[NovaNation19]

With lots of talent starting to emerge at the big-league level for the Atlanta Braves, and entering my final year of my contract as the GM, I was entering the offseason in "now or never" mode. Not necessarily "win now", but I knew I had to strengthen the roster and make improvements to the team as a whole by taking advantage of my areas of depth.

To start the offseason, I extended a minor league contract to a couple AAA depth guys, RP Ian Krol, SP Mike Clevinger, and C Steven Rodriguez. After the World Series, I found out, much to my delight, that RP Drew Storen chose to NOT opt out of his contract, saying he "hoped to be a part of many future championship teams". The other option year was C Tyler Flowers' team option. Rather than put down $4 million, I allowed to let him walk, as 2.5 star prospect A.J. Jimenez was MLB-ready, and Juan Centeno is still on the roster.

Before arbitration hearings happened, I started making personnel moves. Surprisingly, the Angels fired Mike Scioscia, as if it was his fault the GM traded away 2 good outfielders and signed Jose Bautista to a $50 million dollar salary to hit all of .218. Either way, I made him a priority, and eventually agreed to a 5 year deal with him, which I was ecstatic about. I also had an opening for the bench coach slot, and I signed Scott Servais to a 3-year deal. Having fortified the personnel of the organization, I went to improve the roster.

My wonderfully-generous owner once again trimmed down the budget for the season, dropping us to $106 million. With so little money to spend and not a whole lot coming off the books (Flowers was the biggest salary going away) I knew I had to try and win the arbitration cases. It ended up going alright, as I went 3-3, and the new contracts totaled up to about $400K less than what the players demanded, so I considered that respectable.

When the free agent market opened up, I had just under $13 million to spend. Originally, I was going to spend it on pitching, but for the second year in a row, my main target quickly shifted towards an international player, in this case, 1B Bill Diego out of Argentina. He was already at his full 5-star potential as a 26-year old, and had a contact/power rating of 56/91, and played above average defense as well. While I had Cody Bellinger on the roster, Diego became my target, knowing that I could hopefully land a young, controllable, frontline rotation piece if I packaged Bellinger and Dansby Swanson together, as Swanson had been passed on the depth chart by both Ozzie Albies and Richard Urena. It took only a couple back and forth messages before Diego was an Atlanta Brave - I ultimately signed him to a 9-year, $223.66 million contract, although much less than the full amount is guaranteed. I don't remember it off the top of my head, but I believe around $160 million is guaranteed, and that's assuming he doesn't use the opt-out after a 4th year. The reason I was able to land him is I severely back-loaded the contract, as the 2018 salary is just $12.74 million. The last 2 years are team options for $35.7 and $40.7 million each. I figure that by the time that comes around, I'll either not be able to afford him, or he'll have helped the team become a perennial playoff contender and I'll have increased team revenue enough to keep him on.

With a sudden monster power threat entrenched in the middle of the order, I now had two MLB-ready, high-potential infielders with nowhere to play, SS Dansby Swanson and 1B Cody Bellinger. After failing to land SP Julio Urias from the Dodgers, I turned my attention towards the Tigers, and worked out a huge deal that I'm very satisfied with. I sent Detroit a package led by Swanson & Bellinger, and also including 1.5-star catching prospect Ricardo Rodriguez, and 0.5 star SP prospects Mario Carmona and Javier Guerra, along with $12,000 to help make it affordable for them. In return, the highlight of the package was SP Michael Fulmer, who immediately becomes the ace of a quickly improving staff. But in addition to Fulmer, I also landed 3.5 star CL prospect Joe Jimenez, 2.5 star CL prospect Jayden Bly, 4-star CF prospect Derek Hill, and 3-star LF prospect Christin Stewart, who will compete for a bench outfielder spot in spring training. All in all, I felt it was a really good haul, and considering I had plenty of SS and 1B depth, I was extremely happy with how this trade turned out.

I made one other trade during December. I freed up a million in salary by sending LF Dian Toscano, who was now pretty much useless, to San Diego and got 2-star CL prospect Pat Light, another guy who'll have a shot to make the team out of spring training.

I think the biggest steal of the offseason so far came for me in the Rule 5 draft. While I did lose a 4.5-star CF prospect in Tim McClellan (defensive wizard and blazing speed, not much of a bat) to Carolina, I stole a 3-star RF with 4-star potential from Seattle, named Alex Jackson. He's already got a power rating of 79 and defensive rating of 85, but he's got power potential of 89. He'll be a huge asset as a 4th outfielder coming off the bench with great power, and he's excellent insurance if I encounter an injury.

Here's the rest of the league news heading into January 2018:

Notable Retirees
SP R.A. Dickey
RP Fernando Rodney
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
LF Jayson Werth

November 2017 - Notable League Transactions/News
11/1:
-Angels fire Manager Mike Scioscia & GM Billy Eppler
-Giants fire GM Bobby Evans, Manager Bruce Bochy retires
-Mariners fire GM Jerry Dipoto
-Mets GM Sandy Alderson retires
-Orioles Manager Buck Showalter retires, Bench Coach John Russell takes his place
-Racers fire Manager Jason Hunter
-Reds fire Manager Shinji Nishida
-Royals manager Chris Chambliss retires
-Saints fire Manager Manny Ocasio
-Tigers fire Manager Brad Ausmus
11/5 (Notable long-term extensions to avoid arbitration):
-Astros sign RF George Springer to 5-year, $52.9 million extension
-Cubs sign 3B Kris Bryant to 7-year, $152.24 million extension
-Diamondbacks sign RF David Peralta to 5-year, $49.4 million extension and SP Patrick Corbin to 4-year, $64.3 million extension
-Giants sign 2B Joe Panik to 6-year, $68.64 million extension
-Indians sign 2B Jose Ramirez to 6-year, $32.56 million extension
-Mets sign SP Noah Syndergaard to 7-year, $100 million extension
-Phillies sign 3B Maikel Franco to 5-year, $77.6 million extension
-Red Sox sign RF Mookie Betts to 6-year, $89.42 million extension, SS Xander Bogaerts to 5-year, $80.1 million extension, SP Randall Delgado to 4-year, $25.56 million extension, and SP Eduardo Rodriguez to 5-year, $28 million extension
11/6:
-Mariners hire Myeong-seok Cha as GM
11/8:
-Royals hire James Coleman as Manager
-Giants hire Butch Davis as Manager
11/10:
-Yankees trade RF Aaron Judge to Mets in exchange for RP Jim Henderson, 4.5-star CF prospect Jahmai Jones, and $450K
11/11:
-Giants trade SP Robbie Ray to Red Sox in exchange for SP prospects Hagen Donner (0.5 star) and Christopher Acosta (0.5 star)
-Reds trade RP Henderson Alvarez to Blue Jays in exchange for minor league RP prospects Juan Nunez (0.5 star) and Juliandry Higuera (0.5 star)
11/12:
-Rockies trade 1B Kennys Vargas to Angels in exchange for SP Chris Bassitt and $500K
11/13:
-Saints hire Brian Shouse as Manager
11/14:
-Angels hire Alan Trammell as Manager
-Mets hire Bai-Hen Lin as GM
11/16:
-Reds hire Mark Johnson as Manager
11/17:
-Red Sox sign CL Craig Kimbrel to 3-year, $48.6 million extension
11/25:
-Racers trade C Christian Vazquez to Brewers in exchange for 2-star LF prospect Victor Roache
-Padres trade 2B Taylor Lindsey and 0.5-star SP prospect Dari Lopez to Dodgers in exchange for LF Hector Olivera and $2.4 million
11/27:
-Angels sign 1B John Jaso to 1-year, $1.02 million contract
-Racers hire Randy Knorr as Manager
-Tigers hire Tim Wallach as Manager
11/28:
-Racers trade 2B Ryan Brett and 1-star 2B prospect Wesley Roberson to Reds in exchange for 3B Eric Jagielo
11/29:
-Yankees trade RF Tyler Austin to Orioles in exchange for RP Mychal Givens and 1.5-star SP prospect John Pomeroy

December 2017 - Notable MLB Transactions & News
12/1:
-Padres trade C Austin Hedges and 1-star SS prospect Christopher Torres to Diamondbacks in exchange for SP Ty Blach
12/3:
-Orioles sign CF Ben Revere to 3-year, $6.72 million contract
12/4:
-Rangers sign SP Michael Pineda to 4-year, $52.5 million contract
12/5:
-Cardinals sign CL Yoshihisa Hirano (INT'L) to 3-year, $30.9 million contract and C Derek Norris to 2-year, $2.66 million contract
-Pirates sign SS Jhonny Peralta to 1-year, $5.1 million contract
-Saints trade RP Hunter Strickland and $870K to Astros in exchange for 1.5-star CF prospect Anfernee Grier and 1-star SS prospect Juan Maricio
-Twins sign SP Yovani Gollardo to 3-year, $9.96 million contract
12/7:
-Saints trade CL Carson Smith and $1.1 million to Dodgers in exchange for RP Frankie Montas
12/8:
-Angels sign LF Khris Davis to 2-year, $8.36 million contract
-Phillies sign RF Jose Bautista to 2-year, $24.4 million contract
-Pirates sign 2B Danny Espinosa to 1-year, $3.24 million contract
12/9:
-Dodgers sign SS Jordy Mercer to 2-year, $2.24 million contract
-Orioles sign SS Eduardo Escobar to 2-year, $1.35 million contract
-Twins sign SP Wily Peralta to 2-year, $2.01 million contract
-Yankees sign SP Johnny Cueto to 5-year, $86 million contract
12/10:
-Cardinals sign CF Lorenzo Cain to 2-year, $26.8 million contract
-Rangers sign C Yadier Molina to 1-year, $840K contract
12/11:
-White Sox sign RF Carlos Gonzalez to 1-year, $1.14 million contract
12/12:
-Pirates sign SP Nathan Eovaldi to 7-year, $98.7 million contract
-White Sox sign 3B Danny Valencia to 1-year, $1.44 million contract
12/13:
-Racers sign LF J.D. Martinez to 5-year, $109 million contract
12/14:
-Dodgers sign CL Mark Melancon to 3-year, $37.8 million contract
-Pirates sign SP Marco Estrada to 2-year, $4 million contract
-Racers sign RP Addison Reed to 2-year, $6.16 million contract
-Rockies sign CL Greg Holland to 1-year, $2.76 million contract
12/15:
-Angels trade 2B Tommy La Stella to Dodgers in exchange for RP Chris Hatcher and 0.5-star SP prospect Robert Tyler
-Angels hire Houston Jimenez as GM
-Angels sign CF Dexter Fowler to 2-year, $14.4 million contract
-Cardinals sign C Jonathan Lucroy to 2-year, $43.4 million contract
-Dodgers sign SP Lance Lynn to 1-year, $3.6 million contract
-Indians sign SP Hisashi Iwakuma to 1-year, $15.8 million contract
-Pirates sign 3B Todd Frazier to 6-year, $55.8 million contract
-Rangers sign SP Tyson Ross to 5-year, $167.5 million contract
-Royals trade CL Sean Doolittle to Phillies in exchange for 3-star SS prospect Arquimedes Gamboa, 0.5-star SP prospects Ranger Suarez and Matt Imhof, and 2-star C prospect Chace Sarchet
-Yankees sign SP Francisco Liriano to 2-year, $36.8 million contract
12/16:
-Cardinals trade 1B Matt Adams and $2.84 million to Mets in exchange for RP Dario Alvarez and 0.5-star SP prospect Adrian Almeida
-Red Sox sign CL Wade Davis to 3-year, $38.7 million contract
-Rockies trade 2B D.J. LeMahieu and $7.2 million to Dodgers in exchange for 0.5-star prospects SP Mitch Hart and RP Zach Attianese
12/17:
-Mets sign 2B Howie Kendrick to 1-year, $2.68 million contract
-Phillies trade RF Jon Kemmer and 1-star 1B prospect Jeremy Vasquez to Angels in exchange for SP Matt Shoemaker and $260K
-Royals sign 3B Brett Lawrie to 1-year, $690K contract
-White Sox sign SP Danny Duffy to 3-year, $17.3 million contract
12/18:
-Cardinals sign SP Toshiya Sugiuchi (INT'L) to 2-year, $41.6 million contract
-Indians trade 3B Garin Cecchini to Padres in exchange for RP Louis Coleman, 0.5-star SP prospect B.J. Myers, and $1.1 million
-Orioles trade 3B Adonis Garcia and 0.5-star SP prospect Miguel Gonzalez to Athletics in exchange for SP Rubby De La Rosa
12/19:
-Astros trade 3B Tyler White to Twins in exchange for RP Junichi Tazawa and 0.5-star RP prospect Brock Barger
-Rangers sign SP Mike Fiers to 2-year, $2.6 million contract
-Rockies trade C Ryan Casteel to Brewers in exchange for RP Jorge Ortega
12/20:
-Giants trade SS Brandon Crawford and 1-star C prospect Scott Manea to Cardinals in exchange for CF Randal Grichuk
12/21:
-Rockies trade 1B Ben Paulsen and 1-star C prospect Javier Guevara to Giants in exchange for SP Jacob Turner
12/23:
-Saints sign RP Steve Cishek to 3-year, $4.98 million contract
12/24:
-Angels sign SP Ricky Nolasco to 1-year, $4.88 million contract
-Royals sign SP Jordan Lyles to 3-year, $11.92 million contract
-Twins sign 3B Trevor Plouffe to 2-year, $12.8 million contract
12/26:
-Athletics sign SP Kris Medlen to 1-year, $2.04 million contract
-Mets sign SP Matt Harvey to 5-year, $162.3 million extension
-Rockies sign SP Tim Lincecum to 1-year, $1.08 million contract
12/27:
-Astros sign C Miguel Montero to 1-year, $820K contract
-Phillies sign 3B Adrian Beltre to 2-year, $9.6 million contract
-Yankees sign 1B Chris Colabello to 2-year, $2.84 million contract
12/28:
-Red Sox sign SP Charlie Morton to 2-year, $24.2 million contract
-Mets sign RP Erasmo Ramirez to 2-year, $1.57 million contract
12/29:
-Brewers sign SS Jose Reyes to 2-year, $5.28 million contract
12/30:
-Angels sign RF Brandon Moss to 3-year, $27.3 million contract