[ayaghmour2]

November 28th, 2028: So Free Agency starts today, well yesterday, but it was the Expansion Draft, which took all the headlines. I've got a few needs, mainly in the bullpen, but the Free Agents available aren't really good. I'm likely to pick pieces on the new expansion teams, since they want something I have, prospects.

November 30th, 2028: The Houston Astros acquired 1B Kevin Martin from the Pirates for 2B Trevor Hauver. It's a really good deal for the Astros.

December 1st, 2028: I gave the Seattle Pilots their first trade in MLB history (well, this go around), sending SP Jared Jackson and 1B Sean Taylor their way for RP Josh Brown (100% Retained).

Brown, a lefty, is rated a 4* with 100 rated stuff, plus movement, and average control. He's an extreme groundballer who tossed 96-98 with his sinker. A former 3rd Rounder of the Diamondbacks, the Pilots selected him in the 8th Round of the expansion draft. He's got a career 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 144 saves in 374.1 innings. He's struck out 519 hitters and walked 168.

Jackson becomes their #1 prospect and Taylor their #2.

December 5th, 2028: The Dodgers made a huge splash, signing 3B Kennan Pulsifer to a 5-year, $42 million per year contract with an opt out after the 2030 season. The former #1 Overall Pick in 2018, he has a career .309/.365/.563 stat lilne with 197 homers and 576 RBI's. Montreal fans would have hoped the Calgary native would go to his hometown, but his contract is over half their current payroll.

December 8th, 2028: I gave the Expos their first new trade, sending SP Dan Lesser, 3B Rodolfo Navarro, RF Clint Springer, and SP Jorge Luna their way for CL Gene Hall (90% retained).

Hall, 28, is a 4* righty reliever 100 stuff and an arsenal of two elite pitches and a plus-plus pitch. He can hit triple digits with his fastball and cutter, but has just avergae control and movement. The 6'9'' from Pensylvania was a former 10th Roudn pick of the Orioles back in 2022, but spent the past five seasons pitching with the Royals before getting selected in the 18th Round by the Expos. He has a career 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 139 saves in 298.1 innings with 413 strikeouts and 137 walks.

Navarro becomes their #5 prospect, Lesser #6, Luna #7, and Springer #8.

December 11th, 2028: The Cubs made a big splash, signing star SS Rece Hinds to a 6-year, $223,000,000 contract with an opt-out after year three. The 28-year-old has a .269/.339/.438 career line with 91 homers, 375 RBI's, and a Gold Glove in 2027.

December 12th, 2028: A pair of outfielders signed today:

Arizona signed LF Michael Confortoto a 3-year, $23.4 million per year deal, with the final year a 135 game vesting option. In his long career with the Mets and Rangers, he has a .263/.360/.513 line in 5,459 at bats with 415 homers and 1,156 RBI's.

The Tigers signed RF Austin Hays to a 4-year, $56.4 million deal with the final season a 550 Plate Apperaence vesting option. He was also a Ranger last year, as they'll have work to do in the corner outfield. Hays has had injury problems, and hasn't topped 550 since 2023, but he has a nice .283/.323/.489 line with 258 homers and 810 RBI's.

December 13th, 2028: A day before the Winter Meetings, the Rangers acquired RHP Nolan Kingham and 3B Juan Paz from the Athletics for LF Sam Sarer and CF Tim Curtis. I like this deal for the Rangers.

December 14th, 2028: The Winter Meetings start today!

Let's just say, it was a busy day!

The first newsworthy item was the Royals signing SP Jhoan Duran. He agreed to a 7-year, $85.5 million deal with the final year a 25 games started vesting option. The 30-year-old has started more then 30 games every year in his career, and seems like a lock to reach that. He owns a career 63-100 record with a 4.39 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.

The Cubs double finessed, signing two of my former players, Jake Florence and Jorge Flores. Yes, they traded him (just for Jared Taylor mnid you) just to bring him back home.

Florence, 30, will get a 5-year, $26.2 million per year deal. The former #1 Overall Pick has a 75-57 record with a 4.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and he's struck out 927 batters in 1,141.2 innings. Not gonig to lie, I really thought he had better numbers... Anyways, I'd get a compensationi pick for his signing.

Flores, 35, will get $83 million for three years, with the final year a 180 innings pitched vesting option. A durable starter like Florence, he's toopped that mark every year except 2026 where he had just 179.2. I'd expect a lawsuit if they kept him at that total for 2030. Flores has a 93-51 career record in 234 career starts with a 3.34 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 1,544 strikeouts.

Next comes the trades, starting with the Phillies sending CF Phil Fahy and 2B Greg Stuart to the Tigers for RHP Charles Kings. It's a good deal with the slight advantage to the Tigers.

The Yankees shipped CF Joe Brewer to the Rays for RHP Jared Jackson and LF Caleb Matthews. It looks like a steal for the Yankees.

Lastly, Milwaukee sent 1B Drew Mendoza to the Royals for RHP Jonathan Skolnik. Skolnik sucks, but so do the Brewers, so this makes sense, sending away a "rental" for a prospect.

Of course, I had to make a deal. I sent RF Mike Siani to the Washington Senators for RHP C.J. LaFever, and then purchased the contract of Jeremy Reller from AAA.

LaFever, 27, is a durable righty rated a 4/4.5 with elite stuff, plus movement, and plus-plus control. He throws 95-97 with his top notch fastball and he does a really good job keeping the ball on the ground. He was a former 11th Rounder from the Pirates, and he spent the past four years with them, working to a 3.56 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 258 strikeouts in 285.2 innings. He broke out in 2028, with a 1.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts in 81.1 innings. For some reason he was left unprotected, and went to the Sens with their 16th Round selection.

My 40 is now up to 39, but my pen looks really strong.

December 15th, 2028: Lot's of trades today in day two:

The Nationals acquired 1B Steve Sparks and RHP Kevin Butner from the Astros for SS Luis Victoriano Garcia, LF Arturo Barrera, and cash considerations. It's an even deal, but advantage to the cash recipiants.

The Orioles acquired SP Steven Gingery and RF Jorge Chapa from the Diamondbacks for 2B Jeremy Burns and 1B Jimmy Decker. It's a nice deal for both teams.

The Dodgers sent RHP Forrest Whitley and a ton of cash to the Phillies for 1B Spencer Jones and SS Sam Samuelson. I really like this deal for the Dodgers, but the Phillies do get a ton of cash.

December 26th, 2028: The Brewers sent RHP Victor R. Diaz and RHP Tim Tusa to the Astros for 3B Luis Villarreal. Pure salary dump with Villarreal the worst player involved.

I hit the last of the expansion teams, the Boston Doves, with a sweet deal. I acquired RHP Jake Yearick for pitchers Steve Keller, Leonel Olvera, and Eric Richer.

Yearick, 26, is another stud reliever, rated a 4/4.5 with elite stuff and plus movement. He consistently hits 98-100 with his 98/100 rated fastball and he drops a plus curveball on batters which is near unhittable. All this while keeping the ball on the ground. He's got a team-first attitude, and will be a force to reckon with. A former 1st Round selection by the Pirates, I don't know why he was left unprotected, let alone why 70 other players were selected before him. With the Twins, he didn't have the most success, a 4.56 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 124.1 innings spanning the past two seasons.

My "expansion pen" is rated the best in baseball, ranked #1 for CL (Chad Scoles) and RP (C.J. LaFever).

While I was searching under the "Meet the Team" I noticed that Jordan Montgomery is the All-Time leading Marlin for strikeouts with 1,015. He could top Ricky Nolasco's win record of 81, but I don't know how much he has left in the tank.

December 17th, 2028: The Winter Meetings edned today with a big signing. SS Jonathan Guzman announced he'd join the Mets on a 6-year, $36.5 million per year deal with an opt-out after the 2032 season. A long time Athletic, he has a .271/.360/.408 triple slash with 102 homers, 435 RBI's, and two Gold Gloves.

I had to make a bigger move, of course, and ended the Winter Meetings with a blockbuster:

I sent LF Sergio Serrano, RHP Jeremy Reller, LF Bob Poulson, RF Palban Gamboa, and RHP Jamie Casady to the Tigers for RHP Pat Saitta and SS Andy Hedemark.

Yep, a lot to unpack here:

Okay, so if we are being honest, I had to get Saitta, even if it meant giving up three 4.5* prospects (Serrano, Reller, and Poulson). He's a 4.5* durable, 27-year-old, 81 stamina starter with 100 rated stuff, 5 pitches (two elite, a plus-plus, plus, and below average), groundballer who can hit 96-98 consistently and has 4 years of team control. Even with that, I plan on locking him up ASAP even though his big league numebrs aren't that great. The former 3rd Overall Pick is 21-20 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 434 strikeouts in 360.1 innings, but every advanced metric loves him. He's got great K/9 and BB/9 numbers with solid FIP's and I know all his other metrics would love him as well. He's poised to break out, and I need an ace.

And he'll accept a monster 7-year, $167,010,000 deal to be the face of the Marlins for the forseeable future.

Even though Hedemark is a throw in, don't call him that. He's got 3* potential and will turn into an elite defensive shortstop with a solid bat. He's got Isaac Nunez with less homers, but more doubles, in his future. The former 13th Round pick is just 21, but has already shown a ton of positive development.

Okay, I think that's enough block busting for one offseason...

The rotation of Saitta, Peterson, Jorgensen, Paustian, Ardon looks pretty solid, but I may need to add a lefty starter, with all five being righties. The pen is rich with lefties, however, so I should be fine.

December 21st, 2028: The Siatta deal was officially announced today. A deal to "raise a few eyebrows" GM Anthony Yaghmour explained: "The Jake Florence deal raised some eyebrows too, and now he's making a trillion dollars ($131 million) with the Cubs. I think I know what I'm doing here."

I also purchased the contract of Juan Maya to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft that is coming up tomorrow. My roster now sits at 38 of 40.

December 21st, 2028: Today is the Rule-5 Draft! I went with 22-year-old catcher Jorge Tapia from the Rays organization. He's rated a 1/4.5 with plus catcher abilities, plus power, and plus-plus gap power. He's got a ton of upside, but might not be fully ready for the big leagues.

I lost RF Joe Weigland to the Braves and LF Juan Morales and LF Omari Tetteh to Arizona. Probably should have protected or traded Tetteh, but I must've not noticed him.

December 23rd, 2028: The Mariners sent a RHP Josh Proctor and SS Luis Argueta to the Diamondbacks to re-acquire C Kurtis Byrne. It's a real nice deal for Arizona, who claimed Byrne off waivers from Seattle on the 21st of April.

December 27th, 2028: I claimed 1B Danny Canfield off waivers from the Diamondbacks and sent him to AAA New Orleans. He's a former 4th Round Pick of the Cardinals and rated a 1.5/2.5.

December 29th, 2028: I made a big Free Agent signing for the first time in maybe ever, adding 1B Gregorio "Rat Race" Alvarenga to a 5-year, $71 million contract with the final year a team option. A long time Met, the light hitting lefty has a career .294/.398/.387 line with 135 steals and 366 RBI's.

This gives me a nice roster log jam, and prepares me for Chris Reid leaving at the end of next year. It also gives me injury insurance since Jarred Kelenic and Isaac Nunez both have their issues. Alvarenga can play all 7 positions to help keep the regulars rested.

The Tigers signed CL Jandel Gustave to a 3-year, $35.2 million deal with a 40 games finished vesting option in the final year. He has 161 career saves with a 2.96 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 727 innings.

The Twins acquired RHP Fitz Stadler and SS Jamari Wimby from the Tigers for LF D.J. Bland. A nice salary dump with Bland the most bland of those involved.

December 30th, 2028: The Dodgers signed former Marlin Slade Cecconi to a 3-year, $3,360,000 per year deal. He has a 4.81 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 655.1 innings with 617 strikeouts.

December 31st, 2028: A few moves on New Years Eve before we enter 2029:

Former Marlin Walker Buehler signed a 1-year, $8.8 million deal with the Colorado Rockies. Buehler is an extreme groundballer who could do well at Coors. With us and the Dodgers, he's 79-55 in 249 games (240 starts) with a 3.38 ERA and 1.17 WHIP to go with 1,394 strikeouts in 1,218 innings.

Another former Marlin, lefty Jairo Labourt signed a 3-year, $17.2 million per year deal with a 40 games finished vesting option for the final year. He's got a 3.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 149 saves in 532 innigns with 579 strikeouts.

No more former Marlins here, but the Blue Jays swapped 1B Jim Cavanagh to the Orioles for SS Cash Case. It's a good deal for the Orioles, but it's pretty even.

2029 here we come!