (nearly $3M in arbitration) and he may be traded or non-tendered as we can get someone to do what he does cheaper.
1B-Kelly Crumpton returns to hopefully put up a third straight 40-HR, 100-RBI season.
2B-Ed Howard had a bounceback year in 2030 but is going into his final year of team control and is due about $12M in arbitration. I'm going to try and deal him and hand the job to Jamie Reiner, who is about 85% as good as Howard.
SS-Obviously it's Wander, unless he changes his mind and balks at our offer, then it's find a good SS via trade or free agency. We'll hang on to Howard until Wander's situation is resolved.
3B-Cristian Hernandez was underwhelming after coming over from Atlanta but he still hit 28 HR and 95 RBI (even if 3/4 of that came elsewhere) and is making the minimum. Chris Seise will be non-tendered.
IF-If Reiner takes over for Howard and we don't acquire a MI in return, I'm leaning toward Brennon McNair and his 20-25 HR ability, he also plays a good 2B.
LF-Dong-hwan Kim is back. He didn't want to settle for a 1-year deal in arbitration so we'll see what the arbitrator awards.
CF-Chris Gutierrez. Gutierrez should win the Gold Glove and he provides just enough offense so he's back.
RF-Joshua Baez. Back as well.
DH-Andrew Greckel is gone via free agency so this will be Andy Kelley's time to shine. Kelley had the RF job to start 2029, struggled, and lost it to Baez but came back last year and was excellent in the 4th OF role. He'll actually start more in the OF and Kim or Baez could DH some.
4th OF-Aside from whoever's not DHing, JJ Cargill should get a shot as the 4th OF as he's hit over .300 at every stop in the minors and is a good OF.
Bench: We're going to need a corner IF backup.
Rotation-Hays (final year of team control), Marlette, Prosecky and Panzini all return. 5th starter could be Slade Cecconi (again), or Brad Garrard who's been very good at Durham the last couple of years and has MLB stuff. We also claimed John Swanda on waivers from the Twins during October and I am debating whether I want to pay his $3.4M projected arbitration salary.
Bullpen-Tylor Megill and Wennington Romero are gone, but with full years from Nathan Dettmer and Mike Moore we'll be fine and everyone else is back. Might want a third lefty to go with Gavin Bruni and Dax Fulton.
Prospects:
As befits a team which always drafts at or near the end of the first round we don't have the most robust prospect list. As mentioned Cargill at #17 is likely bound for the roster and of course #19 Mike Moore is already a bullpen fixture. Strickland is an exciting hitting prospect and theoretically could take over from Howard at 2B but his glove is mediocre and right now he wouldn't hit much better than Reiner, so let's see him at AAA first. Jonathan Gutierrez has been with us for what seems like forever and has inched up the system but also isn't quite there yet and really needs to be to play 1B.
Salaries:
Stu Sternberg has given me a $160M payroll. The list above does not include Wander, and if he takes his $30M AAV offer we sit at about $144M. But that's before non-tendering Seise and Collins to save $6.6M, and potentially dealing Howard and his $12M so we could have in the neighborhood for $30M to play with.
So it's time to let the offseason unfold.