What I would do

[Bravos James]

A new idea for an article format in which I’ll just play armchair GM for every team and walkthrough what I would personally do.

How I’d spend 2020: Baltimore Orioles
The farm is good, but the MLB roster is a mess and it’s obvious that Jeff is going to sit on all of his pieces because he just isn’t active during the season. First up, what I’d do right now.

Cap room: $8.35 Million

Cut Pedro Alvarez, Josh Harrison, Neil Walker, Carlos Gonzalez, Fernando Rodney, Edinson Volquez, Tony Sipp, and Nate Jones

It would free up $6.85 million in cap immediately for a group of guys I don’t see any way of getting value out of. Alvarez (500K thru 2022) and Gonzalez (2M through 2022) will have annoying penalties, but there’s no point in keeping those contracts at this point.

Trade Hunter Pence (2020: 0.6M 2021: FA) and Robbie Grossman (2020: 0.7M 2021: FA) to the Chicago White Sox for a 5th round pick

I don’t see any way you’re getting a ton for either of these guys. This deal would free up another 1.3M and would give Mike some cheap depth that he needs.

UPDATED Cap room: $16.5 Million

Trade Freddy Galvis (2020: 4.0M 2021: FA) to the Atlanta Braves for Juan Yepez

Atlanta has the cap room after not really participating in FA to look for a solid middle infield (2B/SS) option for this season, Galvis being a 1 year 4M contract pretty much fits that perfectly as a suitable backup for Tatis and McMahon.

We’d be clearing another 4M and picking up an intriguing first base prospect in Juan Yepes.

Now is where we’ll use the cash to pick up some higher level pieces that have the chances to turn into building blocks.

UPDATED Cap Room: $20.4 Million

Trade Matt Shoemaker (2020: 4.5M 2021: FA) and 8 Mil to the Detroit Tigers for Robbie Erlin (2020: 0.5M 2021: FA) and Jake Burger

This one may make more sense to wait on, but considering how impressive Shoemaker looked before his season ending injury last season I think it’s realistic enough. For Detroit, they pick up another high-end depth SP to help them for a potential repeat. They’d also be gaining 4.1 million, which is helpful considering they don’t have a ton of wiggle room at the moment being at 1.23 mil before this move.

Jake Burger represents the high upside approach I’d look for. Burger was a 2017 1st round pick that didn’t play in 2018 or 2019 due to injury, but there’s still a chance he can be the player that he was projected to be when he was picked 11th. Detroit was at a full 40, and Erlin has a bit of upside as a potential trade piece if he picks up a rotation spot in Pittsburgh.

UPDATED Cap Room: $16.3 Million

Trade Kurt Suzuki (2020: 1.5M 2021: FA), Daniel Poncedeleon (2 0.5M) and Jake McGee 2020: 500K 2021: 500K) to the Cincinnati Reds for Justin Turner (2020: 12M 2021: 14.5M) and $6.5 million

Turner represents the high upside plays in a different way. Coming off a meh season, Turner is probably obtainable at this price and I think just eating the cap for Turner and attempting to mobfor a big piece in the offseason when he’ll be a rental, but we can eat a ton of that contract for a better asset given that cap space isn’t important.

Trade Jordan Lyles (2020: 4.5M 2021: FA), Jason Vargas (2020: 2M 2021: FA), JA Happ (2020: 5M 2021: FA), Wade LeBlanc (2020: 1.5M 2021: FA), and 16.5 Million to the New York Mets for a 2022 1st round pick

This would have to be done after the draft, but I think it makes sense for both sides. Jack would value getting so much SP depth and the extra cap. We’d probably need one of Lyles or Happ to be having good years for this to be possible, with the rest just being general matchup dependent depth.

In getting a 1st, we’d be getting a better piece than any of those pieces could individually bring back. I think if Jeff is going to be inactive for long periods of time, going after high upside pieces makes more sense considering he’s not going to grind the WW or IFA’s in all likelihood.

UPDATED Cap Room: $9.8 million

Trade Nelson Cruz (2020: 9.0M 2021: FA) and 8.5 Million to the New York Yankees for Sandy Alcantara (2 0.5M)

This is reliant on Justin making a move, but I think it makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Justin would be adding a hitter with the ability to win him a week. Cruz has been the pinnacle of consistency, and adding him to a lineup filled with solid contributors could move Justin to the top tier of the AL.

From our perspective, Alcantara is the kinda guy I want to move Cruz for. An MLB piece that at the very least I can flip at some point if the rebuild takes longer than I hope, but he fits well timeframe wise with the Lux and Aquino.

From here is where I’d just be patient. It’s probably going to be a minute, but building around your draft picks (I’d be using the $9.8 million on a first round pick). If the farm is developing slowly I’d look at moving Aquino and Alcantara and possibly Lux if we are really blowing it up.

Overall: I think this franchise is honestly kinda close to Washington level bad. At the very least I’m nervous about how inactive Jeff is during the season. Up next will be an easy one, the Boston Red Sox.

[Orioles GM (Jeff)]

Great advice dude, I'm on it!

[Bravos James]

How I’d spend 2020: Boston Red Sox

Will has done a tremendous job in one thing since joining ODC, gaining assets. He’s sorta taken the tank thing to an extreme, being intentionally awful since joining the league in the beginning of the 2017 season.

The great thing he’s done is put himself in a position to be able to make a run whenever he feels like it. The bad thing he’s done is repeatedly make moves that look like he’s going to go in that direction, before ultimately flipping those guys for at times less than he moved them for.

Looking at the rest of the AL East is what makes the decision making tough with Boston. The Yankees that are set up with the biggest “young core” in ODC. Whether I like Justin or not, it’s hard to look at his team and say he doesn’t have a contender for the next five or six years given the way he’s going to run his team. Toronto has pieces, but I don’t look at them as somebody I’m worried about and I know I don’t have to worry about Tampa or Baltimore.

The timing of this is odd, but I think honestly now is the best time to sort of make that division run. I don’t think blowing everything up and going “all-in” is the answer, but I do think in year 3 of this rebuild there’s no reason that you can’t build something sustainable around Bregman and his two years of relative value on scale.

This one is going to be long.

General Information:
Cap Room: 0.8M
Non-Roster High-Level assets: 2020 TB 1st, 2021 CIN & SF 1st

The main goal early is going to be to see what starter level contributors we can bring in without moving any of our big assets in the farm.

NOTE: Some of these trades may seem like I’m giving up too much from Will’s perspective, but I do think the feedback Justin gave from the last article where some of the trades were unrealistic for the Orioles side is fair.

The first move is to look at the rosters and look for an answer at catcher for 2020.

Trade: Max Kranick, Johan Oviedo, and Antonio Gomez to the Texas Rangers for Christian Vazquez (6 1.0M), Ian Kennedy (2020: 4.5M 2021: FA), and 6.2 Million.

Claim: Kevin Plawecki (6 1.0M)

Simple logic here for both sides imo. I don’t see Texas bringing in better prospects than this in any deal involving these guys.
Most positions I’ll be looking for longer term viability, but given that Adley Rutschman and Daulton Varsho are two of the best long term options at catcher in here, I decided it’d be best to look for a cheaper rental.

Christian Vazquez will probably never be as good as he was in the 2019 season, but there’s still reason to believe he’ll be productive. I look at him as a completely average starting catcher in here, but that’s enough with the upgrades we should be able to put around him.

Plawecki is Vazquez’s backup in real life and now also in here. Rather than using more assets for a backup catcher, I’d rather just use the extra cash gained from the deal with Bill on Vazquez’s backup in Plawecki. He isn’t good, but if something happens to Vazquez he’d be potentially useful in that lineup.

Ian Kennedy is also a huge part of that deal (and why we moved two prospects I actually like). Kennedy is a rental and his name value isn’t particularly high, but given that he has 1 of 30 closer spots in all of baseball, he’s somebody that we need bring in given that most closers are already on contenders who aren’t going to move him. Also, Kennedy was quietly nasty last season (73:17 K:BB, 85th percentile for xWOBA).

He started throwing his fastball (65th percentile Velo, 80th percentile FB spin rate) at a career high 67% rate, and it’s easy to see why, as the pitch generated a 25.5% whiff rate and batters hit just .209 against it. I think he’s actually good and given how much he makes in real life I don’t think he gets moved at the deadline, meaning I see him as a season-long closer option for us.

Trade: Lewin Diaz, Alec Bohm, Josh Lowe, Corbin Martin (1 0.3M), Josh Naylor (2 0.5M), Joshua Rojas (2 0.5M), Zion Bannister, Bubba Thompson and the 2020 Tampa Bay Rays 1st round pick to the Oakland Athletics for Eugenio Suarez (EXT-1 2020: 9.25M 2021: 10.5M 2022-2024: 11.0M 2025:15M), Yu Darvish (FA 2021-2024: 8.93M), Seth Lugo (5 1.0M), and 17.6 Million dollars (cap neutral).

A’s perspective it’s simple, I think Paul is halfway in on a rebuild and a huge offer like this should push him towards making a move.

For us, this is the move that pushes us in a legitimate win-now direction. Suarez and Darvish are both every week starters that represent building blocks at each of their positions. Suarez was tremendous last season, and Darvish was Cy Young level good after a bad start to the season (2.95 ERA, 124:7 K:BB ratio over last 14 starts).

Lugo (2019: 6 saves, 21 holds, 80 IP 104:16 K:BB) is another great relief option to put with Kennedy for this year, with Lugo having an extra year of control next year.

Trade: Maikol Escotto to the Washington Nationals for Jon Berti (2 0.5M), Jace Fry (3 1.0M), and 1.4 Million dollars (cap neutral)


Escotto is probably a better prospect than what it would actually take for an above average depth infielder and meh holds rp with control, but Escotto is one of 40 talented young shortstops in this farm, so I’ll pay up here.

Berti is a SS/3B with a ton of control. He’s old, but if he plays like he did last year he’ll be useful for stretches. He makes Cole Tucker more moveable with Bregman having a better backup at SS in Berti now.

Trade: Kansas City Royals 2020 3rd round pick to the Colorado Rockies for Matt Magill (3 1.0M)

Was looking around Colorado to add some cheap depth in the same way we did from Boston before we look at more big moves. Not a lot there that I think helps us in 2020, but Magill is interesting.

Magill has been bad for most of his MLB career, but Seattle found something in him down the stretch last season. In 22 ⅓ innings as a Mariner, Magill had a 28:5 K:BB ratio with five saves. We can’t count on him as a saves option, but as a cheap lower end relief option, he fits what we’re looking for.

Trade: Bo Naylor, Adam Kloffenstein, Cole Tucker (2 0.5M), Peter Lambert (2 0.5M), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (3 1.0M), 2021 San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds 1st round picks for Robinson Cano (2020: 4.5M 2021: FA), Mark Melancon (2020: 1.3M 2021: 1.3M 2022: FA), Jurickson Profar (6 1.0M), Corey Dickerson (2020: 3.0M 2021: 8.0M), and 8 million dollars

Starting to tap into some of our better assets in moving two young prospects with very positive projectories in Naylor and Kloffenstein, along with two first round picks and intriguing young pieces in Tucker and Lambert.

We bring in a lot of help with this move. Our 2B hole is filled with Profar and Cano. Both of them disappointed massively in 2019, but Profar gets a new chance everyday in San Diego this season, while Cano was a lot better in the second half after dealing with injuries throughout the first half.

We also get our second closer. Melancon is very good, but I do worry about him losing that job to Smith. I think we need a third to have the dominant bullpen I think we need to have to compete against Justin. We’re not going to build the rotation he has, but if we can build a dominant bullpen to counter that being his biggest weakness, I think we can have a chance when we face his team.

Lastly, Dickerson just rakes whenever he plays (.828 OPS over the last 3 seasons). Health is an issue, but given that all Miami can offer is playing time, he should have a chance to rack up some counting numbers and be an every week option at LF.

Trade: Royce Lewis, Vidal Brujan, and Clarke Schmidt to the Chicago Cubs for Mike Trout (2020: 33.25M 2021-2030: 35.4M) and 33 Million dollars

This may not be enough, but two top 20-ish fantasy prospect and another fringe top 100 one for Trout feels fair given how much cap Trout takes for so long, but it’s worth it.

Trade: Joey Cantillo, Colin Barber, Victor Mesa Jr, and Omar Florentino to the Baltimore Orioles for Matt Shoemaker (2020: 4.5M 2021: FA) Nelson Cruz (2020: 9M 2021: FA), and 13.2 Million dollars (cap neutral)

Cantillo may not be a crazy great piece for Baltimore to bring back as the best prospect in a deal to move Cruz, but Barber, Mesa, Florentino are more than enough for Shoemaker and whatever the difference between Cantillo and Cruz’s value is.

Nelson Cruz just rakes. It’s year after year of him being one of the best power hitters in baseball. It’s a bit frustrating he can only play at UTIL, but we can make it work.

Shoemaker is a guy I’m probably going to write about a lot in these articles. I think he’s one healthy season away from getting a huge contract in here, and personally I’d want to take a flyer on him as my 6th or 7th starter.

3 Way Trade:
Boston Receives: Anthony Rizzo (2020: 9.5M 2021 14.5M 2022: FA), Jose Quintana (2020: 8.5M 2021: FA), 18.0 Million (9.5 ARZ, 8.5M CLE)

Arizona Receives: Miguel Sano (6 3.0M), Alexander Mojica, Anthony Banda, Jesus Parra

Cleveland Receives: Spencer Howard, Reginald Preciado, Andy Pages

There’s no rebuilders moving high-end first basemen, and while Psych says he wants to compete, I think a big offer for his best hitter could lead to a move. He gets a top 75 prospect, along with two recent high-end IFA’s.

Hemmons has a big hole at 3B, so Sano and prospects for Rizzo made sense for both sides.

Rizzo offers consistency that I value highly. The lineup is putting itself into place with Trout-Bregman-Suarez-Rizzo-Cruz-Profar-Dickerson-Vasquez, but we still need a lot of pitching, along with a starting RF and some depth OF”s and a backup 1B.

Trade: Wil Crowe and Noah Song to the San Francisco Giants for Chad Green (4 1.0M) and 800K

Trade: Wenceel Perez and Pedro Mota to the Kansas City Royals for Nick Wittigren (5 1.80M) and 1.60M

Simpler moves to bring in controllable relief pitching.

Trade: Andrew Vaughn, Osleivis Basabe, Noelvi Marte, Trevor Rogers and Jordyn Adams to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Matt Boyd (6 3.0M), Josh Hader (3 1.0M), and 3.5 Million dollars (cap neutral)

I don’t love this one, but I figured to get these guys from a team that’s sort of thinking about contending we’d have to overpay.

Boyd helps our SP’s but there’s still a lot of work to go there. On the other hand, our bullpen is just about finished. Here’s how it looks

Saves: Josh Hader
Saves: Ian Kennedy
Saves: Mark Melancon
SV/HLD: Seth Lugo
Holds: Chad Green
Holds: Nick Wittigren
Holds: Jace Fry
Holds: Matt Magill

I feel good about that. We may have to make a move for one more good holds source, but that’s something that is easily done in season if needed.

Trade: Ronny Henriquez to the Milwaukee Brewers for Delino Deshields

I think Deshields is going to start everyday for Cleveland and he represents a relatively cheap steals threat and a backup in CF if something happens to Trout.

Trade: George Valera, Antonio Cabello, Rafael Morel, and Kevin Alcantara to the New York Mets for Michael Conforto (6 3.75M), Daniel Norris (6 1.0M), and 4 Million dollars

There are almost no RF’s reasonably available, but Conforto is very good and having him for a year with a chance to resign him is good.

Trade: Liover Peguero and Aaron Bracho for Shin-Soo Choo (2020: 4.0M 2021: FA), Ryon Healy (5 1.0M), and 5 Million dollars

Choo is perfect for this fit. He’s LF and RF eligible, meaning he gives us a great backup if something happens to Conforto or Dickerson, both of whom have struggled staying healthy in the past. He’s also helpful enough to take the UTIL role if something happens to Cruz. Healy is just taking a shot he can revive some of his value in a part-time role with a nice ballpark in Milwaukee.

I feel good about our bats at every position, with solid backups in as well. The bullpen has been discussed, but we still need two starters.

Trade: Julio Rodriguez, Brailyn Marquez, and Matt Tabor to the Atlanta Braves for Zac Gallen (2 0.5M), Kenta Maeda (2020: 4M 2021: 4M 2022: 4M), and 4.2 Million (cap neutral)

I am a firm believer in Zac Gallen as an ace. Darvish-Gallen-Boyd-Maeda-Quintana isn’t the strongest starting five, but it’s one that still lets us keep a lot of our best prospects (ahem Wander Franco) as a piece if a true ace with control becomes available.

I think the reason I wanted to do this exercise just to see how easy it would be for Will to put together a contender for this year, I felt like I may have even given up too much prospect value in some trades and was able to keep the following “bolds”

- Adley Rutschman
- Daulton Varsho
- Wander Franco
- Ronny Mauricio
- Brayan Rocchio
- Alek Thomas
-Daniel Lynch

c’mon will, it’s time.

This is the end result of this exercise.

LINEUP:
C: Christian Vazquez 2- Kevin Plawecki
1B: Anthony Rizzo 2- Ryon Healy
2B: Jurickson Profar 2- Robinson Cano
3B: Eugenio Suarez 2- Jon Berti
SS: Alex Bregman 2- Jon Berti
LF: Corey Dickerson 2- Shin-Soo Choo
CF: Mike Trout 2- Delino Deshields
RF: Michael Conforto 2- Shin-Soo Choo
UT: Nelson Cruz 2- Shin-Soo Choo

ROTATION:
1) Yu Darvish
2) Zac Gallen
3) Matt Boyd
4) Kenta Maeda
5) Jose Quintana
6) Matt Shoemaker
7) Daniel Norris
8) Trevor Richards

BULLPEN:
Closer: Josh Hader
Closer: Ian Kennedy
Closer: Mark Melancon
Set-Up: Seth Lugo
Set-Up: Chad Green
Set-Up: Nick Wittigren
RP: Matt Magill
RP: Jace Fry