2018: Springer Reddick Altuve Correa Bregman Gurriel Gonzalez/Marisnek Gattis/White Realmutto/McCann Verlander DK Cole McCullers Morton Peacock Devinski Paulino Harris Gose Rondon Smith Giles 2019: Springer Reddick Altuve Correa Bregman Gurriel Alvarez/Marisnek Gattis/White Realmuto/Stubbs Verlander Cole McCullers Perez Whitley Peacock Devinski Harris Bukaukas Gose Rondon Smith Giles 2020: Bregman Reddick Altuve Correa Gurriel Alvarez/Marisnek Gattis/White Realmuto/Stubbs Celestino Verlander Cole McCullers Perez Whitley Peacock Alcala Devinski Bukaukas Gose Rondon Smith Giles Traded Tucker/Martes/Fisher for Realmuto and some low a prospects
I’ll play. C Realmuto (acquired for Fisher, Paulino, Bukauskas, H Perez, and Stassi) 1B Gurriel 2B Altuve (extended) SS Correa 3B Bregman RF Reddick CF Springer LF CGonzalez(signed as a free agent, 2018)-KTucker(2019-2020) DH Gattis(2018)-Reed(2019-2020) UT Marwin(2018)-White(2019-2020) C McCann(2018)-Stubbs(2019-2020) OF Marisnick SP Verlander(2018-2019)-Whitley(2020) SP Keuchel(2018)-Martes(2019-2020) SP Cole(2018-2019)-Stroman(2019-2020, acquired for Y Alvarez, Celestino, C Perez, and J Solis) SP McCullers SP Peacock SP Morton(2018)-Armenteros(2019-2020) RP Devenski RP Gose RP Britton(2018, acquired for McHugh and Sipp)-Diekman(signed as a free agent, 2019-2020) RP Harris(2018-2019)-McCurry(2020) RP Rondon(2018-2019)-BBailey(2020) RP Smith(2018-2019)-Deetz(2020) RP Giles General thoughts: Fairly confident they’ll add a bat on a 1 or 2 year deal this offseason; too many cheap, good options. Likely will be a left handed hitter. My guess here is CarGo but it could be Duda, Lind, Morrison, Granderson, Jay, Cabrera, Dyson, or Suzuki all make some sense. Catcher is the biggest question. Realmuto is the obvious answer but Luhnow probably won’t go for it if he costs Whitley or Tucker. Lucroy makes sense as well. Otherwise, they could put it off until next offseason, when free agents include Wilson Ramos, Grandal, and potentially Lucroy, and trade targets would be Salvador Perez, Russell Martin, Roberto Perez, James McCann, and Francisco Cervelli. Also very confident they’ll resign Altuve. He may be the only one of the current core they are able to keep. I feel comfortable with Whitley as a ToR SP from next season on. Also comfortable with Martes in the projected rotation, although he very well could be traded. The pitching depth in the farm is such that BoR SP and RP won’t be a problem, but they’ll have to add a long term solution from outside by 2020. I have them trading for Stroman, but there are tons of other potential options as new teams start rebuilding phases. Like I said, the farm depth will ensure there are plenty of depth starters, middle/multi-inning relievers, and setup men. They will probably have to make a move for a lefty and/or late inning reliever. I have them flipping McHugh for Britton then signing Diekman, but they could just hang on to McHugh instead (of flip him for a different late inning option), and there are always tons of constantly changing potential bullpen solutions.
I think they'll make best effort on Corea, but may fail. Altuve will be re-signed at all costs. Springer and DK are almost for sure gone. Realmuto would solve catcher for 5-7 years. Not sure there will be a better opportunity any time soon. i'd love to get him without giving up Tucker and/or Matres, but I don't think they would bite on your deal. I like Tucker, but outfield is a much easier get than catcher.
I think it takes 6 superstars to form a viable core to build around: Core (2016-2018): Altuve, Correa, Springer, Bregman, Keuchel, McCullers Core (2019-2021): Altuve, Correa, K Tucker, Bregman, Whitley, McCullers Core (2021-20??): K Tucker, Bregman, Nova?, J Perez?, Whitley, J Solis?
C: Stubbs 1B: Reed 2B: Kemp SS: Brignac? 3B: Davis LF: Laureano CF: Dominican Guy RF: Kemmer DH: White
