Or, they could do this...

The General Managers are in Vegas bullshitting their way through the 2026 GM Meetings, the final semi important “task” of the off season. This year instead of trading players, they are trading tips on ski vacations and golf resorts. 

The lockout starts on December 1^st.  They don't have to prepare for the no-longer upcoming Rule 5 Draft. The only drafts they are focused on now are IPAs.

Cashman was forced to step out in front of the cameras and take questions but failed to answer the one we want to know. Supposedly his contract was finalized but he won’t reveal anything about it. 

Pisses me  off. We’re all interested in the number. Not the dollar amount. We want to know how many more years do we have to put up with his insufferable gaslighting?

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Riding this wave of anger I decided to take a shot at fixing the roster myself because apparently 'tis the season and also, it’s raining outside.

I used Jomboy’s GM mode  https://mlbrostertool.com  because…

A)   It is free.

B)   It’s very comprehensive

C)  It is free.

It's actually pretty good. My only complaint is that it allows you to make one sided trades so I had to be on the honor system. 

For example, my Giancarlo Stanton for Jacob Misiorowski trade went through and I had to give him back.

I also tried to stay under last year’s payroll of $336M . 

Basically, I wanted to follow Hal’s budget philosophy of, “Of course I’ll spend if the right deal shows up.’ Immediately followed by his making the Sacha Baron Cohen’s Admiral General Aladeen “Cut off his head gesture.”

I will say this. I tried to take it seriously. Fixing this team for real is not easy.

After diving in I was about to cut Cashman some slack but then I remembered who made this unbalanced mess to begin with. So no.

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Here were the moves I made…

I sent lovely parting gifts to:

Jazz, Grisham, and Rosario

As well as glowing letters of recommendation that contain subtle hints as to why they should not be hired.

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Didn’t add a starter or new arms to the bullpen. There are guys in the minors that should be just fine, It’s the team's inability to hit and field that killed us. 

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Traded for Jacob Wilson (Athletics)

Sending Anthony Volpe, Will Warren, Yerry De Los Santos.  They need pitching. The trade saves the A’s 5.5M.  I’d add a fourth player and even a fifth player, both from the minors, if they insisted. 

I want this guy. 

Wilson is 24.  Hits for average.  His 12.4 AB per strikeout is best in the league and he’s a very good shortstop.

I move Lombard Jr. to second base. The team is now young and strong up the middle.

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Non-tenders

Schmidt

Gil

Ali Sanchez

Schuemann

Luciano

Saved 9.2M  If I was super serious I’d sign a couple of them and include them in trades. Add as many as the A’s would like to the Wilson trade.  Either way. They are gone.

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Free Agents

I re-signed Bednar. 3 Years 51M.  

Re-signed  Blackburn 2 and 12M

Re-signed Yarbrough  2 AND 7

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Signed 3B Eugenio Suarez  8M

He’s the replacement for Goldschmidt. Right handed. Can still hit HR’s. Plays a bad third base but plays 3B.   He’s NOT the answer over there but between Rice and Garcia Jr. and, in an emergency Belli, the team didn’t need another First Baseman. So, a Righty DH with pop.

Signed C  Carson Kelly 2 years. 21M

32 year old right handed back up catcher. Should hit around .250  That will get it done . Doesn’t make errors. A solid if not spectacular catcher. Perfect back up who could do more if asked.

That's it! 

Final Twenty-Six Man Roster    327M (Under the 336M!)

Actually it’s only 25.  I couldn’t solve 3B so technically I still have 9M for that. More if it’s a trade.

Here’s the team.

Catcher

Wells

Kelly

First Base

Rice

Garcia Jr.

Second Base

Lombard Jr.

Caballero

SS

Wilson

(Lombard)

3B

McMahon (Sorry!)

Suarez 

LF

Belli

CF

Jones 

Hey, he was a rookie! All new stadiums. All new outfields. I believe he will be a lot better. Also like the changes in his swing.  Give him another year.   I fixed the line-up by adding on base guys so we don’t need Kwan. Jones has more upside.

 RF

Judge

Ramos (Him I would lose if I could.)

DH

Stanton but really...

Suarez, Judge, Rice,  Garcia Jr.

The Starters

Schlittler

Fried

Cole

Rodon

Weathers

Bullpen

Bednar

Blackburn

Yarborough

Chivilli

Cruz

Hanner

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Pretty sure most of the issues are solved. Kept it at budget. Should get them out of the ALCS.