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Hakuna_Moncada's Offseason Plan

Hakuna_Moncada’s Offseason Plan

Introduction

Rick Hahn has been saying for well over a year now that when the time comes, the Sox will have all the financial backing to make the moves that need making. Fourteen teams had payrolls north of 150 million in 2018. Well it’s time to show that you can hang with the big boys.

Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):

  • José Abreu – $16 million TENDER

  • Avisaíl García – $8 million TENDER (TRADE)

  • Yolmer Sánchez – $4.7 million TENDER

  • Carlos Rodón – $3.7 million TENDER

  • Matt Davidson – $2.4 million NON-TENDER

  • Leury García – $1.9 million TENDER

Impending Free Agents

  • Miguel González (2018 salary: $4.75 million) HE GONE

  • Hector Santiago (2018 salary: $2 million) HE GONE

Free agents

· Bryce Harper - 10 years, $385 million, Opt-outs after 4 and 6 years

Sox gotta dig deep here. Sell him on being the face of the franchise, living in the greatest city in North America, and a dumptruck full of money. I like that we are already making a pitch to him, but I think we just have to pay him. Might need to go to $400M to do it. Hahn talked big; now pimp walk the winter meetings.

· Mike Moustakas - 2 years, $18 million

Productive 3B with pop. I like Yolmer but I think he may be better served in a utility role. He shouldn’t be too expensive, but would still be an upgrade.

· Andrew Miller - 3 years, $30 million

Injuries have slowed him in recent years, but when he is healthy, Miller can still turn it on. A true fireman type, he could be used in set-up, closer, or emergency situations and would instantly become our best reliever.

· Nate Eovaldi - 3 years, $54 million

Coming off injuries, he had a great year between Tampa and Boston. Hes not going to come as cheaply as I would have wanted, but I guess he earned it the way he finished his season and pitched in the playoffs. Three years is enough time for the Sox to use his up his prime, while also buying time for the pitching prospects (Kopech, Cease, Dunning, etc) to get healthy and/or develop. Eovaldi can still look to ink a good contract at age 32 if he pitches well enough in his Sox tenure.

Trades

· Nick Madrigal (2B) (WS 5, MLB 49), Zack Collins (C) (WS 8), Spencer Adams (SP) (WS 26) to Miami Marlins for JT Realmuto (C). Immediately extend him, 5 years, $110 million

This trade is made with the premise of immediately signing Realmuto to an extension. He is projected to earn $6.1M his second trip through arbitration, which is far less than he is actually worth. He has turned in seasons of 2.6, 3.6, and 4.3 bWAR each of the past three seasons respectively, which possibly indicates a player that hasn’t even reached his prime yet. Spectacular on both sides of the ball, he solves our immediate and future catcher conundrum. I’m not sure if this is enough to get a deal done, but seeing the returns the Marlins got for Ozuna and Yelich gives me hope that Hahn could swing it. Madrigal’s absence is immediately filled when we trade….

· Avisail Garcia (RF) & $6M to Pittsburgh Pirates for Kevin Kramer, 2B/SS) (PP 7)

Signing Bryce makes Avi expendable. The Pirates are one of those small market teams that always seem to try to make minor moves to be competitive. Kramer is a very solid prospect, and close to the majors. He hit .311/.365/.492 with 15 HR in 476 AB at AAA last year, and while his defense isn’t as good as Madrigal, the bat should make up for it. He can play SS or 2B with a solid glove, but not as much range. Kramer is blocked at the majors presently by Adam Frazier, with other middle infield prospects Kevin Newman, Cole Tucker, and ONeil Cruz rated more highly in the Pirates system. The money soothes any payroll concerns for Pittsburgh as well.

· Wellington Castillo (C) to Anyone

Honestly just get a bag of balls for him, as long as we don’t have to pay down his contract. The Realmuto trade shores up our catcher position, so if we can get someone to take him to clear that 7.5M off the books, it helps with our other signings.

Summary

$134.35M Payroll for 2019. A little high, but the Sox are able to fill two positions with All-stars for the next 5 seasons and still have room to spend next season. Three trades are made, but only one affects prospect capital, and not in a dramatic fashion. JT Realmuto moves in as a legitimate catching mainstay and Bryce Harper comes to the southside to play right field. Eloy joins the club by May to play the opposite corner. Center field at least will be defended competently by Engel. If the club is in contention come August and Robert is playing well, let him skip AAA and come to the big leagues. If not, he supplants Engel opening day 2020 to have a monster outfield of Eloy-Robert-Harper left to right. The infield leaves a little to be desired but if Moncada and Anderson can make strides, it looks a lot brighter. A lot of things need to break right for the starting pitching as well as the bullpen. Neither will be as bad as last season, with legitimate free agent signings in Eovaldi and Andrew Miller. Still, both will be relying too heavily on unproven youngsters. The team won’t be title contention ready in 2019, but this team should take a big step forward in a division that is the weakest in baseball.

Position Players ($88.8M)

1B – Jose Abreu ($16M)

2B – Yoan Moncada ($0.6M)

SS – Tim Anderson ($1.4M)

3B – Mike Moustakas ($9M)

RF – Bryce Harper ($38M – AAV)

CF – Adam Engel ($0.6M)

LF – Nicky Delmonico* ($0.6M) Eloy Jimenez

C – JT Realmuto ($22M)

DH – Daniel Palka ($0.6M)

Bench ($7.8M)

BN – Leury Garcia ($1.9M)

BN - Omar Narvaez ($0.6M)

BN – Yolmer Sanchez ($4.7M)

BN – Jose Rondon ($0.6M)

Starting Pitchers ($23.5M)

SP – Carlos Rodon ($3.7)

SP – Nate Eovaldi ($18M)

SP – Reynaldo Lopez ($0.6M)

SP – Lucas Giolito ($0.6M)

SP – Dylan Covey* ($0.6M) Jordan Stephens

Bullpen ($14.25M)

RP – Andrew Miller ($10M)

RP – Nate Jones ($1.25M)

RP – Jace Fry ($0.6M)

RP – Ian Hamilton ($0.6M)

RP – Caleb Frare ($0.6M)

RP – Ryan Burr* ($0.6M) Zack Burdi

RP – Aaron Bummer ($0.6M)



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