23 Offseason - Other Team Needs and Actions

[petes999]

I thought as we are looking around at what we can do, we may also look at what other teams are looking to do. Thus, for those who want to dive into other teams’ potential needs further, let’s look at maybe 1 team every day or two. Based on reverse records

Washington Nationals 55-107 (#11 FG Farm System)

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Nationals' off-season plan | TalkNats.com

Hello and welcome to the 2022-23 off-season preview — two months early! We are going to do a deep dive into all things roster construction-related in the wake of Tuesday’s massive Juan Soto trade and how to set the Nats up … Continue reading →

www.talknats.com

Nats’ Rule 5 Decisions

The Washington Nationals are the worst team in baseball. They’re likely going to have the first pick in the Rule

halfsthighheat.com

They were decimated by injuries this year, in particular with Strasburg who is still in question after just pitching like 35 innings in 3 years. Yet, they have a wave of rookies coming up. Even with all the free agents being cleared by FG from 40 man, they still have 41 players with Cruz wanting to come back on a mutual option of $16 million (will their FO pick it up with Voit as a 1b/DH too?). Probably not.

However, they also have a bunch of high prospects needing to be rostered…

Rule 5-Eligible Players from MLB’s Top 30 Nationals Prospects: Jackson Rutledge (#6), Matt Cronin (#15), Jeremy De La Rosa (#16), Drew Millas (#22), Jackson Cluff (#24), Israel Pineda (#26), Jordy Barley (#28), Mason Denaburg (#29), Jake Irvin (#30), Alu

Possible Cuts – Antuna, Barrera, Casey, F. Perez (ex-Cle), Romero, Call

BTV non-tender candidates - Paolo Espino, Erick Fedde, Carter Kieboom, Victor Robles, Ildemaro Vargas, Luke Voit, Jordan Weems

Needs – 3B (Alu in AAA) and SP (but Henry and Irvin in AAA) – and one more year for Robles to break through in CF

Strength – Bullpen … thus for Rule 5, where do they hide these guys? Yet, only one lefty …

FG- 35+ starts around 27th prospect for FG (Comparison – Gaddis at FG 37 is a 40 FV, Miko was 25th 40+) – so could use more depth if we leave someone off.

And, they will want to find some FA to jump start their rebuild, so are they really a big Rule 5 player, even with first pick? So maybe 1 pick (but they need to still trim a lot of younger players).

Anyone that Guardians want other than Call back (not how he maybe deferred even to get other guys on the roster)? Not really as Ruiz is a keeper and Barrera (extra catcher is a cut candidate).

 

[petes999]

Oakland Athletics 60-102 (22nd Ranked Farm System)

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2024 Oakland Athletics MLB Depth Charts updated daily with the latest transactions, roster moves, injury list, lineups, probable starting pitchers, and minor league players.

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(very light on fan forums and news)

I actually thought that they would have a bigger Rule 5 problem then us with all their wheeling and dealing. Their farm system isn't even ranked that high due to not enough 50FV top prospects (like we have). However, it will be a bigger issue for them next year. Right now, with a few FAs gone and trades made, they sit at 42 players. FG had

Must-Add Prospects: Logan Davidson, Colin Peluse, Jack Weisenburger

Current 40-man Fringe: Vimael Machín, Tony Kemp (arb3) , Dermis Garcia, Cody Thomas

Prospects on the Fringe: Kyle McCann, Euribiel Angeles, Lawrence Butler (Butler and Angeles are like Noel last year A+ mid-teen prospects). McCann is a once mid-teen catching prospect at AAA

BTV NTC - Deolis Guerra, Vimael Machin, Cristian Pache, Joel Payamps, Sam Selman

Biggest excess is catching with Murphy, Langaliers, Soderstrom and McCann. Something has to break.

Biggest need is what to do if Allen and Pache don’t materialize and work on the back-end of their pen as Cyr and Payamps (their 6th/7th guy per FG) were August roster claims but did okay. They need someone to replace Kemp at 2nd after this year. Yet, if Murphy is traded, the biggest need is a FOR starter to pair with Waldichuk (reason they are holding out for top line deal).

FG- 35+ starts around 32th prospect (Comparison – Gaddis at 37 is a 40, Miko was 25th 40+).

Rule 5 – Even though FG says it is a crunch, I expect a whole bunch of roster cuts like Clement and others to be let go. This is what they do (like we use to) – claim, hold and dump and hope they clear waivers). But if Murphy is traded, they are going to need room for those prospects too (that will take their extra room). Due to back-end bullpen needs, they will look at Rule 5 list to find that pitcher like Stephan. Yet, with being at 42 and adding around 4-5 prospects, they need to cut 7-8 players to add anyone, but they can let go of Stevenson, Clement, Machin, Garcia, Thomas, maybe MacKinnon and then add in a AAA relief/starter or two… to select a pitcher or two in Rule 5.

Their relief pitching issue can be fixed within too … RR has Irvin as their Ace (not really but did okay), 1st round picks of Blackburn and Kapriellian and NY trade guys of Sears and Waldichuk finish their rotation. That leaves 6-7 AAA starters on their 40 – 4 recent trades of Medina, Martinez, Logue, Oiler and then Koenig and Wiles (two Rule 5 cut candidates along with Ruiz and Snead in their AAA pen) plus Peluse (Rule 5 add) and also have Criswell off 40. Another reason that they are holding out for top 100 guys (enough depth brewing) but also these are some extra arms for bullpen if Rule 5 doesn’t work out.

Who do they have that we want – Murphy, Langeliers and Soderstrom (bats left like Naylor). But the cost with Naylor coming up is (probably( too great for Murphy (Valera, Rochhio, Espino -- 2 of 3) and Langeliers is staying. Per MLBTR, The Rays, Guardians, Cubs, Marlins, Tigers, Red Sox, Twins and several others teams could plausibly look into Murphy this winter. – in their overhype to create buzz. Yet, Oakland dream is Rocchio and Espino for Murphy.

 

[CDAV45]

Great job Pete! Thanks!

 

[Gson]

Daniel Susac is also a backstop within the A's system.. He rivals Soderstrom w/r to ability.. but, is clearly not at the same level as Langeliers.. w/r to his blocking and receiving.. but every other part of his game is there and coming on.. He'd be a FINE addition to ANY catching group..

 

[MadThinker88]

Good idea and concept for posts Pete.
-------------------------------------------------------
Just a word of caution re: Washington... their GM Mike Rizzo is noted as a very tough person to make trades with. Unlike CLE where they set a value and stick to it, Rizzo operates on needing to "win" the trade. He expects and pushes for others to overpay for the talent they get back.

IF I was the CLEFO I would make the call to inquire about interest & availability (do the due diligence) but look to make a deal with another club..

 

[petes999]

Pittsburgh – 62-100 (#4 FG Farm System)

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2024 Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Depth Charts updated daily with the latest transactions, roster moves, injury list, lineups, probable starting pitchers, and minor league players.

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Pirates Rule 5 draft preview: Who'll be protected? Who'll be left off the list?

Eleven of the club's top 30 prospects will be eligible for the draft unless they're placed on the 40-man roster this offseason.

theathletic.com

Pittsburgh Pirates: Previewing Rule 5 Eligible Prospects

The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of Rule 5 eligible players, so let's take a look at every single eligible player in the organization.

rumbunter.com

This is where the 40 man issues start, even for a younger team. Yet, they are still trying to find prospects off the scrap pile like Andujar who in 9 games hit .250 and have a lot of roster space used by guys who are just fillers (so can have a lot of turnover). At 44 roster spaces plus 5 adds, they got to cut 10 or so to be eligible for draft which can happen but then leave the mlb roster bare as well of experience.

From FanGraph before trade deadline, so add Nunez as must add but a few more cuts come from Solomon, Sanchez, Collins and Goody and others.

Must-Add Prospects: Ji-hwan Bae (#11), Mike Burrows (#9), Matt Fraizer (#16), Endy Rodriguez (#6), Dariel Lopez (#23)

Current 40-man Fringe: Chris Stratton, Kevin Newman, Duane Underwood Jr., Manny Bañuelos, Cal Mitchell, Miguel Yajure, Jack Suwinski, Yohan Ramirez, Hoy Park

Prospects on the Fringe: Austin Roberts, J.C. Flowers, Jared Triolo (#24), Blake Sabol, Abrahan Gutierrez, Maikol Escotto (#21), Matt Gorski (#22), Mason Martin (#17 last year), Santiago Florez, Eddy Yean, Tahnaj Thomas (#29), Ricky DeVito

BTV NTC - : Miguel Andujar, Wil Crowe, Junior Fernandez, Tyler Heineman, Kevin Newman, Robert Stephenson, Duane Underwood, Jr., Bryse Wilson

Biggest needs -- 1st base (Andujar?) and SP (especially higher ranked prospects – FOR, like everyone else). Did you know, we have 3 of the top 13 FG prospect SP. They have a lot of depth coming up through the ranks but more bats than pitchers (which helps w Rule 5 as pitchers usually go more maybe 75%+ of selections).

FG- 35+ starts around 48th prospect (our is 41st – shows depth and future Rule 5 issues).

Rule 5 – Yes, they can make room but with a wave of prospects coming, they need to cut their fringe guys to add a pick. Yet, they also are going to expose guys like Martin (40 FV but falling out of favor) or Escotto (45+ but A+ level) or Thomas who are then eligible to be picked by others just to pick someone who is equivalent to their own. This would be interesting that the 3rd overall pick is not used (or traded). They can also cut their aging prospects like Njiba but just to select a Rule 5 guy that needs to be on main roster versus giving their own guys one more year?

Who do Guardians want – You can always have Reynolds on this list as he has almost even splits (slightly better from left side). Yet, with slightly negative defensive WAR as CF, I don’t know how much he is still on our list (as I said elsewhere 2.9 WAR vs Straw’s 2.0 WAR). The fastest prospect riser, Endy Rodriquez, would be interesting but they need catchers soon (can’t count on Delay and Heineman – or even their pick up Zack Collins from waiver wire). And with his bat, he can pair up nicely with Davis as extra 1B/DH on off days. And, his value is either #33 overall prospect per FG to 97th per mlb pipeline. I would give up a Jones or Freeman (plus some) for him but not Naylor/Rocchio level guy. They do have other catchers eligible for Rule 5 but none stands out Gutierrez (average catcher good bat but AA going to AAA like Lavastida), Sabol (below average catcher, solid bat) and Bins (defense but no offense) and all need protection. They also have righty Nunez with few games at AAA for 1B/3B, but he is someone who they need for their own needs come mid-season.

 

[petes999]

Just a word of caution re: Washington... their GM Mike Rizzo is noted as a very tough person to make trades with. Unlike CLE where they set a value and stick to it, Rizzo operates on needing to "win" the trade. He expects and pushes for others to overpay for the talent they get back.

IF I was the CLEFO I would make the call to inquire about interest & availability (do the due diligence) but look to make a deal with another club..

I am just doing this to kill some time -- especially before Rule 5. I thought it would help people to see it is easy to worry about Rule 5 but like today Pitts has a bigger issue than we do with Rule 5 hitters (thus don't worry about GRod in A+ ball). I don't expect many teams to have guys that we want. Yet, it also shows that with Pitt, if you want Reynolds (which I don't think we need anymore), it needs to start with our top prospects as a trade isn't going to come from our depth prospects (as they have a deeper system then we do and thus more Rule 5 concerns).

 

[petes999]

Cincinnati – 62-100 (#8 FG Farm System)

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2024 Cincinnati Reds MLB Depth Charts updated daily with the latest transactions, roster moves, injury list, lineups, probable starting pitchers, and minor league players.

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Predicting the Cincinnati Reds 2022-23 offseason roster

The Cincinnati Reds front office will need to decide who stays, who goes, and which prospects to protect from the Rule 5 Draft.

blogredmachine.com

Cincinnati is clearly a team on the rebuild as it is basically Greene, Lodolo and Stephenson and everyone else as they start to weed out their Oscar Mercado types. At least is seems that Pitt and Oakland are turning the corner and Washington won’t stay down for long. Yet, Cincinnati is still in the depths of a rebuild. They are at 39 players on 40 man with a lot of peopel that could be weeded out like our friend Kyle Dowdy. Per the big red machine blog (roster spots)

25 locks - Joey Votto, Jonthan India, Michael Siani, Connor Overton, Nick Lodolo, Jake Fraley, Jeff Hoffman, Graham Ashcraft, TJ Friedl, Alexis Diaz, Tyler Stephenson, Tony Santillan, Stuart Fairchild, Reiver Sanmartin, Alejo Lopez, Lucas Sims, Kyle Farmer, Hunter Greene, Tejay Antone, Allan Cerda, Spencer Steer, Luis Cessa, Jose Barrero, Justin Dunn, Fernando Cruz

8 – possible -- Nick Senzel, Matt Reynolds, Art Warren, Buck Farmer, Dauri Moreta, Joel Kuhnel, Ian Gibaut, Vladimir Gutierrez

7 – adds - Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Brandon Williamson, Levi Stoudt, TJ Hopkins, Daniel Vellojin, Ricky Karcher

In another forum, someone else said
KEEPERS (22): Antonne, Ashcraft, Cessa, F. Cruz, A. Diaz, Greene, Lodolo, Moretta, Overton, Santilan, Sims, Stephenson, Barrero, K. Farmer, India, Steer, Votto, Cerda, Fraley, Friedl, Senzel, Siani.

BUBBLE (14) (Most of this group could be dropped and resigned as Minor League FA) : Duarte, Dunn (NON_TENDER), Fairchild, B. Farmer, Gibault, V. Gutierrez, Law, Sanmartin, Soloman, Kovalsvary, A. Lopez, Reynolds, Aquino, Moustakas.

GOOD RIDDANCE (15): (Includes FA) Anderson, Dowdy, Espinal, Hendrix, Hoffman , Kuhnel, Minor, Strickland, Warren, Wilson, Garcia, Papierski, Robinson, Romine, Solano

BTV NTC (non-tender candidates) - Jose Barrero, Luis Cessa, Buck Farmer, Kyle Farmer, Jeff Hoffman, Nick Senzel

Thus, for Rule 5, they are close to the limit but can easily clear a space or two to add someone (and probably the first team on this list in most need). But note, the first article has already left of Aquino and Moustakas. The fan base is getting restless and want change quickly. And, some people are even wondering if they will tender Kyle Farmer with Barrero ready and De La Cruz coming up in a year (kind of like our Rosario). Fans can be just brutal, right?

Biggest needs – OF, back-up catcher (as Yang is listed as back-up but needs Rule 5 protection which isn’t realistic) and starters … a lot of areas to clean up before they contend

Guardians Interest – There is always Senzel for the guys who don’t like Straw. Yet, they basically sold off anyone that we were interested in.

 

[sportscoach]

Baseball Trade Values: Non-tender Candidates from Each Team

Every year around this time, we comb through our numbers and see which players on each team may be non-tender candidates (that is, players who...

www.baseballtradevalues.com

This is actually a pretty nice article on who could be non-tendered...

 

[petes999]

Detroit Tigers 65-97 (#23 FG Farm System – slightly ahead of KC)

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2024 Detroit Tigers MLB Depth Charts updated daily with the latest transactions, roster moves, injury list, lineups, probable starting pitchers, and minor league players.

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2023 Detroit Tigers offseason blueprint, part 1: 40-man roster construction - Detroit Sports Nation

The 2023 Detroit Tigers offseason blueprint has to begin with a discussion around the 40-man roster and what it will take to get it right.

detroitsportsnation.com

They are going to be gutting their roster (a lot of mediocre players) as it sits with 47 players and they need to add a few of
• RHP Reese Olson, #9 prospect
• OF Parker Meadows, #16 prospect
• RHP Austin Bergner, #15 prospect
• IF Wenceel Perez, #14 prospect
• IF Andre Lipcius, #22 prospect
• OF Eric De la Rosa
• RHP Zack Hess

The directive of their new GM is
1. Acquire, develop, and retain young players
2. Create a culture of development
3. Dominate the strike zone on both sides of the ball

BTV NTC - Harold Castro, Jose Cisnero, Miguel Diaz, Rony Garcia, Bryan Garcia, Austin Meadows, Victor Reyes

Even though the GM seems to want to take things slow, the fans want a big splash of Correra. Two big remaining questions are player options on Schoop($7.5) and Chafin ($7). With not a lot of upper level top prospects (with promotions of Tork, Greene and Mize), they need to be creative to do a roster makeover. But, even this guy from Detroit sports nations says cutting 10 players is hard – Candelario, Reyes, Lester, Short, Garcia, Castillo, Cameron, W Castro and even Soto. So who is really going to be a big player in Rule 5? Now, I think this guy reached a bit on Soto (due to GM wanting strike thrower and his high walk rate). And, there are recent waiver claims of Papierski or Jeremine Palacios that can also get lost in the sea of cuts coming and be sent back to minors.

Biggest need – C, 3B, 2B/SS. Dilinger is their catcher of future but need to resign a Barnhart or Hedges for another year till then as Haase isn’t a starter. Starting Pitching with Maze and Skubal out (TJS and flex tendon surgery) could be deepened. Yet, they need to focus on hitting as who in their line-up will be a threat beyond Greene and Tork (if/when he adjusts to MLB pitching)? Baez with his off year? Dilinger is their next big position player up, maybe in a year. Thus, they either have to go heavy in FA or hold onto some of their NTC till they get others in (from a depleted farm system) to replace them.

Have anything that Guardians want? Here is Sports Coach’s high leverage lefty in Soto but he has a negative WAR this year and a high walk rate (which won’t play well next year with holding runners on changes – where walks become doubles). His splits are also reversed. But, we have a bunch of middle infielders that they would like in return. I would pass. I wanted Guardians to draft Dilinger but Detroit ain’t trading him.

 

[Gson]

The Guardians would be thrilled to allow the Tigers and their rudderless leadership to continue doing what they've been doing for the last decade.. Maybe sign Correa to a 12 year $ 1/2 Billion dollar deal with a big signing bonus.. with an opt out after every year.. just keep that culture churning in every direction.. what a cluster/fubar that once proud franchise has become...

Sorry if this seems like I'm sugar coating it..

 

[Gson]

I thought as we are looking around at what we can do, we may also look at what other teams are looking to do. Thus, for those who want to dive into other teams’ potential needs further, let’s look at maybe 1 team every day or two. Based on reverse records

Washington Nationals 55-107 (#11 FG Farm System)

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2024 Washington Nationals MLB Depth Charts updated daily with the latest transactions, roster moves, injury list, lineups, probable starting pitchers, and minor league players.

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Nationals' off-season plan | TalkNats.com

Hello and welcome to the 2022-23 off-season preview — two months early! We are going to do a deep dive into all things roster construction-related in the wake of Tuesday’s massive Juan Soto trade and how to set the Nats up … Continue reading →

www.talknats.com

Nats’ Rule 5 Decisions

The Washington Nationals are the worst team in baseball. They’re likely going to have the first pick in the Rule

halfsthighheat.com

They were decimated by injuries this year, in particular with Strasburg who is still in question after just pitching like 35 innings in 3 years. Yet, they have a wave of rookies coming up. Even with all the free agents being cleared by FG from 40 man, they still have 41 players with Cruz wanting to come back on a mutual option of $16 million (will their FO pick it up with Voit as a 1b/DH too?). Probably not.

However, they also have a bunch of high prospects needing to be rostered…

Rule 5-Eligible Players from MLB’s Top 30 Nationals Prospects: Jackson Rutledge (#6), Matt Cronin (#15), Jeremy De La Rosa (#16), Drew Millas (#22), Jackson Cluff (#24), Israel Pineda (#26), Jordy Barley (#28), Mason Denaburg (#29), Jake Irvin (#30), Alu

Possible Cuts – Antuna, Barrera, Casey, F. Perez (ex-Cle), Romero, Call

BTV non-tender candidates - Paolo Espino, Erick Fedde, Carter Kieboom, Victor Robles, Ildemaro Vargas, Luke Voit, Jordan Weems

Needs – 3B (Alu in AAA) and SP (but Henry and Irvin in AAA) – and one more year for Robles to break through in CF

Strength – Bullpen … thus for Rule 5, where do they hide these guys? Yet, only one lefty …

FG- 35+ starts around 27th prospect for FG (Comparison – Gaddis at FG 37 is a 40 FV, Miko was 25th 40+) – so could use more depth if we leave someone off.

And, they will want to find some FA to jump start their rebuild, so are they really a big Rule 5 player, even with first pick? So maybe 1 pick (but they need to still trim a lot of younger players).

Anyone that Guardians want other than Call back (not how he maybe deferred even to get other guys on the roster)? Not really as Ruiz is a keeper and Barrera (extra catcher is a cut candidate).

Interesting response to a trade proposal in a Nat Chat on MLB Tr..

Joshua
5:14
Re: Possible Joey Meneses trade. Who says no.....Nats send Meneses to the Guardians for Gavin Williams?

Mark P
5:15
Cleveland says no. Williams is a top 40ish kind of pitching prospect, and not the kind of player the Guardians would give up for a lottery ticket like Meneses

 

[CDAV45]

Interesting response to a trade proposal in a Nat Chat on MLB Tr..

Joshua
5:14
Re: Possible Joey Meneses trade. Who says no.....Nats send Meneses to the Guardians for Gavin Williams?

Mark P
5:15
Cleveland says no. Williams is a top 40ish kind of pitching prospect, and not the kind of player the Guardians would give up for a lottery ticket like Meneses

Well hell yes Cleveland says no. They say no while laughing loudly. Meneses is 30 f'n yrs old. Sometimes I wonder if these geniuses even consider their ideas before blurting them out?

 

[MadThinker88]

Well hell yes Cleveland says no. They say no while laughing loudly. Meneses is 30 f'n yrs old. Sometimes I wonder if these geniuses even consider their ideas before blurting them out?

The push/ insistence to outright win/ dominate a trade results in fewer & fewer trade partners.
With a limited number of teams the Nationals can trade with already (only 29 other clubs), that is a recipe for long term problems and disaster...

 

[CDAV45]

The push/ insistence to outright win/ dominate a trade results in fewer & fewer trade partners.
With a limited number of teams the Nationals can trade with already (only 29 other clubs), that is a recipe for long term problems and disaster...

Thing is, Meneses might be a good add or he might not be. There isn't really a track record to base a decision from. He's a 30 yr old rookie that had a very good 222 AB this season. I'd be willing to give him a look, but not at the cost of Williams or anything close to him. I'd deal any of Battenfield, Curry, Pilkington, Plesac, or Gaddis for him. That's the extent I'd go to.