Okay guys, here’s the recap for Day 2 of the GM SIM. First day I acquired Nolan Arenado, Omar Navarez and Aaron Bummer via trade and re-signed Wade Miley.

For the full thread of all transactions, click here.

I made several non-tenders:

Erik Kratz (brought back on a minor league deal)

Hernan Perez

Jonathan Schoop

Free Agent Signing #2

I signed Daniel Murphy to a 2 year, $18MM deal. Even with Arenado for 3B and Shaw at 2B, I wanted to add another guy. Murphy has defensive limitations, but he can hit. He rarely strikes out and the Brewers need a guy who can avoid a K with runners on base. I now have 4 guys for three positions at 1B, 2B, 3B (including Aguilar). This deal also allowed me to non-tender Schoop, who signed with BAL for 1yr, $3M plus incentives.

I know a lot of people are high on Keston Hiura, and I am too. But with Arenado in the mix for 2019, I don’t think it makes sense to plan on using a rookie on a team in World Series or bust mode. Hiura would be in play for 2020 with Murphy on the last year of his deal.

Free Agent Signing #3

I re-signed Hernan Perez to a 2yr/$3MM deal. I was confident I could bring Perez back for less than what his arbitration number was and the 2yr deal was a bit of a bonus. Hernan gives me cover, but hopefully won’t need to be the first pinch hitting option off the bench this year.

Trade #3

Traded Marcos Diplan to MIA for Kyle Barraclough (keep in mind his real life trade happened after the technical "start" date for this SIM, so he was available). Barraclough gives me one more power arm in the bullpen and I think he can be a decent bounce-back candidate. Diplan is a guy who hasn’t made the jump but is on the 40-man roster. I felt like this is a good trade to add a quality arm without giving up too much. After this deal, I waived Matt Albers.

Trade #4

I’m going to get crushed for this one…. I traded Bryce Turan, Zach Brown, Troy Stokes and Larry Ernesto for Salvador Perez. KC agreed to take $10M of Perez’s salary for 2019 and $6M each in 2020 and 2021. So the high prospect cost essentially got me Perez on a real cheap deal ($14M over 3 seasons). I wanted a serious upgrade at Catcher and Perez was the best available. I hated to move Turang, but without being able to find a willing partner on Eric Thames, I was hamstrung on payroll. Perez partners with Manny Pina and Navarez can spend a year in AAA as the 3rd option.

Currently, my total payroll stands at $119M which is right at the threshold of where I wanted to be. I’m probably done unless I can add a cheap reliever and some minor league deals.

Current 25-man Roster

C- Salvador Perez, Manny Pina

1B – Jesus Aguilar, Eric Thames

2B – Travis Shaw, Daniel Murphy

3B – Nolan Arenado

SS – Orlando Arcia

IF/OF – Hernan Perez

OF – Ryan Braun, Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain

Initial Out Getters – Jhoulys Chacin, Zach Davies, Wade Miley, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta

Bullpen – Brandon Woodruff, Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, Dan Jennings, Junior Guerra, Jeremey Jeffress, Taylor Williams, Kyle Barraclough

AAA Depth

Erik Kratz, Omar Navarez, Aaron Bummer, Jacob Barnes, Adrian Houser, Mauricio Dubon, Keston Hiura, Corey Ray