2019 with smart drafting in 2017 and 2018 and quick promoting. And that would even mean that they wouldn't have to throw in the towel for 2017 and 2018 The good thing about this team is that it has several back of the pen arms who are ready or near ready. They could have gotten rid of the veterans in the pen and still be the same or even better. I'd take a pen of a combination of Burdi/Reed/Hildenberger/Chargois/Rosario/Pressly/Duffey/Jay/Melotakis/Rogers over what they will have this season As far as position players go, Mauer cannot be moved until he is gone, so the only 2 differences would had been someone like Vielma or Escobar over Dozier and Garver over Castro. I don't see much drop off there, because I don't trust Dozier. Maybe 2 wins. Rotation has to have Hughes, at least until he can be moved. The rotation would be something like: Berrios, Gibson, Hughes, May, Mejia, with Gonsalves, Jay, Jorge, Romero, waiting; which means that Berrios and Mejia would be there over Santana and Santiago. In summary: only 4 changes between rotation and lineup: Out Dozier, Castro, Santana, Santiago in Escobar, Garver, Berios, Mejia. Also a revamped pen that would have been better than the one in 2017 As you can see, the proposed young team would not be that much weaker than what they will bring up North this season. Also trading Santana, Dozier and Santiago would have brought about 2-3 very good prospects who could have contributed right away. But it is a philosophical discussion at this point...