FanPost

The Ultimate 'Dream' Team

You asked for a dream, well here it is. Just 7 moves and #28, #29 and #30 could be here by 2021.

You might read this once and say, it’s too radical, but study it more and you will see that it is not that crazy at all. Budget is the only issue and honestly, this is the NY Yankees we’re talking about; they have unlimited resources, budget be-damned. They have a rare opportunity, right now, to assemble what could go down as the greatest baseball team ever assembled and a potential dynasty over the next 5-7 years. If you are Hank & Hal, spending an extra 60-80 million per year (luxury tax penalties included) is peanuts. They would get most of that money back from incremental attendance, ratings, merchandise, royalties, etc. anyway. The cost expenditure is justifiable and besides, it’s not our money, so let’s have at it:

Move #1:

Trade: Miggy Andujar, Clint Frazier, Albert Abreu, Domingo Acevedo, Tommy Kahnle

For Either: DeGrom, Bumgardner, Syndegaard, Kluber or Snell (in priority order)

Note: We are giving away a lot of value, this is a grade A+ trade package. One of these teams would be crazy not to take this offer.

Move #2:

Trade: Greg Bird, Clarke Schmidt, Chance Adams, Louis Cessa. I might throw in Estrada too, if we can get a window to negotiate contract extension.

For: Paul Goldschmidt. Diamondbacks are about to rebuild. This is a ton of value for 1 year of PG. 2 potential mid-rotation arms, a 1B project with ‘some’ potential and well, Cessa.

OR

FOR: Joey Votto. I know, the age is up there…whatever, the guy is sturdy as a rock, no signs of slowing down. Could get 3 great years from him. His defense is great and his swing @ the stadium…omg. I would offer another arm to Cinci for them to pay down more of that contract though.

Move #3:

Trade: Ellsbury, Sonny Grey, Trevor Stephan, Mike King and either Sauer or Whitlock to Padres

For: Matt Strahm

Note: Obstacles here, I admit, we need to get Jacob to agree to move. If he can be convinced to retire over the next year (which is a possibility with the hip injury), the Padres get the insurance money and this is a great trade for them. If Yanks can get him to retire, this move is off. Maybe the Yanks can offer him a spot in the booth to replace Kay. For us, we get out from Ells contract and pick up a strong lefty reliever.

Move #4: Sign Patrick Corbin – 5 years @ 17per

*Realistic annual and length…and he wants to be here.

Move #5: Sign Manny Machado – 8 years @ 30per

*Tell me how many teams do you honestly think are going to offer more? Do you think he is going to live in Minnesota or Philly for an extra 5mil per??

Move #6: Sign Bryce Harper – 8 years @ 30per

*Ditto that..

Move #7: Re-Sign D-Rob or Britton – 3 years @ 13per

Just love on this roster for a sec, take a good, hard look, you’ve never seen a better lineup, eva:

AGE POS PLAYER

26 3B Machado-R

24 RF Judge-R

26 LF Harper-L

28 DH Stanton-R

31 1B Goldschmidt-R

28 CF Hicks-S

25 C Sanchez-R

28 SS Didi-L

21 2B Torres-R

*Only 1 everyday player in their 30’s. Say it with me folks, PRIMETIME, PRIMETIME, PRIMETIME!

*Short of injury, you could keep this group of 9 together for the next 5-7 years, all in their prime.

*300HR season is possible. 5 guys could hit 40+, the other 4 could hit 25+

*A devastating offense and a potentially elite defense. Great defenders all over the place, well, except those pass-balls through Sanchez’ legs.

*Look again, it’s that pretty.

AGE PLAYER

30 De Grom-R (or Bum, Kluber, Syndy, Snell)

29 Corbin-L

23 Severino-R

28 Tanaka-R

38 CC-L

*Did I just move Sevy down to a #3 starter?

*Find me a better 5-man rotation in baseball

*All in their prime, except CC

*Do you understand how much easier it is to pitch when your offense is putting up 7+ a game?

*Gumby Montgomery (when he returns) and Loaisiga are on the Scranton shuffle, when needed.

*Sheffield goes to the bullpen for 2019. Takes CC’s spot in 2020. A perfect place for him to get acclimated to MLB in first year.

AGE PLAYER

29 Chapman-L

35 Robinson-R or Britton-L

29 Betances-R

25 Green-R

25 German-R

22 Sheffield-L

25 Strahm-L

23 Holder-R

*Still an elite bullpen and likely better than 2018.

*They'll have fun closing out 8 run leads on most nights

..and the Bench. These players should pay the Yanks for the great seats to this show;

AGE PLAYER

28 Romine-R

27 Voit-R

22 Wade-L (plays 2B while Didi recovers) He could go 10 for 200, it won’t matter, just play D kid.

34 Gardy-L

*Yes, our farm system would take a big hit, but we still have Sheffield, Florial, a couple of good catching prospects, and 3 or 4 hi-end potential arms left in the system.

*Over the next 5 years, there would be no holes to fill on the MLB roster, except maybe a couple of bullpen arms. So the farm system will have minimal impact on this potential dynasty.

The Financials:

I have this all on a spreadsheet, so it is accurate. All players on 40-man roster (for salary-cap purposes) are accounted for. All tender and arbitration contract figures are based on accurate estimates for each player. The 2019 40-man roster comes in at $239,525,000.

The Red Sox payroll for 2018 was 227 million. Ask yourself which roster is better, theirs or this? For another 12 million in payroll, you can have this.

The Red Sox also have some arbitration pain coming soon, they could be as high as 250 million in the next couple of years if they want to keep their young studs.

Gardy and CC are FA after 2019. That would remove 15 million from the payroll next year. That money could help offset the incremental cost of new contracts for Didi, Hicks, Goldschmidt, as well as arbitration for Judge, Sevi, Sanchez. Every other player on the roster would be either a veteran locked in with their contract or young players who are still 4-6 years away from FA.

For the next 4-5 years, the roster construction could essentially not change much at all. For the next 3 years, the payroll could run around 240 million per. I don’t want to talk about 3+ years down the road, too many things can change that would affect the payroll, i.e. trades, FA, etc…

-Gutting the farm system is not a problem for me. You don’t win chips with potential.

-The payroll, would be tops in baseball for sure, but it is not outrageous, and the investment is recoupable when they are on a dynasty run.

-When is the next time the Yankees will have this type of opportunity?? An opportunity to build greatness around a core of homegrown young, quality players already on the team, supplemented by the acquisition of 2 potential hall of famers, 2 of the best pitchers currently in baseball and probably the best 1B currently in the sport.

Could be the best team ever assembled…Dream on that.

Anybody have Ninja's home phone #? I need a sit-down with that dude..

Comments? Bring it..




FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pinstripe Alley writing staff or SB Nation.