[Griever20]

Your 2024 Montreal Expos:

Starting Pitching

LHSP Brett Asselin(24, 3.5/4.5*) 16-6 3.84 172K 27GS 180.2IP 2.6WAR // 16-6 3.84 172K 27GS 180.2IP 2.6WAR (career)
Asselin put in a very respectable rookie season, leading the league in wins(ok, not exactly a metric that is only his work), but the intangibles are good. The changeup is his bread-and-butter out pitch with a mid 90’s fastball, a sinker, a splitter and a knuckle curve making out a deep arsenal to choose from. He has still room for growth in all areas and we love his clubhouse presence as a leader. #2 starter. Drafted 11th overall in 2020.

RHSP Sam Griffin(31, 3*) 12-8 3.56 142K 32GS 184.1IP 4.4WAR // 71-65 4.05 683K 235G/164GS 1067IP 18.7WAR (career)
The 3x All-Star always finds his way back into this rotation and finally, our scouting department has accepted that and bumped him up to 3*. He is a control artist by trait, generating a lot of groundballs by hitting the perfect pitch despite little speed on his sinker. His contract is up this offseason and his initial demand is 6y/$84M… may just be his walk year. Our #3 starter this year.

RHSP Dan Hinton(24, 4.5/5*) 3-1 1.58 49K 8GS 45.2 1.4WAR // 18-17 3.20 299K 56GS 332.0IP 7.6WAR(career) #3 SP
An extreme groundballer with mid 90’s zip on his sinking fastball, and a good slider and changeup with a still developing curveball, he promptly went down with injury twice in the first year where we make the playoffs. Hinton is pretty much a finished product on the development side apart from little gains on his off-speed stuff… Please light a candle that he will stay healthy. First rounder in 2017. Opening day starter in 2024. 21st overall pick in 2017.

RHSP Juan Miranda(26, 3*) 12-10 4.09 186K 31GS 191.2IP 2.3WAR // 21-22 4.10 367K 379.1IP 63GS 5.8WAR DNP (career)
We pretty much found the baseline here in the last two years. ERA of 4.00, 190IP, but a bit prone to the longball and some walks. A good fastball with the curveball as his outpitch and a deep arsenal of other breaking pitches, there is the potential for a long career in NMLB with this baseline tho. 4th rounder in 2016. #5 starter.

RHSP Marty Murrietta(27, 3*) 7-9 3.80 177K 161IP 25GS 3.1WAR // 36-29 3.74 593K 608.2IP 111G/98GS 10.03WAR (career)
Murrietta overcame his injury in spring last year and delivered a solid, albeit sometimes frustrating 2023 as he often times got betrayed by is career 3.4 BB/9 rate that can make him effectively wild… or ineffectively wild. He lacks a true breaking ball, nailing his opponents with a trio of fastball variations and a changeup, but somehow, it works. Acquired via trade from ATL in 2022.

Relief Pitching:

LHRP Joe Herzer(26, 3*) 5-1 1SV 2.60 62K 62.1IP 37G/1GS 0.5WAR // 8-4 2.69 132K 137.1IP 94G/1GS 1.3WAR (career)
The second year in a row, Herzer showed that he has got what it takes, destroying hitters with a devastating slider and a sinking fastball. Groundballs are his weapon of choice, but there are some lingering doubts as is fastball velocity went down a mile this spring. He will be an integral part of this pen once again and a bargain. 5th rounder in 2019.

LHCL Paul Ide(26, 5*) 6-7 38SV 2.83 101K 66.2IP 59G 2.1WAR (MON/BOS) // 19-20 105SV 3.05 406K 232G 277.2IP 6.8WAR (career) #1 CL
Ide was hit by the Montreal Expos closer curse right away and became Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. With a 100+mph fastball that is rated 85, an 80 rated splitter, a 60 rated sinker and a 55 rated changeup, he maybe has the best stuff in baseball for a closer, and is now in his second year of arbitration, being Super 2 Eligible for 2023. There is doubt we can keep him long term as our projected payroll peaks at $186.5 million in the year he becomes a free agent… Acquired via trade from BOS in 2023.

RHRP Wyatt Ings(23, 3*) 2-1 3.29 19K 27.1IP 19G 0.0WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
Volatile stocks those relievers. Ings wasn’t on our radar for a while but has been steadily improving floor and ceiling since 2022. A groundball pitcher with a 95-97 fastball and a strong splitter, his control sometimes lacks, but the personality is absolutely spot on brilliant, a hard, intelligent worker that is loyal and has low financial ambition. Acquired in 2020 from BOS in the Ian Messer deal… we won that one by now.

RHRP Dustin Jenkins(26, 3*) 7-4 1SV 3.38 81K 69.1IP 40G/1GS 1.3WAR // 8-5 3SV 4.00 118K 123.2IP 72G/1GS 0.9WAR (Career)
Jenkins was a lucky find and really did a good job last year, pitching in a lot off middle relief innings and held his own while collecting 7 WAR. His ratings are average at best but he keeps doing good work and definitely knows how to pitch. Acquired via trade from SF in 2022.

RHRP Mitsuyasu Kai(27, 2.5*) 4-0 1SV 1.53 60K 53IP 45G 1.3WAR (MON/SAC) // 10-5 3.80 242K 215.2IP 203G 2.3WAR (career)
An inspired waiver claim last year, the big question is, was Kai lightning in a bottle or the real deal. Before 2023, his career ERA was closer to five than four and he is also fragile… but hell, his fastball slider combination can dominate. We’ll see if he can repeat 2023. Claimed off waivers from SAC in 2023.

RHRP Glen McKeen(24, 2.5*) 1-1 2SV 2.23 49K 44.1IP 44G 0.7WAR // 6-4 4SV 3.01 132K 134.1IP 121G 1.5WAR (career)
A waiver wire claim, McKeen was let go by the Denver Seahawks in 2021 and instead of bouncing around, now he is going into his fourth overall and third full season with us and never let us down. He is working off a fastball and a changeup with the fastball being above average. Wil be around for a while as he is cheap and dependable.

LHRP Faical Shimoda(23, 2.5*) 0-0 1.42 13K 12.2IP 11G 0.5WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
Shimoda is here because he is the 5th best lefty in our org and with Mannino and Mendoza out, that wins him a roster spot. Nothing special here, move on. Scouting discovery in 2017.

RHRP Freddy Silva(27, 2.5*) 7-1 1SV 3.71 59K 51IP 21G 0.1WAR // 13-5 2SV 4.17 197K 179IP 158G 1.6WAR (career)
For the second year in a row, Silva found his footing as one of our middle relievers and has become a model citizen in our bullpen, working off his pinpoint control and four solid pitches. He is clearly the bullpen leader and a loud voice in the clubhouse, AND works as hard as everybody. Drafted in the 11th round of the 2015 draft, 321st overall.

Catcher

C Gabriel Cervantes(28, 3.5*, R) .243/.349/.386 15HR 43RBI 121G 2.5WAR // .265/.344/.448 82HR 267RBI 504H 260R 519G 13.8WAR (career) #14 C
An offseason regimen improved his already strong defense and framing, helping out our pitching even more, but the truth is that his hitting performance… let’s say, shows that his 2022 numbers with KCR were a fluke. We still hope for a rebound in hitting, but looking at his batting ratings… this may just be a .750OPS hitter… which is fine for me. Acquired via trade from Kansas City Royals in June 2022.

C Jordan Chavis(26, 2.5*, R) .238/.288/.417 8HR 20RBI 64G/39GS 0.2WAR // .222/.276/.389 14HR 38RBI 68H 47R 112G/85GS 0.5WAR (career)
Chavis was the perfect bench captain that will help the team chemistry and his defense is as good as Cervantes, and that is all we need from him. Acquired via trade from WSH in 2020.

Infield

1B Dave Grochowski(25, 4*, L) .321/.372/.570 30HR 115RBI 149G 4.1WAR // .336/.394/.550 50HR 207RBI 380H 176R 305G 10.2WAR (career) #3 1B
GROK!. After his miracle of 2022, he repeated most of that with a strong 2023, leading the EL in RBI, SLG and OPS while playing strong defense at first and staying humble and a good guy in the clubhouse. The contact rate and strikeout rate are elite, and he can have sneaky power from time to time. 9th rounder in 2017. 2x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger, 2022 RotY.

1B/DH Matt Talbert(26, 3*, R) .271/.348/.482 30HR 87RBI 156G 2.0WAR // .265/.340/.471 39HR 110RBI 231G 111R 231G 2.5WAR (career)
It has been a long road for Talbert, but he finally broke through in 2023 when Hawk went down with injury, and being the everyday DH, he started mashing. A 60-rated power hitter that can hit .260, he does not do much else, but for us, he was part of the power surge we needed for the offense to finally get going. Acquired via trade from San Francisco in June 2021.

2B Joe Hawk(26, 2.5*, L) .264/.323/.432 6HR 24RBI 57G/34GS 0.0WAR // .267/.324/.454 27HR 94RBI 173H 96R 188G 2.3WAR (career)
After bursting onto the scene in 2022 as a Rule 5 draftee with the Royals that got sent back, Hawk failed to deliver big at the start of 2023 and had to watch Talbert take his AB’s while being injured. Still, we value him as a bat of the bench and backup 1B/2B/DH, but little more than that.

2B Fernando Perez(24, 4*, R) .255/.321/.513 37HR 85RBI 131G 3.9WAR // .255/.321/.513 37HR 85RBI 127H 78R 131G 3.9WAR (career) #4 2B
After a critical success in the D-Lab, Perez bursted into NMLB and won Rookie of the Year by hitting the cover off the ball in 2023. An elite power hitter that defends second base like only a few players in the league, his 75/80 rated power will keep him around for a while. Acquired from Jacksonville in December 2021.

3B Julian Hernandez(24, 3.5/4*, R) .291/.323/.454 19HR 83RBI 149G 15/24SB 2.2WAR // .291/.323/.454 19HR 83RBI 173H 80R 149G 15/24SB 2.2WAR (career) #5 3B
A strong rookie season that solidified our third base position after years of being an revolving door, Hernandez’ bat has not become the force that was advertised when he was a top 10 prospect, but the development of his defense negated that some. A 60/45/50/45/50 hitter with some speed to burn, he is also here to stay. International Amateur free agent in 2017.

SS/2B Rich Meilleur(25, 2.5*, L) .277/.349/.398 9HR 60RBI 148G 3.5WAR // .261/.326/.376 11HR 69RBI 169H 76R 1999G 3.8WAR (career) #25 SS
A career year with the bat in 2023 really helped us out here as the usually defensive minded shortstop, that hit .213 in 2022, suddenly became a productive hitter and therefore was an asset for the team that we didn’t expect. The Canadian native is well liked by the fans for his defensive play, and his humble personality. Acquired from VAN in 2021.

SS/2B Robby Weltzer(27, 2.5*, R) .235/.279/.333 1HR 68RBI 66G 0.2WAR // .248/.288/.357 22HR 131RBI 329H 149R 377G 4.2WAR (career)
The same way Meilleur’s star has risen, Weltzer’s star has fallen. He still will platoon with Meilleur at short, but it seems like there is no way both can be hot at the plate at the same time. Acquired via trade from Los Angeles in June 2021.

Outfield

LF/RF Ignacio Benavides(27, 3*, R) .275/.339/.417 17HR 59RBI 96R 155G 2.0WAR // .265/.328/.401 34HR 346H 177R 138RBI 334G 3.5WAR (career) #10 LF
Last year, we thought that “I still think that the kid can hit .270 and perform to a 2 WAR tune, and we will give him 2023.” He did exactly that, changing his approach a bit to avoid strikeouts and wear out pitchers from the leadoff spot. Acquired via trade from Cincinnati in November 2020.

LF/RF Ian Messer(28, 3*, L) .317/.365/.457 13HR 63RBI 153G 3.4WAR // .290/.344/.436 42HR 195RBI 492H 225R 446G 8.1WAR (career) #26 RF
From being a question mark to an exclamation mark in 2023… or not? Hitting the cover off the ball in the first half, Messer certainly had a career year, but there was little willingness by other teams to trade for him… His defense is lackluster and his track record spotty, but he collected and All-Star nomination and a Silver Slugger last season… Acquired via trade from Boston in the 2020 offseason.

CF Tyler Dean(21, 3/5*, L) .354/.417/.634 26HR 102RBI 122G 4.7WAR (A) // DNP (career) #1 prospect, #13 RF
We are putting the biggest chip in the middle. Bolstering his power up to 65/80 rated, he is moving strong to fill out his 75/55/80/50/45 potential and can play all outfield positions with 70-80 defense. He isn’t quite ready with the contact ability, but is definitely too good to keep him rotting in AAA. Our starting center fielder in 2023. 1st overall pick in 2021.

OF Vicente Rodriguez(25, 2.5*) .268/.324/.375 1HR 53RBI 139G 0.9WAR // .268/.304/.367 4HR 105RBI 383H 168R 380G 3.9WAR (career)
Elite speed on the basepaths and in the outfield, Rodriguez has held the fort for years now in center field… but his time has come to step back(we said the same thing last year). His new job for now is elite outfield backup, pinch-hitter and pinch runner. Drafted in the 14th round of the 2016 draft, 430th overall.