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Griever20 · 01-04-2025, 02:25 PM

Full Roster Analysis – Montreal Expos - Position Players

Catcher

NMBL C Steve Fitch(29, 2.5*, .281/327/.367 1HR 9RBI 41G 0.5WAR) - $11.8M
Part of the 2015 World Series winning squad, Fitch was able to cash in a career season in 2017 into a 5y/$43M contract that will pay him $11.8M in 2021 and 2022. The problem is, he is not a 3+ Win player with the bat. His defensive ability is above average including his framing, but $11.8M worth? Acquired in the 8th round in the 2010 draft, 243rd overall. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE

NMBL C Danny Tutton(28, 2.5*, .241/295/.422 17HR 38RBI 127G 1.7WAR) - $500k
Our primary catcher for 2020, Tutton is another really good defensive catcher and especially an elite pitch blocker, but his bat is not elite, and he is not well liked in the clubhouse as he reportedly can be a little arrogant. He will be under team control for the next years, and 17 homers in 127G with good defense is not too bad. Acquired via trade with Toronto at the 2019 trade deadline. Verdict: KEEP

A C Alex Taylor(23, 2/2.5*, .241/.281/.311 4HR 24RBI 103G 1.0WAR A) - $500k
The kid was placed on the 40-man to protect him for the Rule 5 draft, and now has 2 options left. Also a solid defensive catcher, he still has work to do on his bat, but projects as another solid catching option. Could be a backup next season if we get rid of Fitch somehow. Acquired in the 1st round of the 2015 draft, 15th overall. Verdict: KEEP

Honorable Mention A C Elias Mendia(22, 2.5*, .236/.298/.409 4HR 8RBI 66G 0.3WAR A) – minor league contract
Honorable Mention S A C Kevin Craddock(24, 2.5*, .265/.375/.323 1HR 12RBI 46G 1.9WAR S A) – minor league contract
Need to get rid of the dead money that is Fitch as we have a lot of similar options on the 40-man and in the minors. All replacement level catchers tho.

Infield

NMBL 1B Devin Funk(30, 2.5*, .214/.267/.381 20HR 59RBI 125G -1.8WAR) - ARBITRATION
Part of the 2015 World Series winning squad, another bust. He never was a regular and the 125G were a career high. Left handed batter. He is arbitration eligible but projects for more than $3M… Maybe his best days are behind him? Acquired in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft, 46th overall. Verdict: NON-TENDER?

NMBL 1B Alfonso Flores(28, 2/2.5*, .156/.206/.289 7HR 23RBI 67G -2.3WAR) - $8.9M
Jep, $8.9M for a .156 clip. The further down we go the depth chart, the more we find mediocre players that got millions of dollars. That being said, Flores has some street cred as he hit 34/34/29 home runs in 2017-2019 and won a All-Star Nomination in 2017. Could be a DH with his 60/60 power grade, but will whiff a lot. International FA signing in 2009. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE

NMLB 1B/3B Andy Conn(29, 2.5*, .238/.331/.379 15HR 41RBI 137G 0.2WAR) – $6.4M
Not his best season as he hit 26 home runs at a .801OPS clip in 2019. His batting eye is really above average tho and he goes deep into counts, landing as high as a .374 OBP in 2018. Problem is… our former GM signed him to a 5y/$41.6M extension that will escalate up to $11.2M in 2023/24. Can someone kill me please. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE

AAA 1B Dan Cook(27, 2.5*, .268/.347/.427 6HR 35RBI 76G 1.3WAR) - $500k
Being a switch-hitting 1B, Cook is a rare breed that should be another cheap option for our NMLB squad for next year. He has amassed 1.3+WAR in each of his three AAA seasons 2018-2020 and only got a callup once. A well rounded hitter with no reals strength, we will keep an eye on him . Acquired in the 12th round o the 2011 draft, 365th overall. Verdict: KEEP

NMLB 2B Brent Lynn(27, 2.5*, .223/.266/.339 10HR 42RBI 112G 0.8WAR) - $6.9M
A defensive mastermind up the middle, the right-handed batter collected a career high 4.4WAR in 2018 and an All-Star selection and could be a very valuable asset on any team, but there are red flags. He missed 50 games this year due to injury and our team trainer calls him “fragile”. Worse, the previous GM signed him to a escalating 5y/$45.5M contract with the final year being a $12.2M team option… 1st round pick in 2013, 14th overall. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE

AA 2B Jeff Witherell(23, 2.5*, .277/.332/.442 8HR 28RBI 74G 3.3WAR between S A and AA) – minor league contract
An example for a minimum contract replacement. Good defensive 2B, can hit a bot, and won’t make $8.9M. 6th rounder in 2018, 178th overall. Verdict: KEEP

NMLB 3B Vinny Roman(32, 3.5*, .266/.348/.483 30HR 90RBI 149G 4.2WAR) – $19.8M
Our highest earner and best player on the roster, the 32-year old is a 4x All-Star and 3x Silver Slugger. Signed as a free agent prior to the 2020 season for a 6y/$109.6M contract that gets a bit more team friendly towards the end, he has led the league in RBI’s 3x with the Memphis Bolts and hit 25+ home runs in eight major league seasons. He would be a major contributor for any contender… but what to do with him. Verdict: UNSURE

NMLB SS Jose Robles(26, 2.5*, .248/.297/.333 2HR 13RBI 49G 0.4WAR) – $500k
A carbon copy of our 2B Brent Lynn, great defensive player, solid bat, maybe a bit worse, but at least under team control for a while. Can play second and shot and definitely improved his hitting compared to his 2019. His calling card is the glove tho. Signed on a minor league contract in 2017. Verdict: KEEP

NMBL UT Victor Estrada(26, 2.5*, .266/.345/.438 11HR 30RBI 94G 0.8WAR) - $500k
The young right-handed batter does not have the power potential of a traditional 1B, but can hit for solid contact and is a well-rounded defender that can play all four infield positions. Will be under team control for a long time and can be very useful as a utility player or in a platoon situation. Verdict: KEEP

S A SS Julian Hernandez(21, 1.5/5*, .220/.280/.292 3HR 12RBI 9/12SB 65G 3.3WAR S A) minor league contract
The #3 prospect in all of baseball. A right-handed hitter with solid speed, a good glove for second and short, and a bat that projects for 30+ home runs with a .280 batting average, Hernandez can become a major star and cornerstone for the franchise. We will have to keep a close eye on his development as we have to think about where to put him for 2021? Single A, All-Year R for AB’s? We will see. Verdict: KEEP

This crop of infielders does make things worse... THOSE CONTRACTS ARE CRAZY. Navigating them will be hard, I doubt there is loads of value in those players. Vinnie Roman is an interesting conundrum as he is a really good player, but won’t be productive anymore when we are in contention again…

Outfield

NMBL LF/RF Karl Ferguson(25, 3/3.5*, .234/.320/.418 23HR 61RBI 137G -0.5WAR) - $500k
Going into his last year of minimum salary, Ferguson is an important part of our team as he is our second best hitter by talent and rightfully won the 2019 RL Rookie of the Year, batting .304/.399/.559 34HR 104RBI 5.5WAR, topping that with an All-Star nomination. He failed to repeat that in 2020, but his talent is there. A .300 batting average might be a stretch, but he could be a contributor in the future. 1st Round pick in 2013, 15th overall. Verdict: KEEP

NMBL LF/RF Steve Tedder(24, 2/2.5* HS 2.5* OSA, .171/.212/.276 2HR 2RBI 20G -0.6WAR) - $500k
Another replacement level player. Decent hiter with some power, he got the callup after batting for a .947OPS clip in AAA and struggled, but could be an option for 2021. His defense limits him pretty much to left. 21st rounder in 2014, 623rd overall. Verdict: KEEP

NMBL LF/RF Jaime Ortega(27, 2* HS 2.5* OSA, .205/.254/.314 15HR 48RBI 149G -2.2WAR) - ARBITRATION
Good contract bat with above average defense in left, but no other redeeming qualities. Two years away from a .263/.305/.372 13 HR 40RBI ‘career year’, but Dave G. does not like him one bit. Due for $1.1M in arbitration Verdict: MAYBE NON-TENDER?

NMBL CF/LF/RF Brian Schill(26, 2.5*, .247/.285/.472 28HR 64RBI 149G 2.7WAR) - $500k
Whoa. Those 28 home runs certainly weren’t in the scouing report as he more projects as a doubles hitter, but somehow, some doubles found the fence. The truth is somewhere between 2020 and his 2019 slashline (.244/.291/.382 8HR), but as someone that can play all three outfield positions and especially center field. Minor league free agent signing. Verdict: KEEP

AAA LF Jason Antonsen(28, 2.5*, .247/.359/.310 3HR 23RBI 110G 2.3WAR AAA) - $500k
Cheap AAA option, projects as a high contact guy (65 potenzia) with low power. Outfield ratings aren’t great, pretty much limited to LF. Verdict: KEEP
Shallow group, everything below Jason Antonsen is rated 2* in our minor league system…

Make decisions on team options

Hitting – none

Arbitration decisions – Position Players

NMBL 1B Devin Funk(30, 2.5*) NON-TENDERED
NMBL LF Jaime Ortega(27, 2*) NON-TENDERED

Make decisions about free agents/minor league free agents - Position Players

The minor league free agent list is stacked, so I’ll skip those this year…

Set up Development Facilities Position Players

S A SS Julian Hernandez(21, 1.5/5*) -> Quality of Contact

01-04-2025, 02:25 PM	#7
Griever20 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 3,508	Roster Analysis - Position Players Full Roster Analysis – Montreal Expos - Position Players Catcher NMBL C Steve Fitch(29, 2.5, .281/327/.367 1HR 9RBI 41G 0.5WAR) - $11.8M Part of the 2015 World Series winning squad, Fitch* was able to cash in a career season in 2017 into a 5y/$43M contract that will pay him $11.8M in 2021 and 2022. The problem is, he is not a 3+ Win player with the bat. His defensive ability is above average including his framing, but $11.8M worth? Acquired in the 8th round in the 2010 draft, 243rd overall. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE NMBL C Danny Tutton(28, 2.5, .241/295/.422 17HR 38RBI 127G 1.7WAR) - $500k Our primary catcher for 2020, Tutton* is another really good defensive catcher and especially an elite pitch blocker, but his bat is not elite, and he is not well liked in the clubhouse as he reportedly can be a little arrogant. He will be under team control for the next years, and 17 homers in 127G with good defense is not too bad. Acquired via trade with Toronto at the 2019 trade deadline. Verdict: KEEP A C Alex Taylor(23, 2/2.5, .241/.281/.311 4HR 24RBI 103G 1.0WAR A) - $500k The kid was placed on the 40-man to protect him for the Rule 5 draft, and now has 2 options left. Also a solid defensive catcher, he still has work to do on his bat, but projects as another solid catching option. Could be a backup next season if we get rid of Fitch* somehow. Acquired in the 1st round of the 2015 draft, 15th overall. Verdict: KEEP Honorable Mention A C Elias Mendia(22, 2.5, .236/.298/.409 4HR 8RBI 66G 0.3WAR A) – minor league contract Honorable Mention S A* C Kevin Craddock(24, 2.5, .265/.375/.323 1HR 12RBI 46G 1.9WAR S A) – minor league contract Need to get rid of the dead money that is Fitch as we have a lot of similar options on the 40-man and in the minors. All replacement level catchers tho.* Infield NMBL 1B Devin Funk(30, 2.5, .214/.267/.381 20HR 59RBI 125G -1.8WAR) - ARBITRATION Part of the 2015 World Series winning squad, another bust. He never was a regular and the 125G were a career high. Left handed batter. He is arbitration eligible but projects for more than $3M… Maybe his best days are behind him? Acquired in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft, 46th overall. Verdict:* NON-TENDER? NMBL 1B Alfonso Flores(28, 2/2.5, .156/.206/.289 7HR 23RBI 67G -2.3WAR) - $8.9M Jep, $8.9M for a .156 clip. The further down we go the depth chart, the more we find mediocre players that got millions of dollars. That being said, Flores* has some street cred as he hit 34/34/29 home runs in 2017-2019 and won a All-Star Nomination in 2017. Could be a DH with his 60/60 power grade, but will whiff a lot. International FA signing in 2009. Verdict: SELL IF POSSIBLE NMLB 1B/3B Andy Conn(29, 2.5, .238/.331/.379 15HR 41RBI 137G 0.2WAR) – $6.4M Not his best season as he hit 26 home runs at a .801OPS clip in 2019. His batting eye is really above average tho and he goes deep into counts, landing as high as a .374 OBP in 2018. Problem is… our former GM signed him to a 5y/$41.6M extension that will escalate up to $11.2M in 2023/24. Can someone kill me please. Verdict:* SELL IF POSSIBLE AAA 1B Dan Cook(27, 2.5, .268/.347/.427 6HR 35RBI 76G 1.3WAR) - $500k Being a switch-hitting 1B, Cook* is a rare breed that should be another cheap option for our NMLB squad for next year. He has amassed 1.3+WAR in each of his three AAA seasons 2018-2020 and only got a callup once. A well rounded hitter with no reals strength, we will keep an eye on him . Acquired in the 12th round o the 2011 draft, 365th overall. Verdict: KEEP NMLB 2B Brent Lynn(27, 2.5, .223/.266/.339 10HR 42RBI 112G 0.8WAR) - $6.9M A defensive mastermind up the middle, the right-handed batter collected a career high 4.4WAR in 2018 and an All-Star selection and could be a very valuable asset on any team, but there are red flags. He missed 50 games this year due to injury and our team trainer calls him “fragile”. Worse, the previous GM signed him to a escalating 5y/$45.5M contract with the final year being a $12.2M team option… 1st round pick in 2013, 14th overall. Verdict:* SELL IF POSSIBLE AA 2B Jeff Witherell(23, 2.5, .277/.332/.442 8HR 28RBI 74G 3.3WAR between S A and AA) – minor league contract An example for a minimum contract replacement. Good defensive 2B, can hit a bot, and won’t make $8.9M. 6th rounder in 2018, 178th overall. Verdict:* KEEP NMLB 3B Vinny Roman(32, 3.5, .266/.348/.483 30HR 90RBI 149G 4.2WAR) – $19.8M Our highest earner and best player on the roster, the 32-year old is a 4x All-Star and 3x Silver Slugger. Signed as a free agent prior to the 2020 season for a 6y/$109.6M contract that gets a bit more team friendly towards the end, he has led the league in RBI’s 3x with the Memphis Bolts* and hit 25+ home runs in eight major league seasons. He would be a major contributor for any contender… but what to do with him. Verdict: UNSURE NMLB SS Jose Robles(26, 2.5, .248/.297/.333 2HR 13RBI 49G 0.4WAR) – $500k A carbon copy of our 2B Brent Lynn, great defensive player, solid bat, maybe a bit worse, but at least under team control for a while. Can play second and shot and definitely improved his hitting compared to his 2019. His calling card is the glove tho. Signed on a minor league contract in 2017. Verdict:* KEEP NMBL UT Victor Estrada(26, 2.5, .266/.345/.438 11HR 30RBI 94G 0.8WAR) - $500k The young right-handed batter does not have the power potential of a traditional 1B, but can hit for solid contact and is a well-rounded defender that can play all four infield positions. Will be under team control for a long time and can be very useful as a utility player or in a platoon situation. Verdict:* KEEP S A SS Julian Hernandez(21, 1.5/5, .220/.280/.292 3HR 12RBI 9/12SB 65G 3.3WAR S A) minor league contract The #3 prospect in all of baseball. A right-handed hitter with solid speed, a good glove for second and short, and a bat that projects for 30+ home runs with a .280 batting average, Hernandez* can become a major star and cornerstone for the franchise. We will have to keep a close eye on his development as we have to think about where to put him for 2021? Single A, All-Year R for AB’s? We will see. Verdict: KEEP This crop of infielders does make things worse... THOSE CONTRACTS ARE CRAZY. Navigating them will be hard, I doubt there is loads of value in those players. Vinnie Roman is an interesting conundrum as he is a really good player, but won’t be productive anymore when we are in contention again… Outfield NMBL LF/RF Karl Ferguson(25, 3/3.5, .234/.320/.418 23HR 61RBI 137G -0.5WAR) - $500k Going into his last year of minimum salary, Ferguson* is an important part of our team as he is our second best hitter by talent and rightfully won the 2019 RL Rookie of the Year, batting .304/.399/.559 34HR 104RBI 5.5WAR, topping that with an All-Star nomination. He failed to repeat that in 2020, but his talent is there. A .300 batting average might be a stretch, but he could be a contributor in the future. 1st Round pick in 2013, 15th overall. Verdict: KEEP NMBL LF/RF Steve Tedder(24, 2/2.5* HS 2.5* OSA, .171/.212/.276 2HR 2RBI 20G -0.6WAR) - $500k Another replacement level player. Decent hiter with some power, he got the callup after batting for a .947OPS clip in AAA and struggled, but could be an option for 2021. His defense limits him pretty much to left. 21st rounder in 2014, 623rd overall. Verdict: KEEP NMBL LF/RF Jaime Ortega(27, 2* HS 2.5* OSA, .205/.254/.314 15HR 48RBI 149G -2.2WAR) - ARBITRATION Good contract bat with above average defense in left, but no other redeeming qualities. Two years away from a .263/.305/.372 13 HR 40RBI ‘career year’, but Dave G. does not like him one bit. Due for $1.1M in arbitration Verdict: MAYBE NON-TENDER? NMBL CF/LF/RF Brian Schill(26, 2.5, .247/.285/.472 28HR 64RBI 149G 2.7WAR) - $500k Whoa. Those 28 home runs certainly weren’t in the scouing report as he more projects as a doubles hitter, but somehow, some doubles found the fence. The truth is somewhere between 2020 and his 2019 slashline (.244/.291/.382 8HR), but as someone that can play all three outfield positions and especially center field. Minor league free agent signing. Verdict:* KEEP AAA LF Jason Antonsen(28, 2.5, .247/.359/.310 3HR 23RBI 110G 2.3WAR AAA) - $500k Cheap AAA option, projects as a high contact guy (65 potenzia) with low power. Outfield ratings aren’t great, pretty much limited to LF. Verdict:* KEEP Shallow group, everything below Jason Antonsen* is rated 2* in our minor league system…* Make decisions on team options Hitting – none Arbitration decisions – Position Players NMBL 1B Devin Funk(30, 2.5) NON-TENDERED NMBL* LF Jaime Ortega(27, 2) NON-TENDERED Make decisions about free agents/minor league free agents - Position Players* The minor league free agent list is stacked, so I’ll skip those this year… Set up Development Facilities Position Players S A SS Julian Hernandez(21, 1.5/5) -> Quality of Contact __________________ The Montreal Expos... Exposing the New MLB? MLB 2015 - Being the Brewmaster(ended) MLB 2013: The Blue Jays That Never Were(concluded) MLB 2014 I waited till Kevin Towers got fired dynasty!(concluded) Last edited by Griever20; 01-06-2025 at 01:12 PM.*