SBN Sim Offseason results

We just wrapped up the annual SBN Offseason today. For those who aren’t familiar, every offseason, Max Rieper with Royals Review administers a simulated offseason with each of the 30 teams having a volunteer running that team’s offseason as the g.m. We bid on free agents, negotiate trades, and the like.

As always, I was the g.m. for the Texas Rangers. I usually try to play it straight and go forward with the offseason in a way that is realistic and consistent with the team’s overall strategy, which meant that this offseason was probably a little more dull in terms of Rangers sim-action than usual.

Here’s a rundown of my moves:

Lance Lynn, Rafael Montero and $1M to the New York Yankees for Deivi Garcia, Miguel Andujar, Jonathan Loaisiga and Kevin Alcantara

The big move. Garcia was my primary target here — the Yankees wanted Lynn, I wasn’t going to give up Lynn without getting Garcia, I was willing to kick in Montero and some cash (since they were bumping up against their budgetary limit) to get a deal done, and I got some interesting pieces aside from Garcia.

Alcantara was the high ceiling, far away guy I targeted...he just turned 18 this past July, made his stateside debut in 2019 in the rookie league in his age 16 season, and has a strong combination of tools, skills and makeup, offering the possibility of a future impact center fielder if he puts it all together.

Jonathan Loaisiga to the Cincinnati Reds for Michael Siani and a 2021 competitive balance pick

Loaisiga would be a useful rotation piece, but I felt he had more value being moved to a team looking for inexpensive starting pitching. Siani was a 4th round high school outfielder out of Philadelphia who slashed .253/.333/.339 with 45 steals in low-A in 2019. He was the #58 ranked player on the BA board in 2018, and got a well-above-slot $2 million to sign. He’s a true center fielder with speed who, if he pans out, could be in the mold of Adam Eaton.

The competitive balance pick for the Reds in 2021 will be after the first round, so this would be a pick in the low- to mid-30s.

Signed the following free agents:

Kurt Suzuki — 1 year, $3 million

C.J. Cron — 1 year, $6 million

Tyler Clippard — 2 years, $6 million

Brandon Workman — 1 year, $2 million

Anibal Sanchez — 1 year, $3 million

Adam Eaton — 1 year, $4.5 million

Suzuki gives the Rangers someone to split time with Jose Trevino behind the plate.

Cron was kind of a nod to all of y’all who have been lobbying for the Rangers to get him the past couple of years, but he also fits as a relatively inexpensive 1B option who can either platoon or start as needed.

Clippard and Workman give the Rangers a couple of serviceable, useful bullpen arms from the right side.

Sanchez gives Texas a rotation piece to join Deivi Garcia, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles in the rotation. That leaves one spot to be fought over by the internal options and whatever NRIs get brought in.

Eaton gives the Rangers a viable center field option other than Leody Taveras. I think you’d like Leody to start the year as the major league everyday CF, in which case Eaton can be a fourth outfielder and come into the game in left field for defense late, but if Leody struggles or is determined not to be ready, Eaton can cover CF for the time being.

Andujar is presumably your DH, with Willie Calhoun in LF and Nick Solak at 2B. I thought I had a deal with the Orioles that would have involved Rougned Odor going to them for Chris Davis and cash, with some other minor pieces involved, but that fell through, so I guess I’m just cutting Rougie.

You can see the Rangers’ moves (and everyone else’s moves) here.