I hope you enjoy my blueprint. These are fun to put together.
1) Edouard Julien to Miami for reliever Andrew Nardi and OF prospect Andres Valor, their #17 prospect. Nardi is left handed with good stuff, and would immediately slot near the end of our bullpen. Valor is a lottery ticket. Julien could use a fresh start, and Miami could use all the help they can get on the offensive side.
2) Chris Paddack and Tanner Schobel to the Athletics (it's weird not writing Oakland before Athletics, I don't like it) for their #29 prospect Will Simpson, 1B/OF. Oakland takes on all of Paddack's salary and get a good prospect in Schobel. Oakland is on board this offseason in taking on contracts like this, as their overall team payroll is super low, and they get to add a decent prospect. IF Paddack is healthy, he could even be a trade chip for them at the deadline. Simpson, to me, is an interesting flier for 1B in 2026 or 2027.
3) Willi Castro to the Dodgers for their #18 prospect pitcher Maddux Bruns and their #30 prospect, catcher Jesus Galiz. The Dodgers take on his salary too. Bruns is a lefty with great stuff, but he MIGHT end up being a reliever. Galiz hasn't hit a TON at all, but he is a good athlete and gets good remarks for his defense behind the plate.
4) Christian Vazquez and 4 million to the Chicago Cubs for their #13 prospect, catcher Pablo Aliendo. Aliendo may start the year at AA or AAA, and can hit a little for a catcher.
5) CJ Culpepper to the Phillies for CF Johan Rojas. Rojas won't hit much, but he is very fast and is very good in centerfield on defense. Late inning defensive option in the outfield and pinch running asset.
6) Sign Paul Goldschmidt, 1 year 15 million, with an option year tacked on. 1B and DH. He still hits the ball hard, and would be a decent option for the middle of the lineup.
7) Sign catcher Tomas Nido, 1 year 1.4 million. Decent defensive option. Camargo will probably be up and playing at some point too.
8) Have Jax move into the rotation, and go with a 6 man rotation to start the year. A rotation of Lopez/Ryan/Ober/Jax/Festa/SWR is solid. I do think Jax can make the jump, and hopefully with Nardi coming in, Varland moving to the bullpen and Topa being healthy, the bullpen will still be a strength.
Thoughts?
C:
Ryan Jeffers
($4.70M)
1B:
Paul Goldschmidt
($15.00M)
2B:
Royce Lewis
($2.30M)
3B:
Brooks Lee
($0.80M)
SS:
Carlos Correa
($36.00M)
LF:
Trevor Larnach
($2.10M)
CF:
Byron Buxton
($15.00M)
RF:
Matt Wallner
($0.80M)
DH:
Jose Miranda
($0.80M)
4th OF:
Johan Rojas
($0.80M)
Utility:
Michael Helmon
($0.80M)
Utility:
Austin Martin
($0.80M)
Backup C:
Tomas Nido
($1.40M)
NA:
Dead Money Here
($4.00M)
SP1:
Pablo Lopez
($21.50M)
SP2:
Joe Ryan
($3.80M)
SP3:
Bailey Ober
($4.30M)
SP4:
Griffin Jax
($2.60M)
SP5:
Simeon Woods Richardson
($0.80M)
RP:
Jhoan Duran
($3.70M)
RP:
Brock Stewart
($0.80M)
RP:
David Festa
($0.80M)
RP:
Jorge Alcala
($1.50M)
RP:
Cole Sands
($0.80M)
RP:
Justin Topa
($1.30M)
RP:
Louie Varland
($0.80M)
RP:
Andrew Nardi
($0.80M)
NA:
Dead Money Here
($0.00M)
Payroll is 0.92% under budget