Mont’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: Play the Kids

[Mont]

With the addition of Kyle Tucker, the Cubs finally have a Bonafide slugger combination base stealing threat for the top part of the order. The Yankees are holding the Cubs hostage on paying $10M of Belli's remaining salary to not play for the Cubs. So I decided to trade Nico to the Mariners for Castillo to bolster the starting rotation.

That means shuffling the position players so Belli plays 1st, Busch shifts to 2nd, Shaw makes the starting line-up at 3rd. Suzuki becomes a full time DH with spot starts in RF. The bench consists of all rookies, with the exception of the back-up catcher, with the veteran Carson Kelly backing up Amaya. Canario, being out of options, becomes the 4th outfielder with spot starts at DH and in the OF. James Triantos is the super utility guy to cover 2nd, 3rd, and the corner outfield spots. When PCA needs a day against a tough lefty, Canario plays CF. When Busch or Shaw needs a day, Triantos plays. Dansby needs a day, Vazquez plays SS. Belli needs a day, Busch shifts back to 1st and Vazquez or Triantos plays 2nd.

I realize this leaves ONKC and the Jaguar in Iowa, but they are both just 22 years old. Another year in AAA isn't going to hurt either one of them. If the Cubs stumble out of the gate and are out of the race by July 1st or they fail to extend Tucker, they may flip Tucker for more prospects at the break and bring up Cassie to play RF at the break or to start '26. Depending on how PCA and Alcantara progress this season will determine the future for Alcantara with the Cubs. Mo Baller needs a full season at Iowa as a catcher to hone his skills behind the plate to determine if he can handle the position, or if he is just a DH/emergency catcher. 

With the heavy left-handed starting pitching staff, Javier Assad makes the team as a 6th starter/long relief over Jordan Wicks. The bullpen will shake out during spring training, as injuries/tired arms/performance will determine who makes it and who doesn't.

Ideally the Cubs land Roki Sasaki for the starting rotation and trade Bellinger along with Caleb Kilian, Chase Strumpf, and Raphael Morel for a Mason Miller type closer.

• 😄 Miguel Amaya ($0.80M)
• 1B: Cody Bellinger ($27.50M)
• 2B: Michael Busch ($0.80M)
• 3B: Matt Shaw ($0.80M)
• SS: Dansby Swanson ($28.00M)
• LF: Ian Happ ($21.00M)
• CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong ($0.80M)
• RF: Kyle Tucker ($15.75M)
• DH: Seiya Suzuki ($19.00M)
• 4th OF: Alexander Canario ($0.80M)
• Utility: Luis Vazquez ($0.80M)
• Utility: James Triantos ($0.80M)
• Backup 😄 Carson Kelly ($5.75M)
• NA: Jason Heyward ($5.00M)
• SP1: Shota Imanaga ($13.50M)
• SP2: Justin Steele ($6.40M)
• SP3: Jameson Taillon ($18.00M)
• SP4: Luis Castillo ($24.15M)
• SP5: Matthew Boyd ($14.50M)
• RP: Nate Pearson ($1.40M)
• RP: Julian Merryweather ($1.30M)
• RP: Tyson Miller ($0.80M)
• RP: Porter Hodge ($0.80M)
• RP: Javier Assad ($0.80M)
• RP: Ben Brown ($0.80M)
• RP: Eli Morgan ($1.00M)
• RP: Luke Little ($0.80M)
• NA: Drew Smyly ($2.50M)

Payroll is 2.57% under budget

Edited December 15, 2024 by Mont
added information

[Rcal10]

Busch is a first baseman. Why would you trade Hoerner to put a far worse fielding player at 2nd. And why would you trade Hoerner for a pitcher making $24M a year?  I have no real issue with Castillo, if he is traded for Bellinger. But not for Hoerner. If Bellinger isn’t traded and moves to first that would mean either Busch is traded or Suzuki is traded and Busch/Bellinger split first and DH. And neither Busch nor Suzuki should be traded for Castillo. I want better if either of them is traded. 

[LBiittner]

How many more years do we have jason Heyward on the payroll?  

 

[Mont]

Last year for both Smyly and Heyward.