2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[Todd]

Guerrero has spent 7 years as an assistant hitting coach with the Phillies then Giants.

[fish16]

Guerrero has spent 7 years as an assistant hitting coach with the Phillies then Giants.

That's gotta be Kapler's influence.

[lou]

All reports are saying the Twins want to lower budget a lot. Amuse me.


They are in pretty good shape with this IMO. Practically, they could use another infielder to help out Martin who isn't a sure thing and may be more of an OF.

C Jeffers, Carmago
1B Miranda
2B Julien, A. Martin
SS B. Lee, Castro
3B R. Lewis
LF Larnach, Wallner(top prospect coming fast)
CF Buxton, Keaschall(top coming fast)
RF Jenkins

SP - Ryan, Pablo, Ober, Wood Richardson <-- All right handers
RP - Jax, Sands, Duran, Festa, probably Paddack

There are some rumblings today they may turn Jax into a starter, which says to me they are looking to move payroll (Pablo/Ryan/Ober), but I don't believe it yet.


So Correa and C. Vazquez are missing. i.e., a long term SS/3B and bridge catcher. Correa makes 4/$133 and C. Vazquez makes 1/$10. The surplus value math is probably negative due to Correa's injury history, but he is still awesome when he plays. Yes I know. It's just a math experiment on a slow day.


For this depth chart, Otto (to replace Martin as a defender as everyone else is a hitter first) and Luzardo are perfect. They can find their own relievers which is their last pieces IMO. This is a lot of money coming off the books. This surplus value is easily $40-55m range depending on how much you like Otto - as well as accounts for Luzardo not being a sure thing similar to Correa. Luzardo is also an extension candidate if they think he will be healthy ala what they did with Pablo. A lack of lefty starters is really glaring here.


So big picture, on a math level, this would work out and everyone is probably happy. Minn not trading Keaschell, Wallner, or Rodriguez (their other top OF prospect) is the key


Correa, Vazquez, three solid not elite prospects - call this K. Culpepper (SS/3B), G. Gonzalez (right handed OF), and Winkour (UTIL IF), and most importantly, let's say Minnesota sends over $33m (so Correa becomes 4/$100m player)

Luzardo, Otto, and saves the Twins $90m+. Maybe the Marlins chuck in a nominal non-40 man reliever candidate, like Pushard, on top of this.



It is a pie in the sky one of course, but we can dream on a message board in the offseason. It's restocking the farm enough three more solid prospects and solving SS for years here.


This would cost about $87m in 2025:

C - Vazquez, Pereda
1B - Burger, Bride
2B - Edwards
SS - Correa
3B - Norby, ______
LF - Stowers, Dane
CF - _____, Sanoja/Hill
RF - Sanchez

SP - Sandy, Garrett, Cabrera, Weathers, _____, Max
RP - Faucher, Cronin, Bender, Tinoco, Baumann
LP - Nardi, Veneziano

Obviously Pereda (Ramirez), Vazquez (Mack), Bride (DDLS), the blank line at 3B which would just be some IF shuffling (Serna), and blank line at SP (Eury or Snelling) are placeholders for the minors coming up in the summer. So there wouldn't be much investment going on at those spots. Especially when combined with some other guys who might help in the OF (Martorella, Marsee, Berry, etc.) keeping all those OF on the roster for now.

So it boils down to on top of this, it is fringe free agents only, bottom of the barrel scrap heap guys less than Tim Anderson in cost, and someone like Bader in CF as the "big" signing. It is effectively do able in the mid $90m range, especially if you work out some payment dates with Minnesota as I am just assuming Correa is $25m here but maybe he costs less in 2025 and more the later three years which the Marlins can EASILY handle payroll wise.

That team has a chance with the SP and potential big time prospects coming.




Maybe not the best idea, but hey Minnesota says they want to slash payroll. So follow this through to 2026, this would cost about $88m (does include Stanton/Garcia dead money, etc.)

C - Mack, Ramirez
1B - Burger, DDLS
2B - Edwards, Serna
SS - Correa
3B - _____
LF - Norby, Stowers/Dane/Martorella/Marsee
CF - _____, Sanoja/Mesa Jr./Marsee
RF - Sanchez

SP - Sandy, Eury, Garrett, Cabrera, Snelling
RP - Max, Faucher, Mazur, Cronin, Baumann/CC
LP - Nardi, Weathers, Veneziano


Or lower that to effectively $70m without Sandy. It has effectively become a payroll swap for Correa at this point, and now the Marlins would have a spot at 3B, CF, and SP needed and have just drafted LaViolette/Cannarella with the 2025 pick to the OF spot is coming FAST and the "Sandy trade" could focus on a 3B and another OF to upgrade the "Stowers" spot. Remaining funds are then used for a 1 year bridge SP in 2026 while they wait for...... White and Noble to show up in the summer. Maybe Fulton too if he is healthy.

That 2026 team looks pretty insane if Sandy brings in 2 big bats, they do get the "Wyatt Langford" type college OF coming fast, and the arms are healthy.



Just saying here. They have some paths of piecing the team together and when I see Minnesota wanting to cut payroll, the mind goes directly to Correa. This is a lot cheaper than what Adames would cost and frankly, Luzardo means nothing here nor does Correa's payroll as it prevents them doing nothing in a future world Ramirez, Mack, DDLS, Serna, Norby, Sanoja, other OF, Snelling, Mazur, Veneziano, White, Noble, and other relievers are club controlled and cheap for all the years Correa would be under contract.