I like Ray due to his age, the fact he's a lefty which gives us 2 in our top 4, and the fact he may be loyal to us. We should have a better chance to get a "fair" deal out of him than Gausman.
Also, outside of those 2 and Thor, there are no high impact starters that are still around 30 years old. Scherzer and Verlander are getting up there.
I like Ray too. Just depends on the price. Would love to give him a Lynn type extension but he is younger so he should get more years. Just a matter of how much. Can we get him on an Eovaldi type deal at $68M over 4 or will be want a Wheeler type deal $118M over 5?
With our cheap core and to provide us with protection against Berrios leaving, I wouldn’t be against signing 2 big arms. With the trade of SWR, there are no high end arms in the system that’s ready to give you 150 innings in 2023. So why not go after another big arm while the core is still relatively cheap?
Ideally bring back Ray and maybe grab Syndergaard on a 2 year deal worth $40M. Thor has yet to throw a pitch yet this year, so he likely to get the QO which he may accept. Give him the incentive to decline to QO and give him 2 years of security to work with Walker.
Gives us a plan B if Berrios wants to walk, gives you multiple arms to protect against a Ryu or Pearson injury. Syndergaard, Pearson, and Stripling can limit each other’s innings to keep each other fresh too.
I posted this a few days ago;
2021-22 Offseason:
Re-sign both Ray and Semien. Trade Biggio, Gurriel+ for Jose Ramirez. Sign a left handed DH (Brantley would have been perfect).
Springer CF
Guerrero 1B
Ramirez 3B
Semien 2B
Bichette SS
Hernandez LF
Free Agent DH
Kirk C
Grichuk RF
Jansen, Espinal, Smith, OF
Ray
Berrios
Ryu
Manoah
Stripling
Romano
Pearson
Merryweather
Cimber
Borucki
Richards
Mayza
This would be perfect for me. Especially if you can re-sign Semien, Ray and grab Syndergaard. The key is the “+” to get Ramirez. We know Cleveland would love Gurriel and a player like Biggio. Cheap players with multiple years of control who fit their window.
In this scenario, Ryu, and Syndergaard are free agents. Ideally, Berrios is brought back with Manoah, Pearson and Ray. Maybe Ryu signs cheap one year deals?
Ramirez can be kept or he could walk. Ideally you still have Groshans, Moreno and/or Orelvis ready to step in making peanuts. If Cavan and Gurriel are dealt for Ramirez, the only big arb guys are Bo and Vladdy. If Vladdy doesn’t want a big deal you go year to year.
Reminds me of the Cubs and Astros. Great position players on the cheap and go all out for pitching.
Cubs had Lester, Arrieta, Quintana and He sticks who they locked up. Houston had Keuchel and added Grienke and Verlander.
We have Ryu and Berrios. Would be nice to lock up Ray and say grab Syndergaard.
This team is set up perfectly imo. Hopefully Semien and Ray can be had for 4 years or less.
