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2019 SBNation GM Simulation – Day 1 Recap

2019 SBNation GM Simulation – Day 1 Update

For the entire transaction thread, check here.

First off, I excessed the option on Jeremy Jeffress and declined Moustakas, Soria and Lyles. I also non-tendered Stephen Vogt, Xavier Cedeno and Tyler Saladino. No real surprises here. Maybe Saladino who at $1MM would have been okay, but I felt he was going to be buried on my roster and the 40-man spot will come in handy down the road. I still have a bit of time to make final decisions on non-tenders, but these guys weren’t in my plans.

Now onto the fun moves…. I seriously had every intention of waiting for things to come to me. I threw out my list of available names and let the offers roll in. I was hoping to move 2/3 of Jimmy Nelson, Chase Anderson, Zach Davies or Junior Guerra. I wanted to make permanent spots for Burnes, Woodruff and Peralta and I had intentions of adding at least one FA starter.

I was a bit surprised when the first deal materialized, but it totally changed my mindset. We’re all in…. 2019 is the year.

Trade #1

Jimmy Nelson, Keon Broxton, Lucas Erceg and Jacob Nottingham for Nolan Arenado.

The price was steep, but not nearly what I thought I would have to give up. Some fans on here will hate the fact I gave up Nelson, but he’s such an unknown I felt like this deal was too good to pass up. On one hand, I feel for fake-Jimmy as he will now be trying to come back in a really tough pitching environment. Originally the deal included Domingo Santana but Colorado eventually decided they wanted Broxton. Erceg and Nottingham represent the bulk of the "prospect" capital needed for this move. Erceg has been up and down, but I wasn’t going to land a guy like Arenado with including a Top-5 organizational prospect and he made the most sense. Nottingham I was reluctant to part with, simply because one of my goals was to get younger at C and he represented an internal option.

But at the end of the day, a huge gauntlet has been thrown down to the rest of the NL. Arenado and Arcia immediately become the best defensive right side in all of baseball and his bat hopefully helps me cure the woes versus LHP which were exposed in the playoffs. Travis Shaw moves to 2B/1B now in a timeshare with Schoop (who I am actively shopping) and Jesus. Ideally, I can get something for Schoop and Shaw can be the everyday 2B. I have until 12:00pm Monday to decide on any non-tenders.

Trade #2

Traded Chase Anderson and Domingo Santana to Chicago White Sox for C Omar Navarez and LHP Aaron Bummer

Boy, what a difference a year makes on these two Brewers. I’m not sure I got everything I could out of a very friendly team contract in Chase, but he drew very little interest in initial discussions and truth be told, Davies was the guy I think has the best future for this club. Following the trade of Nottingham, I started looking for another C option and came to Navarez. Originally we were talking on Wellington Castillo, but I elected to go with the younger guy with the big bat. Navarez had a really good debut season with the bat, but his defense leaves a bit to be desired. He’s a LH bat who can draw walks and has some pop. Miller Park would be a great environment for him. Best part of it, he’s young and controllable for 4 more seasons.

Bummer is an interesting piece. LH relief pitcher with good K-rate and keeps the ball in the park. He has minor league options too, so he can be part of the 2019 AAA shuttle to San Antonio and gives me some cover in the bullpen after letting Cedeno walk.

Free Agent Signing #1

I re-signed Wade Miley to a 2-yr/$11MM deal with a vesting option for a third year at $6.5. Option vests at 120 IP in 2020.

Miley was very good for us last year so he was a bit of a priority for me. With Arenado in the fold and elite infield defense, Miley’s cutter and propensity for groundballs would play very well on this team. I felt like his asking price was even a bit lower than expected, so I snatched him up. Miley really helps since I moved Nelson and Chase.

More to come after today's moves.

OUT:

Vogt

Cedeno

Saladino

Nelson

Broxton

Erceg

Santana

Nottingham

Anderson

IN:

Arenado

Navarez

Bummer

Miley