Seattle or Bust wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 5:31 pm
They are not wrong. The M's aren't going to do much of anything in free agency.
They'll get out from Haniger's $$ with prospects and then move money around in trades to account for the existing holes. They could move Castillo and go with a less expensive 3/4 in the rotation.
As it sits, they're projected to be at $148 million with the current roster and they ended '24 at $148 million. They've said payroll will increase, but only marginally. I'll say when all is said and done the M's go into '25 at no more than $155 million on the books. You can't fill 1B, 2B, 3B with $7 million. You're not adding any big free agents either. You've got to move money.
I would not be upset with any of these moves. But I don't see most of them as working.
Here's how I see it:
Colt Emerson is the heir apparent at SS. He will burst onto the scene in 2026 as JP's tenure with the M's is drawing to a close. That's assuming he doesn't flame out in the minors before then. So we don't need to go out and do something stupid like sign Kim or Willy Adames to some insanely long or insanely expensive contract at SS.
We desperately need a solid 2B. Again, we've got Cole Young who will likely be stepping up in 2025. What he need is a short term option at 2B until Young makes it to the bigs. Torres is going to want 3-4 years, and Kim is unlikely to take a 1 or even 2 year deal. So unless ownership knows something that we don't, they likely should have stuck with Polanco for a year. But they let the door hit him on the ass on the way out, so they are likely going to have to get someone through trade at 2B.
That's leaves 3B and 1B. I would be giddy if they decided to go all in on Bregman. But that doesn't seem like their style. But who knows? The last big contract they offered in free agency is pitching for the Giants now. JP's only got 2 more years left. That leaves JRod and Castillo as the long term, big money commitments. Maybe they are looking at the big picture rather than just the next year or so. As you say, SoB, maybe they can move the last year of Haniger, and maybe Castillo would agree to a trade to a more competitive team (like the Red Sox or Dodgers). That's frees up capital to go after Bregman, a 3/4 pitcher, and a decent 1B with Bregman being the marquis acquisition.
Question: would anyone take Carlos Santana on a 2-3 year deal? The dude still has pop (23 homers), and he just won a gold glove at 1B for crying out loud. He's league average in OPS and OPS+, but compared to the codswhallop we've trotted out...
