June Game Thread

[lou]

pointless. full of substance but pointless.

I think it's both.

Also, here's a 4 year payroll expectation for internal guys. **TO EVERYONE** please note this exercise isn't to be criticized for me putting E. Cabrera in the bullpen, or moving B. Anderson to 1B, etc. Likewise, it is to not be criticized of me expecting X player to be on the team in years, as I am just spitballing what I expect them to do as they need to give the kids time to develop.

This is to show they have insane payroll and options, and is the sledgehammer to fish16 bitching about "smart franchises don't spend money like the Rays." What the Marlins have done with the moves - ignoring the devastation of the Yelich trade - is dramatically open up payroll. It's time to use it as the SP is real, they have some useful bat pieces, and adding 2 legitimate bats and 2-3 cheaper role players to the term on a year to year basis will pay huge production dividends.

2020

POS NAME SERVICE TIME MONEY
C Alfaro 2.083 $650,000
C Wallach/Other CC 1.090ish $600,000
1B Cooper 2.050ish $625,000
1B
2B Diaz .100ish $600,000
SS
SS Riddle 2.100ish $625,000
3B
OF H. Ramirez .140ish $600,000
OF Brinson 1.120ish $625,000
OF Anderson 2.031 $650,000
OF
SP Pablo 1.093 $625,000
SP Caleb 2.078 $650,000
SP Alcantara 1.1 $625,000
SP Gallen .100ish $600,000
Sp Richards 1.142 $625,000
RP N. Anderson 1 $600,000
RP Steckenrider 2.094 $625,000
RP Brice 2.100ish $625,000
RP E. Hernandez 2.120ish $625,000
Rp Tayron/Other CC 2.004 $625,000
Rp Garcia 2.110ish $625,000
RP New CC Lefty X $600,000
RP Quijada/New CC Lefty X $600,000
Dead Money Castro Option Decline - 1,000,000
Chen 17,000,000

Total Payroll $31,025,000 <---- HOLY SHIT HALF OF THIS IS CHEN. The theme of this entire endeavor is they should be signing a longterm SS and 3B/1B (i.e., where Anderson is not going to play) right now. You'll see how this is a constant on a 4 year analysis if you look through all of this post. OF depth in the minors is crazy and they will give time to those guys to develop. Likewise, pitching is cheap and going to replenish itself. They should be spending on, at minimum, 4 year free agents (assuming there are worthy guys to sign of course).

The 2020 offseason hit list is a longterm SS and 3B, cheap one year platoon OF and bullpen lefty, and cheap opportunistic backup C and SS signings. Everyone else deserves their shot, and not worth it to sign RHP relievers with what's coming.

I think this is devoting around $40-45 million on two studs, and spending around $5-10 million on 2-3 role players. Still a bottom 5 overall payroll in baseball.

2021

POS NAME SERVICE TIME MONEY
C Alfaro 3.083 2,750,000
C Wallach 2.090ish 650,000
1B Anderson 3.031 4,000,000
1B Cooper 3.050ish 2,250,000
2B Diaz 1.100ish 625,000
SS
SS Club Controlled .100ish 600,000
3B
OF Monte .100ish 600,000
OF Brinson 2.120ish 650,000
OF VVM .100ish 600,000
OF H. Ramirez 1.140ish 625,000
SP Pablo 2.093 650,000
SP Caleb 3.078 3,500,000
SP Alcantara 2.1 650,000
SP Gallen 1.100ish 625,000
Sp Sixto .100ish 600,000
RP N. Anderson 2 650,000
RP E. Hernandez 3.120ish 1,500,000
RP Guzman .100ish 600,000
RP Richards 2.142ish 3,000,000
Rp E. Cabrera .100ish 600,000
Rp T. Rogers .100ish 600,000
RP Garcia 3.110ish 1,250,000
RP W. Stewart .100ish 600,000
Dead Money Chen 9 16,000,000


Total Payroll $44,175,000 <---- Chen is still an outrageous part of payroll but he's gone after this. Let's assume they sign Rendon and a **healthy** Didi so Fish16 doesn't explode. This is only pushing payroll to probably $85 million range, and they will need nothing except maybe bench C/SS options + opportunistic signings.

2022

POS NAME SERVICE TIME MONEY
C Alfaro 4.083 4,250,000
C Wallach 3.090ish 1,000,000
1B Anderson 4.031 7,000,000
1B Cooper 4.050ish 3,750,000
2B Diaz 2.100ish 650,000
SS
SS Devers/Other CC X 600,000
3B
OF Monte 1.100ish 625,000
OF Brinson 3.120ish 3,000,000
OF VVM 1.100ish 625,000
OF H. Ramirez 2.140ish 1,250,000
SP Pablo 3.093 4,500,000
SP Alcantara 3.1 4,000,000
SP Gallen 2.100ish 650,000
SP Sixto 1.100ish 625,000
Sp B. Garrett .100ish 600,000
RP N. Anderson 3 2,000,000
RP E. Hernandez 3.120ish 2,000,000
RP Guzman 1.100ish 625,000
RP E. Cabrera 1.100ish 625,000
Rp Holloway .100ish 600,000
Rp T. Rogers 1.100ish 625,000
RP Garcia 3.110ish 2,000,000
RP W. Stewart 1.100ish 625,000
Dead Money


Total Payroll $42,225,000 < - Wow look what happens with Chen gone. Internal payroll probably goes DOWN a little even with varied arbitration raises across the board. It's getting hard to project three years out, but you can follow those SP and bullpen arms with their service time and they are in big business. They can still afford an outrageously expensive Rendon and Didi, and still be able to shed money (Cooper, Anderson, Hernandez, Garcia are making up $10+ million of this) to sign another bat if needed and I would assume other arms (Vallimont, Soriano, Mejia, 2020, Neidert and Yamamoto who I can't even fit into this hypothetical) can create cheap RP options to lower payroll. Maybe even Bleday is ready and that knocks Brinson out too.


2023

POS NAME SERVICE TIME MONEY
C Alfaro 5.083 6,000,000
C Banfield .100ish 600,000
1B Anderson 5.031 10,000,000
1B Misner .100ish 600,000
2B Diaz 3.100ish 4,500,000
SS
SS Devers .100ish 625,000
3B
OF Monte 2.100ish 650,000
OF Bleday .100ish 600,000
OF VVM 2.100ish 650,000
OF Scott .100ish 600,000
SP Pablo 4.093 7,000,000
SP Alcantara 4.1 6,500,000
SP Gallen 3.100ish 4,000,000
SP Sixto 2.100ish 650,000
Sp B. Garrett 1.100ish 625,000
RP N. Anderson 4 3,000,000
RP E. Hernandez 4.120ish 3,500,000
RP Guzman 2.100ish 650,000
RP Holloway 1.100ish 625,000
Rp E. Cabrera 2.100ish 650,000
Rp T. Rogers 2.100ish 650,000
RP Garcia** 4.110ish 3,000,000
RP W. Stewart 2.100ish 650,000
Dead Money


Total Payroll $56,325,000 < - There are so many opportunities to shed payroll here if this projection is wrong we could easily lower this to around $40 million. Maybe their early 2020 # 1 pick is an ace and that moves out a SP and as mentioned before, I have $10 million in Anderson, Elisier, and Garcia here, and who knows if Banfield doesn't take over or they just don't get a cheaper player than Anderson. Payroll is awesome (I mean there is some assumptions here, like the internal OF work out and the arbitration tenders could be a little higher), but anyway you look at this, they will be able to fit this around $50 million for sure. Rendon and Didi do nothing to this projection and as said, the Marlins owe it to themselves to give most/all of these names time to work themselves out at the MLB level and there is some major upside in every part of the team here.


Overall, this says to me a few things:

1 - Trade for bullpen lefties this deadline with whatever you can move. Do this in the Rule V also. More lefties and a lot of them.

2 - Pray to god Didi is healthy (looked great in London games offensively and defensively) as no one else important needs a SS in baseball and adding a 3+ WAR SS to this team for 4 years (3 years would be better, but it doesn't matter as shown above) would be incredible. The alternative is probably keeping Rojas and making a future trade for a SS shortstop as they need to radically upgrade here even if we like Devers/Nunez.

3 - At any point moving forward, they should sign an Alpha star to a $25+ million deal for years as they can afford it and they need consolidated production in 1 roster spot which is really important with what else they have. Go for broke for Rendon (or Gerrit Cole, and then immediately trade one of Pablo/Alcantara/Gallen for an equal value 1B or 3B who is club controlled) this offseason as they are the FA ooooomph the team needs and have the the money to spend on it.

4 - For 2020, Opportunistically sign a guy who can play a corner OF position, a lefty RP if you don't get one at the deadline/Rule V, and potentially better backup C/SS versus Wallach and Riddle which should be cheap. These should be Walker/Romo/Granderson type signings. In fact, maybe just extend Walker for next year right now as you can play Walker or Cooper in LF.



They are in amazing shape. I am now -done- hearing any debate they shouldn't be signing major free agents for a lot of money as they internally have young and cheap guys they need to play, and only need to focus on 2-3 roster spots for years and years.

[fish16]

great post lou

[lou]

great post lou

Thanks.

Look, they did what you wanted them to do - clear the books. We can debate whether the Brewers kids are going to suck or not, but the end result is, the books are clear so all eyes forward. They have a club controlled team at jackshit prices for at least 4 seasons, if not more as the 19/20 draft classes may elongate this racket a few seasons as they have some really high-end picks there.

They got the money, they got the depth, and an extra $3-5 million on a deal here and there for the "two stars" means jack and shit to this team with how it's constructed. They can't open the money faucet completely, but Didi at $17 million versus $14 million over 4 years? Who gives a shit. It doesn't prevent them from any other move they may want to make. That extra $12 million does nothing for the team.

Same with Rendon. If he costs $28 a year over 7? Who cares. They can pay those two $45 and just pray the prospects work out. They can easily trade them both if they get 7 tommy johns with the current pitchers in 2 years.

It's time. Go for it. I believe in the SP and I think most people do too. Jayson Werth these guys, assuming they get through the year healthy and we can expect normal Rendon and Didi moving forward.

But I will say, 4 max for Didi. They could extend a guy like Rendon or Cole longer as they are better, but Didi past age 33 is a hard "no" unless he's coming way down on the annual values.

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That being said, Didi will be cheaper. I think they can get him based on other teams not needing SS and familiarity with Marlins brass.

Convincing a true alpha like Rendon or Cole is going to be the trick where they will really need to buy love, give a full no trade, 4 year opt out, and/or agree to not give a qualifying offer down the road. The most player friendly star deal of all time is the floor for me with this one.

[fish16]

Thanks.

Look, they did what you wanted them to do - clear the books. We can debate whether the Brewers kids are going to suck or not, but the end result is, the books are clear so all eyes forward. They have a club controlled team at jackshit prices for at least 4 seasons, if not more as the 19/20 draft classes may elongate this racket a few seasons as they have some really high-end picks there.

They got the money, they got the depth, and an extra $3-5 million on a deal here and there for the "two stars" means jack and shit to this team with how it's constructed. They can't open the money faucet completely, but Didi at $17 million versus $14 million over 4 years? Who gives a shit. It doesn't prevent them from any other move they may want to make. That extra $12 million does nothing for the team.

Same with Rendon. If he costs $28 a year over 7? Who cares. They can pay those two $45 and just pray the prospects work out. They can easily trade them both if they get 7 tommy johns with the current pitchers in 2 years.

It's time. Go for it. I believe in the SP and I think most people do too. Jayson Werth these guys, assuming they get through the year healthy and we can expect normal Rendon and Didi moving forward.

But I will say, 4 max for Didi. They could extend a guy like Rendon or Cole longer as they are better, but Didi past age 33 is a hard "no" unless he's coming way down on the annual values.

we're completely on the same page overall, i just dont think didi is worth what you do. not a big deal. I love what they have done to clear the books. Id be all over rendon this offseason. I just want them to spend on who i feel are the right guys and not just throw a ton of money this offseason at the wrong guys for the sake of getting to some predetermined payroll level for next year. I just dont want to end up in the same scenario we were in before where we had all these contracts for guys who were thoroughly mediocre and not worth it and completely destroyed our flexibility from year to year.

You say 4 max for Didi, im in the camp of 3 years max, 2 years ideally. Id just rather overpay guys short term rather than give them a smaller AAV for more years that could affect our flexibility in future offseasons. But we agree on the overall direction of the team moving forward in the next few offseasons.

[lou]

Didi 33rd overall in position player WAR 2015-2018. Super high floor with the defense (look at 2015 offense, sub .700 OPS). He's obviously improved as a hitter. He's the right guy for sure over 4 years which creates a natural bridge to a 23/24 year old Devers/Nunez in 2024 on paper.

Didi doesn't impact flexibility. That was the point here. Neither does Rendon. That's how much money they have cleared for even a bottom 5 payroll. Didi just has to be healthy which is the only what/if.

Where they get killed with flexibility is adding Bell and Buck deadweight on top of this and trade Paddack for RP in hopes of contending which then makes you spend on starters. Don't do shit like that and they are set up for years and years.

I also want to note, none of the above includes SP trade assets and they may have 1-2 good ones to move. Really really good shape on paper if this pitching holds up.

[Namaste]

lou, amazing friggin post.

lou, the Yankees are very right handed bat heavy, though, what makes you think they won’t lock Didi up?

[fish16]

lou, amazing friggin post.

lou, the Yankees are very right handed bat heavy, though, what makes you think they won’t lock Didi up?

I think Torres is a natural SS, im not sure if he was a good defender there though. That and they already have 164 million (holy shit that's a lot) locked up next year, have andujar comng back at 3b, Torres can play short, and Lemahieu is having a phenomenal year and can play 2b next year as he is locked up for 12 million next year. That is a good point though because just looking at their roster on Spotrac, just about every one of their lefties in the current lineup is a free agent after this year (Didi, Gardner, and Frazier isnt a free agent but i think they are going to deal him at some point because their OF is clogged).

[tjfla]

Chen contract notes

5 years/$80M (2016-20), plus 2021 conditional option. Signed by Miami as a free agent 1/19/16. $13M signing bonus ($5M paid 11/30/17, $8M paid 6/30/18). 16:$6M, 17:$9M, 18:$10M player option, 19:$20M player option, 20:$22M player option, 21:$16M conditional player option. Chen must exercise 2018-'20 player options together within four days after end of 2017 World Series. Chen receives a player option for 2021 if he has 1) 180 innings pitched in 2020 or 360 IP in 2019-20 and 2) is not on DL at end of 2020 season and 3) is healthy for 2021 spring training. Total of $64.5M in 2016-21 salaries is deferred without interest ($3M in 2016, $4.5M in 2017, $8M in 2018, $16M in 2019, $17M in 2020, $16M in 2021). Chen to receive deferred payments of $3M on 11/30/16, $4.5M on 11/30/17, $2M on 11/30/18, $6M on 6/30/19, $4M on 11/30/19, $9M on 6/30/20, $5M on 11/30/20, $15M on 6/30/21, $1M on 11/30/21, $15M on 6/30/22. Chen exercised 2018-20 options 11/17.

2021 option vests with
180 IP in 2020, or 360 across 2019-20
Is not on the DL at the end of 2020 and is healthy in 2021

His "salary" won't be on payroll for 2021 however Jeter will still be paying him for awhile

No clue what the FACTS are but Chen will NOT be on the payroll for 2021

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Alot of talk that Miami might be making a big play for Lindor in the offseason(if he agrees to extension)

2 arms and 1 or 2 bats for Lindor

Something to watch at Winter Meetings

[fish16]

if Lindor signs a long term extension id give up sixto for him in a heart beat. Id prefer dealing others obviously but lindor is a franchise changing everyday SS.

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isnt he a free agent though after next year? If its just one more year before he's a free agent I actually dont think i would do that. If its 2 more years i probably would.

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Holy shit Tyler Skaggs of the angels passed away today in his hotel room. First active mlb player to die since Jose apparently

[Todd]

RIP

[lou]

Chen contract notes

5 years/$80M (2016-20), plus 2021 conditional option.[/B] Signed by Miami as a free agent 1/19/16. $13M signing bonus ($5M paid 11/30/17, $8M paid 6/30/18). 16:$6M, 17:$9M, 18:$10M player option, 19:$20M player option, 20:$22M player option, 21:$16M conditional player option[/B]. Chen must exercise 2018-'20 player options together within four days after end of 2017 World Series. Chen receives a player option for 2021 if he has 1) 180 innings pitched in 2020 or 360 IP in 2019-20 and 2) is not on DL at end of 2020 season and 3) is healthy for 2021 spring training. Total of $64.5M in 2016-21 salaries is deferred without interest ($3M in 2016, $4.5M in 2017, $8M in 2018, $16M in 2019, $17M in 2020, $16M in 2021). Chen to receive deferred payments of $3M on 11/30/16, $4.5M on 11/30/17, $2M on 11/30/18, $6M on 6/30/19, $4M on 11/30/19, $9M on 6/30/20, $5M on 11/30/20, $15M on 6/30/21, $1M on 11/30/21, $15M on 6/30/22. Chen exercised 2018-20 options 11/17.

His "salary" won't be on payroll for 2021 however Jeter will still be paying him for awhile

No clue what the FACTS are but Chen will NOT be on the payroll for 2021

I took out your bolds and added one. You had the information as far as I can tell(!). Best I can figure, he gets big bucks in 2021.

That makes sense to me as he is under contract in 2020 and Loria was punting that money a year down the road.

The 2022 payment after the bold above seems tied to that 2021 conditional option to me so I am outright ignoring that as that option isn't being picked up. Hopefully I am right there, and it's not more deferred money that has to live on the books. That would change things a little in analysis above, but I'll I'd do is drop the "two main guys" to $40 million instead of $45 million and they will have less money to spend on relievers like Garcia.

I'm sticking with him being on payroll for 2 more years and the horror is over. I think his "luxury tax" implications may be different, but who cares about that as it's not like the Marlins will ever get close to that these years.

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lou, amazing friggin post.

lou, the Yankees are very right handed bat heavy, though, what makes you think they won’t lock Didi up?

They have $164 million on the books in 2020 and have to pay Paxton, Judge, Gary, Kahnle, and Green. That's going to be $30+ million in just arbitration. They'll also need to sign a backup catcher, and maybe another SP if they don't believe in their youth (because they are the Yankees after all and have the money to burn on 5th SP if need be just for the hell of it). They are basically at $200 million already.

Didi is going to get at least $14-15 over 3-4 years. That's going to be tough to fit in with the massive deals coming with Judge and Sanchez after this year, and likely needing a top of the rotation SP. If Stanton tells them he will opt out, that will radically help.

Likewise, I think they see Lindor and Correa coming in 2022. I bet they'd love Didi for 2 years and then move onto the real prizes there.

I see Torress at SS and DJ at 2B as their base lineup and they can punt on the question with a stopgap for 1-2 years, which maybe just getting a Rojas kind of guy and letting Gleyber do his thing

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I think Torres is a natural SS, im not sure if he was a good defender there though. That and they already have 164 million (holy shit that's a lot) locked up next year, have andujar comng back at 3b, Torres can play short, and Lemahieu is having a phenomenal year and can play 2b next year as he is locked up for 12 million next year. That is a good point though because just looking at their roster on Spotrac, just about every one of their lefties in the current lineup is a free agent after this year (Didi, Gardner, and Frazier isnt a free agent but i think they are going to deal him at some point because their OF is clogged).

I didn't see this until I posted this, but yea. The money is bad for them and they can push for 2 years and get Lindor when payroll opens up.

I do think the Yankees may be the biggest competition for him but the Marlins can blow them out with payroll if needed. Just don't go too crazy I say.

[tjfla]

Ya I dont think any of will really know until its time. Its like Bonilla-won't be on roster or payroll in 2021 but will be getting paid still. No matter what(Chen or not) the payroll won't get ABOVE 45 Million and they "project" 80 to 100 million

Great post by the way!!

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Marlins are OPEN for business starting today!!!

Alot of smoke lately about Marlins SP

Seems the odd guy out is Trevor Richards-been telling teams he is on the block however won't be cheap. Marlins have gotten calls on Caleb Smith but doubtful to be dealt unless some crazy offer. Urena was a hot name until injury and could be gone depending on how other SP do the rest of the year. Hector Noesi has gotten some interest as well but the Marlins telling teams they might add him to 40 Man I guess to keep his rights for next year?

[lou]

Ya I dont think any of will really know until its time. Its like Bonilla-won't be on roster or payroll in 2021 but will be getting paid still. No matter what(Chen or not) the payroll won't get ABOVE 45 Million and they "project" 80 to 100 million

Great post by the way!!

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Marlins are OPEN for business starting today!!!

Alot of smoke lately about Marlins SP

Seems the odd guy out is Trevor Richards-been telling teams he is on the block however won't be cheap. Marlins have gotten calls on Caleb Smith but doubtful to be dealt unless some crazy offer. Urena was a hot name until injury and could be gone depending on how other SP do the rest of the year. Hector Noesi has gotten some interest as well but the Marlins telling teams they might add him to 40 Man I guess to keep his rights for next year?

If it's Bonilla-like, we'd know. Regardless, really trying to emphasize the big picture with that mess of projections above is that it's going to be very easy for them to have an internal 20+ players of worthy names for $30-35, $40-45, $40-45, and $50+ million bucks next four years. Which is incredible. It may not have the Rays upside, but it's pretty damn good as the Marlins SP is not shitty, some of the bats have solid starter potential, and there is real spending power to come which the Rays don't have as their team is more expensive with guys with Pham, Kiermaier, Snell, etc. making some real money (even if still club beneficial contracts, they do add up).

I think we can take them with a grain of salt, but the Wolverine budgets are: $81 million in 2019 (they are under this by at least $10 million***), $84.8 million in 2020, $116 million in 2021 and $118.7 million in 2022. https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/s...192803579.html

Even if we slash those 21/22 numbers by $20 million bucks each, we're talking about $50-55 million in 2020 spending, which can roll through this time period easy. Hence the whole, spend $40-45 million on "healthy" Didi and Rendon/Cole this offseason and use the remaining amounts for Neil Walker/Sergio Romo 1 year contingency plans.

I mean look at the next 2 years. I've bolded the only players I personally would give $15+ million a season too and that make sense for the Marlins. There are only three bats on that list and 1 will never leave Boston. Adding anyone else on short term deals does nothing. They need the consolidated production in 1 spot since they moved Yelich and Stanton.

2020
Catcher: Francisco Cervelli, Yasmani Grandal (mutual option)
First base: Jose Abreu
Second base: Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Schoop
Third base: Anthony Rendon, Josh Donaldson
Shortstop: Didi Gregorius
Outfield: Marcell Ozuna, Nicholas Castellanos, Yasiel Puig, Adam Eaton
DH: J.D. Martinez (opt-out)
Starting pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, Stephen Strasburg (opt-out), Rick Porcello, Jake Odorizzi, Alex Wood
Relievers: Dellin Betances, Arodys Vizcaino, Sean Doolittle (club option), Kenley Jansen (opt-out)

2021
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Mike Zunino, Yadier Molina
First base: C.J. Cron, Yuli Gurriel, Ryan Zimmerman
Second base: Starlin Castro, Jason Kipnis, Cesar Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez, DJ LeMahieu, Daniel Murphy (mutual option)
Third base: Justin Turner, Zack Cozart, Jake Lamb
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Jonathan Villar, Marcus Semien, Jurickson Profar
Outfield: Mookie Betts, George Springer, Yoenis Cespedes, David Peralta, Michael Brantley, Joc Pederson, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jay Bruce, Giancarlo Stanton (opt-out)
DH: Edwin Encarnacion
Starting pitchers: Trevor Bauer, Robbie Ray, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Jake Arrieta, Marcus Stroman, Jose Quintana
Relievers: Blake Treinen, Jeremy Jeffress, Alex Colome, Brandon Morrow, Andrew Miller (club option)

If I had to add one more, it would be old friend Ozuna but he still scares me as he had a BABIP induced epic year, and he is settling in around a 2.5-3 WAR player in his other seasons. That makes a shitload of sense to me at SS where the Marlins are devoid of talent for at least 3 seasons, but not an outfielder where the Marlins have some real hope. It's a hard pass for me unless it's a super club beneficial deal like AJ Pollock (5/$60) but I don't see Ozuna signing that.

The 2022 class is amazing, I just can't see them waiting to add some oomph as new business owners trying to establish the brand for 2 more years. I think you build up the fan base 20-21 so you can just outright add someone from that class on top of this and get to that $118.7 payroll Jeter projects. Now you're talking about a scary team on paper if the pitching holds and they get some starters from the farm (Diaz, Monte, VVM, Bleday, etc.).

I'm -all in- on 3-4 years of "healthy" Didi and signing a 30 year old Rendon or 29 year old Cole for $190+ million over 7 years. It's time.

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And as for Richards, it's an eye of the beholder scenario, but he could easily be valued at $50+ million in surplus value with 5 years of control. A 2.3 WAR in 220 innings is no joke.

I don't see how you can trade him without getting a FV50 prospect (current prospects - Diaz, Monte, Gallen, maybe Neidert and VVM) and some good low-level flyers like J. Encarnacion and G. Soriano, or a good 1-2 combo of guys on the rise, like E. Cabrera and Devers, and a better third player like Vallimont/Dugger as a throw-in. That's a hard pill to swallow for other teams.

I'd ask for the moon and you can move him in July 2020 easily with 4+ years of control.

They can't trade lefties with the lack of them in the organization so Caleb shouldn't even be discussed unless a top 40 prospect is brought up.

[Nick]

I don't think the time is now to start trading surplus pitching. That time is approaching, but not yet.

It's not going to be the end of the world if we're only able to get some fringe prospects/IFA money at this year's deadline for guys like Romo/Castro.

[Nick]

Of course if someone blows you away with a package of hitting prospects for Sandy/Richards, then you do it, but we shouldn't be actively trying to deal our pitching for hitting yet.