Post Count Padder’s 2023 Payroll Blueprint:

[Post Count Padder]

In my head, we really need:

- Late-inning relief

- SP consistency

- Power bat off the bench

- A backup middle infielder who can hit better than Mastrobuoni.

- A catcher to go with Amaya.

In this scenario, I like Higgy on a two year deal at catcher. Pederson can also rotate with all the OFers based on rest and matchups, as with Belli and Busch. Iglesias gets a one-year deal off a solid season and helps as a contact hitter with a glove at multiple positions. 

Shaw and the other AAA outfielders are available for call-ups if Canario and Iglesias get hurt or flop.

I also have something like Caissie or Alcantara and Triantos and Jefferson Rojas to the Mariners for Bryce Miller to bolster the rotation. Not sure if that would be enough but I think it's a good framework. 

This is a more well-rounded roster that helps in the short- and long-term without going overboard on spending because we know PTR won't. If Dansby bounces back offensively and Amaya and PCA hit the way they did at the end of the season, this is a more potent lineup.

Tell me how wrong this is!

• C: Miguel Amaya ($0.80M)
• 1B: Michael Busch ($0.80M)
• 2B: Nico Hoerner ($11.50M)
• 3B: Isaac Paredes ($6.90M)
• SS: Dansby Swanson ($28.00M)
• LF: Ian Happ ($21.00M)
• CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong ($0.80M)
• RF: Seiya Suzuki ($19.00M)
• DH: Cody Bellinger ($27.50M)
• 4th OF: Alexander Canario ($0.80M)
• Utility: Jose Iglesias ($4.00M)
• Utility: Joc Pederson ($11.00M)
• Backup C: Kyle Higashioka ($7.50M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Shota Imanaga ($13.50M)
• SP2: Justin Steele ($6.40M)
• SP3: Jameson Taillon ($18.00M)
• SP4: Bryce Miller ($0.80M)
• SP5: Michael Lorenzen ($6.00M)
• RP: Clay Holmes ($10.00M)
• RP: Jeff Hoffman ($10.00M)
• RP: Tyson Miller ($0.80M)
• RP: Porter Hodge ($0.80M)
• RP: Nate Pearson ($1.40M)
• RP: Ethan Roberts ($0.80M)
• RP: Eli Morgan ($1.00M)
• RP: Javier Assad ($0.80M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 4.59% under budget

[Cuzi]

Absolutely zero chance a team like the Mariners is going to unload any of their pitchers for a package of purely prospects. They are fighting for the playoffs, not rebuilding a core.

[Bertz]

I think building a bullpen of doom like you do here with Holmes and Hoffman is a fun end-around to some of the tough positions this offseason poses.  Especially since our rotation is pretty innings-eater-y already, and Miller furthers that.

Joc's interesting.  On one hand I want that role to be a righty, on the other hand he's turned into a hell of a bat and should be grabbable on a 1 year deal like this.

I don't love Lorenzen personally.  I think if you're looking at SPs in that price range I'd look at guys who got successfully pitch labbed this past season but due to track record and durability still aren't going to make a ton of money.  e.g. Matt Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, or Jakob Junis.  With the young pitching we have, I'd prioritize 80-100 innings I feel really good about over 130-150 I don't.