Originally Posted by
Horsehide Harry
It's really too late for this. It would literally take new ownership, say in the form of HH, to buy the team and say that "we are going to rebuild from the ground up and if it takes 5 years to do it right, then so be it." But, the reality is that isn't going to happen.
But, hypothetically, in an alternate universe, you could:
Trade Freeman and Teheran to Houston for Bregman, Tucker, Fisher and Rogers. Astros play Gurriel at 3B. Clears about $28M of payroll.
Trade Inciarte to the Cubs for Schwarber, Almora and Mark Zagunis. Inciarte plays CF, Happ slides to LF.
Play Adams/Kemp at 1B through 2019 or until you trade them or they are so bad you cut them. Groom Schwarber for 1B long term.
FA prior to 2018, sign Lucroy to a bounce back deal. Have a catching duo of Lucroy and Flowers to handle the young pitching. Sign three starting pitchers with upside, maybe one staff leader if you can get him. something like: Arrieta, Eovaldi, Buchholz with the plan that you will trade 1 or more by the break 2018 (or release if they don't bounce back)
Sign 3-4 of the best relievers you can get: Wade Davis, Jake McGee, etc. and be prepared to move them at the 2018 deadline for best return.
You can make these moves because the overall team cost virtually nothing.
In 2019 you could have a team of: 2B Albies, SS Swanson, LF Acuna, 1B Schwarber, 3B Bregman, RF Tucker, CF Almora, C Lucroy/Flowers
A rotation of: Arrieta, Folty, Newcomb, Best 2 of Wright/Allard/Soroka/Gohara
Payroll is very little at that point because you are finishing off Kemp, you have Arrieta (or Darvish or whoever) and everyone else is pre-arb or just heading into it.
So you have money. Need a SS? how about FA Segura. Want to make a splash? How about Machado, Donaldson or Harper? Donaldson might be a 1B.
Want a CF? How about Charlie Blackmon? Want a starter with experience? How about Wainwright?
And the farm, even after graduating a lot of talent would probably be stronger than it is right now.
So, I think a case can be made that it would be a better strategy. But it's not going to happen.