The current state:
Outlook for 2049:
The main news is that the owner has decided to cut payroll a bit as we're looking at $160M. That won't be a huge problem as Doug Johns and Dave Frick's big numbers come off the books, as well as the $15M Satoshi Sato was making. These are the projected salaries:
This crew adds up to $151M and there are a few I plan on moving. Jose Carrasco doesn't warrant $12M and while as great as Tomas Laboy was this year in a sub role $9.4M is really pricey for him. Akio Suzuki's $2.4M could go as well as we have a suitable replacement in Alvaro Alejandre at Durham as well as up-and-comer David Morales. I'd like to rid myself of Dan Anderson and his $4M but I'm not sure anyone takes him after his terrible 2048. The position-by-position outlook:
C-Bocardo returns with one of the backups I just mentioned.
1B-Vinny Rodriguez had a very good year and exceeded his ratings/projections so I might sell high since I have several options here including his talent doppleganger at Durham, Eric Wilson, a lefty hitter with very simliar ratings. If Laboy is kept he could start here too.
2B-Juan Davila will finally get the everyday job after three years of apprenticeship including an excellent season last year which he carried over into the playoffs.
SS-Yuji Morioka slides over from 2B to take over from Dave Frick. He doesn't quite have Frick's Gold Glove but is still rated an above-average defensive SS.
3B-Luis Barela is all I need to say. He's in the final non-option year of his $37M/season deal, next year he could opt out.
IF-Someone needs to take Davila's backup IF role. It could be Tony Olivo although he's not great defensively. Josh Sprouse is Olivo's polar opposite, incredible glove but horrible bat. We might go outside to fill this role too especially if Laboy leaves.
LF-Mario Saro is the incumbent.
CF-Chris Parham excelled in his first season as a full-timer with us and while he wasn't Dan Gregory or Kevin Crater he was good enough to win a title.
RF-Alex Duran finally gets off the bench to play every day after putting up huge numbers as a reserve. The only catch is that he doesn't hit lefties that well, so we could use a RH platoon partner.
DH-Jose Castillo is back again and he could also use a RH partner which often was Laboy last year.
Also we need to find a place for this guy, who no longer has anything to learn in the minors:
We've been nursing him along for 7 years since he was a 16-year-old and he's ready to rake in the majors. He had one of those "very good but probably a bit bored in the minors" seasons with Durham but he should be in the lineup. Two issues though: He's not really a CF and a mediocre corner OF at best, and he's a lefty hitter with a platoon split and we already have lefty hitters with platoon splits at LF (Saro), RF (Duran) and DH (Castillo). I might entertain trading Duran and/or Castillo to make room for Morales.
Morales can serve as a backup OF if nothing else, and Tony Olivo can also serve as a backup OF too, giving me a RH bat that can slip into the lineup.
Rotation: Bookhart, Rose, Delgado and Riley return and with Chad Gardner a rental leaving via free agency, we'll need a 5th starter. Chris O'Brien failed in that role last year but could get another chance, as did Caleb Ramos the year before. It's possible we acquire a starter if we deal off one of the hitters I talked about trading as well. An outside possibility is Angel Roig, whom we signed after he cleared waivers with Toronto last year and pitched at Durham. He's mostly been used in MLB as a reliever but had 5 decent starts with the Bulls late in the year.
Bullpen: We won't be as deep this year, with Carrasco likely dealt and especially from the left side with mainstay Sato leaving. Falcon will be the closer again, Abelaldo Gray and Mel Mejia can set him up. I'm looking for Tim James, who looked good in the playoffs, to step into a high-leverage role as well. Tony Pasillas was very good as well last year and hopefully Dan Anderson can bounce back a bit since we're likely stuck with him. Joe Clark, a veteran free agent we signed late last year, is also an intriguing arm.
Others: One-time prospect Steve Holt is more than ready for the bigs as he's a 60 contact hitter who can play a passable corner IF but he'll need Laboy gone to have a shot.