Next offseason we have 6 free agents (Cruz DH 13 million, Pineda SP 10 million, Happ SP 8 million, Simmons SS 10,500,000, Robles RP 2 million, and Shoemaker SP 2 million) and a team option on Colome RP 5 million. Or 3 Starting Pitchers, 2 Relievers, DH and SS for a total 2021 salary of 45.5 million coming off the books next offseason.

For our rotation we already have Berrios, Maeda, Dobnak as established starters. We only need to fill two spots. Dobnak’s 800,000 salary will likely be replacing a 10 million salary pitcher freeing up money to be spent elsewhere. Luckily Balazovich, Thorpe, Duran and others should be close enough to be ready for an opportunity. We may only need to sign 1 starting pitcher to keep our rotation deep as it is now.

Our pen is likely to lose a few members, but relievers can be found cheaply in free agency so the cost to swap out relievers is going to be low or at the worst not a big increase in costs.

Cruz will be a free agent next offseason too and it will be interesting to see what happens with him. Will we resign him for one more go around or is this his last season here? I doubt he would cost more than the 13 million we are paying him and more likely less with incentives. Even with the National League adding the DH next year. Regardless we have lots of options to replace him too (Larnarch, Rooker, and others).

We were even set up at SS for next season too with Royce Lewis coming up but now we may have to find another SS on a short-term deal so Lewis can come up when he is ready more likely now the following season. However, we are still likely to come in under this year’s budget next season.

On Arbitration only Berrios, Buxton, possibly Garver and Duffey and Rogers are in line for decent size raises. As a group I am only guessing they raise their salaries by approximately 18-24 million. If we don’t have to sign an expensive SS or have any unforeseen issues pre-emptively come up by next offseason, we are set up to pay big for an ace starting pitcher next offseason. Do we know which starting pitchers will be free agents next year? And do any of you believe we will compete and sign one?

(Note: I got the salary info on this site)