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Art Deco · 05-09-2023, 04:18 PM

Before getting down to serious business we'll bask in the glow of another trophy:

Now the bloodletting begins. Despite another series win and all the extra revenue that comes with it we've been given a payroll of $160M which will not allow us to keep everyone (well I could but we'd be eight figures in the hole and hamstrung from any moves during the upcoming season). This is the projected payroll:

This all adds up to $191M so I'm going to have to shed over $30M just to get even. Ideally I'd like to get rid of Contreras, who was a bit of a panic overpay after J.T. Realmuto suddenly retired, even though we just won a pair of World Series with him as our catcher. Wander isn't going anywhere and neither are Marlette and DiCostanzo so that leaves Crumpton and Joshua Baez as prime candidates to go - those two would shave about $26M off. I'd non-tender or deal Reiner and Yean to save close to $5M more, and maybe deal McElvain away. The question is can I get anything for Crumpton? Early shopping yielded meager results.

Stay tuned in that department, in the meantime here's a position-by-position outlook:

C: Contreras will return and I'll probably pony up for Cartaya to back him up.

1B: Joe Stack is ready to take over for Crumpton once I successfully deal him.

2B: Arturo Gutierrez remains.

SS: Wander again.

3B: Danny Arroyave stays.

IF: Mu-Sang Park should return as a backup, as might Mike Calhoun.

LF: Orlando Tosado is back.

CF: So is Jake Westfall.

RF: Billy Carlow leaves via free agency and as mentioned I will be shopping Baez. That would leave Masahuru Shimizu, who has a big power bat.

OF: The three starters would be the only ones left from this year's squad which means I have to find some backups. Jimmy Powell is ready to hit in the bigs but is only a 35 RF; Taiwanese signee Ka-Pa Yue could be an answer since he's a good defensive OF with 60 power (only 45 contact). Stud prospect Luis Berumen (#4 in baseball) might be ready but if he's up he's going to start in RF and not be a backup.

DH: Nate Strickland returns.

Rotation: Good shape here as the big 3 of Marlette, DiCostanzo and Ferguson will return. McElvain is #4 if he's not traded, Danny Morales will have a full-time spot, and Wes Mendes could return to a starting role. Frankely Guzman or Slade Cecconi might also get a shot to start.

Bullpen: Josh Scanlon will likely get his closer's job back and Mike Moore will be available to set him up. We're going to need a lefty reliever since Burpee and Feole are both free agents. Cecconi, Guzman, and Abeyta are back, and Jeremy Brooks could figure in despite a brutal 2033. We're depth-tested here for sure.

Prospects: Stack should be the 1B, Morales will be in the rotation and I already discussed mega-prospect Berumen and our other mega-prospect (#7 in MLB) SP Leo Gutierrez is going to need a least another year in the minors unless he takes a big leap forward.

Notable retirements (*former Rays): Matt Chapman*, Shane Bieber (Cleveland retires #57), Adley Rutschman*, Austin Riley, Kris Bryant, Corbin Burnes, Pablo Lopez*, Yasunari Uehara*.

In the next post we'll start the offseason doings and see what kind of deals we can make. It's going to be pretty much all subtraction so it's not going to be a lot of fun.

05-09-2023, 04:18 PM	#1132
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,102	2033-34 Offseason: State of the Team Before getting down to serious business we'll bask in the glow of another trophy: Now the bloodletting begins. Despite another series win and all the extra revenue that comes with it we've been given a payroll of $160M which will not allow us to keep everyone (well I could but we'd be eight figures in the hole and hamstrung from any moves during the upcoming season). This is the projected payroll: This all adds up to $191M so I'm going to have to shed over $30M just to get even. Ideally I'd like to get rid of Contreras, who was a bit of a panic overpay after J.T. Realmuto suddenly retired, even though we just won a pair of World Series with him as our catcher. Wander isn't going anywhere and neither are Marlette and DiCostanzo so that leaves Crumpton and Joshua Baez as prime candidates to go - those two would shave about $26M off. I'd non-tender or deal Reiner and Yean to save close to $5M more, and maybe deal McElvain away. The question is can I get anything for Crumpton? Early shopping yielded meager results. Stay tuned in that department, in the meantime here's a position-by-position outlook: C: Contreras will return and I'll probably pony up for Cartaya to back him up. 1B: Joe Stack is ready to take over for Crumpton once I successfully deal him. 2B: Arturo Gutierrez remains. SS: Wander again. 3B: Danny Arroyave stays. IF: Mu-Sang Park should return as a backup, as might Mike Calhoun. LF: Orlando Tosado is back. CF: So is Jake Westfall. RF: Billy Carlow leaves via free agency and as mentioned I will be shopping Baez. That would leave Masahuru Shimizu, who has a big power bat. OF: The three starters would be the only ones left from this year's squad which means I have to find some backups. Jimmy Powell is ready to hit in the bigs but is only a 35 RF; Taiwanese signee Ka-Pa Yue could be an answer since he's a good defensive OF with 60 power (only 45 contact). Stud prospect Luis Berumen (#4 in baseball) might be ready but if he's up he's going to start in RF and not be a backup. DH: Nate Strickland returns. Rotation: Good shape here as the big 3 of Marlette, DiCostanzo and Ferguson will return. McElvain is #4 if he's not traded, Danny Morales will have a full-time spot, and Wes Mendes could return to a starting role. Frankely Guzman or Slade Cecconi might also get a shot to start. Bullpen: Josh Scanlon will likely get his closer's job back and Mike Moore will be available to set him up. We're going to need a lefty reliever since Burpee and Feole are both free agents. Cecconi, Guzman, and Abeyta are back, and Jeremy Brooks could figure in despite a brutal 2033. We're depth-tested here for sure. Prospects: Stack should be the 1B, Morales will be in the rotation and I already discussed mega-prospect Berumen and our other mega-prospect (#7 in MLB) SP Leo Gutierrez is going to need a least another year in the minors unless he takes a big leap forward. Notable retirements (former Rays): Matt Chapman, Shane Bieber (Cleveland retires #57), Adley Rutschman, Austin Riley, Kris Bryant, Corbin Burnes, Pablo Lopez, Yasunari Uehara*. In the next post we'll start the offseason doings and see what kind of deals we can make. It's going to be pretty much all subtraction so it's not going to be a lot of fun.