We were really hard up for relievers and with no money to add one we had to make a swap:
Last year's Rule 5 guy Boys was moved for Baez, a 60/50/45-rated arm. There was a pretty good reliever on the Opening Day waived dump making only $920K and we couldn't claim him because we can't afford him, to show you how bad our $ situation is. I contemplated trading Dantel Chinchilla to free up $13M or so since we have other options at 2B, but as usual this is a lousy defensive team and he's by far our best defender.
So this is how the roster shakes out to start the season:
C-D.Morales, Scoggins
1B-de la Rosa
2B-Chinchilla
SS-A.Brown
3B-Barela
IF-Machado, Lee
LF-Lozada
CF-J.Avalos
RF-E.Avalos
OF-Macias
DH-Yang, Tsujimura
Macias is Rogelio Macias, an OF with a great glove we picked up in a deal with the Yankees last year. He's speedy, has excellent gap power and an above-average eye. Unfortunately that comes with 40 contact (45 potential). Tsujimura has been up at times before and was out of options - he'll give us a RH bat who could platoon with Yang at DH and back up Nesty at 1B.
SP-Rose, Cervantes, Mastropietro, Villarreal, Weststrom
LR-Matilla, Giles
MR-Baez, Birth, Cefalo, Cleland
SU-Resnick, Guardado
CL-Berumen
Some unfamiliar names here. Brandon Birth was a 14th-round pick of ours in 2048 rated 45/45/50, he'll be the last man in the pen and an indication of how thin things have gotten pitching-wise. Julio Matilla is our top pitching prospect but not ready to join the rotation so he'll be used in long relief. This bullpen is going to be an adventure.
As a result the preseason predictions are not bullish on us:
