Cory Engelhardt’s 2026 Payroll Blueprint:

[Cory Engelhardt]

1) Give Brooks Lee a 1B mitt. Push Kaelen Culpepper fast after a good spring hopefully.

2) Trade Joe Ryan to Seattle for 4 prospects, 3 in the top 100. Catcher Harry Ford, pitcher Ryan Sloan, OF Jonny Farmelo and OF Korbyn Dickerson. Harry Ford will be a co-catcher opening day. Jeffers will dh plenty against lefties and will be good to have him for another year with the younger pitching staff we will start 2026 with.

3) Trade a young DSL level player to Cleveland for relief pitcher Sam Hentges. He should be healthy this offseason after having surgery September 2024.

4) Trade Matt Wallner to Toronto for prospect pitcher Johnny King. Push Walker Jenkins.

5) Sign Jorge Polanco, 1 year 10 million, 1b/2b/dh.

6) Sign Michael Kopech, 1 year 4 million

7) Sign Jordan Romano, 1 year 5 million

8) Use the rule 5 draft to try an arm they like in that realm.

9) That total comes in about 98 million.

• C: Harry Ford ($0.80M)
• 1B: Brooks Lee ($0.8M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M)
• SS: Kaelen Culpepper ($0.80M)
• LF: Alan Roden ($0.80M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Walker Jenkins ($0.80M)
• DH: Jorge Polanco ($10.00M)
• 4th OF: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Utility: Kody Clemens ($0.80M)
• Utility: Ryan Kreidler ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($6.60M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M)
• SP2: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M)
• SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.60M)
• SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP5: Taj Bradley ($0.80M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($2.00M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Rule 5 pick ($0.80M)
• RP: Travis Adams ($0.80M)
• RP: Sam Hentges ($3.00M)
• RP: Michael Kopech ($4.00M)
• RP: Jordan Romano ($5.00M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 19.77% under budget

[Cory Engelhardt]

Crap, I forgot about David Festa. IF he is healthy, then he is firmly in the bullpen. I'd take out probably Travis Adams for now and keep the free agent and trade additions.

[DJL44]

Why spend $10M on a veteran DH for that going-nowhere team? Are you looking to flip him in July?

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Why spend $10M on a veteran DH for that going-nowhere team? Are you looking to flip him in July?

I don't think it's a going nowhere team. And I think his bat and his influence in the clubhouse will be really good for many of the younger hitters.