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Art Deco · 08-24-2023, 10:09 PM

I alluded to this in one of my Rays LiveStart posts, but I have a bit of a Wander Franco problem with my various Rays saves given what's happened in real life and the real possibility he isn't seen in MLB or on the Rays again. So it's now kind of weird and a little harder to suspend disbelief with that in mind as he's still on the squad in my 21 save (now in 2035), my 22 save (now in 2030) and this one (now in 2027). Of course there's also the possibility that this blows over and he's back with Tampa Bay next year but we just don't know.

All of this as you might suspect (given the post title) is a long-winded prologue to say that I've traded him away in this save. This splits the difference between the possible outcomes which range from getting to keep one of the game's best players to getting nothing for him. As it is he's currently leading the AL in WAR here in 2027 and I wouldn't otherwise be undertaking a major roster makeover of a team with the best record in baseball. So without further ado, here's the trade:

Sent him to an NL team so we wouldn't have to worry about him until the World Series (a possibility this year with the Dodgers at 57-34, second-best behind us). And we got a darn good return in Marsh, a rookie 1B who's on pace for over 6 WAR himself:

While he probably won't be a 40-HR slugging 1B, he looks like a young Freddie Freeman with his solid power and .400+ OBP. Also whereas we were paying Wander $25M a year now as the big salaries in his long-term contract have kicked in, Marsh of course is making the minimum. And in continuing a trend I started with the trade for Mason Auer a couple of years ago, I've re-acquired a prospect I previously traded away in Peguero, who has 75 stuff and had 23 saves for LA this year. Had to also give up Sandy Gaston, but he's kind of iffy to make an impact. So in many respects this was a deal which was completely defensible without the real-life baggage of Wander, even if my AGM and the fans (the interest "almost crashed") didn't like it.

But I wasn't done dealing:

I've grown disenchanted with Mitchell, who in a little over a year hasn't hit like he did at Texas where he was acquired from last season. And although we had other alternatives at 2B (Winn, L.Acuna) with Carson Williams ready to return at SS, I went out and got a really good one in Cabrera, who showed remarkable consistency the last two years with the Yankees, hitting 22 HR in both seasons, driving in 85 & 86 runs and earning 7.9 WAR combined. Now he has missed all but the last three weeks of the season with a concussion he suffered at the end of last year but already hit 4 HR in 62 AB so he seems fine. An incentive on the Yankees' end is money as Cabrera is making $7.8M this year and is likely due $13M next year in arbitration while Mitchell is several million cheaper. Marsh will take over Mitchell's job as DH.

Meanwhile, Williams comes off the IL to take over SS and OF Brock Jones and P Ryan Pepiot were optioned to Durham. Jones' bat has been iffy and with Williams and Cabrera aboard, Luisangel Acuna will play the OF after filling in so well for Williams at SS. Pepiot had been inconsistent this year in long relief so we're going to let him start at Durham. Meanwhile Peguero will move into a setup role in front of Camilo Doval and be our closer next year when Doval goes free agent.

Phew!

08-24-2023, 10:09 PM	#78
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,854	Tradeapalooza I alluded to this in one of my Rays LiveStart posts, but I have a bit of a Wander Franco problem with my various Rays saves given what's happened in real life and the real possibility he isn't seen in MLB or on the Rays again. So it's now kind of weird and a little harder to suspend disbelief with that in mind as he's still on the squad in my 21 save (now in 2035), my 22 save (now in 2030) and this one (now in 2027). Of course there's also the possibility that this blows over and he's back with Tampa Bay next year but we just don't know. All of this as you might suspect (given the post title) is a long-winded prologue to say that I've traded him away in this save. This splits the difference between the possible outcomes which range from getting to keep one of the game's best players to getting nothing for him. As it is he's currently leading the AL in WAR here in 2027 and I wouldn't otherwise be undertaking a major roster makeover of a team with the best record in baseball. So without further ado, here's the trade: Sent him to an NL team so we wouldn't have to worry about him until the World Series (a possibility this year with the Dodgers at 57-34, second-best behind us). And we got a darn good return in Marsh, a rookie 1B who's on pace for over 6 WAR himself: While he probably won't be a 40-HR slugging 1B, he looks like a young Freddie Freeman with his solid power and .400+ OBP. Also whereas we were paying Wander $25M a year now as the big salaries in his long-term contract have kicked in, Marsh of course is making the minimum. And in continuing a trend I started with the trade for Mason Auer a couple of years ago, I've re-acquired a prospect I previously traded away in Peguero, who has 75 stuff and had 23 saves for LA this year. Had to also give up Sandy Gaston, but he's kind of iffy to make an impact. So in many respects this was a deal which was completely defensible without the real-life baggage of Wander, even if my AGM and the fans (the interest "almost crashed") didn't like it. But I wasn't done dealing: I've grown disenchanted with Mitchell, who in a little over a year hasn't hit like he did at Texas where he was acquired from last season. And although we had other alternatives at 2B (Winn, L.Acuna) with Carson Williams ready to return at SS, I went out and got a really good one in Cabrera, who showed remarkable consistency the last two years with the Yankees, hitting 22 HR in both seasons, driving in 85 & 86 runs and earning 7.9 WAR combined. Now he has missed all but the last three weeks of the season with a concussion he suffered at the end of last year but already hit 4 HR in 62 AB so he seems fine. An incentive on the Yankees' end is money as Cabrera is making $7.8M this year and is likely due $13M next year in arbitration while Mitchell is several million cheaper. Marsh will take over Mitchell's job as DH. Meanwhile, Williams comes off the IL to take over SS and OF Brock Jones and P Ryan Pepiot were optioned to Durham. Jones' bat has been iffy and with Williams and Cabrera aboard, Luisangel Acuna will play the OF after filling in so well for Williams at SS. Pepiot had been inconsistent this year in long relief so we're going to let him start at Durham. Meanwhile Peguero will move into a setup role in front of Camilo Doval and be our closer next year when Doval goes free agent. Phew!