Cory Engelhardt’s 2024 Payroll Blueprint

[Cory Engelhardt]

1) Trade for Tyler Glasnow and Manual Margot. Most likely it will only be guys who are not currently on the 40 man, so probably something like Yasser Mercedes, one of the many young pitchers who will start at AA, and another lottery ticket. Taking on this salary from Tampa is agreed on and helps Tampa too. Getting one more year of Bally money helps pull the trigger on this deal. Both are only signed for 2024, and Glasnow should at minimum get the QO after 2024.

2) Trade Max Kepler to the Dodgers for 2 prospects, pitcher Maddux Bruns and OF Kendall George, their 17 and 14 prospect respectively.

3) Trade Jorge Polanco to Seattle for 2 prospects, including Cole Phillips (#15) and Michael Morales (#21.)

4) Trade Nick Gordon to Miami for a ptbnl. Give him a chance for a change of scenery.

5) Sign Ryne Stanek, 1 year 3.5 million. Former experience with the Rays and the Astros, along with a VERY good fastball, will be a welcome addition to the bullpen.

6) I do think they will be aggressive in the minor league contract phase, to get 1-2 starters added on incentive laden minor league deals. Someone like Eric Lauer (formerly Milwaukee) and Brad Keller (formerly KC) to help with depth at St. Paul. I do very much love the depth that is starting at Wichita, but they will need guys who can help right away if/when injuries occur.

7) I am going in here that Buxton and Miranda will both be healthy and ready to play. I don't know what the means for the full season, but if they are healthy and ready to contribute to CF and 1B, that REALLY helps the team. Kirilloff as well. Austin Martin and Willi Castro can handle/backup any position outside of 1b and catcher.

8) I keep Kyle Farmer on the roster because he is a great option to platoon with Julien at 2B, he has the ability to play SS, and he crushes lefties. My guess is, when Brooks Lee is ready is when a Farmer trade happens.

9) I keep Vazquez. Catching depth is important. I do think Camargo will get a chance at some point this year, as it's really difficult to predict to get through another year using only 2 catchers, so Vazquez is here for now too.

10) I really do like Varland, and I think for right now he profiles really well as a strong setup caliber arm. Maybe eventually, as a need comes about, he can shift back to the rotation. But he is a weapon in the bullpen, and that's where I think he goes.

11) The opening day payroll is still lower than 2023, but is closer to 140 million instead of 125. That's my guess on number.

• C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M)
• 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M)
• 2B: Eduoard Julien ($0.77M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.77M)
• SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M)
• LF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Manual Margot ($14.00M)
• DH: Jose Miranda ($0.77M)
• 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.77M)
• Utility: Kyle Farmer ($6.60M)
• Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M)
• SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M)
• SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M)
• SP5: Tyler Glasnow ($25.00M)
• RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M)
• RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M)
• RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M)
• RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M)
• RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M)
• RP: Ryne Stanek ($3.50M)
• RP: Louie Varland ($0.77M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.77M)

Payroll is 2.63% over budget

[Cory Engelhardt]

I checked spotrac, and I had the wrong 2024 number for Margot. He is actually making 10 million, not 14. That brings my 2024 payroll number down closer to 137. Plus Margot is certainly very good insurance for CF.

I also see I listed Jorge Alcala in the bullpen. I'm not expecting that necessarily. I do think they will have one of the bullpen spots be a rotating arm (Josh Winder, Brent Headrick, et al) that will act as a long arm.