As if signing Russell Martin wasn’t enough, the Blue Jays are also looking to address their rotation and bullpen. Toronto is one of the six teams in the market for southpaw Jon Lester, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports. The Jays have also been “very aggressive” in courting Andrew Miller, Sportsnet’s Jeff Blair (Twitter link) hears from a source on another team in pursuit of the free agent reliever.
As a durable top-of-the-rotation arm with a lot of AL East familiarity, Lester makes sense for the Jays, though they already have six starters (Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey, Marcus Stroman, Drew Hutchison, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada) in play for their 2015 rotation. Starting pitching isn’t an obvious need, though since the Blue Jays will probably have to move at least one starter to address other needs anyway, they could package two arms in one deal or make multiple trades. The Martin signing indicates that Toronto is willing to spend and be players in free agency, though meeting Lester’s projected six-year/$150MM price tag would take things to another level for the Jays.
The Red Sox are known to be one of Lester’s other five suitors, and it’s safe to assume that the Cubs are another given how they’re meeting with him this week and have been so often linked in rumors.
Miller recently met with the Jays, and it’s probably no surprise that Toronto is being aggressive given that they’re one of a whopping 22 teams who have reportedly checked in with agent Mark Rodgers about Miller’s services. Miller is looking for a four-year deal at minimum, and he’ll likely find it with such a healthy market. The Blue Jays could offer Miller a closing role, as Casey Janssen is likely to depart in free agency and Toronto has no clear in-house replacement for the ninth inning job.
New strategy to make the playoffs…buy every FA on the market…every other team cannot field 25 men…Jays win every game by forfeit…make playoffs…win WS. Mission Accomplished.
Or just Get rogers to buy every team and move them to Toronto. 2015 World Champs. Toronto _______
Nah, the Jays would still find a way to lose.
I don’t feel like Lester would go to Toronto.
But what do you believe?
He’ll end up in St Louis
That would be the worst.
how lol
i bet 100 mililion would change his mind
I bet 150 million would keep him in the US
Wouldn’t be the first time a former Red Sox ace flew North in free agency.
Also, I would consider Aaron Sanchez more of a threat to the rotation than Marco Estrada…although the rest of the offseason will dictate his role going into ST.
No kidding. I will be pretty bummed if we’re not seeing Sanchez at a minimum pushing for the rotation. I hope Norris and Graveman are the first guys to fill in as needed before we even think about Estrada or Happ.
I’d go Dickey, Stroman, Buehrle, Sanchez, Hutchison in April if it was up to me.
If I were the Blue Jays, I’d consider that too. Sanchez’s two-seam is downright nasty, not sure about his other pitches though. At this point, however, unless a trade goes down/FA signed, I’d say it’ll be Dickey, Stroman, Buehrle, Hutchison, and Happ (I’d say he will be traded though). Sanchez can add a lot of value in a role similar to Betances with the Yankees.
2-Seamer and curveball are his best weapons. He’s working on the change up more.
That doesn’t sound too bad. Still think a role similar to Dellin Betances would do him some good, but then he might never develop the change-up, as he’ll never have to throw it.
I see them over-paying for Miller but missing out on Lester too the Cubs
Before they sign Miller, the Blue Jays need to lock up a starter.
Signing Miller without improving their rotation doesn’t sound like a good idea to me.
Their rotation is the last area that needs to be addressed. Stroman, Hutch, Sanchez and Norris will be mainstays as late as next year. Dickey still has an option for next year if they so choose to pick it up (though I can see him even being traded this offseason). Not to mention their 1st pick in the draft this year Jeff Hoffman could be a factor later in 2016.
Are the Blue Jays even banking on Sanchez or Norris in their rotation next year?
Sanchez will be on the roster regardless whether it’s as a starter or in the pen. Norris will most likely and should start in AAA. When I meant next year I was referring to 2016 (sorry if I made it sound like ’15).
Gibbons said he saw Sanchez as a starter in an interview 2 weeks ago when he said he saw Pompey as starting CF (followed by CF candidate Anthony Gose being traded). Many people believe Sanchez would be wasted left in BP. Nolin and Norris might be in BP to start season and get seasoning. Adding an ace and trading a vet makes sense, if you can afford it. Hiring a top catcher to train your pitchers is a first step…
Relying on minor league depth is risky. If you can go out and get a true ace for your staff, you do it. Lester’s a sure thing.
I’m not saying you don’t…I’m just saying it’s not a priority. Plenty other areas need to be addressed first.
They can improve their rotation by adding Mccarthy…Shields….or Santana….Once Lester & Scherzer get signed…..
Or they can improve the rotation by signing a veteran catcher to better manage their cheap and electric young starting pitching.
They did.
Jays rotation is solid, BP/2B and outfield needs to be addressed first.
They need a closer lol and a bunch of bullpen arms left the team…McGowan, Morrow, Janssen, Santos, etc
Lester’s coming back home to the Sox. That was the plan all along. Theo will hit him with a nice offer but the Cubs are several years away from contending. I just don’t see it happening.
The Sox had thier chance….but they went cheap hopeing Lester would just sign….No way they offer him a better deal than the Cubs….at this point just hope for Sheilds Sox Nation……
The Red Sox contending? Ha! You better hope for some wicked awesome deals this off season buddy.
The Sox have won more World Series championships in the last decade that any other MLB team except the Giant. I’m more than satisfied if the Red Sox go into a drought for the new few years. I’m going to bet that neither the Cubs or the Blue Jays even get to the World Series in the next five years. I do hope the Sox get a few wicked awesome deals this off-season. Even if Lester decides to play for another team, it’s definitely not going to be the Blue Jays. If he really wants to come back to Boston he will turn down other teams offers for more money. I have nothing against the Blue Jays I just think it’s funny how they’ve become the new Yankees with their big name players and nothing to show for it.
Becoming Yankees with their big names? Our 2 best players(Encarnacion/Bautista) were traded for as reclamation projects that had very little to no success in the majors until coming here. When have the Yankees ever done that over the last 20 years? Russell Martin is the first big signing since Roger Clemens for this team. That was way back in 1996, three years after we last made the playoffs.
Our team has been critiqued for playing a small market game for 20 years, we’ve got the wealthiest ownership group in all of baseball and a top 5 viewership/market potential and yet the Jays have only started playing big market baseball 2 years ago. I really don’t understand when people say things negatively about a team they have absolutely no idea about.
Jays have taken on a lot of big names lately: Joses Reyes, Martin, RA Dickey, Melky Cabrera, Mark Buehrle.
Granted a few were through trade, but they came with a lot of payroll. Blue Jays were 9th in payroll, last season and sure to go up with Martin and if they signed Lester.
Melky, Navarro and Izturis have been AA’s major signings since he took over in 2009-2010 off-season, Cabrera was the only guy who signed for more than $5M annually and it was cheap($8M/yr) due to him being the first good to very good post steroid suspension signing in quite awhile. Every other player mentioned was traded for. Yes, they took on a ton of payroll with those trades but it’s been hard attracting F.A’s to come here for awhile now and Melky basically signed after the Miami trade assuming this team was going to be a contender. Most experts doubt that Cabrera would’ve signed with Toronto if they hadn’t made that blockbuster trade already.
Martin is the first guy in quite awhile to be considered “elite” without some major injury risk that’s kept other potential suitors away from him, to sign with the Jays.
Exactly Pukwudgie. Jaysfan 1994, I meant no disrespect about the Jays. I just know in the past few years they’ve taken on a lot of big contracts and haven’t gotten themselves to the playoffs. I was actually replying back to wallywack’s comment about the Sox not being contenders. I was trying to make a point that the Sox have done far better than the Cubs & Jays in the last 10 years. Any team that beats the Yankees is okay in my book. So I always root for the Jays when they play the Yankees.
It’s a lovely day to be a Jays fan, eh?
If the Jays get Lester I think Theo is gonna go crazy
The Jays are totally trolling the Cubs
For maximum trolling of the Cubs, the Phillies just happen to have a very fresh Cole Hamels in stock! For all of your John Lester needs when the real John Lester mutters about not wanting to play in a city that reeks of maple syrup.
The city of Toronto reeks of many things, maple syrup is not one of them
It reeks of Polar Bears and Igloos, I know that firsthand.
They don’t care about winning, they just wanna make sure the Cubs don’t win a world series before they do.
At this point I think the Jays just want a playoff appearance
The Jays won back-to-back championships in 92/93. The only team to do it other than the Yankees since the 70s. They’re just fine on the championship front, relatively speaking.
I think everybody’s just fine on the championship front relative to the Cubs.
Lester makes the Jays serious contenders. I think adding an elite starter to a solid core of pitching is the missing ingredient. Would have signed a starter before signing Russell Martin but looks like they are looking at both anyway.
Martin’s signing may change the way other free agents look at Toronto.
If they lose out on Lester, what other SP’s or big FA’s do you think they will try to land?
Shields, Scherzer…who knows. Nobody thought the Jays had Russell Martin on their radar.
It was being reported for weeks that the Jays were in heavily on Martin.
Even though we were reported as being ‘heavily in on’ Martin, I don’t think anyone actually believed it until it happened.
I think Lester will sign with the Cardinals… Cardinals need a big left handed pitcher in the starting rotation… And space was cleared when they traded Miller so I think Lester will end up in St. Louis
If he signs with the Jays, can I perhaps interest you in a Mark Buehrle fall back option?
I wouldn’t mind it. A hometown guy always wanted to pitch for the Cardinals so it would be a nice fit I think
Pitcher-friendly league too. Beurhle would actually be a pretty good fit with the Cards.
Probably wouldn’t have to give up that much for him either.
Jays sign Lester, he’s all yours for nothing more than song and dance.
Cubs won’t let the Cards — of all teams — outbid them for Lester. But the Jays’ owner have infinite money so that’s a wildcard.
All depends if Lester is looking at all $$$ or not. Remember a few years ago the Yankees offered Cliff Lee more $$$ but he took less to sign with Philly.
The Philly’s contract had the highest AAV of all the contracts offered to him.
While that’s true, the Phillies offered fewer years. So while Cliff Lee took a higher AAV, he left more on the table by taking a 5-year deal as opposed to a 7 or 8 year deal, whatever was being offered at the time.
Yeah… he probably land in Toronto or with the Cubs.. Cardinals are just a long shot but Cardinals have money too…
If they’re willing to fork out a big contract, I’d rather try to lock Heyward up. The rotation is fine, but there’s a big hole in 2016 in RF again in Heyward walks.
Grichuk/Piscotty will be in RF in 16…. Heyward is gonna want a lot of $$$ so I don’t see him resigning unless he takes a discount…
He wouldn’t give a discount in Atlanta.
thats why he’ll be a one and done player in st.louis…
The Jays badly need a starter. They aren’t going anywhere with their current rotation. With paying Martin what they just did, it doesn’t make sense to go get a decent starter. A decent starter doesn’t really improve their rotation that much, and it just means they paid all that money to shuffle deck chairs. They might as well go all in with a guy like Lester now.
Jays rotation is fine, it’s their bullpen that needs help.
last offseason, this same rotation was considered one of the worst, and the bullpen on of the best. It never hurts to upgrade where you can.
Stroman, Hutch and Sanchez were not factors in 2013, so this isn’t the same rotation.
Not to mention they pitch in the hardest division in all of baseball with every ballpark except Tampa ranging from hitter friendly to extremely hitter friendly. Their team starting pitching WAR ranked better than the Orioles and Yankees. They scored more runs than the Yankees too, yet finished in third place.
People should really stop saying we need starting pitching, our pitching will look a ton better when we have one of the top pitch framers getting us calls on a game to game basis. Pittsburgh fans are aware of this when they got rid of the worst pitch framer in the league(Ryan Doumit) for Russell Martin.
Exactly, Pitt’s rotation had guys like Jeff Locke, Charlie Morton and Volquez in it. Not to mention Vance Worley suddenly had a rebirth. If you looked at that in March 2014, you would have laughed if you said they would make the postseason with guys like them in there. The Jays have more SP depth than I can ever remember, SP can always be improved but its the LAST necessity Toronto needs.
Jays rotation was average in 2014. Average considering practically noone got hurt(minus a sore back to Happ at the start which was an extended DL stay to test out mcgowan in the rotation) and everyone performed to expectation. Buehrle and Dickey throw soft toss and are pushing 40. Stroman may have sophmore struggles and people are still concerned with his height. Hutch was bad more nights than he was good. Happ is okay for a #5, nothing spectacular. Relying on Norris/Sanchez for 2015 is not smart considering they are unproven in the majors; especially in the major league rotation, espcially on a team built to Win Now!
Yeah ok
The blue jays don’t need to improve their the best MLB team in Canada 🙂
They are also the worst MLB team in Canada.
Are you sure?
I’m not just sure. I’m aladeen positive.
Well at least AA is thinking positive, we got some hype on the franchise right now like we did after the Marlins trade. Time to add people while everyone starts thinking we have a contender.
Miller? maybe
Lester? Never gonna happen
it all depends on what lester wants, if he wants the most money he signs with the bluejays, a championship signs with someone else. thats how the bluejays got martin, lots of money
if it depends on money it comes down too cubs/yankees or tigers….
idk, the fact that they overspent on martin shows they have a whole bunch of money to spend, they wouldnt have used it all on a catcher unless they had enough left for a starter
Well Morrow and Lind salaries will equal Martin’s average annual value for this year so that doesn’t change anything really. And after 2016, the only contractual obligation the Jays have is Reyes, so they have money to spend.
I think ultimately…Lester uses the Jays intrest too raise his price for the Cubs or Sox……
that is the likely possibility
Tigers have no money left.
At least Jays ownership isn’t afraid of opening the wallet.
Maybe this is a play to inflate his price tag which makes me a little worried because I don’t want the Cubs to overpay in $ and in years. No more Alfonso Soriano contracts please.
with the amount of teams bidding on lester, someone is gonna have to overpay a whole lot to get him
Well if his agent says Theo the jays are offering 7/162 can you match it….Does Theo say no way goodbye….how would you feel….every agent does this & Boras tends too be the best at it……
I think lester get 200 million from some team
No way…..i think 175 is his maxxx……..
Boras better be aware of the changing market place. He’s burned a few clients.
Wasn’t it just last year there was talk of players moving money around to try and potentially sign Santana? Where would this money come from?
the new tv deal for the blue jays this year
Rogers owns the team and the broadcasting rights. So rogers doesn’t really have a tv deal. However, MLB forces rogers to sign a “fair” deal with itself. If rogers was smart they would sign very short term deals with itself so rogers could always dictate the tv revenues to the blues jays.
The Blue Jays ownership is worth $billions and some of that value is based on fact they also own the Blue Jay radio and TV rights (and have dozens of TV and radio stations and sports-only networks). A year ago, Rogers changed its top management (it’s a major cellphone, cable, etc. conglomerate and also owns 1/3 of Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors). It’s not difficult to believe the team spending was frozen until he got a grasp on the health of the whole corporation (hence, creative accounting to add Santana $$). Now they can point to impact of Blue Jays TV and radio on bottom line. Spending some money on ball players can pay huge ad dividends.
Yankees have sold YES so I believe Blue Jays are only team that 100% owns its own TV/radio and they have a whole country in which to sell (somebody please correct me if I’m wrong). They directly benefit from team becoming more popular. They can afford a $200 million payroll and still make money on it. If the Blue Jays go after a Lester-level FA, re-sign Melky and add another bat or glove they improve a lot. Lester gives them a true ace, and also gives them flexibility to trade one or more of its veteran arms (Dickey, Buehrle, Happ…) for a position player.
The owners and their $3.57 billion equity.
They never looked great on paper. People just saw a nice new polish but ignored the massive holes.
..and the Sox didn’t win a WS for 86 years, what’s your point? Players tend to go to whomever pays them the highest, regardless of where that is.
Lester’s always made it known that his main importance is signing somewhere he feels comfortable. We’ll see how true that is when he does sign. He won’t sign with the Jays though. He’ll either sign with the Cubs or Red Sox. I hope for the latter of the two.
You mean as all the reports said Russell Martin was going to sign with the Cubs? The Jays have pitching depth. They do not have an Ace and will be competitive with their offer for one. They are not done dealing by any means.
Why should the Red Sox get away with offering Lester a contract that is at a “Hometown Discount” when they have the highest average ticket price in baseball?
What is the logical reason for them to be cheap with Lester and then overcharge their fans?
Fewer seats in the stadium. Lester is going to get a huge contract. They need someone at the top of their rotation and emotionally the fans want lester back but 7 year contracts for 30 year olds simply don’t benefit any team. They’re not being cheap with Lester. They’re just trying not to get trapped in a deal that couldn’t possibly work out.
Maybe, if the Red Sox strike out on the top FA arms, they look to swing a trade for a Jordan Zimermann.
the red sox have middle infield prospects?
Doubt Boston would do it. Betts for Zimermann straight up is fascinating.
agreed but highly unlikely lol i still feel we go back to the cubs
A few. Marrero is a top fielder who hit well in the AFL. He’s a shortstop. Coyle is a second baseman with a bit of pop. Both are probably ready in 2015 but not at the beginning. No way they move Betts.
only trade the nats would entertain with zim is for middle infielders, they have enough pitching
I just named two middle infielders.
Red Sox middle infield prospects: Mookie Betts, Michael Chavis, Deven Marrero, Wendell Rijos, Sean Coyle. One of the strongest groups in baseball.
Maybe. There are a lot of top pitchers on the last year of reasonable deals. Bit that leaves them right back where the started next year. Even if Owens eventually becomes a top of the rotation arm he won’t be one immediately. They’re going to have to find a top of the rotation arm or two for the next two or three years. And they don’t want to get trapped in a 7 year deal. Tough spot to be in. Hamels makes sense but not for the top three prospects in the system.
I’ll be upset in a weird way if Lester ends up a Blue Jay
Mad that he betrayed Sox nation? Not really weird
It’s not “betrayal”
Agreed, it would just be.. off.. seeing Lester in blue.
I don’t doubt they are interested in Lester but given their 5 year max contract rule they will not be able to sign him
Maybe he takes more per year for lack of years….idk something like 5y/150….
Think he would have a hard time turning that down if the Jays had $30m/yr to burn….
I think it’s more flexible than they’ve let on. For example, I believe a 5-year contract with two option years could be acceptable to the team, depending on the weighted years and the option costs. But a blanket ‘no’ on a 5+ year contract doesn’t really hold water. On other hand, it keeps them away from even being approached about 8 and 13-year boat anchor contracts…
Long-term pitcher contracts are a risk; arms blow up and waste away. Lester could be as good as a 5-year bet gets, but the Blue jays may also be in these bidding groups to push up the final price and perhaps push it away from AL East if they don’t sign it.
Just spit ballin any chance the jays go after Carlos Gonzalez
I would think not. He is very expensive and the cost would be heavy in prospects given where the Rockies are in their rebuild. They’d probably much rather sign another FA or use an MLB surplus in a trade (someone like Dickey or Happ).
An interesting scenario for the jays would be to sign Lester, trade Dickey or Buerhle to Atlanta for Justin Upton and if they sign Miller, they could put Sanchez in the closers role, the same way Atlanta used Craig Kimbrell. Martin will benefit the young pitchers of Stroman, Hutch, Happ, and if the Mets sign a shortstop, Toronto can trade either Buerhle or Dickey, plus Nolin to the Mets for Wilmer Flores at second. They have already lost their first pick to Pittsburgh, so signing Lester and McCarthy to replace them makes sense. They also have next to zero money tied up in players in the 2016 season, which shows why they signed Martin and are going after Miller and Lester. Dickey, Buehrle, Reyes, etc are all off the payroll by then, leaving the option to pursue players now that extend the window of competition. They have five starters, their depth in the minors, the outfield and second are addressed, and catcher has been filled. The bullpen would then feature Miller, Sanchez, Cecil, Loup, Redmond, and Graveman or Norris, which turns weakness into strengths.
Why is everyone obsessed with moving Sanchez into the closers role??
Going to go out on a limb and say that if the Braves deal Justin Upton, it won’t be for pitchers on the wrong side of 35.
The last time fans screamed that the player wouldn’t sign with the Jays they were wrong. Roger Clemens not only signed with Toronto, but he won back-to-back Cy Youngs to rub it in the noses of the Boston fans. lol.
Clemens won the two Cy Youngs and bailed as soon as he could from Toronto for more money in NY. I guess you could say he rubbed their noses in it too. Great pitcher but the biggest tool in baseball.
btw: No ones “screamed”
Cause Toronto couldn’t hit then and weren’t going anywhere. Didn’t bail on Toronto, but what’s the point of either side making huge deal if it isn’t going to better the team? Toronto has always had the money.
What happened to not going after any big name relievers?
Would rather trade for Kibrel. Braves are looking to 2017 so Osuna and others could get it done.
So the current Jays administration signs one free agent ever and the internet explodes that they are in on everyone…
It’s a good tactic for the players agent of course considering they signed one of the guys they were apparently “in on” for once. It seems every year they’re “interested” in someone and never come close to making an offer for them.
I’m not buying it.
I call gamesmanship… probably from the agent.
6 reasons why the Jays should let Melky walk:
1. Will have to overpay to sign him
2. His best years are likely behind him
3 With Martin signed 5 years, cant have 2 DH’s in 2018
4. Likely won’t hold up physically on the turf as he ages
5. Defense is already suspect
6 Obtain a draft pick if they let him walk
8 reasons why the Jays should instead trade for Charlie Blackmond:
1 Cheap and controlled long term
2 Colorado already has 3 established OFs ahead of him so he’s expendable
3 Similar numbers to Melky, and is improving as a player
4 Can probably get him for Happ, Pillar, prospect (Fits Colorado’s needs)
5 Speed would be great in the 2 hole – 30 base stealer
6 Contact hitter, doesn’t strike out often
7 Allows AA to spend money on other areas this year, perhaps an ace (Lester)
8 Fits in long term
Agree with Melky and on going after Blackmond, but from Colorado’s perspective they wouldn’t wanna give up Blackmond because hes cheap and very productive. They are more likely in my opinion willing to trade Cargo in order to get out from under his contract and be able to use that money to address the rest of their needs (mainly pitching). Trading for Cargo is a bit of a gamble as your not sure which one you will get, but if you get a Cargo close to his old production you would get a .280 + batting average 20-25 homers and probably 10-15 stolen bases and a better defender than melky and blackmon for about 18 million a year. Now thats not cheap by any means but you could justify that expense, especially since that probably would be the going rate for free agent outfielder who provides that skill set. Plus with joey bats and edwin encarnacion as protection, that sounds like a solid line-up to me.
I feel like Cargo’s numbers are inflated because of the ballpark they play in. There is a significant difference between home numbers and away number over the years, heavily skewed by home stats. Although Rogers Centre is a hitters ballpark as well, I don’t think he’s worth the investment PLUS talent the Jays would have to give up.
You’re probably right, Happ, Pillar, prospect might not be enough for Blackmond but I’m sure a package could be put together to create a win-win for both teams.
I feel the same way the two teams match up well. I feel cargo would hit well in the homer dome and being able to dh a little bit would also keep him healthier. I feel if he was an fa they’d go after him but I think the jays want to keep there best young talent and that’s probably the sticking point for AA
Blackmon sounds worthy, but I wouldn’t include Pillar in trade, who, at the worst, is outfielder #4 for BJs.
Can still see re-sign of Melky if other offers don’t match up.
Money likely not a problem for Lester, term probably a bigger issue (for everyone).
SP: Dickey, Beurhle, Stroman, Hutchinson, Happ
RP: Cecil, Sanchez, Loup, Redmond, Drabek, Estrada, Jenkins
Others: Graveman, Nolin, Rasmussen, Delabar
3B: Lawrie
SS: Reyes
2B: Goins
1B: EE
DH: Navarro
C: Martin
LF: Pillar
CF: Pompey
RF: Bautista
Bench: Mayberry, Valencia, Dirks, Smoak
Others: Francisco, Thole, Tolenson, Izturis, Travis
Personally,
– I’d look at trading Dickey + Thole and Happ for an upgrade at LF
– Moving Sanchez to the SP
– Sign Lester to give solid rotation
– Sign 2 Bullpen arms to join Cecil, Loup, Estrada, Delebar and Jenkins/Redmond/Drabek
– Sign a short term 2B fix – Lowrie?
– Send Tolenson, Travis, Rasmussen, Nolin, Graveman to AAA
– Trade or get rid of Fransisco, Izturis
Projected Roster: (As realistic as possible when minimal signings)
P: LESTER, Beurhle, Stroman, Hutchinson, Sanchez
RP: Cecil, Loup, Estrada, Jenkins, Delabar, MILLER, GREGERSON
3B: Lawrie
SS: Reyes
2B: LOWRIE
1B: EE
DH: Navarro
C: Martin
LF: EITHER/CRAWFORD?
CF: Pillar (Pompey when ready)
RF: Bautista
Bench: Mayberry, Valencia, Dirks, Smoak
Minor quibbles. I like your creativity (except with spelling : ).
For example, I’d have Nolin and Graveman in bullpen instead of Estrada and Delabar (there’ll be injuries so they’ll show in TO eventually — if Delabar gets it back he might have to stay). I like signings of Miller and Gregorson.
I can see Melky coming back for 4 years at $14M, but there are veteran options available if not (as you’ve shown).
I’d like to trade Dickey/Thole & Happ to Cubs as part of package for SS Starlin Castro, but Cubs fans think it’ll be much more expensive. Like you, I see them keeping Buehrle. If Castro, then you could DH/1B Reyes and EE.
A vet at 2B might be best route (as you suggest), but platoon of Travis & Goins would add flexibility.
I like your bench, but would also like to see Kawasaki back.
Sox are likely getting Blackmon & Dickerson for Viciedo & Johnny Danks. Slow your horses there Melky “fan”. If I’m Colorado’s GM N. Arenado, Dickerson, & Blackmon are untouchables. I understand not wanting to trade Tulo or Cargo, but I’d move Cargo 1st shop Rosario, & listen to Stanton-sized trade return 4 Tulo.