Get out your red pencils, boys! (service time in parentheses) A.J. Ellis (5.151) – $4.5MM Kenley Jansen (5.073) – $11.4MM Justin Turner (5.045) – $5.3MM Chris Heisey (5.042) – $2.2MM Justin Ruggiano (4.123) – $2.8MM Juan Nicasio (4.084) – $3.1MM Yasmani Grandal (3.115) – $2.7MM Luis Avilan (3.077) – $1.1MM Joe Wieland (3.027) – $508K Scott Van Slyke (2.151) – $1.2MM Chris Hatcher (2.146) – $900K
DFA Heisey that's probably it. I'd keep Ruggiano but it'll be interesting to see what they decide. Also offer at Howie and Brett, Howie's a lock to decline and Brett might accept, which would be fine for one more year. But I'd re-sign Howie.
Payroll should take a big drop next year and the product on the field in all likelihood will be better. Won't be surprised if the team does with Crawford and Guerrero what they did with Kemp and offer to take on most of their next year and a little bit after that since they'll still be in the luxury tax next season. Heisey is as good as gone, Nicasio could be shown the door due to his ups and downs or signed for cheaper on a multi year deal and Ruggiano may be gone as well since the team already has Crawford, Ethier, Joc, Kike, Schebler, Puig and SVS for next year. Jansen and Ellis will both be interesting cases to watch to see what management has in mind for those two. I think they could nab Ellis on a multi year deal for less than that AAV and Jansen probably wants a long term deal, which I'd give to him.
My thoughts: A.J. Ellis (5.151) – $4.5MM - GIVE HIM A 2-YEAR $8M CONTRACT. HE HAS VALUE AND AT $4M A YEAR, I'LL TAKE HIM NO DOUBT. Kenley Jansen (5.073) – $11.4MM - JUST GO THROUGH THE ARBITRATION PROCESS AND PAY HIM PRIOR TO THE ARB ON A 1-YEAR DEAL. I'D LOOK HEAVILY AT TRADING HIM AFTER NEXT OFF-SEASON Justin Turner (5.045) – $5.3MM - LOCK HIM UP ON A 3-YEAR $25M CONTRACT Chris Heisey (5.042) – $2.2MM - DFA Justin Ruggiano (4.123) – $2.8MM - PAY HIM THE AMOUNT INDICATED Juan Nicasio (4.084) – $3.1MM - PAY HIM THE AMOUNT INDICATED Yasmani Grandal (3.115) – $2.7MM - TRY TO LOCK HIM UP ON A 3-4 YEAR DEAL Luis Avilan (3.077) – $1.1MM - IF WE CAN GET HIM AT A $1M, IT'S A NO BRAINER Joe Wieland (3.027) – $508K - SAME AS ABOVE Scott Van Slyke (2.151) – $1.2MM - SAME AS ABOVE Chris Hatcher (2.146) – $900K - SAME AS ABOVE
I dunno if I'd get too cocky with Grandal since we all know what AJ is when he plays too much and not only that, Greinke LIKES him and he's the one who needs to be convinced to stay if Di Jankees back up the same $$$$$$$$ truck we do. JT's already backed up his "Fluke" year too... Pay him, Pay dat man his money!
