The moves listed below are not moves I would WANT to do, and I know the returns on some of my moves will never happen. However in a game of "What Would You Do" working with the assumption Ownership is looking to slash payroll, and then you have to look at the best way to rebuild here ae my moves...

The No Brainers...

I dont like these first 2, but if the name of the game is payroll reduction then the guys at the top have to go, and they should provide quality returns.

* I would move both Ryan and Lopez, both controllable top of the rotation starters should command a premium, and the key to a quicker rebuild. But this shouldn't be a last trade deadline salary dumping situation, we need top talent in return.

Buxton we keep. Yes I said those at the top must go, but Buxton is different.  Yes you could trade at peak value coming off one of his best seasons, but you need SOME transitional players for the fan base.

Bailey Ober?  - Wont get much in trade for him, so do you just non tender? at projected $6.8M I think that may just be the move. Sad but brutal and possibly needed move.

Jeffers? tough one, if Tait were closer Id say move him, but Tait still a bit away. If we can get other replacement catching value once teams clear 40 man space then we move Jeffers.

Larnach - Gone

Wallner - Id roll with.

All of the above (minus Buxton) clears $40M and leaves us with about $66M on the books.

Now who/what should we go after in trades?

First lets look at what we keep to build around.

Buxton stays, and stays in CF, but will transition to conrer OF/DH in near future.  I keep Wallner in either current corner OF/DH. 2B looks like Keaschall's spot. Could he be another Julien??? possibly but lets give him the shot. SS Currently Brooks Lee, we also have Culpepper knocking on the door.  3B Currently Lewis, but if he still has any trade value I would move him (and that kills me) if we can get replacemnt 3B in any deals.

SO mainly looking at 1B, possibly 3B, another corner OF, and possibly C.  I say we build our position strength before going to pitchers, especially when pitching prospects flame out more than position prospects.

The absolute clear #1 player to go after at ANY cost is the Ranger's Sebastian Walcott. I would overpay, even significantly to get Walcott. Would a Ryan or Lopez straight up be an overpay or an underpay? I am not sure, but I would even be willing to give BOTH if needed... possibly both for Walcott plus Evan Carter? Anyways, regardless of the package Walcott has to be the focus. Walcott can take 3B or SS (enabling a move of Lewis). and if we also get Carter in a random deal then that help fill the OF spot.

Secondly we go after 1B. I choose plan A Tristan Casas!! He should be gettable with a decent offer. a slight overpay here is also worth it.  My plan B is Dominic Smith, low cost experienced player with above average Defense and a decent bat, I would take him over Clemens.

at Catcher, Seattle has Big Dumper, so would they move Harry Ford?  would Cubs move Ballesteros? either could be a good 2 year window waiting on Tait.

So with a rough lineup of:

1B = Casas/Smith

2B = Keaschall

3B = Lewis (or ideally Walcott)

SS = Lee/Culpepper (or Walcott)

LF = Evan Carter

CF Buxton

RF = Wallner

DH = Rotation/TBD

(lets also not forget Jenkins will join the team soon, so we could move Wallner to DH and have an OF of Buxton/Jenkins/Carter). We also have Rodriguez (although I trade him, he cant stay healthy) or Gonzalez both near ready as well - Gonzalez could be a Plan C at 1B.

Regardless a lineup like that at a payroll roughly around $66M... that could allow us to get frisky/risky in short term FA pitchers.  I would target veterans who may still have at least a 1/4 tank left and can show young pitchers how to train and go about the art of pitching.

It is here I say we give Verlander and Scherzer basically matching 2-3 year deals at $10M each. They will not get multi year deals anywhere else. even if they dont pan out they are not long term deals and we are still less than $90M with them.  If they pitch well we can flip them at the deadline.  they will also sell tickets, especially if Verlander can get back to 15 Ws per season and approach 300W by the third year.

we have a rotation of (in no particular order)

Verlander, Scherzer, and a hodge podge of SWR, Zebby, Taj, Abel, Rojas.

by definition, during a rebuild, there will be parts of your roster that will be challening, I say we gut cost and pitching, get a young position core in place that is cost controlled, and then 2027 (if there is a season) we have another year of development of our young pitchers as well as then being in position to go after pitching FA