weitz41’s 2026 Payroll Blueprint:

[weitz41]

Well, I'll go with a we're trying to win games plan for now. With a few trades.

Trade 1. Jeffer to the Padres for Adrian Morejon and another A ball player or two.

Trade 2. Larnach and Gasper to Phillies for Alec Bohm and an A ball player.

Trade 3. Pablo Lopez to the Cubs for Miguel Amaya and Javier Assad.

Most the freed up $ I spend in the BP on short term deals. I know the FO doesn't spend there. BUT, they've never had a BP like the one at the end of the 2025 season. Multiyear deals for Willie and Bader. Give me another 20 mil to payroll and I'm replacing Clemens with Kyle Schwarber as my DH.

Not exciting but I think this team could be in the mix for the division. If it goes badly lots of BP arms to trade at the deadline and a few position players who could go to make room for the AAA guys.

• C: Miguel Amaya ($0.80M)
• 1B: Alec Bohm ($10.25M)
• 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M)
• 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M)
• SS: Brooks Lee ($0.80M)
• LF: Harrison Bader ($13.00M)
• CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M)
• RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M)
• DH: Cody Clemens ($1.10M)
• 4th OF: Alan Roden ($0.80M)
• Utility: Austin Martin ($0.80M)
• Utility: Willie Castro ($7.00M)
• Backup C: Jhonny Pereda ($0.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Joe Ryan ($5.80M)
• SP2: Baily Ober ($4.60M)
• SP3: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M)
• SP4: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M)
• SP5: Mick Adel/ Taj Bradly ($0.80M)
• RP: Justin Topa ($2.00M)
• RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M)
• RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M)
• RP: Pierson Ohl ($0.80M)
• RP: Ryan Helsley ($12.00M)
• RP: Pete Fairbanks ($9.00M)
• RP: Adrian Morejon ($5.25M)
• RP: Javier Assad ($0.80M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 9.36% under budget

[chpettit19]

Not sure why Philly would do that trade. They're giving up the best player in the deal for a non-tender in Larnach and a non-mlber in Gasper. They certainly wouldn't be the ones throwing in a prospect on that deal. 

[weitz41]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Not sure why Philly would do that trade. They're giving up the best player in the deal for a non-tender in Larnach and a non-mlber in Gasper. They certainly wouldn't be the ones throwing in a prospect on that deal. 

Supposedly they we're looking to move him at the deadline and not unlike Castellanos moving his salary would free up money for greater needs. So more a salary dump with a league average OF/DH coming back. They have room for Larnach in their OF. Gasper would be more of a AAA/3rd catcher type thing maybe switch with Julien. I don't expect him to be on the 26 man for them.

[chpettit19]

3 minutes ago, weitz41 said:

Supposedly they we're looking to move him at the deadline and not unlike Castellanos moving his salary would free up money for greater needs. So more a salary dump with a league average OF/DH coming back. They have room for Larnach in their OF. Gasper would be more of a AAA/3rd catcher type thing maybe switch with Julien. I don't expect him to be on the 26 man for them.

Oh, I'm sure they'd trade him, but Larnach and Gasper aren't what they'd be looking for in return. The Phillies would just wait for Larnach to be non-tendered and throw him 3 mil and he'd be in their outfield if they wanted him. Gasper does nothing for them. Neither does Julien. 

I'm all for getting something for any of those guys, but I don't see any chance that it's a legit MLB player who's actually better than any of them. It would be the most shocking move of any team this offseason.

[weitz41]

5 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Oh, I'm sure they'd trade him, but Larnach and Gasper aren't what they'd be looking for in return. The Phillies would just wait for Larnach to be non-tendered and throw him 3 mil and he'd be in their outfield if they wanted him. Gasper does nothing for them. Neither does Julien. 

I'm all for getting something for any of those guys, but I don't see any chance that it's a legit MLB player who's actually better than any of them. It would be the most shocking move of any team this offseason.

Fair enough. I see him as their version of Larnach. League average offence with not great defense. At 2.5x the salary and less control. Except we could use a 1b and another RH bat.