Fair question... My list to protect:
Nolan Jones
Gabrial Arias
Jose Fermin
Eli Morgan
I also protect 2 of following 3 arms: Luis Oviedo/ Carlos Vargas/ Gregori Vasquez
I would also look to have 2 or 3 open spots on the 40 man to absorb players from:
a) a trade of Lindor (or some other Tribe talent)
b) a signing/ resigning of a FA player
c) possible selection of a player another team leaves exposed in the R5 draft..
That means 8 to 9 spots being opened on the roster. Players going into Free agency & non-tendering of some players will accomplish most of that but some space will still need to be made.
What is you list? Which way are you going??
At the current moment we had 41 on the 40 man, 3 are free agents, Hernandez, O. Perez and Leon.
Then its really looking like Hand and Carlos option years won't be taken.
Putting us down to 36. Then I personally would cut Cimber, Plutko, Zimmer (try to outright all three).
Putting us at 33, We can still cut DeShields. If Jones ends up in the OF not 3B, I'd be willing to do that, so down to 32. Mike Freeman I would personally keep because our INF is pretty much right handed, we need an utility from the left side.
Lindor trade likely will merit a guy on the 40 man roster keeping it at 32.
Now at the current moment, I am not sure who is at 2B, SS, Closer, plus we have no lefties in the bullpen. We did cut two OFs, but we had 10 on the roster, so I am not worried about losing 2 there. No starters though are 100% established.
Now we all agree upon keeping Arias, Jones and Morgan. So that would put our roster to 35, so 5 more spots to fill.
We have to get a left handed reliever, Gose can declare a free agent if we dont add him, so I am guessing one-two of the spots will be a left handed reliever. So let's say we add two lefties. Putting us at 37. With three spots left i am guessing its going to be Clement, Fermin and one of those pitchers you mentioned.
So my 40 man roster...
Out: O. Perez, Hand, Carlos, Hernandez, Leon, Cimber, Plutko, Zimmer, DeShields.
Added: 2 lefty relievers (Gose?, veteran?) Jones, Arias, Clement, Morgan, Player in lindor trade, and A pitcher (Oviedo?).
Bradley gets cut/hopefully outrighted if we resign Santana, is Mejia better than the other guys you mentioned? Has Bauers matured? Mike Freeman worth keeping one more year? Which Maton will be in 21? Hill worth keepiing?
Thoughts?