davepond88’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Wishful thinking

[davepond88]

Busy winter for me. The Duran deal centers on how much Chris Young/Texas likes DL IV,  

• TRADE: Acquired Jake McCarthy (LF, COL) for Blake Mitchell (C, High-A), Steven Zobac (RHP), Nick Loftin (3B). Est. 2027 salary: $4.6M in, $1.57M out
• ACTIVATED: Activated Carlos Estévez (RHP) from the 60-day IL
• TRADE: Acquired Herick Hernandez (LHP, ATL, Triple-A) and Jurickson Profar (OF) for Seth Lugo (RHP). Est. 2027 salary: $0 in, $21.5M out
• CONTRACT SELECTED: Selected the contract of Herick Hernandez (LHP, Triple-A)
• TRADE: Acquired Freddy Fermin (C, SD) for Kyle Isbel (CF). Est. 2027 salary: $2.6M in, $3.5M out
• TRADE: Acquired Ezequiel Duran (SS, TEX) for Daniel Lynch IV (LHP), Eric Cerantola (P), and Austin Charles (SS) Est. 2027 salary: $4M in, $1.8M out
• SIGNING: Signed Sam Moll (RP, CIN), 1 yr / $2M (2027)
• SIGNING: Signed Luis Robert Jr. (CF, BAL), 1 yr / $13M (2027)
• SIGNING: Signed Alex Vesia (RP, LAD), 1 yr / $11M (2027)
• OPTION DECLINED: Declined Carlos Estévez’s club option. The $13M option comes off the payroll; the $2M buyout stays on as dead money
• SIGNING: Signed Shane Bieber (SP, TOR), 1 yr / $16M (2027)
• SIGNING: Signed Dustin May (SP, MIL), 1 yr / $8M (2027)
• TRADE: Acquired Anthony Bender (RHP, MIA) for Isaac Collins (LF), Nate Pearson (RHP). Est. 2027 salary: $3.4M in, $2.8M out
• TRADE: Acquired Eiberson Castellano (RHP, COL) for Randy Dobnak (RHP). Est. 2027 salary: $780K in, $2.3M out
• SIGNING: Signed Martín Pérez (SP, ATL), 1 yr / $5M (2027)

• C: Carter Jensen ($1.00M)
• 1B: Vinnie Pasquantino ($7.10M)
• 2B: Michael Massey ($3.15M)
• 3B: Maikel Garcia ($7.00M)
• SS: Bobby Witt Jr. ($19.00M)
• LF: Jake McCarthy ($4.6M)
• CF: Luis Robert Jr. ($13M)
• RF: Jac Caglianone ($1.00M)
• DH: Ezekiel Duran ($4M)
• 4th OF: Jurickson Profar ($15M)
• Utility: Salvador Perez ($9M)
• Utility: Tyler Tolbert ($1.00M)
• Backup C: Freddy Fermin ($2.6M)
• POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Michael Wacha ($14.00M)
• SP2: Noah Cameron ($1.00M)
• SP3: Shane Bieber ($16M)
• SP4: Martin Perez ($5M)
• SP5: Dustin May ($8M)
• RP: Tony Gonselin ($2.5M)
• RP: Jose Cuas ($1.00M)
• RP: Herick Hernandez ($.8M)
• RP: Sam Moll ($1.20M)
• RP: Steven Cruz ($1.00M)
• RP: Alex Vesia ($11M)
• RP: Lucas Erceg ($2.3M)
• RP: Anthony Bender ($3.4M)
• POS: Carlos Estevez ($2M)

Payroll is 2.09% under budget

[Brock Beauchamp]

First off, amazing detail in this one.

Second, you're trading for Fermin?!?!? I mean, it's probably not an insane choice, just... surprising.

[Philip Ruo]

Certainly a busy winter! Who would be your ideal closer on this team? Would it be Bender or just open tryouts in spring?