iremember91

Most of the 15 somewhat acceptable pitchers available in the 12 to 15 million annually are gone already. I just don't get this approach? Is word out there to stay away from the organization?

There are a slew of mid-rotation candidates available as free agents and another group (see Oakland and Cincinnati ready to move arms) as trade candidates. It's more realistic to sign a Desclafini, Matz, Pineda, Wood (pick 3) trio, and add Rich Hill for 15 starts. SIGN BUXTON now! 5 or 6 years at 22 million a year. He is the face of this team right now. Pack the rotation with starters that will likely go to the mound 25 times tops. Buxton is the driving force offensively and defensively entering the 2022 offseason. You can build a formidable rotation with improved overall defense without breaking the bank. The goal should be 90 wins.

Molitor didn't do the following: have the starting SS test positive for ped's; have 2017's best starter miss almost the entire season; have Sano and Buxton crash and burn (again); initiate the great LoGo experiment; etc., etc..

One added comment. The division is winnable by 20. Tigrs and Royals going nowhere next 2 years. Watch out for Chicago, these runs cycle and Cleveland is the 19 favorite but at their $$$ level, a 2020 downturn likely, probably back to 81 to 85 wins in 2020, maybe 19.

I absolutely agree with your article! Yes, a number one starter, and I agree FA is not the way. Do not go near a 4 year $100 mill. contract for anyone without a perfect bill of health, ever. I've been sizing up other teams rotations and bullpens this past few days, might be better to go after two number 2 or 3 starters, and I don't mean cast-offs, legitimate 2 or 3 starters, and the market may have caved last off season, so I wouldn't go past 3 years, 15 mill for anyone. Right now there is a potential 2 (Berrios), an over achieving but very important 3 (Gibson) and an underachieving 4 (Odorizzi). That's the rotation I see going into 19. Same with the bullpen. You are right, no closer. I count Hildengerger, Taylor, Reed (a major disappointment) and May going into 19. They need to be careful with May too, keep the innings down while he heals and he can certainly be an asset. For the every day line-up: Rosario in Left, keep Kepler in cf the rest of the year and let him and Buxton (and a prayer) fight it out for cf in spring training 19, the loser can possibly be the 4th OF. Find someone with punch for RF. Spend $$$ here, but not crazy $$$ (2 years 20 mill, 3 yrs 25 mil). The infield is a whole other story. Not because I'm a huge fan but sign Mauer for a 10 mill one year, 12 mill. at 2 years if he insists. Only for fan appreciation, he won't achieve most of it but he will get on base at a good clip and his defense is acceptable. Move Polanco to second, find a glove shortstop if possible but give up some D for power/rbi's/obp (his name is Escobar!). Ah 3b, Sano's until spring training 19, either he gets it or the search goes on (I suggest the FO start asking about possible replacements ASAP so a fall back plan is available. Keep an eye on catcher too. Castro good D but coming off injury, push Garver to take the job in 20, I like his bat. With the players I mentioned they have a payroll close to 60 mill next year (only the players I have coming back, 17 warm bodies). 25 mill for the rotation, 15 for the closer (1 year), 15 mill for a rf/dh with pop, give Escobar 12 mill a year to play SS. That's 127 mill for 2019 with my Monopoly money, less than the current 18 cast and castaways are getting.