The M's are Rebuilt Already (and Paxton vs Santiago)
.
Mo' Dawg brought up a point we hadn't kicked around:
.
Absolutely [the M's roster has lots of cheap young ML-established talent]. There are four big contracts: Felix, Cano, Cruz, Seager. Cruz's goes away in two years. Heck, you could trade him away in about 10 minutes if you wanted to.
After that, a good-to-better OF that is dirt cheap. Segura is still really cheap, for what you get. Soon enough he just get's Cruz's money. He can pocket Valencia's paycheck next season, or buy hiim for $8M (If he keep hitting like this, hell get a bigger multi-year payday somewhere).
Paxton is going to get Gallardo's money next season. He will eat up part of Kuma's, the year after. Kuma's money is going to be freed up in year, as we will likely not resign him.
Miranda, Gaviglio, Moore, Diaz....all dirt cheap. Pazos, too. ditto Altavilla and Bergman. Vogs will soon hit his way here. He's free.
Dipoto loves playing the spaghetti game with the bullpen. I would prefer he just went out and bought a stud hoss, he can certainly afford it with the cost control he has in the near future. But he's certianly not going to break the bank on relief arms.
This roster is flexible and cheap-ish (in that only Felix, Cano and Seager ore on the books "forever." Segura should be).
.
Not sure why Mo' didn't mention Haniger, Gamel, and Heredia - either he was focusing on the pitching or just forgot. Really when it comes to my assertion that --- > the M's have an Oakland A's stockpile already, I'm thinking first about us getting three (3) rookie OF's to emerge all at the same time. Remember Dr. D suggested Haniger-Gamel-Vogelbach as the saber analogue to Zduriencik's three high draft picks. Jack Z's guys were pedigreed; Dipoto's had kicked tail and taken names in AAA.
Hey, for that matter Mitch Haniger constitutes a team rebuild all by himself :- )
Kyle Seager we could consider a rebuild player. Super cost effective.
....
JAMES PAXTON - It hadn't hit me that K-Pax is arb eligible next year. Slap me silly, he has made only $3M to date, which ain't chump change but by the time you remove taxes, invest a few bucks, spread it out over years, etc., his checking account probably doesn't look all that spectacular yet.
But next year he's going to cash in yuuuuge. MLB Trade Rumors gives $7.25MM as the standing record for a 1st-arb starting pitcher, Dallas Keuchel, so that's the bare minimum. They give $11MM (Arietta), $15MM (Scherzer), $20M (Price) as the Y2, Y3 and Y4 records. I had thought Lincecum got $18MM in year 2 and $22MM in year 3; must remember it wrong.
So you offer Paxton ... what this winter? Some SSI Denizens are squeamish about his health. On the other hand if I'm James Paxton, I insist on a $100MM+ security deal or I tell them I'm hiring Boras and going to New York. Wait a minnit...
Might want to enjoy Zeus' services this year and the next three? Well, that's no different than NCAA football...
.
GAME THREAD
If Matt, Wishiker & Co comment the glorious Paxton game we'll have quite a few Denizens enjoying it tomorrow morning. HERE'S THE PREVIEW.
Enjoy,
Dr D