A baffling off season plan

[Seattle or Bust]

A baffling off season plan for a baffling franchise. The M's add about $26 million in payroll in this plan... up from the reported $16 million said to be available.

Trade 1:
Seattle trades SS Cole Young and OF Mitch Haniger to the White Sox for OF Luis Robert.

Why?
Perhaps the best salary dump + prospect scenario when you consider the boom-type impact Robert can have. The M's have to figure out a way to add impact but not increase payroll (%$&#!!!) and Robert's $15 million is a wash with the Haniger money. There are those who are weary of Robert's tough 2nd half last year... I'll give him grace and chalk it up to him hitting for one of the worst offenses in MLB history. When right, Robert is a potential 40-homer bat who can hang a .270/.340/.500 split. The trade allows for Robert to be your primary DH against righties and a platoon split in the OF with Raley against lefties. Yes, giving up Cole Young sucks... but if Robert is a boom... his $20 million club options in '26 and '27 could look like a steal.

Trade 2:
Seattle trades LHP Gabe Speier and RHP Emerson Hancock to the Orioles for 1B Ryan Mountcastle.

Why?
A solid platoon partner with Raley at 1B. Mountcastle isn't an elite bat, but he's done good work against lefties in his career to the tune of an .841 OPS. He's controlled for 2x years somewhat cheaply at $6 million in '25 and then a slight bump in '26. The Orioles add depth to their rotation in Hancock who hasn't really gotten the chance to establish himself and a solid reliver in Speier to add to their bullpen depth.

Trade 3:
Seattle trades RHP Logan Evans, 1B Tyler Locklear, 2B Ryan Bliss to the Rays for 2B Brandon Lowe and LHP Colin Poche.

Why?
I like the idea of the M's adding a lefty bat to the infield and despite his injury history, Lowe has been a big producer with the bat when available. He's pretty much been a 30HR/162 bat with a career 125 OPS+ who doesn't need a platoon. Poche put up a 2.52 ERA in '23 and followed it with a solid 3.86 ERA in '24. He's only under control through 2025 and the Rays could flip him for prospects like what is featured in this deal.

Free Agent 1:
Seattle signs 3B Yoan Moncada to a 1-year $5 million deal.

Why?
Simply put, the M's do not have a viable 3B option and they do not have much money to spend. Moncada is an injury risk but also carries boom traits. Put it this way, if the M's were willing to give Luis Urias $5 million last year, Moncada would be a no brainer given what he can do when healthy. He's a switch hitter with decent power and contact numbers through his career.

Free Agent 2:
Seattle signs LHP AJ Minter to a 2-year $12 million deal, with a 2nd year player option for $7 million.

Why?
Minter is an elite reliever that has delt with some injury issues which could cause his value to take a hit in free agency. He underwent season-ending hip surgery in September. Perhaps Seattle is an enticing place to come in on a short-term deal to build his value back up. Despite the injuries, he still hung a 2.62 ERA of 34 innings in '24.

Roster:

1. Victor Robles LF
2. Brandon Lowe 2B
3. Julio Rodriguez CF
4. Cal Raleigh C
5. Randy Arozarena RF
6. Luke Raley 1B/OF
7. Luis Robert OF/DH
8. Joan Moncada 3B
9. JP Crawford SS

Bench: Mitch Garver C, Dylan Moore Util

1. Logan Gilbert
2. George Kirby
3. Luis Castillo
4. Bryce Miller
5. Bryan Woo

CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, AJ Minter, Gregory Santos
ML/LL: Trent Thornton, Collin Snider, Troy Taylor, Colin Poche, Tayler Saucedo

[Pharmabro]

It’s good enough for what’s left, but why Poche,what do you see there?

[Bil522]

A baffling off season plan for a baffling franchise. The M's add about $26 million in payroll in this plan... up from the reported $16 million said to be available.

Trade 1:
Seattle trades SS Cole Young and OF Mitch Haniger to the White Sox for OF Luis Robert.

Why?
Perhaps the best salary dump + prospect scenario when you consider the boom-type impact Robert can have. The M's have to figure out a way to add impact but not increase payroll (%$&#!!!) and Robert's $15 million is a wash with the Haniger money. There are those who are weary of Robert's tough 2nd half last year... I'll give him grace and chalk it up to him hitting for one of the worst offenses in MLB history. When right, Robert is a potential 40-homer bat who can hang a .270/.340/.500 split. The trade allows for Robert to be your primary DH against righties and a platoon split in the OF with Raley against lefties. Yes, giving up Cole Young sucks... but if Robert is a boom... his $20 million club options in '26 and '27 could look like a steal.

Trade 2:
Seattle trades LHP Gabe Speier and RHP Emerson Hancock to the Orioles for 1B Ryan Mountcastle.

Why?
A solid platoon partner with Raley at 1B. Mountcastle isn't an elite bat, but he's done good work against lefties in his career to the tune of an .841 OPS. He's controlled for 2x years somewhat cheaply at $6 million in '25 and then a slight bump in '26. The Orioles add depth to their rotation in Hancock who hasn't really gotten the chance to establish himself and a solid reliver in Speier to add to their bullpen depth.

Trade 3:
Seattle trades RHP Logan Evans, 1B Tyler Locklear, 2B Ryan Bliss to the Rays for 2B Brandon Lowe and LHP Colin Poche.

Why?
I like the idea of the M's adding a lefty bat to the infield and despite his injury history, Lowe has been a big producer with the bat when available. He's pretty much been a 30HR/162 bat with a career 125 OPS+ who doesn't need a platoon. Poche put up a 2.52 ERA in '23 and followed it with a solid 3.86 ERA in '24. He's only under control through 2025 and the Rays could flip him for prospects like what is featured in this deal.

Free Agent 1:
Seattle signs 3B Yoan Moncada to a 1-year $5 million deal.

Why?
Simply put, the M's do not have a viable 3B option and they do not have much money to spend. Moncada is an injury risk but also carries boom traits. Put it this way, if the M's were willing to give Luis Urias $5 million last year, Moncada would be a no brainer given what he can do when healthy. He's a switch hitter with decent power and contact numbers through his career.

Free Agent 2:
Seattle signs LHP AJ Minter to a 2-year $12 million deal, with a 2nd year player option for $7 million.

Why?
Minter is an elite reliever that has delt with some injury issues which could cause his value to take a hit in free agency. He underwent season-ending hip surgery in September. Perhaps Seattle is an enticing place to come in on a short-term deal to build his value back up. Despite the injuries, he still hung a 2.62 ERA of 34 innings in '24.

Roster:

1. Victor Robles LF
2. Brandon Lowe 2B
3. Julio Rodriguez CF
4. Cal Raleigh C
5. Randy Arozarena RF
6. Luke Raley 1B/OF
7. Luis Robert OF/DH
8. Joan Moncada 3B
9. JP Crawford SS

Bench: Mitch Garver C, Dylan Moore Util

1. Logan Gilbert
2. George Kirby
3. Luis Castillo
4. Bryce Miller
5. Bryan Woo

CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, AJ Minter, Gregory Santos
ML/LL: Trent Thornton, Collin Snider, Troy Taylor, Colin Poche, Tayler Saucedo

The thinking that this would be the year that Young would take over from JP, so you are losing that. Seriously, no one will take Hanigars money. No one has taken substantial money for prospects this off season.

[Seattle or Bust]

A baffling off season plan for a baffling franchise. The M's add about $26 million in payroll in this plan... up from the reported $16 million said to be available.

Trade 1:
Seattle trades SS Cole Young and OF Mitch Haniger to the White Sox for OF Luis Robert.

Why?
Perhaps the best salary dump + prospect scenario when you consider the boom-type impact Robert can have. The M's have to figure out a way to add impact but not increase payroll (%$&#!!!) and Robert's $15 million is a wash with the Haniger money. There are those who are weary of Robert's tough 2nd half last year... I'll give him grace and chalk it up to him hitting for one of the worst offenses in MLB history. When right, Robert is a potential 40-homer bat who can hang a .270/.340/.500 split. The trade allows for Robert to be your primary DH against righties and a platoon split in the OF with Raley against lefties. Yes, giving up Cole Young sucks... but if Robert is a boom... his $20 million club options in '26 and '27 could look like a steal.

Trade 2:
Seattle trades LHP Gabe Speier and RHP Emerson Hancock to the Orioles for 1B Ryan Mountcastle.

Why?
A solid platoon partner with Raley at 1B. Mountcastle isn't an elite bat, but he's done good work against lefties in his career to the tune of an .841 OPS. He's controlled for 2x years somewhat cheaply at $6 million in '25 and then a slight bump in '26. The Orioles add depth to their rotation in Hancock who hasn't really gotten the chance to establish himself and a solid reliver in Speier to add to their bullpen depth.

Trade 3:
Seattle trades RHP Logan Evans, 1B Tyler Locklear, 2B Ryan Bliss to the Rays for 2B Brandon Lowe and LHP Colin Poche.

Why?
I like the idea of the M's adding a lefty bat to the infield and despite his injury history, Lowe has been a big producer with the bat when available. He's pretty much been a 30HR/162 bat with a career 125 OPS+ who doesn't need a platoon. Poche put up a 2.52 ERA in '23 and followed it with a solid 3.86 ERA in '24. He's only under control through 2025 and the Rays could flip him for prospects like what is featured in this deal.

Free Agent 1:
Seattle signs 3B Yoan Moncada to a 1-year $5 million deal.

Why?
Simply put, the M's do not have a viable 3B option and they do not have much money to spend. Moncada is an injury risk but also carries boom traits. Put it this way, if the M's were willing to give Luis Urias $5 million last year, Moncada would be a no brainer given what he can do when healthy. He's a switch hitter with decent power and contact numbers through his career.

Free Agent 2:
Seattle signs LHP AJ Minter to a 2-year $12 million deal, with a 2nd year player option for $7 million.

Why?
Minter is an elite reliever that has delt with some injury issues which could cause his value to take a hit in free agency. He underwent season-ending hip surgery in September. Perhaps Seattle is an enticing place to come in on a short-term deal to build his value back up. Despite the injuries, he still hung a 2.62 ERA of 34 innings in '24.

Roster:

1. Victor Robles LF
2. Brandon Lowe 2B
3. Julio Rodriguez CF
4. Cal Raleigh C
5. Randy Arozarena RF
6. Luke Raley 1B/OF
7. Luis Robert OF/DH
8. Joan Moncada 3B
9. JP Crawford SS

Bench: Mitch Garver C, Dylan Moore Util

1. Logan Gilbert
2. George Kirby
3. Luis Castillo
4. Bryce Miller
5. Bryan Woo

CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, AJ Minter, Gregory Santos
ML/LL: Trent Thornton, Collin Snider, Troy Taylor, Colin Poche, Tayler Saucedo

The thinking that this would be the year that Young would take over from JP, so you are losing that. Seriously, no one will take Hanigars money. No one has taken substantial money for prospects this off season.

The thinking from who?

JP is under contract through 2026. Both Colt Emerson and Felnin Celestin are better prospects than Young.

[D-train]

Yes young will be a second baseman

[GL_Storm]

I don't really understand the title of this post. It's another hypothetical offseason plan, which is fine. It's just make believe, but whatever.

[Seattle or Bust]

I don't really understand the title of this post. It's another hypothetical offseason plan, which is fine. It's just make believe, but whatever.

Are you having a rough holiday season or something?

[Hasslecracked]

I don't really understand the title of this post. It's another hypothetical offseason plan, which is fine. It's just make believe, but whatever.

Are you having a rough holiday season or something?

He’s not wrong. It’s a great list of ideas but none that braindead Dipoto will accomplish

[Seattle or Bust]

I don't really understand the title of this post. It's another hypothetical offseason plan, which is fine. It's just make believe, but whatever.

Are you having a rough holiday season or something?

He’s not wrong. It’s a great list of ideas but none that braindead Dipoto will accomplish

I understand. The title was a play off of David's title about Dipoto. It was a joke.

Yes, I'm aware that none of this or even slight variants of this are very unlikely to happen. It's fun. Is this not a sports forum? Or are were just being weird little grinches?

[GL_Storm]

Are you having a rough holiday season or something?

He’s not wrong. It’s a great list of ideas but none that braindead Dipoto will accomplish

I understand. The title was a play off of David's title about Dipoto. It was a joke.

Yes, I'm aware that none of this or even slight variants of this are very unlikely to happen. It's fun. Is this not a sports forum? Or are were just being weird little grinches?

I just thought there was something I was missing.