Looking ahead to 2017

[SpinJr]

If he performs well in the AL East, why would we trade him for a bat?

Exactly, if he preforms well we could have him for two years at an average of $10M per. Cheap by today's stands *cough *cough

[Creamsicle]

Ubaldo will get another chance.

Over who?

I think he's traded after August 1 or DFA'd.

I wish he were gone but I predict Aristotelian is right. Dan made this bed and Pete is gonna make him lie in it to the end of the contract IMHO. Until then either Jimmy's on the 25-man or he's on the 60-day.

[wildcard]

Mike Wright, out of options? I think when he is transition ed to the bullpen we will see him flourish ala Tommy Hunter.

Also I see no way the reigns to DH are handed to Mancini. I see two possibilities. First, Pedro is retained but TOR, NY and Texas could all be looking for a DH (the first two scare me). Second, some low cost "professional hitter" is brought in.

Wright, Wilson, Drake, Walker, and Aquino all have one option left for next year.

Pena and McFarland are both out of options next year.

[ChuckS]

I agree strongly with you on points 1 and 2, especially 2. Wieters is a strong presence on this team in a lot of areas.

How do we afford to sign Wieters to an extension with all the arbitration increases plus the salary allocated to whoever we sign to play RF?

We will be looking at a payroll approaching 200 mil. I don't see how that can happen. We need more cheap/cost controlled players on our 25 man roster. Signing a 31 year old catcher to a long term deal is a bad idea and paying a guy with a sub .700 OPS bat 16.7 mil for one year is an even worse idea.

[backwardsk]

Can we trade the pick we get from the QO? I thought you could only trade the competitive balance compensation picks.

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[ChuckS]

Quite simply you cut payroll. Trumbo and Alvarez are gone along with six other players would save us $26.8 million. You then need to figure out how you can rid yourself of Jimenez and Gallardo, who collectively knock down $22 million. Granted won't be easy but there are ways to get creative.

No, you aren't getting rid of Jimenez and Gallardo without eating their salaries or taking equal salary back in a trade.

The arbitration raises could increase the payroll 30 million on their own. There goes your savings from Trumbo and Alvarez. Who are the few others you speak of anyway? We don't have any other expiring contracts. Oh, and people expect us to extend Manny and Tillman too. Where is all this money going to come from?

The best option is to platoon Sisco and Caleb or bring in another (cheap catcher) if they feel Sisco is not ready defensively. .